QuiltCon--Austin!!

QUILTCON has arrived!! And we are in Austin participating in this new venture into the modern quilting world.  There was excitement buzzing as we entered Austin Conference Center.  This event is being sponsored by The Modern Quilt Guild. 

Here is a listing of the sponsors for this event

The Quiltcon catalog

Some of their platinum sponsors

Michael Miller Fabrics is at the front entrance door with their display of neon fabric line

Very comfy space to visit and enjoy the new line of fabrics

The Modern Quilt Guild booth was receiving many visitors for FAQ, purchasors of show merchandise

Oilcloth International

American Patchwork & Quilting

Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Spoonflower

Craftsy

Threadbias

In various vendor booths, you viewed their quilt creations

Moda Bake Shop

Coats & Clarks

Andover Fabrics-- check out their website for free patterns and store locations to purchase their collections.

Havels Sewing (where I purchased some cool scissors with curved blades)

Over The Top Quilting Studio was one of the local vendors

Modern Quilts Unlimited a new publication on the market for modern quilters

Yummy colors!

Marmalade Fabrics was just one of the over 50 vendors on site.  Next blog will have some photos of quilts on display.

Houston Fiber Artists

At the monthly HAFA (Houston Association of Fiber Artists) meetings we have time for show and share. Here are a few that were shown at the last meeting.

Since it was Heart month, Ivy brought her Valentine quilt to share.  It is colorful but also she also made it a matching game--there are two hearts that are alike.

Here is Fermin's heart of hearts.  He uses crochet as his media but also other aspects of arts to create this unique hanging heart.  He has used chicken wire for the form.

Inside you can see various heart shapes, some beaded.

One fiber artists has used stitching as her method of expression and inspiration.  She designed the border with a climbing vine

These were exchange blocks--not her favorite but she took these orphan blocks and made a very attractive and appealing quilt

Here are three examples of surface design--the two on the left were made by Linda.  One in the middle used oatmeal (yes, oatmeal!) as a resist!  Of course, there are some pros and cons with this resist--Linda says 'been there, done that'--

This lovely silk wearable used painting and alcohol drops for movement on the silk-- 

And this little hanging is a 'story block' made by mother to give her 9 yr old daughter, who has a dream of owning a cupcake bakery one day.

Design: Elements and Principles of Art

Fiber Artists are a special 'breed'! They encompass all aspects of mediums to create interesting and intriguing wearables as well as wall pieces. When does one begin to call themselves a 'Fiber Artist"? Let's begin with these fundamentals:


Elements of Art--these are building blocks used by artists to create a work of art:

• Line (can show movement, be straight
• Shape & Form (closed lines present 3D effect)
• Color (reflect light, hue, value, intensity, usage and varies with culture)
• Texture can be visual or actual
• Space--negative, perspective, overlaps, positive
• Value--range of light to dark; contrast

Principles of Art--ways artists use the Elements in their artwork

• Pattern (repetition of the elements of art)
• Emphasis (focus--main idea or what 'grabs' your attention)
• Variety (an assortment of lines, shapes, colors and other elements of art in the art work) Variety adds detail and interest to the work
• Unity (how the elements work together, fit together, so the art work looks complete)
• Balance (symmetrical or asymmetrical)
• Rhythm & Movement (a regular repetition of the elemtns of art to create a sense of rhythm and/or movement)  Does your eye move across the piece?
• Proportion (how parts fit together to make a whole--size relations including scale, monumental, miniature, exaggeration)***

***Awesome Artists (The ABC's of Art: complied, organized and added to by M.C. Gillis)

Now, putting all those steps together, let's take a look at some Art pieces:  these come from Studio Art Quilt Association

Sharon Crary--small tapestry

CINDI HUSSAFTER THE STORM II

DENISE LABADIETRINITY CHURCH

SUSAN WEBB LEEELECTRIC BLUE

 

YAEL DAVID-COHENMASK

B. J. ADAMSBIRDS

Studio Was A-Humming..........

What a fun week this has been! A retreat! Some stayed overnight while some came only in the day--everyone came with one goal in mind. It is our annual sew along to create quilts for Binky Patrol

There were fabrics galore to choose from...............

Brenda is selecting the perfect fabrics for her Binky top

Judy's studio is perfect location for this SAL (sew along).  There is ample space to spread  out fabrics and also a place to cut as Judy M is doing in the background.

Who would have thought that you could find fat quarters at Tuesday Morning?  Well, Judy M did and the price was great!  All soft pastels

No lack of novelty fabrics to use!

And some were even pieced--add a tree to your design?  Why not?

Brenda was sewing these blocks together to assemble in one Binky.

Camilla was sewing on the binding

One Binky that needed some trimming and a binding

Sandy was skillfully hand stitching the binding to make this a complete quilt of love



Around the studio were finished quilts

Linda in the processing of refueling for that extra kick of energy.....

 



On the front table was a stack of completed Binky Quilts ready to be presented to the local chapter--all from the hands of these expatchers:  Judy M, Camilla, Brenda, Debby, Karen, Annette, Sandy, Linda and myself.  And then there are the two moral supporters:  Judy C and Jane



Even a hand knitted quilt

Take a stroll through some of the finished tops and view the patterns and quilting.

This is only the beginning for 2013--we are on a roll to complete many more during the coming months.

Our non-sewer, Jane, came for the special day.  Not only was  it our sewing, gathering, assembling day, it was also

Birthday time!  And a delicious Italian Cream cake awaited as our dessert

This was Judy M's birthday month....Happy Birthday Girl!

This was NOT a birthday gift from the group, but an appreciation gift for the use of Judy's studio for the past two years!  We love being in her studio, sewing together, chatting over our problems, eating and sharing time together.  Thanks Judy!
Unfortunately, my photo of Annette and Karen didn't turn out right so I didn't want to post an unflattering picture.  We also missed two other expatchers--Judy C (Get better soon) and Debby W (hurry back from AZ, we miss you!)

Just Can't Resist.....................................!!

Oh dear, there are mysteries on the horizon and you know how I love mysteries!  But, there are also the KAL (Knit alongs) and the QAL (Quilt alongs) plus other sundry happenings in the fiber world.  Come with me on this ride along the fiber path.

There is the Business Casual Sock KAL from the design work of Tanis, Tanis Fiber Arts.  Celtic Cast blog is hosted here or in the side notes.



There is also this KAL--I'm so far behind in Downton Abbey KAL and when I went to download clue #2, what do I see but they are hosting another KAL!!  Truckee Shawlette

Then there is another KAL with one of my favorite designers--

Stephen West and his next KALs--yes, multiple patterns released.  Stephen has teamed up with Brooklyn Tweeds and you can check out the patterns Here with the first pattern up on February 8.

Not tired of sock knitting yet--so joining in on The Heartful Yarn's mystery sock pattern on Ravelry group Solid Socks--not a member of Ravelry??  Join NOW--lots of good stuff happening there!

And if this isn't enough to fill my plate--I'm taking a lesson on double knitting--from the convenience of my studio and on my own time schedule--check out Craftsy.  The class is given by Alasdair Post-Quinn and it certainly is An Adventure in Double Knitting!

If you need something to occupy your ears, check out Craftlit where we are listening to Jane Eyre and there are other goodies there to listen too as well.