Hello everyone. I had coffee with my good friend, Annie B on Tuesday. She mentioned that she completed a blog entry about the Quilts of the Plains show. I had a few minutes today, so I checked it out. She always has such descriptive blog posts, and includes wonderful pictures, too!
It was nice to read about the show from her perspective… and She and husband, Steve and always willing to lend a helping hand. I know how busy they both were, as they hosted a party for Steve’s classmates the very next morning.
If you’ve never seen one of Ann’s quilted creations, boy have you missed out… She finds the coolest fabrics, and makes so many cute things for her family and friends. We at Foltmer Drug are lucky to offer a few of her things for sale… so if you need a little something special for a dear friend… or yourself, you should give a thought to Annie B!
Lastly, I just want to thank Ann for her support, and thank you for reading my blog. Feel free to leave me a comment!
Hi everyone. Tonight it is RAINING!!! As an artist, there’s no better diversion than a stroll through the arts district. Joe and I did just that tonight. We began at my good friend, and quilter, J. Bruce Wilcox. http://www.jbrucewilcox.com
We have exhibited together at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum many times. He has a very interesting approach to his patchwork… and the man doesn’t shy away from set in corners.
Next, we went to Santa Fe Drive and begun our “gallery hopping”. It wasn’t long before we stumbled upon a really neat place, FABRICBliss
They sell really cool fabrics and yarns. Of course I left with a couple of fabrics, and more fat quarters than I can count fell into my hands and ultimately onto my receipt!
The two coolest artists that I met today were Rob Watt and Elaine Ricklin. Rob makes the most awesome embroidered arts pieces. He showed me his current work in progress…. and it’s already taking shape on a background of white silk dupioni fabric.
Elaine is the wife of a pharmacist that works with Joe’s sister Mary. Her show consisted of all works related to “Near the Water”. A great combination of photography and painting, linoleum printing with watercolors, and more, were artfully curated to showcase her many talents. her website is ElaineRicklin.com if you want to take a peek.
We also came across some terrific live music. Abi Robins sounded great! I don’t know if she has a site, but I plan to look for her online. Maybe she’ll come sing at 4th and Main’s listening room someday… wouldn’t that be nice?
az
My last bit for tonight comes from a little sign I saw hanging in the basement of one of the artist studio coop buildings…. and it said….
LIFE ISN’T ABOUT FINDING YOURSELF, LIFE IS ABOUT CREATING YOURSELF.
Hey everyone! I just heard about a cool blog entry about the Quilts of the Plains Show. It is posted by one of the vendors, Becky Leis of Sisters at Heart Miles Apart. Becky had a most wonderful booth, and I hope you stopped by to see her designs. I saw quite a few quilters grabbing up her patterns. I was really intrigued by the postcard patterns that she markets. Anyway, I thought you’d like to read her blog about the show, and maybe start following her posts too! Her blog about QOTP is at http://sistersatheartmilesapart.com/sisters-brag-book-2/1383-2/ and I hope you enjoy reading it. I sure did!
I took a photo of each quilt in the show, and I’ve uploaded them to an album on my webshots site. Please click on the link to be taken to my album. You may post comments to the photos. I tried to list the quiltmaker and many times the quilt name in the caption under the photo. You will also find a button on the right hand side to show you a slideshow of all of the images. There are over 170 images, and you can order prints and other related items on the website.http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/583013853CnwwuF?vhost=home-and-garden
Please post your comments regarding the show here on my blog, so that I can hear about your experiences!
We had an awesome grouping of quilts… 129 of them to be exact. The overall winner was Devonna Haines of Benkelman, Nebraska with her Sun Bonnet Sue Calendar quilt. Other winners were Keeley Confer, also of Benkelman, Laura Nicks of Loveland, Colorado, Nicole Howard of Saint Francis, Kansas, Sheena Burr of Seibert, Colorado, Millie Bracelin of Wray, Colorado and Anita Hoyer of Elizabeth, Colorado. Congratulations to all of the viewer’s choice favorites listed… however, each and every one of you who entered quilts was someone’s favorite quilter, so I think you are all winners!
The raffle quilt was won by Gene Bainbridge of Wray, Colorado. Gene is the Mother of winner Anita Hoyer, a long-time participant in the show, and multiple viewer’s choice winner, as well.
If you have yet to pick up your quilt… they are being saved for you at Rainbow Fabrics in Wray.
Again, enjoy the photos… whether you were able to attend or not. I think it gives a pretty good representation of the show.
The next years show is scheduled for June 22, 2013 and upcoming details will be posted at www.wraychamber.net/quiltsoftheplains.php so check back periodically for updates.
Hi everyone! I’ve been a bit absent on the blog this past week. I’ve been really busy, though… so I thought I’d give a bit of an update. Last Saturday, June 16th, the Carousel Quilt Guild hosted an all-day class from Jessica Vaughn of Aurora, Colorado. You can find Jessica on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jaymarie0826?ref=ts
The class was using the Bonnie Hunter techniques to work on two projects at the same time. Bonnie has a load of quilting information on her website… free patterns, tips, etc., so got to http://quiltville.com to check it out.
The main project is a free pattern on Bonnie’s website called Scrappy Trip Around the World http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/scrappy-trips-around-world.html and here is a photo of many of the blocks from many of the students. Notice how well the blocks blend together, and although we each have different fabrics in our stash… the blocks are very harmonious. It is pretty easy to do, and a great way to create something useful out of your odds and ends, or scrap basket. You should give her technique a try.
At the same time, we were sewing using the Leaders and Enders technique to work on blocks for a second quilt… this one from the book called “Leaders and Enders” from Bonnie Hunter. The Blue Ridge Beauty quilt is shown in the book in lovely blues and tans, however, I’ve had this collection of Daiwabo fabrics for several years now, and this seems like a perfect choice for this pattern. I only got a few blocks done in between strips for the scrappy quilt, but here is a peek at them.
Aside from that, I’ve got the Quilts of the Plains this coming Saturday, June 23rd. I decided a week ago to pull out a quilt top that I pieced AT LEAST 16 years ago, called Burgoyne Surrounded. With Independence Day right around the corner, the patriotic nature of this quilt made it jump to the front of the line. I have another quilt in the show… but, if only I could quilt this up, and get it bound, I could have another, right? Here it is on the machine, and you can see the design… however, come to the show to see the whole thing.
The quilts are coming in… and there are some beauties!!!! I hope you’ll join us in Wray on Saturday. Don’t forget to vote for your favorites, buy some raffle tickets, and bid on the great items at the silent auction. This event helps raise funds for the Chamber of Commerce for all the events it offers throughout the year. visit www.wraychamber.net/quiltsoftheplains.php if you want more details.
Hello again, quilters! I hope you are excited for Quilts of the Plains. The 13th annual outdoor quilt show is just one week away. This year’s quilt show will be held on Saturday, June 23.
There is just enough time for you to finish those last minute bindings, and put your newest quilted creation into the show. Or, maybe you’ve got a project from months, or years ago that could use a bit of fresh air. We encourage you to exhibit your work for everyone to enjoy. And who knows… you might be the viewer’s choice quilt, earning you a wonderful new Janome JEM Gold sewing machine, courtesy of all of our sponsors.
Again, I remind everyone that there will be an open sewing night at RR Branded, 305 Main Street in Wray, on Friday evening, sponsored by the local quilt guild, Quilter’s Anonymous. You are welcome to bring any project that you are working on, and spend an evening with friends. We will have some items on display; just to give you an idea what this group is all about. A fun time is guaranteed.
This is a rendering of the Quilts of the Plains Raffle Quilt 2012. The quilt is pieced using batiks, made by many local quilters… I hear Christine Wade made 35 blocks. Wow! Thanks to all who helped!!!
We are currently selling raffle tickets on a beautiful patchwork quilt. This quilt would look great in your home, but that won’t be possible, unless you buy a ticket. The quilt is on display in the window at Rainbow Fabrics, and you can buy tickets there, or from any of our committee members: Shana Gardner, Nicole Harford, Wanda Harford, and myself, Brian Clements.
If you would like to volunteer some time to help with QOTP, we are hosting a party at the home of Joe Foltmer and Brian Clements on Tuesday, June 19th at 6:30pm. The address is 403 Franklin in Wray. Dinner will be provided for all of the volunteers, and final assignments will be given at that time. If you can help, please contact Wanda Harford or Shana Gardner. We appreciate all of the volunteers.
Quilts of the Plains helps the Wray Chamber of Commerce, in their mission to provide activities, such as Wray Daze and the Harvest Festival each year.
Today, I thought I’d do some piecing… so I pulled out the May packet from my friends at Sweetwater. They do this cool mailing each month called the “Label Crew” and I recently signed up to try it out. You can read about the label crew, or sign up at http://www.sweetwaterstreet.com/labelcrew.html or just check out their blog at www.sweetwater.typepad.com for some really neat inspiration.
I’ve known Karla for many years, since she first came to Quilts of the Plains back in the late 1990’s. At that time she had a fabric line called “Farmyard Creations”, and it was pretty cool…. however, I am in love with the colors and prints that this talented trio keeps coming up with. I get to quilt quite a few of their samples, so when you see one of their patterns in your local quilt shop… it’s a good chance that you’re seeing some of my handiwork.
Anyway, back to the point of this post. The label crew packet had a pattern for a cool tablerunner made out of large triangles. You could use a layer-cake of fabric if you want, because you cut them from 9″ squares. I cut my squares, and then cut the triangles from them. I had all these other triangles left over… so I decided to sew them together into a long border like strip. I think it will be a great little runner to decorate with. It would also make a really cute valance in my quilt studio, too!
I almost forgot to mention that each month’s label crew mailing comes with the pattern and a coordinating iron on label. I just don’t know if I’ll use it on the original tablerunner, or use it on my new creation from the left-overs…. I guess you’ll have to wait and see.
I thought I’d share this idea… maybe you’re in the “Label Crew” too, or just doing some cutting, and having some shapes left over. Maybe this will inspire you to see what you can come up with. If you have a good story about using left-overs in a quilt project… Why don’t you leave me a comment…
This quilt belongs to Melanie, a member of the Carousel Quilt Guild in Burlington, Colorado. It was a class taught by Junelle Hills from the Quilt Cabin in Colby, Kansas called the Jelly Roll Race Quilt.
Today, I’m getting a break from my duties at Foltmer Drug and RadioShack, so that I can pursue some quilting for my upcoming customers. WOO HOO! This quilt is awesome. I love the colors, and it’s made entirely of batik fabrics. The quilt is called the Jelly Roll Race Quilt.
I met with Melanie when she dropped off her quilt top, and we looked at several designs, ultimately deciding upon a gorgeous oak leaves design by Anne Bright. I love using her designs, because they stitch out so beautifully on my Statler Stitcher, Artie…
Because of the beatiful oak leaves and acorns design, and the colors of the batik fabrics, a King Tut variegated thread was chosen to complement the quilt.
Superior Threads has a website at www.superiorthreads.com and many sewing and quilting shops carry their thread. I subscribe to their monthly newsletter for the great thread education, but also for the joke of the month… which is always super funny, and a joke that I can tell at work.
The design is called “Old Oakky” by Anne Bright
Here is a closeup of the quilting design. You can see the beauty of the batiks, and the richness of the pattern and color. I chose to use a black batting, since there are no areas of white in the quilt. That way, if the batting ever beards out after washing, it will be less noticeable. Maybe you’re not yet familiar with that term. Bearding is the term to describe when little fibers of batting escape from inside the quilt, usually through the needle holes made while quilting, or through a seam that has been pressed open. They can be a bother, and can take away from the beauty of your quilt.
Beards on “Fellow Quilter” = Good
Beards on your quilt = Bad
The other tip for this day is to realize that batiks are much tighter woven than your traditional cotton fabrics, say from Moda or Benartex, etc. As a result, if you have to rip out stitches, there will still be holes where the needle sewed the fabric. If you rip out on a batik, you should try your best to resew exactly over the same stitching line to hide those holes. Just a little thing, but it’s the little things that set your quilt apart. Thanks for reading!
I just returned from a trip to the Quilt Market in Kansas City. While I was there, I made many new connections with some pretty amazing people and companies. One such person was Jim in the Colonial Needle Company booth. We got to talking about Precensia thread, and pretty soon the conversation shifted to our outdoor quilt show, Quilts of the Plains. Jim made a generous offer to send an item to our show… I just emailed him the details, and I’m sure he’ll be sending something way cool…. You’ll have to come and see for yourself. It may be an item for the silent auction, or maybe a giveaway… Hmmmm.
As I’ve said before, the show is coming up on June 23rd, 2012 in Wray, Colorado. The quilts for display will be dropped off at Rainbow Fabrics between June 18th and June 21st, however, I usually receive some out of town quilts early. This year is no exception… I’ve already got a few great quilts lined up in my studio, which I will enter into the show for some out-of-towners. They are planning to come to the show, but this simple act saves them a second trip to drop off their quilt at Rainbow Fabrics.
Add a comment to my blog about your experiences at Quilts of the Plains… What did you enter? Have you seen a favorite quilt on display there? Have you won a prize or ribbon? Whatever you can add to this discussion… others will enjoy reading!
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck finishing your projects. I’ll look for them in the show!
Fellow Quilter 