Show 510

[Paula D.]

This was superduper !!!!! Patt Blair, I love your quilts and your " shoulder to lean on ". I knew I had seen her before and as soon as I saw the quilts... Patt is on the blog... I have even emailed her about the painting she does. I have the Tsukineko INC. and pens, they work great. It was a show that asked some questions about: Is it a quilt if it is not pieced or hand quilted ? Yes, it is....if you " paint" with a brush or a sewing machine, does not matter. It is all about colour, values, creativity, joy, etc. Happy quilting.

[Judy M.]

I loved the show, too! Patt, I've seen your quilts at Road and they're so beautiful! I make totally traditional quilts, but I appreciate all types of quilts. Just seeing how the quilt community has grown since I started quilting in 1983 is just amazing. There IS room for everyone. Judy in Torrance

[Hannelore N.]

Somebody said to me once: "Unfounded criticism is often a sign of jealousy!"

I love the quilters who have about 10 or more legs, and keep a foot in every camp. Variety can be such a lot of fun.

Saying that: If a quilter develops a recognizeable style and perfects the techniques necessary for that style, then they have my support and admiration too.

This latest show is another excellent one. I wonder what the result would be if Patt would paint a large piece of fabric, and then give it to Tammy to quilt on her longarm. I bet the result of such a collaboration would be something very stunning.

A friend said to me some time ago: 'Lorchen, I want a longarm!' Another friend raised her eyebrows and asked: 'Where are you going to put it?' Her solution: 'We don't really need a dining room. We can eat in the kitchen.' ..... 'But where will you get the money from? These monsters are expensive!'....... 'I thought about it. If I get my husband to see his car and walk to work, we can do it.'...... 'Does he know about your plans?'....... 'Not yet.'...... That was about 7 months ago. Nothing has happened yet.

Ignore me, I'm in a chatty mood today.

Lorchen

[Robin G.]

As usual, I learned a lot from both Patt and Tammy. I am in awe of their talents.

Regarding what makes a quilt - the most consistent "definition" of a quilt seems to be something that is stitched with three layers - backing, batting and top. Nothing is said about how those three layers have to come together.

I think there is lots of room (and it is forever expanding) for people who make quilts ANY WAY THEY WANT. I make art quilts but I also have made some bed quilts - I use different techniques for each. I machine quilt but want to learn to hand quilt. I have pieced, appliqued, painted with inks and threads, embellished and I am planning to do a very traditional small wholecloth quilt using my grandmother's linens.

We all need the freedom to explore how we work in the medium of fabric. We are all artists and the more of us there are, the better. We can all learn from one another and to define a quilt as only being one thing or another limits our imaginations and the pleasure we derive from doing something we love.

[Shirley M.]

Well said everyone! It's all about having the freedom to express our creativity in whatever way moves us. Variety is the spice of life!!!!

Shirley

[Betty J.]

Oh I loved this last show--both guests and both kinds of quilts were very inspiring and made me want to run to my studio and play. As long as the quilt has two layers of fabric with some kind of batting in between and it is stitched together, it is a quilt. Isn't it wonderful that there are so many wonderful ways to make a quilt now and new techniques to learn? I do kind of think that for competitions there needs to be some sort of categories, but most shows do that now.

[Betty J.]

Just arrived back from Oz and the new show is calling to me. I'm just soooo tired at the mo I don't want to bit watch it, but you lot are making me twitch!!!!

I had a few hours on the Nolting before we went away and I was loving it and I spent a lot of time thinking about it whilst away. I'm looking forward to seeing the long arm in action.......... :lol:

TOoo tired to go near a computer let alone a sewing machine :roll: :lol:

[Cheryl K.]

I didn't expect to like the show because I am not a painter. I am still not a painter but little things she said really lighted a spark.

Ideas like,"Each quilt needs a heartbeat". I think it is the little extra something that says "That's it" to every quilt. Too often I just try to finish the quilt and move on to something else that has caught my eye.

I also like the way she took time to draw the eye of the tiger, shade it and then the extra spark of reddish brown around the iris was awesome. Also the grey shading under the lid. What a difference! I wonder how I can take these tips and apply to my type of quilt making?

The early episode of the program was amazing with the attention to detail of the quilting design and background. Neat practical tips to work toward knockout quilting. I will be practicing the zig zag triangle background stitching for SURE!

I sometimes think the issue of art vs. traditional quilts is based on a zero sum game. Some may say that if art and traditional quilts are mixed together then the traditional quilters don't stand a chance. I don't think so. I think that quilt judges do celebrate excellence. Over the years it pretty much evens out.

I will never be an artist, but I have lost track of the ideas and skills taught by artists that have made my traditional quilts better. My chance to win a quilt award is not diminished by art quilters. Besides, if I look back at how my quilting has progressed over the years, I cannot say that someone else winning an award has held me back in any way.

[Yvonne K.]

What a great show that was. Now, my two cents worth! So many critics have narrow vision and tight minds and have not truly reserched Quilt history. There are Quilts in museums that were machine quilted on tredal sewing machines. Not all quilts were made from scraps and old clothing. In the book "Border to Border" , historic Quilts of Montana by Annie Hanshew, look at page 62 and you will find a wonderful crazy quilt done in very neutral colors that was hand painted on in 1870. My dream is that everyone could learn to cherish what we already know and what we have yet to learn and to smile when the two meet. Everything old is new again.

[Yvonne K.]

I enjoyed the show. I did not quite understand why Tammy used 2 different batts in her quilts. I understand that a layer of wool batt will help keep the quilts soft, but was there more to the idea of two different KINDS of batts?

[Judy M.]

It's been a while since I watched that show, but I've heard wool batting gives a look of trapunto to the quilting. Did I hear that on that show? :lol:

[Annette R.]

I haven't had a chance to watch this show to find out the answer there but when I sent my Rhapsody to Eileen (eileenkny), she asked if it was ok to put two battings in it. Her reasoning was that it would make the applique look more like trapunto and help even out a couple of areas that wanted to bulge a little when I pieced it together. Since I am not the expert here I said go ahead and I am more than happy!!! thrilled, ecstatic, overwhelmed are better words. She did a fantastic job and made me look like an artist. A preview of my Rhapsody is on her website- http://www.designingquilts.com - so you can look for it there.

Ricky also does a mock trapunto technique where he attaches one layer of batting behind the applique, cutting away the excess and then with a regular batting for the whole quilt those areas really pop out.

I try to learn from as many people as possible so I never know whose technique I will adapt next. (Also really need to get time to watch this show but I have been bizzy!!!!!) hugs, Ann

[Lynn K.]

I loved the show! It really was a bridge for much creative thinking - and that is the biggest asset of TQS! At least for me!

Of course, beautiful work by both artists didn't hurt! ha

Lynn