Don’t Look Now!

Let me introduce you to Kellie Wulfsohn of Don’t Look Now! Her designs stopped me in my tracks at Quilt Market last week. Cheerful and whimsical, Kellie’s designs feature flowers and leaves, trees, butterflies and smiling children swirling across the surface of her quilts, which nearly always have white, cream or light-colored backgrounds. Aren’t they charming?

Her booth was light and airy, with darling fabric garlands draped across the poles.

“Worry Dolls”

Her designs are very contemporary and fresh, with a distinctive look I love. Kellie hails from Melbourne, Australia, and you can see more of her patterns, and purchase them here.

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment on this post before noon EST on Sunday, November 14. Tell me what you think of Kellie’s designs. I'll pick one name at random to win this bag made with Northcott Fabric’s Stonehenge fabric line, and their cute pink and white breast cancer awareness apron (shown above). Note that these items have nothing whatsoever to do with Don’t Look Now! designs. I just have a bunch of stuff from Quilt Market that I want to give away to my loyal blog readers. 

There’s still a bit more Quilt Market loot to give away in my next few posts, so please come back for a chance to win! 

WE HAVE A WINNER: Christa Irell won the tote bag and apron!

2010 International Quilt Festival, Part 3

Here is more wonderfulness from International Quilt Festival. Enjoy!

“Mystique”by Sharon Schamber won Best of Show and $10,000
http://www.sharonschamber.com/

“Mystique” (detail) by Sharon Schamber

“Ambrosia” by Gina Perkes won first place in the Innovative Appliqué category.
http://www.gperkes.fatcow.com

“Sew Is Life” by Barbara Korengold
http://www.gazette.net/stories/11032010/bethnew203837_32544.php

“Sew Is Life” (detail) by Barbara Korengold

“Wings” by Rory Ross won an honorable mention in the Innovative Appliqué category.

“Wings” (detail) by Rory Ross

“GO! Be Dazzled” by (my friend and Houston roommate!) Sarah Vedeler
won first place in the Computer-Aided Machine Embroidery category
http://sarahvedelerdesigns.com/

“Grape Hyacinth” by Margo Fiddes
http://www.margoquilts.com/

“Grape Hyacinth” (detail) by Margo Fiddes

”Wings and Feathers” by Mark Sherman won third place in the Innovative Appliqué category
http://www.remarkablequilts.com

“Circular Motion” by Becky Goldsmith won a Judge’s Choice Award
http://www.pieceocake.com/

“Icing on the Cake” by Linda Roy won second place in the Mixed Technique category
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/totally-hooked/

SAQA’s “Sightlines’ exhibit, from afar (photography of individual pieces is not permitted)
http://www.saqa.com/about.php?ID=1699

“Mary Simon Revisited’ by Nancy Kerns won The Founders Award and $7,500.

“Mary Simon Revisited’ (detail) by Nancy Kerns

“Folk Art for Jean” by Marian A. Woods

“Folk Art for Jean” (detail) by Marian A. Woods

“Katrina I” by Sandy Gregg http://www.sandygregg.com
from the “Still We Rise Again” exhibition
celebrating the resilience of the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

“Circles of Life” by Linda French won first place in the Mixed Technique category
http://www.longarmfinishingtouches.com/

“Circles of Life” (detail) by Linda French

“Circles of Life” (detail) by Linda French

“Flower Road” by Hideko Kubota

“With You” by Miyuki Hamaba

“Bon Appetite New Orleans” by Jennifer Day
from the “Still We Rise Again” exhibition
celebrating the resilience of the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

“Bon Appetite New Orleans” (detail of beignets) by Jennifer Day
from the “Still We Rise Again” exhibition
celebrating the resilience of the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

“Bon Appetite New Orleans” (detail of crawfish) by Jennifer Day
from the “Still We Rise Again” exhibition
celebrating the resilience of the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Felted ball bracelet

I just finished making this cute bracelet, using a kit by Handbehg Felts I purchased at International Quilt Market last week. You can buy a kit just like it on their Etsy shop here. It retails for $39. Kinda pricey, but it includes all the beads, findings and the 50 wool felted balls, which are pretty expensive on their own.

The kits come in four finishes (silver, gold, antique copper, or gun metal). If you want a bracelet with a specific color of felt balls, you can buy the findings separately from the felt balls. 

It was pretty easy to put together, but you do need to know some basic jewelry skills, such as how to open and close a jump ring, and how to roll the wire at the ends of the beads. And you need small jewelry pliers. The bracelet is surprisingly light to wear, but makes a big fashion statement!

International Quilt Festival, Part 2

“New York Jazz” by Patricia Mayer & Karen Watts won first place in the Traditional Pieced category

Here are more beauties from the 2010 International Quilt Festival in Houston!

“Dancing Granny” by Neva Waldt
http://www.artdollsbyneva.com/

“Time for a Nap” by Pearl Gonzalez

“Metropolis in Bloom” by Kathryn Botsford

“Are They Real?” by Jan Campbell
From the ArtBra exhibition
http://www.artbra.org/

“The Bayeax — Tapestry to Quilt — Sample” by Pam Holland
http://web.mac.com/pamholland3/Pam_Holland_Designs/About_Me_1.html

“The Bayeax — Tapestry to Quilt — Sample” (detail) by Pam Holland

Here is info from Pam about this piece, as listed on the card next to it: "The Bayeux Tapestry has been my passion for the past 5 years. I am in the process of creating the entire tapestry as a quilt. It is 238 feet long. This piece is my sample to work out the technicalities of making a quilt from a tapestry. I have illustrated with pigment ink to create dimension in the quilt. Techniques: Satin stitch appliqué, free motion quilting. Materials: Cotton fabric, batting, backing. Design source: Illustrations by Pam Holland from the Bayeux Tapestry, 1066."

“Dream Story” byYoshimi Umemoto

“Last Chance, Last Dance” by Moira Cannata won third place in the Traditional Pieced category

“Last Chance, Last Dance” (detail) by Moira Cannata

“Orphan Blossoms” by Timna Tarr
http://www.qtailoredquilts.com

“Facade” byMelissa Sobotka won a Judges’s Choice award
http://msfiberart.com/

“Tiny Dancer” by Margo Fiddes
http://www.margoquilts.com/

“Heron Happiness” by Kathy McNeil
http://www.kathymcneilquilts.com/

Turn-a-Tie Flowers

As they say on Monty Python, “And now, for something completely different…”

I’ve been posting like mad about Quilt Market and International Quilt Festival (and there is lots more to come) but I thought I’d take a break for a moment, because this is my 500th post! Wow. 

This is Amy Barickman’s new design for Indygo Junction. It is called Turn-a-Tie Flowers, and I bought it at Market because I have about a million old men’s ties in my attic right now. My mom had been collecting them, and had gotten the collections from my dad, and a bunch of his friends after they retired. 

You can use either old ties or regular fabric. I made the one pictured above last night, and the directions are very clear and easy to follow. They were fast and fun to make. 

I’m going to make some flower brooches to give as gifts, and some for embellishing wearables, and some for pretty pins for holiday gifts. And don’t you think this would be darling to do for men’s boutonierres at a wedding, instead of traditional flower ones? 

If you don’t have a huge bag of old ties in your attic like I do, they are very easy (and cheap!) to find at thrift stores. 

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment on this post before noon EST on Saturday, November 13. Tell me if you have old ties hanging around your house. If so, what you were planning to do with them? Or maybe you have already made a cool project with them; if that’s the case, tell me about it!

There’s still a bit more Quilt Market loot to give away in my next few posts, so please come back for a chance to win! 

WE HAVE A WINNER: Melinda wins the Turn-a-Tie pattern!

2010 International Quilt Festival, Part 1

“Ruffled Feathers” by Roxanne Nelson

Viewing the quilts at International Quilt Festival is always a terribly humbling experience. The range of styles, techniques and materials is incredible. The quality of the work is astounding. It truly is an honor just to be accepted into this show. I took these photos of some of my favorites while attending International Quilt Market, since all of the displays are up. It is a great chance to take photos when not very many people are huddled around them, like they are during Festival. (Most of the people who go to Market are either manning their booths, or working their way through and purchasing goods for their shops, and don’t have time to look at all the quilts; such a pity!) While those in this post are all art quilts, I did take photos of pieced traditional quilts and appliqué quilts, too, and will be sharing more photos with you in the next few days.

“Ruffled Feathers” (detail) by Roxanne Nelson

“Ruffled Feathers” (detail) by Roxanne Nelson

“Peony” by Noriko Endo

“Peony” (detail) by Noriko Endo

Read about Noriko Endo’s new book here: http://www.dragonthreads.com/

“Group of Pansies” by Melinda Bula

 “Group of Pansies” (detail) by Melinda Bula

See more of Melinda’s work here: http://www.melindabula.com/

“The Girls of Tyrone Farm” by Beth Miller

See more of Beth Miller’s work here: http://bethmillerquilts.com/about.html

“Portugal (Minho region) Fokloric Dancers” by Leslie Gabrielse of The Netherlands

“Portugal (Minho region) Fokloric Dancers” (detail) by Leslie Gabrielse of The Netherlands

See more of Leslie’s work on his website: http://www.gabrielse.com/

“The Geisha and the Serving Girl” by Claudia Clark Myers & Marilyn Badger
Won first place in the Art-Painted Surface category

See more work by Claudia Clark Myers at http://www.nightowlquilter.com/
Learn more about Marilyn Badger here: http://www.apqs.com/artists_marilynb.php

“That’s Graphic!” by Diana Sharkey
Won an Honorable Mention in the Art-Abstract, Small category

“Madonna” by Laurie Tigner
Won an honorable mention in the Art-Painted Surface category
Learn more about Laurie Tigner here: http://laurietignerdesigns.com

“Innocence” by Hollis Chatelain

“Innocence” (detail) by Hollis Chatelain
See more of Hollis’ work here: http://www.hollisart.com/

“Square Dance” by Jamie Fingal
Jamie’s website is: http://www.jamiefingaldesigns.com/

“Stone II” by Jean Wells Keenan
Won second place in the Art-Abstract, Small category
See more of Jean’s work here: http://www.jeanwellsquilts.com/

“Freedom” by Helen Godden

“Freedom” by Helen Godden
See more of Helen’s work here: http://www.helengodden.com

”EIEIO” by Nancy Brown
Won an honorable mention in the Art-Pictoral category
Nancy’s website is: http://www.nancybrownquilts.com/

“Port of Cassis” by Lenore Crawford
Won second place in the Art-Pictoral category
Lenore’s website is: http://www.lenorecrawford.com/

“My Rhino” by Pam Holland
Pam’s website is http://web.mac.com/pamholland3/Pam_Holland_Designs/Welcome.html

“Rare Catch” by Diane Steffen

See more of Diane’s work at http://www.dianesteffenartquilts.com/

Note: At International Quilt Festival, the photo policy allows viewers to take photos and to share them with friends (which I consider all my viewers to be!) as long as they are identified with the name of the quilt artist and noted to have been taken at Festival. To protect the artists, I also reduce the resolution so that these images are only usable on the internet, and could not be printed on products like t-shirts or coffee mugs. Many of the exhibits at Festival do not permit photography, and I never take photos where it is not permitted.