If Quilts were Stars, and Manhattan was Heaven

The thing about quilting that bothers me is the decadence of today's craft. Up until a few years ago, quilts took a long time to make. You sewed by hand, and you collected old clothes, and fitted and worked a design over time, mostly an idea from memory, no rotary cutter and mat, no fancy machine, and it was a work of art, and it had it's own memory in time - that was the quilt I made for her when she got married. I made this one for when we had company when I was pregnant with whoever, while this one was in third grade, or in Autumn after Grandpa died. They represent time and memory. I think our decadent society is moving away from that in alot of ways. Maybe quilting is the journal by which we need to maintain time and memory, I don't know. It is completely ridiculous that when I want to make a quilt I go to a store to buy supplies, I order batting that is on a roll - it's so affluent. The point of the Gees Bend quilts is that a design is being worked, and reworked and stamped into a culture when there is nothing at all. Those women were the poorest of the poor, and they managed to have a consistent style with consistent motifs over many generations.

The Infinite Variety Show, Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts, highlighted the inner decadence of the quiltmaker. It was like the Sistine Chapel of Quilts. First thing that struck me, when my mind returned from awe, was that in a group of 650 quilts, there were very few Samplers. There is something about the contrast of red and white that inspired the quilt maker to make the best of artistic opportunities. First, if you have enough red and white (only) for a quilt, you planned. There was alot of patience in those quilts. They weren't made to just get through the winter. The quiltmaker was making a point, a statement, and the best thing is that they never imagined that anyone from the future really cared to listen.

They were cleverly displayed. The Museum knows it's market. It was overwhelming. I didn't feel as if I was going to bump into people, but I felt dizzy at times, from looking up and around and WOW! They were like stars in heaven. Because of the optical illusions, and the contrast, I lost control over HOW my eye was seeing. The eye went where the quilt told it too, over and over and over again. This was humbling, and that is what blew me away.

I am a fan of zig zags, and the monkey wrench (or churn dash), so this one appealed to me (top). Monkey Wrenches in zig zags. I love it! See Triple Irish Chain peeking out of the left side of the picture. Wow!

Also, I love the idea of using what you have, and not sweating when you run out. Look at this one (top of left picture). I don't think it's bleach. I think the quiltmaker used another color to fill in. Either way it's perfect because it's broken. Like People.

Also I enjoyed this stylistic interpretation of a Spinner. I wanted to zoom in on it but the quilts around it were REALLY great.

I am trying to display the Hawaiian one and have a button you can push playing the Hawaii 5-0 theme, when I do, I will post. It is fabulous. See this one with the three rings motif. I have never seen this before. So it was exciting to see something new. This theme was repeated in a few other quilts. Also very big was this overlapping ribbon/woven look. This one was particularly intricate. I'm beat. I'm going off to dream in red and white. I don't think I'm bothered by the affluence of being a quilter today. I'm not embarrassed that I need cool tools to get my job done. For some reason, all day I've been thinking about Walt Disney, resting peacefully in a cryogenic chamber, until science can return him to his full artistic capabilities. His legacy is so huge, it's like he's not really dead. These ladies, with their red and white great ideas, best wishes, and artistic fury, are not dead, not insignificant, and definitely with us, live in Manhattan.

Quilting in Wonderland with Alice and Julie

My daughters are always trying to inspire me. The older one went to the Blockbuster Closing sale and bought me some movies. She got Julie and Julia. Now, they love this. I think they love the versatility of Meryl Streep - Mamma Mia, It's Complicated, and now Julie and Julia. Also the younger one loves anything to do with France. So she found MY FAVORITE cookbook - Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor - which has a great list of awesome pictures and now she wants to make each one. So I told her to pick one, make a list of ingredients, and she did, and we got them from the store. Yesterday we made the cake. I asked her if she wanted to blog about it, she said "No". I asked "Why?". She says, "because I'm not Julie". See Fabulous Cookies and Cream Cake.

Also at Blockbuster Sale, the Haggler had her eye on a picture. She waited, and waited, until it was a good price. She comes in yesterday with this 2x4 large cumberson picture as well as her schoolbag, and everything else that falls away when her shuttle hits earth. She hoped to inspire me, and she was very impressed with herself. Alice in Wonderland. See close up. Perhaps there's a point she's trying to make.

And the big picture. Makes me think how in quilting, black makes all other colors POP! It's impossible not to get roped in by the fantasy and fury of Alice. Quilting is like Alice - no rules, just guidelines to make us think twice, the tumble from one challenge to the next, the decadence of color and pattern, the creepers we don't like (binding), the cards (history), and it's....my drug.

Lancaster Show Booty, Update

Okay, I've been away. Still no new sewing machine. I'm just fixing the old one and forging ahead until it quits, then I walk away for a little while, then repeat. I went to the Lancaster Show on St. Patrick's Day. See fun stuff I managed to pick up. At the end of the show, (we really zoom through these shows now) we ran into this woman who told me about a great show in New York this week. Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts at the Park Avenue Armory until Wednesday. The exhibit is presented by the American Museum of Folk Art. (It's Free!) I am very excited about this. I need a day out. So I'll hop on the Chinatown Bus, and take the subway uptown. Yeah! I will tell you all about it. We had an event at the Museum where I work, in Olde City Philadelphia, and we invited Ben Franklin (his 1st person interpreter) and a Dulcimer player. Ben volunteered his time, and I suggested we give him my red white and blue quilt as a gift. They decided to auction it. The dulcimer player beat Bens bid, and now our dulcimer player is the proud owner of my quilt. I am happy for him. However, I would have liked to see Ben win the quilt. So I spent my time at the Lancaster Quilt Show looking for red white and blues (see upper right of picture) for my next New York Beauty, which I hope to give to Ben. He is a delightful guy. Apparently, there was a show on Broadway called "Quilters". I looked it up on Wikipedia, it ran for 18 days in 1984. Well, our dulcimer guy played in that show, and since then, has wanted an original quilt. So, we are glad he won. The quilt has a happy home. It's Monday. Trying to get focused. Note fun Thomas the Tank strip in the middle of the picture. I happen to know a very big Thomas fan. Stay tuned....

After the Quilt Show

Crazy weekend!

My friend sent me a picture of the Quilt hanging up. You can't get a sense of how close to the entrance it was. You could see it from the main hallway. See picture of quilt hanging, and then after long weekend at work.

I'm giving it to the Museum where I work to be auctioned off for our Anniversary event. I like it alot, but I don't have room for it.

On Sunday I went back to the show (with my friend and my daughters) to pick it up, in terrible rain. It drains your energy to drive in that kind of rain. It never let up. It took me two hours to get there, and two to get back. We had to fortify ourselves with McDonald's on the way and Baja Fresh on the return.

I got great criticism from one of the judges, who liked my quilt but noted it could be improved by more diversity in my quilting design (especially in the white space) (at the bottom). I agree. I am not set up for that, but it is something I will keep in mind as my ability and equipment situation develop.

I spend around $100, and I got great booty: small fairy scissors, panel with six wine scenes and coordinating cork fabric (got panel for my friend too. We like to see what the other one comes up with), three scrap bags under $3 each - hand dyeds, greens, and browns. Very diverse, lots of fabric. Three yard cuts (on the left) and three yards of great japanese pink and white flowers on red background (very unique). Also thread and needles. I think I got all this for under $100 (and a commemorative tote bag).

I was very inspired and I started sewing and the machine is acting up again. Breaking down and getting Kenmore this weekend. (We're both breaking down - Ha!) For an exercise I might piece together some New York Beauty arcs just to get myself back in the paper piecing groove.

The Quilt Show!

The Quilt Show was great. Not as many quilts as last year, and not as many exhibits or vendors, but that was okay because we managed to see everything, shop, and eat in four hours which was a record. Saving our energy for the Lancaster show which is in two weeks.

My favorite thread guy was there, NOW I find red white and blue variegated thread! I bought some needles. And there is this older couple who sells every notion under the sun. I bought some pins from them. I'm going back Sunday so yesterday was my recon day. I bought some bargain fabric and some scrap bags and a fun pair of small scissors painted like a fairy (with red hair). Picture to follow. At some point.

At lunch there was a sign "no sauerkraut" for the hotdogs because some fabric nazi convinced them it was going to make the fabric smell. Really. Get over yourself. It's called OXYCLEAN! I find that short term odors do not doom fabric. Long term like chain smoking or multiple cats in an unsterile home do make the fabric smell. The kitchen was away from the vendors. I don't get it. I had pizza.

My quilt is in a very conspicuous place. This was equal parts exciting and anxiety producing. It looked great, and at the last minute I decided to try to fill in some parts with red metallic thread. I was successful, and this is fortunate. My dedication to finally learning mitered corners was successful as well. Very exciting.

Dealing with the scrap box this morning. I am very inspired and its clogging my energy.

Status report

I've lost my camera. I know this is a recurring issue. I am concerned. It's been a few days, it usually shows up by now. The Tri State show is Thursday I am hoping it shows up by then.

The problem with quilt shows is I am easily overwhelmed and I forget what I am looking for in the merchant's mall. I will be there on Thursday and Sunday. So, if I can't stop thinking about something I will purchase it on Sunday.

I have managed to fix my sewing machine. I don't know how long it will last. I took the WHOLE THING apart, sprayed air, oiled every moving part, tested each moving mechanism, put it all back together and Shazam! Sewing once again. The tension mechanism was not broken. So there had to be a superficial reason why the tension wasn't working. I don't have great proof that I can adjust the tension, but for a straight stitch, things seem to be functional. I will try to quilt soon, and we shall see......

The Lancaster Quilt Show is early this year. March 16-19. So I am prolonging my challenge to see what I can accomplish by then, since I lost a week without a machine. Things are looking good. I am frustrated by the 7 almost finished quilts taking up my space.

Better Homes and Gardens published a great magazine last summer highlighting 11 antique quilts. They are magical. They also included a "modernization" of a vintage style. There I became obsessed with the ICs and the flower baskets. This has helped me narrow down the ideas for my scrap stash. The voice in the back of my head says "SAVE TIME DITCH IT ALL ON EBAY". The voice of reason says milk the stash for small projects. It's getting out of control, but, there is something to be said for having all one's stash cut and ready to sew. So, in my spare time, I am digging into the stash box. And making progress.

I did get something new this week! A pattern for notebooks and kindle covers. This can be very fun. My rotary blade is sharp! Yahoo!

When I got the "Antique Quilts" magazine, I thought I should try out the basket pattern, and I made my Mom a tote bag out of my experiment. Her favorite color is blue. In the fall, I bought a huge scrap bag full of vintage calicos. Perfect for flower baskets. The baskets require 1 7/8" squares. I cut the calicos up into 3" squares and the leftovers will make perfect 1 7/8" squares. I need five per basket. It's great for scraps.