Quitography!

Are we tired of it yet? Last post, on this I think.... Exhibit comes down in January.

I did go to the opening of the exhibit and stayed for an hour or so. Met a few of the other artists too. I promised full views of my pieces and the inspiration photos. Warning, this is picture heavy... 1st will be the inspiration photo and photographer credit, my quilt and then if I have it, a photo of it hanging with some of its counter parts. I think if you click on the image, you will get a larger size for a more detail.

Leopard photo by Charlie Zehnder, Kambaku Game Reserve, South Africa 

 ‘Wheel’ photo by  Darrell Gilbert, Barren River

‘Vineyard’ photo by  Jeff Lackey 

‘Mountain Landscape’ photo by Carol Rice Cain, Arcadia Jordon Pond 

‘Raindrops’ photo by Judith Lesnaw

‘Jeep’ photo by Marty Betts

‘Bridge’ photo by Steve Bromley, Newport Bridge

‘Red Lamps’ photo by Helen MaClatchy

So many of the others were absolutely captivating! 

If you have gotten this far, Happy Thanksgiving.

More Later- Beth

Quilt Artists of Kentucky

Today is the opening of the Quiltography Challenge in Lexington Kentucky. It is a collaborative project between the Quilt Artists of Kentucky, a sub group of the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society and the Lexington Creative Camera Club.

There will be over 100 little quilts, each one 12 inches square, along with the inspiration photograph. The Emotions Challenge Quilts are also being displayed, which I did not participate in.

This evening there will be a reception.... and hopefully many of the quilters will be in attendance along with the photographers! 

I am excited to see all the quilts hung together, to see them in person and all the different takes on the same photograph! It will be interesting!

Doing this little project has inspired me to pull out a couple of my own photographs... and turn them into small quilts.

More later -Beth

Classes

I took a workshop, in September. Actually 3 days worth of workshops.... I think I have missed workshops where we really learn!!!!  Where the instructor is prepared, knows her topic and shares her knowledge with ease and abandon.

I took the class at Quilted Joy (an APQS dealer) in Louisville KY. It was 3 days with Bethanne Nemesh, learning how to feather her way... 5 classes in all. Not that I am any where near good enough with the longarm to do much of anything... freehand, before or now after the class, but I did learn some things that will make going forward a little easier or at least a bit more freeing in my abilities to date.

I have had some difficulty .... getting things going on the front side of my machine. I can Panto/Edge to Edge all day, but I don't find that very much fun. Just following a line at the back of the machine doesn't allow me to see any of the surface of the quilt, and am certain, that I would not be able to do that for others for long!!! (if that was my intention with the longarm).

During the classes all were able to have time on a longarm to practice what we were learning on paper. My first machine for practicing was the bottom of the line longarm. I got it by default, as I was the last one out of the tables and it was the only one left. A very frustrating experience to say the least. A very temperamental machine that moved like a stick in very thick mud. But we got through it.... Day 2 I got one more like my machine!!!

One of the things I wanted to do while taking the class, was to compare my LA with another LA. My machine... did not track well... and created a wobble... when stitching. I did not feel it when going a moderate speed or at the back, but when going very s-l-o-w or trying to back track, I did!!! It was not something I could replicate.... or even describe with a reasonable description, but I know it was not right. FINALLY figured it out. My table was NOT level, I spent an afternoon following the classes, on my hands and knees adjusting the leveling feet... and then double checked it with an electronic angle finding level. What a miracle that thing was. I had gotten my table within a .20 of level.... and have no idea of where it started, but it makes me wonder exactly I paid for to have it installed and then rechecked? If it was for building the frame... I could have done that .... part myself!!!! I did quilt up some fabric... for a bag (I will be helping friend construct a bag over the next few weeks), and will make one at the same time so I am a few steps ahead for the bumps in the construction and pattern. There are several!!! It is one of those patterns written by person with a non-construction background.

2 Quilts from the Sampler Smack Down Book
edit (I did not quilt these, Bethanne did for her book)

I also took these classes in lieu of going to the MQX show in Springfield IL. I had plans to go, but the disorganized process of the class sign ups left me feeling let down and did not want to experience a huge difficulty after traveling to the show. I hope everyone had a great time at the show and I will certainly miss the eye candy... and maybe some of the vendors too. Maybe I will try and go next year...

One class was for edge finishing... Devil is in the Details. Here is my sample of the beaded edge.

All in all interesting and fun.