Now, for the questions and answers...
Nobody asked, but my Mom and I thought last year's AQS Syracuse show (2015) was better. This year we thought there were a few quilts that were just awful that won ribbons, and a few that were so damn perfectly perfect that didn't. I really hate overquilting and overembellisment and overstuffed. There was a lot of that. There was one quilt that absolutely creeped me out. It was a trapunto and applique beast with so much stuffing and quilting it looked like bugs crawling across a quilt. Yuk.
We also think the AQS's method of hanging the quilts (in numerical order by section) did the show a great disservice. Artwork in an exhibit should be hung so the work makes sense as you move through the gallery, as ideas flow together, and compliment each other.
Some beautiful quilts were in shadow, where it was too dark to fully see them or appreciate them, and some were under lighting that was too harsh.
Quilters are lovely people. There wasn't anybody we spoke to who wasn't friendly, kind or cheerful.
My pal Julie knows I have a thing about bowls. This is the birthday present I received from her. It's sixteen kinds of terrific and I love it.
Yes Cherie, I will undoubtedly have to make the pink barn sitting in three dimensions. Of course I can do it, but since I generally hate pictorial quilts (I mean, if I want to paint a picture, I will use paint, not fabric), I have to figure out a way to do it without trying to carve too much of a 3D picture space.
Dear Selvage Fairy & Sandi, I did not get close enough to the pink barn to see what the various doors, windows, and signs might have said. The barn was on private property with a house nearby and I did not want to trespass. I shall have to use my imagination. Oh gee darn.
Ducky, in real life the WOWs don't look so bright, but when they are under a direct light like the one in the photo, it does look overpowering.
Nancy, I got the Pink Lemonade cake to go as dessert at Man of Kent. They make all their own cakes, so I went for it. It was lovely.
The Grand Baby is now officially due at any time. I spoke to my son earlier and he was very specific that I NOT announce the baby's birth until my entire family had been notified first. I listened with one ear. I'm three thousand miles away and even if I don't do EXACTLY what he wants there's not much he can do about it. I have Mom Armor.
Sales of the Bird Tutorial have exceeded my wildest expectations. To all of you who purchased a copy, thank you so very much. It's nice to hear the compliments. I worked very hard on it.
I'm definitely going to have to make a smallish quilt that says I AM NOT PAPER PIECED. Too fun an idea not to. Another quote on the must list includes this one: CHANGE PARTNERS AND DANCE.
I had my OB/GYN visit today and the nurse who took my information before I saw the doctor said something that would make another good quilt: GRAVITY IS A HARD THING. When you're my age with osteoporosis, it surely is.
Between planning the class and the talk, I'm going to be very busy, so I may not post much in the next three weeks. Please don't think I'm ignoring you. I've decided I've tried to do too much this year. Next year I'm not going to make more than two trips. One will be a trip to Colorado to visit my furniture-making brother. The other will likely be a trip to California. I may take smaller trips locally (less than 4 hours driving: I want to visit Kathy in Belfast Maine again), but by and large I'm staying home. You'll find me in the sewing studio.
So OK, I did the bird tute. Anything else you would like to know how to do? I'm open for suggestions.
thanks, see ya!
7 comments:
SO glad you like the bowl Pat made - I thought it was terrific and I just knew it would be happy at your house.
Great post, BTW.
Sheesh you are a bizzy lady, and you are not a retired purrson like mum. You gotta stay home and give Miss Millie scritches!
I figured it probably was the picture making that look wonky, not the actual piece. Mum has fabric, now just needs to actually do some cutting and sewing!
I knew, of course, you COULD do a 3-D barn ;-) But WOULD you, that was the question......and yes, you will....YAY :) Here's hoping Baby Topaz, as I refer to your grandbaby, arrives safe and healthy and your DIL has an easy time of it. Still waiting to see how you did the trees/bushes.....maybe a tutorial in that???
I think you could take almost every post you've done as a quick how-to and turn it into a tute.
There is also LOTS of room in the world for tutorials on the basics of piecing that aren't written by Quilt Police. Like how to get things pieced so they aren't off grain or wonky.
Your birds tutorial was so excellent, you could create an ongoing step by step guide to improv quilting, both the piecing techniques and the creative steps. Like those wonderful squares in squares! You know I'd be there to take them if you wrote them.
As a grandma who lived 20 hours away from a brand new grandchild, I think you may rethink that only 2 trips. Maybe extend the Colorado trip, give yourself a Christmas trip to the west coast. But my friend said that she's going now while she could, and she went often. When the chronic illness got her down, it was over quickly. But the grands miss her so much, because she loved and saw them often. /
p.s. You hit MY nail on the head with your comment "I've decided I've tried to do too much this year." SO true for me, too.
Hmm, I actually think that the Syracuse show was hung better this year. Last year, there were so many folds. I did think the lighting was sub par. There was one incredible paper pieced black and solids that was difficult to see. I think the ribbon winners were not the best. Next year, no more AQS Syracuse. I live in Buffalo, so it is the only close AQS. I was still glad I went.
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