Strings & Things!

This is THE ONE I’ve been working on as I worked on all the others in the past 2 months or so.  Although it was a lot of work I think it was really worthwhile; in fact, I think it’s my best quilt so far!

Very much a scrappy quilt, the auditioning and choices made of which fabrics to use together probably took the most time!  I made enough rejected blocks to make another quilt out of, but went on to make these choices block by block.  As you can see the colorway is quite different from the ordinary but I did persist to make it work – I do love to solve problems, perhaps the main work of any artist.

I wanted it to be unique and made just to suit myself and I think I accomplished my goal quite successfully!  It has a lively colorway, yet is fairly monochromatic.  There is a balance of harmony and tension

For the first time I used wool batting and loved quilting it.  Each block is Free motion stitched in a different pattern. I have not even washed it yet and it looks as defined as a washed quilt. It’s about an 80 inch square and made almost entirely of commercial fabrics.

It's also my first Quilt As You Go.  You can see the method I used here on youtube  or here at ludlowquiltandsew.



Strings & Things hanging on the clothesline with the sun showing through it.

Detail of Finished Quilt On Design Wall
 

Sundappled Back of Strings & Things.



Detail of one block.

You can see this quilt at the Lowell Quilt Festival!

APPLETON MILLS
 

219 Jackson Street, Lowell MA 01852

 

Admission: FREE

Quilts from the Boston Modern Quilt Guild

Gallery Night Reception

Friday, August 9, 5pm - 8pm

FREE admission to all venues on gallery night!  Hope To See You There!
 

My 3 Art Quilts Accepted into the SAQA exhibit at the Lowell Quilt Festival!

Here’s a shout out to anyone who may want to check out this year’s Lowell Quilt Festival.  Put it on your calendar now:

THE LOWELL QUILT FESTIVAL: 
A Citywide Celebration of Quilts & Fiber Arts
featuring
IMAGES:
New England's Premier Judged & Juried Quilt Show
August 8 - 10, 2013

Exhibit Hours:  Thursday & Friday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. 
          Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Gallery Night at NEQM and Partner sites:  Friday, August 9, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The 3 small art quilts that I showed you a few weeks ago were actually accepted into the SAQA exhibit  called “Three Cohesive Pieces.”  It will be upstairs in the auditorium.

I’m so looking forward to this!

This is the last batch of pics I'll be posting from the LQF and are from either The Whistler Museum of the Brush Gallery and are among my own faves of the show.

I didn't get the title of this but it is a
Wen Redman, whose work I love
...anyone know the title?

Don't know who did this or the or below
but I think they're wonderful!

Carrie Hedstrom did this,
"The Woman With The Tattooed Hands."

This is Peggy Brown's "Duet III."

Susan McCraw, "Fascinatin' Rythm."

Mary Durda of Needham, MA did this bold geometric
called "Woman In A Man's World."

Nancy Crasco's "Lost In A Fog" is a fine example of a transfer printed quilt.
It's brilliant in execution, especially in its' minimalist construction.

This "Nocturne Dupont Plant" and the one below, "Nocturne Bewers Mills Lock"
are by the talented Pamela Allen of Ontario, Canada.

This was the smallest quilt but it left a large impression on me:
"Backyard Owl" by Cheri Wilkins of  Kittery Point, ME.

Again, I don't know who did these, top and bottom, but I remember that they're by different artists and thought they were both striking!

There were many more, of course, than you have seen here.  Some I simply got terrible pics so I can only blame myself, but some of the most well known quilter's don't allow you to photograph their work and there were some extraordinary pieces among these!  What can I say - take it in yourself next year!

Now, I'm going out to enjoy some of this very fine weather!

A huge part of the process of creating art is the cleaning up and organizing and re-organizing so that when you're ready to embark on a new project, you can put your little fingers right on whatever tool or material you want.  That's what I've been doing a lot of lately.

Mulling things over in one's mind is also something of a necessity and something of a procrastination technique.  But, in the blogging world, I think it's a great time to keep sharing these picture with you because they are so inspiring!  I am spending a bit of time doing some printmaking, so I'll soon be sharing some of this with you.  But, for now, enjoy this show!

In the Best of Guilds category, this took Second Place and Best Use of Color.  It really is something to see!

Kaleidoscope Blossoms by Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild,
Mendon, MA

In the Bed Mixed Techniques, this next quilt took Second Place as well as the Exemplary Applique Award, and indeed, it was!

Redbud Ramble by Linda Roy, Knoxville, TN.
Hand appliqued and quilted!
That is, HAND appliqued and HAND quilted -
the whole thing

These next photos are of my favorite quilt in the show.  It won an award for Honorary Workmanship!  And this quilter deserved to win for her incredible detailed and beautifully executed appliques, quilting, piecing and beading!  I wonder how long it took her to do this!  And, of course, I love the contemporary look to it!  Check out the extraordinary details she put into this quilt!

My Mind :All Skewed Up Without
 Zentangle Meditation
by Patricia Washburn, Taunton, MA

This one is just a great looker with total eye candy for fabric junkies - all African fabrics, machine pieced, appliqued and quilted.  Blocks are satin stitched together!

African Journey by Jean Brueggenjohann, 

Columbia, MO.

 And last for today, but not least!

Fenway Park Centennial
by Rosemary Bawn, Stow, MA

This piece is autographed by 39 Red Sox players. Hand and machine pieced; hand appliqued and quilted.  Beaded sequined and embroidered. 

These beauties just drew me to them! Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this group is their originality. Each is a unique design with striking colors and all are well executed.

The first, Virginia Autumn Leaves appears to be the most traditional design, yet it's quite alive in today's world with Ann's choice of colors and the arrangement of each type of leaf that exists in her backyard.

Detail, original designs of hand-appliqued leaves
highlighted by free-motion quilting.

Whereas, the next two are clearly contemporary designs; 

each are also creative compositions, unique designs that speak with a voice of their own!

Spider  Orchids, Carolyn Olsen, Glenmont, NY.
Stunning design and colors!

Look #3 by Gail Dwyer, Winthrop, MA

Detail, awesome colors and composition!