Applique at the AQS

 I love appliquéd quilts!  These are a few examples of appliqued quilts from the AQS Show in Grand Rapids.  This first one is machine appliquéd and quilted and was made by Lauren DeVantier of NY.  It is a replica of a wonderful quilt made in the 1860s by Susan McCord.  I love the dark pinks and greens, with just a spot of orange to set everything off.  I have the pattern for this quilt and may have to make one for myself.

 I also have the pattern for this one and have been gathering scraps for the circles for a few months now.  The colors and quilting are wonderful and really add to the pattern.  I believe this one is called Circle Jubilee and was needle turn appliquéd by Maggie Carey in Michigan.

I liked this one too.  It was a project undertaken by several people in the DeKalb County Quilter's Guild in Illinois.

 I love this quilt!  Teresa Rawson of Michigan started this version of the Civil War Bride's Quilt about the same time that I did, and she has hers finished!  Not just finished, but she drafted many of the patterns herself, and did lovely needle turn appliqué and hand quilting to finish it.  I love her colors and her handwork is really beautiful.  I have followed the progress of this and her other wonderful quilts on her blog.  And although I didn't get a picture, (too many people admiring it) Teresa's quilt called All Around the Town won an award.  Congratulations to Teresa!

I love this quilt too.  The pineapples are handquilted in an echo design.  Tim Latimer is from Michigan and created a beautiful quilt using an old design.  I love the simplicity of the design and the quilting (certainly by my standards) was perfect.

This is quite a masterpiece.  It is Barbara Burnham's MEC Remembered.  I own the book, with the patterns, but this is much more complex (not hard, just closer together) applique than I have done before, so I need more practice first.  Someday....

There were more applique of course, and probably hundreds of pieced quilts.  It was the first bigger show that I have attended, and consequently, it was a bit overwhelming to see so many really beautiful quilts all in one place.   But I went for the inspiration and I certainly found it.  

My favorites of the Japanese and Egyptian Work at the AQS Show

The first three photos are from the Japanese exhibit; a spectacular log cabin, stunning applique, and wonderful sashiko embroidery.

The last five photos are appliqued pieces from the Tentmakers of Egypt exhibit.  There were many more, and most, even by Thursday morning, were sold.

The Japanese and the Egyptians were both well represented with gorgeous work.

The Orange and Blue at the AQS Show

 I love these quilts.  The first 4 were part of the Gwen Marston exhibit at the AQS Show in Grand Rapids this week.  The really cool log cabin is by Jennifer Emry in Va.  Aren't they wonderful?

Grand Rapids AAQI

 I have a new camera and spent the day in Grand Rapids at the AQS show.  The show has fabulous quilts and it also has a wonderful display for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  There were thousands of names on the purple and lavender and eggplant panels.  Thousands.  They were interspersed with small, lovely AAQI quilts.  The two that I photographed below were made by Michelle, a friend from the Liberated Quilters on-line group.  She has lost many relatives to Alzheimers and has been making these little quilts to raise money for research.  I have made a few and have two more in the works,

but there is still lots to be done.  Please check out www.alzquilts.org to see how you can help too.  You should be able to click on the photos to enlarge them.  

A Couple Things Going On

Still no camera, so no pictures :(, but I finished machine quilting a T shirt quilt tonight for a friend.  The long arm still has issues with threads breaking but I persevered until it was done.  I am going to have to figure this out because it is SO damned frustrating.

I finished hand quilting the Folk Art Fantasy last week with the 1/2" diamonds and really do like it much better than before.  The additional quilting added a lot of interest to the piece.  It has been re-hung above the mantle.

I also finished appliqueing the nine P3 Design blocks of tropical flowers and leaves and have them hanging on the design board with lots of green, purple and deep rose colored batiks for sashing and border.  It won't be huge, but it will look great in the summer on the wall next to the front door.  I tried to take Winter Moonlight down, but didn't have anything to replace it with (my quilts are way too big for that space) and had to put Winter Moonlight back up.  I'm trying to decide how to quilt it.  I could use the machine, I could hand-quilt, or I could do a sashiko style with embroidery floss.  I'll finish the piecing and think about it.

I'm on the last redwork bird of the Crabapple Hill series and bought a lovely brown fabric with little red birds last week to use in the quilt.  I have to decide if I'm going to do my own thing or if I just follow the pattern.  Again, I have time to decide.

I'm going on vacation and need to take some hand work so I'm thinking about starting some really fussy applique baltimore style baskets, so I'm off to look at the inspiration books...

Hmmm...

I can't find my camera.  It's like talking without my hands.  I can't seem to blog without photos :(
Still looking.