More April Program for Surfside QGuild 04-15-11

 This is pretty much an arbitrary selection of small quilts from the Collection.  I tried to select pieces that illustrate various techniques and styles.  I believe I have talked about all of these in my Blog on various Sundays - check for the artist's name in the sidebar for more information.

Top row:  Calla Lilly - Aileyn Renli Ecob 2009, Liberty - Kathleen McCabe 2009, Amidst the Fire - K.Grace Howes 2009,  4 fiber artist trading cards, Pomegranate #2 - Dijanne Cevaal 2006, Blue Butterfly - Bonnie Sabel 2009.

Middle row: I Know a Rhino - Ami Simms 2006, (below) Red Nest - Claire Fenton 2006, Tillamook Rooster - Terry Grant 2009, Oregon Junco - Terry Grant  2007, Fantasy Flowers 1 - Julia Zgliniec 2010.  

Top row: Boundary Waters #30 - Virginia Spiegel 2007, Checks & Bars Jumble - Sue Benner 2009, House - Sally Sellers 2007, Night Fire -  Elizabeth Barton 2007,

Bottom row: Vest Pocket Tour II - Joan Schulze 2001, Gentle Reminder - Linda Colsh 2008, Don't Piss Off the Fairies - Ruth Powers 2008, Happy Birthday, Del - Judy House  2003.

You might notice that all of these small quilts have been created since 2001.  Prior to that, artists did not make many small quilts and, to be honest, I wasn't interested in such small pieces.  Realistically, selling nine 12x12 quilts at $100/each is much easier than selling one 36" square quilt at $5000.  I would like to support as many quilters as I can, so I started buying smaller quilts that fit within my selection parameters. .     

This is the folding design board that Mabel Huseby created for me and I have enjoyed it and use it whenever I can.  It was an "ha-ah" moment when I discovered that the small quilts could be pinned up before I left the house and the board simply unfolded at a meeting to display the quilts.  I also pin up a short description of each piece.

The two slats slip out and then fit in the horizontal sleeves to hold the board rigid.  

Here is the board folded with the handle and the closing tabs on the left, fastened with Velcro over the edge.  If you are interested in the pattern for this Portable Design Board you can contact Mabel at mabelh2@msn.com 

Quilt from Visions Challenge 07-18-10

People get confused about Visions, not realizing that there are three parts that compliment each other and offer several windows into contemporary quilts/art quilts. There is the biennial International Quilt Visions exhibit, juried from hundreds of submission from around the world. Quilt Visions - 2010 will open in October at the Oceanside (California) Museum of Art for a four month run. There is the Visions Art Quilt Gallery in San Diego which has changing exhibits about every three months. And there is the volunteer organization Visions which offers the members opportunities to exhibit their quilts at the gallery and encourages this by sponsoring challenges for the members. Even if you live a great distance from San Diego, you can help support the work of promoting art quilts by being a Visions member and you can participate in the challenges. http://www.quiltvisions.org/

"Fantasy Flowers I" Julia Zgliniec - Poway, CA 12" square

I was fortunate to visit the Gallery soon after the "Fantasy Flowers" challenge quilts were hung in the foyer, so I had almost first pick of these inventive works. When I chose this one I didn't know who the maker was, so I was delighted and surprised to learn it was made by Julia, a friend of some years and the appraiser I use for the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection and for my own quilts.

Combining the colorfully dotted Australian fabric with the 'bubble' quilting in black thread gives this work both depth and motion.

Julia has backed the quilt with the same fabric and added a computer printed label giving all of her information.

Visions Art Quilt Gallery and Julia 05-17-10

I drove down to San Diego today to attend a program by Julia Zgliniec, Certified Appraiser, at the Visions Art Quilt Gallery. I haven't been down there for at least a year and had forgotten what a buzz that place gives me. It is such a great space and Beth Smith, the new Director, and all the volunteers were very helpful and friendly.

Julie Zgliniec, Appraiser, at the door into the Gallery. Julia is the appraiser I use for the TCQC, so we are well acquainted after all the years she has been looking at the Collection. After ten years it is past time to have some of the quilts reappraised - the market changes and the values change either up (hopefully) or down. She had a lot of information to share about the process of appraising and the audience asked intelligent questions that seem to be of interest to everyone. She does do programs for quilt guilds - for more information check: http://www.quilthistory.com/teachers/zgliniec.htm

The current exhibit includes quilts by three quiltmakers with very different styles and techniques: Valerie Goodwin, Katherine K. Allen, and Kent Williams. I am most familiar with Valerie's work since one of her very early pieces is in the TCQC - nothing like what she is creating today. But I still enjoy it and can see a continuity in the work she is showing at the Gallery.

Displayed in the entrance 'hall' are the entries in the "Exotic Flowers" the 12" x 12" challenge done by Quilt Visions members . The quality of the work is quite good and there is a great range of styles and motifs. This is a fund raiser for the Gallery, so if you should visit be sure to take your check book or your credit card - there are some real treasures available.

The picture of Julia I took today, but the picture of the exterior and the view of the gorgeous front desk were taken on previous visits.