Thank you, Amy!
Thank you, Amy!
Amy Ellis has featured me on her blog, Amy's Creative Side today! You might know her from such accomplishments as her book, Modern Basics, her involvement with The Sewing Summit, and not least her wonderful blog which features The Blogger's Quilt Festival, an online quilting gallery that coincides with Quilt Market. The next one begins May13th. Mark your calendar!
Thank you, Amy!
Thank you, Amy!
Teaching: A wonky good time!
I'll get back to the quilt-making rampage I referred to in my previous post tomorrow (or perhaps the next day!) as I have 2 new quilts to show off, but first I want to share some pictures from my last improvisational quilt class!
These ladies were so much fun. I'm always amazed at how each person interprets the class in a different way and each quilt is so unique to the quilt-maker. One of my students, Elena, started a quilt in the first class and had it finished (mostly!) AND selected for a show by the next class!
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| Lots of sewing! |
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| And designing! |
These ladies were so much fun. I'm always amazed at how each person interprets the class in a different way and each quilt is so unique to the quilt-maker. One of my students, Elena, started a quilt in the first class and had it finished (mostly!) AND selected for a show by the next class!
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| Elena's selected quilt is in the center, the one to the left of it is the one she started on between class sesssions! |
Another simple quilt, still modern?
Once I got back from New York, I went on a quilt-making rampage. As soon as I was done with the simple, modern quilt, I realized that I needed to turn in a quilt sample for my next improvisational quilt class. So, I made this green and white number with some blocks I've been playing with for awhile. I just couldn't help myself and backed it with yellow gingham checks made from thrift store curtains. I didn't even care that the gingham was part polyester. Madness!
Sorry I didn't take any pictures of the back. I whipped on the binding, threw it up on the design wall to take a couple of pictures and rushed it to the shop, as my "homework" was a day late!
If you'll be in the Bay Area in June and are interested in taking the class for this incredibly versatile pattern sign up here!
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| I love how bright and sunny this quilt is! |
Sorry I didn't take any pictures of the back. I whipped on the binding, threw it up on the design wall to take a couple of pictures and rushed it to the shop, as my "homework" was a day late!
If you'll be in the Bay Area in June and are interested in taking the class for this incredibly versatile pattern sign up here!
A simple, modern quilt.
A couple of weeks ago, I finished a queen size quilt (that's very large for me!) made with some lovely fabrics. I'm just now catching up enough to post it!
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| Love this over-blown dahlia print! |
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| What do you think of that purple? |
Art/Sewn at Five Myles Gallery, Brooklyn
On the very last day of my trip to New York, I managed to drag my family out to a small gallery around the corner from the Brooklyn Museum. I found out about the show, Art/Sewn, from Anna Von Mertens' website while I was writing a blog post about her quilts. Not wanting to miss a chance to see more of her work, I made sure that this gallery made it onto my packed agenda!
The show featured 8 artists working in the medium of "needlework" to create art and I really enjoyed it. Since the gallery allowed me to take pictures, I'll let you experience it in much the same way that I did! Click on the pictures if you'd like to read the text bigger or see the work closer.
The show featured 8 artists working in the medium of "needlework" to create art and I really enjoyed it. Since the gallery allowed me to take pictures, I'll let you experience it in much the same way that I did! Click on the pictures if you'd like to read the text bigger or see the work closer.
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| Art/Sewn curated by Ward Mintz at Five Myles |
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| Five Myles Gallery |
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| Vanishing Point by Anna Von Mertens |
A Visit to the American Folk Art Museum
After giving my 7 year old son the camera at the Met, I realized that was the key to keeping him interested and occupied at the museum while I'm looking at the exhibits. So, I let him take more pictures at the Folk Art Museum. He took these shots specifically for me to use as quilting designs. Great idea!
These are pen drawings by the outsider artist, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein. Actually, a guard came over and explained that we weren't supposed to be photographing them. But the pictures were already taken, and I think they're neat, so I'm sharing.
A few other highlights of the museum:
I've also been a huge fan of Paula Nadelstern's work and I was excited to finally get to see one of her Kaleidoscope quilts in person. I've tried making one of these myself, and got as far as one block. Her process is so exact and intense. I like a challenge, but it's hard for me to see the big picture when working with such tiny bits.
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| Ball Point Pen Drawings by Eugene Von Bruenchenhein |
These are pen drawings by the outsider artist, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein. Actually, a guard came over and explained that we weren't supposed to be photographing them. But the pictures were already taken, and I think they're neat, so I'm sharing.
A few other highlights of the museum:
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| Improvisational Quilts |
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| Cute strawberry applique |
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| Even cuter dog applique - Pugs, perhaps? |
I've also been a huge fan of Paula Nadelstern's work and I was excited to finally get to see one of her Kaleidoscope quilts in person. I've tried making one of these myself, and got as far as one block. Her process is so exact and intense. I like a challenge, but it's hard for me to see the big picture when working with such tiny bits.
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| Paula Nadelstern's Kaleidoscope quilt |
Infinite Variety - The Red and White Quilt Show
The Red and White Quilt Show!
I can't believe how lucky I am that I just happened to be in New York the same week as the show, Infinite Variety, Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts, hosted by the American Folk Art Museum at the Park Ave. Armory. Since I make and sell quilts under the name, Peppermint Pinwheels, you know I've got a soft spot for red and white quilts.
It. Was. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!! And that could be an understatement. The show was only up for 6 days and I caught it on the very last day. There were 650 quilts - all of them red and white. I took so many pictures. I hope you can get just a little bit of the overwhelming awesomeness that was this show through my pictures, and if you want to see more, you can go to the Flickr site set up by the Folk Art Museum to document photos taken at the exhibit.
Did I have a favorite? I don't know yet. I'm still processing all the different designs. The show was unbelievably, wonderfully, incredibly, impressive. (Can you tell I looked up the word awesome in the thesaurus?)
I can't believe how lucky I am that I just happened to be in New York the same week as the show, Infinite Variety, Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts, hosted by the American Folk Art Museum at the Park Ave. Armory. Since I make and sell quilts under the name, Peppermint Pinwheels, you know I've got a soft spot for red and white quilts.
It. Was. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!! And that could be an understatement. The show was only up for 6 days and I caught it on the very last day. There were 650 quilts - all of them red and white. I took so many pictures. I hope you can get just a little bit of the overwhelming awesomeness that was this show through my pictures, and if you want to see more, you can go to the Flickr site set up by the Folk Art Museum to document photos taken at the exhibit.
Did I have a favorite? I don't know yet. I'm still processing all the different designs. The show was unbelievably, wonderfully, incredibly, impressive. (Can you tell I looked up the word awesome in the thesaurus?)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Different Perspectives
We spent the second day of our trip at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I've prepared a photo essay to show the difference between the things I found interesting, and how the exhibits were viewed by my 7 year old (or "8-ish," if you ask him).
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| My photos from the Met featuring mummy wrappings, 19th century graffiti on Egyptian tombs, and a painted ceiling from New Guinea. |
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| The Met through the eyes of a 7-year old boy. It's all weapons, body parts and "creepy" sculptures made from found objects. |
New York City in March: Chillier than expected!
Last week, I went to New York City. This week, I have time to show you what I saw.
I was so excited to discover the work of Richard Galpin at High Line Park and my traveling companion enjoyed playing a little game of "now you see me, now you don't!"
Using white space and cut-outs, Galpin's work changes the way you see the city.
I really liked the installation at High Line Park and I'm in love with the work on his website. You can see some highlights on The Daily Tonic.
I also found some killer hot chocolate. Which was good since it was pretty windy up there on the High Line!
I was so excited to discover the work of Richard Galpin at High Line Park and my traveling companion enjoyed playing a little game of "now you see me, now you don't!"
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| Viewing Station at High Line Park |
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| Viewing Station by Richard Galpin |
I also found some killer hot chocolate. Which was good since it was pretty windy up there on the High Line!
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| Cocoa with the biggest marshmallow EVER! from City Bakery |
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