Today there will a total solar eclipse occurring over North America, with the path of totality (when the moon completely covers the sun) crossing over the state of Texas in the cities of San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas. One of the last times a total solar eclipse happened in North America was in 2017, where the path of totality crossed over the state of Oregon. The artists in Oregon were very inspired by this Great American Eclipse and created some quilts based on it. Here are a few of the quilts that were on display in the LaSells Stewart Center at the Oregon State University campus a few days before the big event took place.
From the International Quilt Museum (IQM): "Have you seen “A New Deal for Quilts” yet? Set aside some time to join us before the exhibition closes on April 20! With quilts from the IQM collection as well as historical photos and documentary sources, this exhibition tells the stories of quiltmakers in the United States and how they coped with the hard times of the Great Depression. It also explores how quiltmaking was used by government agencies as an emblem of American perseverance and frugality, and to promote new vocational and homemaking skills for women."
Now through July 30, 2024, the National Quilt Museum is featuring Karen Nyberg's work as part of her exhibition, The Stars Are Aligned, which celebrates her time as an astronaut, living in space, her family, and her interest in Earth conservation. The exhibition also features a set of Astronomical Quilts that were commissioned in 2013 by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration to honor Karen's mission on the International Space Station.
From Blue Box Auction: "Join us as we unveil the Kaye England Quilt Collection in our Featured Quilt Auction on March 9, 2024 at 12:00pm EST. This exclusive event presents a remarkable selection of 20 antique quilts from Kaye’s collection, and 20 additional quilts created by Kaye in honor of some of the most important women in history including: First Ladies Washington, Taft and Coolidge, and others including Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller and Lucille Ball. The collection also includes photos and autographs of some of the featured women in the collection."
Last week we featured an exhibit of Gee's Bend quilts that were on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In the same gallery was a collection of furniture covered with digitally reproduced designs of those quilts. Learn about this exclusive furniture collection celebrating the work of Mary Lee Bendolph, Delia Bennett, Annie E. Pettway, Loretta Petway, and Magdalene Wilson of Gee's Bend.
The Quilt Show recently visited Philadelphia and ran across this exhibit featuring the quilts of Gee's Bend at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (there through July 7, 2024) that we wanted to share with you. Of the quilts on display, the museum said, "The 13 quilts on view were acquired in 2017 through the Souls Grown Deep Foundation and were selected to tell the history of quilt-making in Gee's Bend (Alabama) from the mid-1920s to 2005. The significance of these quilts to their makers is expressed in the quilters' own words gathered from contemporary interviews."
We've finished our series on the Modern Bridges from around the world that would inspire quilters. Now let's take a look at quilts that actually were inspired by bridges. Our first is from TQS guest and master of the kaleidoscope quilt Paula Nadelstern. Paula's quilt, Kaleidoscopic XXXII: My Brooklyn Bridge, was inspired by a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City and is a part of her kaleidoscope series of quilts. Can you see why Paula considers this a kaleidoscope quilt? Click through to find out.
The Maui Quilt Shop is trying to do its part to assist the victims by collecting finished quilts to donate to those who have been impacted by the big Maui Fire. Thankfully the Maui Quilt Shop is outside of the impacted area but, as you know, many lives were lost, and hundreds of businesses and many more homes were burned to the ground. Many thousands of people are displaced without any possessions or a place to stay. Learn more about how you can donate to this worthy cause.
Geri, who was a recent guest on The Quilt Show, just learned that her quilt, Rainy Day Ballet, has been accepted to be in the de Young Fine Arts Museum’s Open 2023 in San Francisco, CA! Geri says, "I’m so honored and excited to be juried into this prestigious event that celebrates and supports the Bay Area Artists Community." There were 7700 submissions with 900 juried into the final exhibition. Click through to read more about the exhibit which will run September 30, 2023 to January 7, 2024. Congratulations Geri!
After an illustrious career spanning thirty years, Bonnie Browning, the Executive Show Director of the American Quilter's Society (AQS), has officially announced her retirement in April 2024, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the quilting world.
With the recent passing of Jane Hall at the age of 90, we'd like to share her Quilters' Save Our Stories (QSOS) interview from the Quilt Alliance where she discusses everything from quilting during difficult times to the functions of quilts, pineapple designs, and finding joy in quilting (which we think she did quite often).
In light of the recent passing of music legend Tina Turner, we want to highlight a wonderful wall quilt of her, also entitled Tina, by Laurie Ceesay Landree. Find out more, and see details, of this stunning quilt.
While attending the quilting festivities a few weeks ago, Ricky got to talk with award-winning quilter Janet Stone about her latest win with her quilt, Butterflies, Bees & AlphabeTrees, which took home the Brother International Corporation Best Wall Stationary Machine Workmanship Award at AQS QuiltWeek Paducah 2023.
Ricky catches up with Janome America Best of Show Winner Margaret Solomon Gunn at 2023 AQS QuiltWeek - Paducah, KY, where they talk about her quilt, Sweet Madame Blue, and what she used as her inspiration. (Also discover a little secret about what is NOT Margaret's favorite color.)
Claudia Pfeil is asking quilters to send her 8 1/2” blocks in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and she will make them into quilts for refugees/children who are fleeing Ukraine. This blog has been updated with new information as of March 14, 2023.
Join the DAR Museum, February 14, 2023 at 12pm (Eastern) for their Virtual Tuesday Talk, Sheets Don't Sew Themselves: Calculating the Sewing in Pre-Industrial Women's Lives.
That's right, our very own Alex Anderson has participated in the Quilters' Save Our Stories (QSOS) program and talked about her history of being a quilter, along with sharing the story of her quilt Mud, all in front of a live audience at the Houston International Quilt Festival in 2011.
Last Sunday we featured Kestrel Michaud's award-winning quilt, Not Today, which won First Place in the Pictorial Small category at Houston 2022. Today we are featuring an episode of Lisa Walton's Artist Stories that focuses on that wonderful quilt, the detailed process behind how it was made, and looks at more of Kestrel's other incredible multi-piece quilts.
We recently featured Victoria Stone's trip to the 2022 Yokohama Quilt Show in Japan to get a look at the amazing quilts on display. Now, we have detailed and up-close shots of some of those quilts for you to view. You'll be able to see the textures and quilting so well that it will be just like you're visiting the show alongside Victoria.