Ruffled Apron for Symposium Raffle

Each time that the Capital Quilters Guild has hosted the North Carolina Quilt Symposium recently, we have had a silent auction of some sort of garment to raise money for charity.  We have done the art bras, boxer shorts, purses, and this year, the apron.  Aprons have been resurging in popularity  lately, and over sixty people have agreed to make one for Symposium.  I finished mine last week.

I found a free pattern for this ruffled apron on the Internet on a blog called One More Moore. 

I used some fabric by Tina Givens of right here in Wake Forest.  It has fairies and some coordinated prints in yellow, salmon, and brown.

I found out it is hard to photograph an apron without a manikin or model, and I don't think The Hubs or Kasey wants to be it.

I Won a Sketchbook Challenge Prize

I just found out from one of my fellow students in Pamela Allen's class that I won a prize in the May Sketchbook Challenge!  It is a book by Jane Davies called Adventures in Mixed Media: Collage, Stitch, Fuse, and Journal Your Way to a More Creative Life.

I will be sure to give a review when I receive this lovely book.

I will be doing some collage, stitch, and fusing this weekend at the North Carolina Quilt Symposium.  I am taking two landscape quilt classes. One is with Joyce Becker, and the other with Frieda Anderson. 

Today I served as a scribe for the Symposium Quilt Show judging.  We had three judges.  Each one got three scribes and three "fanners."  The fanners lay the quilts in a pile on the table and turn up the ends one at a time for a preview.  The judge then looks carefully at each quilt, and can ask for them to be held up.  She then goes through the checklist provided by the guild, rating each item excellent, good, satisfactory, or needs improvement.  Some of the quilts are then "held," for further ribbon consideration, or "released." 

After each judge completed their categories of quilts, the three judges got together to view the "held" quilts.  I could not always hear their comments, but it seemed that they very carefully evaluated each quilt.  If all other things were equal, quilts with "issues" received a lesser prize.  It was a very interesting process, all in all.  I recognized a couple of quilts that I had either quilted or participated in making as a group quilt, and excused myself from the room during the judging of those. 

I did not stay for the entire day, but it seemed as if they would finish the process before 5:00.  When I left, they were completing the judging on the quilts that I already saw during the first stage.

I can tell you that there are some great quilts in this show!

North Carolina Quilt Symposium, "History Revisited ~ Old is New Again"

 June 2-5, 2011

Peace College

15 East Peace Street,

Raleigh, NC

27604-1194



North Carolina Quilt Symposium Preview

Learn more about the North Carolina Quilt Symposium!  (June 2-5, Peace College, Raleigh, NC)

Here is a local television program that features three of our hard-working Symposium leaders talking about quilting, the raffle quilt, the quilt show, vendors, and aprons.  One is Jane Hall, the internationally known author, judge, appraiser and quilter from our Capital Quilters Guild.  Roberta-Miller Haraway is also in Capital Quilters Guild and a member of Cyberbee, one of my quilting groups. 

Whacky Ladies Auction Quilt

Yesterday was another sew-in day for the Whacky Ladies quilt bee.  Mission:  assemble the sampler quilt for the Heritage Days auction.  Once again, Betsy at Quilts Like Crazy right here in Wake Forest allowed us the use of their space to work on the quilt.

Here is Carolyn with one of the outer borders of 12-inch blocks.

That bear paw block on the right was left over from a quilt that I started back in 1987 or thereabouts and finished in 1998!

The ladies finished making the scrappy blue stripe border.  Here is Irene hard at work on the machine while Donna does some trimming.

Here is Sharon after trimming a last strip to fit.

Donna figured out how to sew the striped borders so that the stripes march around the center medallion.

It was fun to work together in such a colorful place with inspiring quilts everywhere you look.

By the time we "ran out of gas" at about 4:00, the white sashing was cut to size, and we decided to add a narrow flange of dark blue between the white border and the outer blocks.  I took it home to complete the final seams and then quilt it on my longarm.

Last night was the May meeting of the Capital Quilters Guild.  We are all abuzz because we are hosting the North Carolina Quilt Symposium in just two more weeks.  Last night we turned in our quilts for the show.  I am entering two quilts from last year.

Maggy Trees a Coon is entered in the Pictorial Quilt category.

Japanese Garden is entered in Wall Quilts, Small.

Last night I turned in three charity quilts for the Quilts on Wheels program.  I won a door prize- a green "honeybun" roll of fabric.

Our guild has a large stash of donated fabric.  Carolyn Ruby from Cyberbee, my group that has been in charged of Quilts on Wheels for the past two years, made lots of honeybuns and jellyrolls from the stash to serve as door prizes for those who make quilts for the charity.

We had a very entertaining and informative program about organizing your quilting space.  The speakers were two ladies from Kernersville, NC, who are now professional organizers.  I could relate to the "Before" pictures of the wreck of a sewing room. 

I did not take any photos at the meeting, but would like to direct your attention to My Sandbox to see the beautiful mystery quilt that Katie Greenwood finished just in time to turn in for the Symposium show.  So many pieces!  She did a fantastic job, and quilted this on a domestic sewing machine.

Leaving for the mountains today.  Some R&R at our mountain place, and a trip to Boone to check up on my dad, who is still in the nursing home trying to recover his strength after his hospitalization for pneumonia.

Symposium Report #7: Wearable Art

I was not able to attend the fashion show at Symposium, but I spent some time in the Wearable Art section of the quilt show. They really did not have room to showcase these lovely garments. Most of them were hanging from a rod and you had to ask someone to hold them up for you to view them. A few were on mannikens. Fellow Carolina Longarm member Neyla Bond was on duty in the garment area and held up many of these "Wearable Art" creations for me.

The Award winners for the garments were not included in the program for the quilt show, and the numbers/makers were not easy to read from the small tags attached. However, I will do my best to match the garments to the seamstresses. All descriptions are from the quilt show program.

Best of Show-Tribute to Hiroshige, Vicky Clontz. Vogue V7916 was used to make the woolfelt jacket with quilted cotton cuffs and lapel. A needlefelted scene is featured on the back. Inspired by an 1800's woodblock print by Japanese artist Hiroshige. Scene is done in wool fibers, silk yarn, silver rose studs with blooms snipped off to depict flying sea gulls. Original pin design.

Honorable Mention went to Roberta Morgan for "Black on White." Jacket from Folkware Bolivian pattern, blouse and skirt Simplicity. The white wool felt close-fitted jacket has a black lace overlay embellished with hand embroidery stitches highlighted with beads and sequins. The black blouse is lace and taffeta. The black taffeta asymmetrical skirt has a ruffle embellished with black trim and beads. All of the lace was recycled from a nightgown found at Goodwill.


"Picking Daisies," by Peggy Forster. (Sorry, out of focus a bit.) This jacket was pieced from a collection of black and white print fabrics. The daisies are machine appliqued with the stems done by hand. The flower centers and stems are beaded.


My personal favorite: in my colors and featuring my beloved hummingbirds! I think this one must be Birds of a Feather by DeLane Wyatt-Rosenau. Swing Coat AB005 Akaska Clothing pattern used to make this coat. five individuals created one block for a "birds of a feather" themed round robin. These blocks were pieced with dupioni silk and cotton fabrics to create the fabric for the garment. Piecing, applique, thread painting, stamping, hot fix crystals, and hand beading are used.
I could not find a good description in the program for this coat. Does anyone know the maker?

Here is a vest I also could not identify.


This lovely oriental design is most probably Kimono Serene by Pat Thomas.

My best guess on this one is "Left-Overs" by Cindy Atkins. Vogue 8430 was used to make this jacket. It is a felted wool base with needle felted embellishments. Made from wools and yarns left over from ther projects. Embellishments include yarns and woolroving.

That's it for my Symposium reports, from purses to purchases to quilts and wearable art. It was a great experience!

Symposium Report #6: Quilt Show

More eye candy from the North Carolina Quilt Symposium show, held at Peace College the last weekend in May.

Wildflowers, by Deborah Whitehorne, Quilted by Neyla Bond, 79 x 104, Honorable Mention, Duet quilt

An amazing group quilt depicting Motherhood, 72 x 36, made by Delane Rosenau and Pandora's Bee.

Beautiful quilting on a large log cabin, Kuma no Ikaoi Basho, Made by Kinko Spencer, Quilted by Sarah Porreca, 83 x 83, 3rd place, Duet Quilts.

You know I love mountains! This is Great Smoky Mountains Memories, by Paulett Graham, 76 x 94.

A gorgeous applique quilt, Rose Sampler, Baltimore Album, 69 x 83, made by Carolyn M. Cesare.

This one was a show-stopper, but unfortunately was not hung in the gymasium with most of the quilts. It was on the wall at the end of a hallway.

Fatal Attraction, by Sandy Curran, 42 x 53, 1st place, Large Wall Hanging

Rotary Madness, detail, by Janet L. Hall, 87 x 71, Judge's Choice, Large Wall Hanging.

Some small wall hangings

Detail from Rushing River, by Lois Griffith, 22.25 x 25 (slightly out of focus, sorry!)

Some wall hangings at the show

My friend Jean Houghtby's Chocolate Bunnies, 52 x 54, Honorable Mention, Large Wall Hanging

Dressing for the Performance, Tina Schwager, 39 x 55.5, 3rd Place, Group quilt. This is one of those "slice" quilts with different people each completing a section of the quilt, which is based on a photograph.

I could not figure out which quilt this was, but it depicts a bride getting ready for the wedding.

A section of wall hangings, featuring two egret quilts side by side

Remember the autumn leaves collage I purchased at Collage Mania? Here is a quilt by the same artist. Yellowstone Falls, by Annette Rogers, 20 x 25.5

Next time I will post some of the beautiful garments from the Symposium quilt show.

Symposium Report #5: Quilt Show continued

I have spent a beautiful morning on my front porch, watching a new pair of bluebirds prepare to nest in the birdhouse, bumblebees feeding voraciously on my six-foot diameter lavender plant, and listening to the concert of mockingbirds. It is very cool and partly cloudy. What a nice morning!

Today I bring you more quilts that I photographed at last weekend's North Carolina Quilt Symposium show.

This "crazy quilt" took the award for Best Embellishment. It is by Susie Williams, 18 x 11.25, "Morning Glory: A Crazy Quilt in Circles."

Another "Morning Glories" wall quilt, this one an original design by Kiyomi Carter, 42 x 35

Love Bubbles by Gail Reilly, 48 x 48, Best Use of Color Award



Jewels in the Garden, detail, by Eve Agee, 42 x 48


Raiding Mom's Stash, detail, by Jill Struble, Quilted by Jan Struble, 56 x 90, 3rd Place Duet Quilt

Irish Rose Triptych: Netted, Tidal, Loopy, details, by Susan Brown, 36 x 18, 2nd Place, Studio Art Quilt. I loved seeing a needle-felted piece in the show! Dyed silk bolt, plus wool, silk, ribbons, yarn, thread.

The Duchess, detail, by Leah Day, 64.5 x 66.5, 1st Place, Large Wall Hanging.

This wholecloth quilt sparkles with over 700 crystals, forty yards of lace, and thousands of glass seed beads. Leah hired me to quilt two small pieces for her a couple of summers ago. My question is, if she can quilt like this, why did she hire me? Maybe she was too busy quilting this beauty, or perhaps she has since purchased a quilting machine herself. Note: after being contacted by the maker of this quilt, I discovered that there are two quilters named Leah Day. I have not met the maker of this quilt! But I would like to! Visit her blog at http://www.daystyledesigns.com/.
Lei Nahelle, (Woodland Lei), by Amy Takaoka Lasordo, 49 x 42, 2nd Place, Jane Hall Challenge.

Amy was working on this piece at a CyberBee meeting, and said that although she was raised in Hawaii, she did not know how to do Hawaiian applique until she took a course from Jane Hall of Raleigh.

My Iris Garden, detail, by Beverly Cochran, 116 x 92.

Bev was my roommate at Machine Quilters' Expo in 2007, and we had a grand time together. Love this quilt!

Fall, details, by Mary Louise Parks and Rhoda Osher, 70 x 96, 3rd Place Duet Quilt

This very unique quilt has 3-D leaves and lots of artistic embellishment on log cabin blocks.

Eileen's Star, by Jan Struble, 34 x 34, 1st place, Small Wall Hanging

Jan is a member of Carolina Longarm Association and lives nearby in Durham.

I finish this morning of porch-sitting and bird-watching with a pair of beauties: Romeo and Juliet, Grand Strand II, detail, by Judy Lilly, 22 x 28, 3rd Place, Small Wall Hanging

Machine Piecing/Applique, fusing, tulle, fabric paint, prismacolor, thread painting

That's all for this addition, but don't worry, there is more quilt show to come!

Wish me luck on the last week of school, always a challenging time to work with children! But we have a fifth grade picnic Monday afternoon and an assembly Wednesday for fifth grade "graduation," and then I just work half a day Thursday and I'm done!