Cabins to Castle - Building Blocks Tuesday

The show was wonderful!  The weather was perfect.  Well, OK a little warm for my jeans, but absolutely beautiful.

The Blue Jay Quilt Walk 2015:









And these are just the quilts that were on my side of the street (I was white gloving all morning)!



The theme of this year's walk was "Cabins to Castles".  We were challenged to create minis in this theme.  Unfortunately, I didn't quite have time to make one myself, but my fellow guild members did a fantastic job.



We had use of one of the storefronts for some of our smaller quilts, and since I am one of the members that really likes to make minis - I had my own wall!



We even had an exhibition from the Mountain Fife and Drums!



And let's not forget the Quilt Auction.  This was the first year that I was able to actually watch it!  Usually I am white gloving across the street, but this year I got to "Vanna" and help parade the quilts around during the auction.

Can you believe some of the quilts below were auctioned for under $100?



Even so, we still met our goal of $10,000!  Every dollar went to Camp Paivika.



My NY Beauty quilt, there on the right edge of the photo above, went for $240, so that is something!

And we had several quilts made my Tonee White.  There was some very active bidding on her work.  This one was my favorite of hers from the day.



This awesome bear, made by Kim Everhart, raised over $500!  I think it is worth 10 times that, but hubby had me on a strict allowance for the day.  :(  I didn't succeed bidding on any of the quilts I wanted.  But, I will be better prepared next year!



Now the fun is over.  Until next year!  (I hope you will consider coming).

This is what my Monday accomplished:




What blocks have you working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jen

An InLinkz Link-up

Inspirational Sunday (8) - via Road to California 2015

Welcome back to Inspirational Sunday.  I have a few more art quilts to share this week and then we will shift to another genre for a while.

First up is "Cock-a-Doodle-Dandy" by Gigi Kandler of Arroyo Grande, CA.

Gigi says of her quilt, "This quilt is based on a photography I took of a rooster that lives in the Village of Arroyo Grande, CA.  I started the quilt under the wonderful guidance of David Taylor in a workshop at Asilomar.  The background is reminiscent of a whole cloth quilt."

I think that yellow background really makes this rooster stand out, and also think of chickens at the same time.


Here is a close up.

Feathers seem to be a great place to show off some really tight quilting.

Next up is, "Rainbow Bridge" by Renee Gannon of Ukiah, CA.

She says, "Seven years amid the Southwest's natural beauty left invisible yet indelible lifemarks on me, amount them a memorable hike from Navajo Mtn to Rainbow Bridge in 1981.  Its sandstone structure a lifemark of the water, sun & wind that created this natural arch, the streaks of desert varnish further mark the effects of those forces on its surface.  Based on a photo taken by the quilt maker, made for the Mendocino Quilt Artists 2013 theme, "Lifemarks".

Here is a close up so you can see the quilting.

This next quilt won second place in the "Art Critter" category.  It is called, "One Fine Day" by Laurie Britt of Bakersfield, CA.

Laurie says a little about what she used to make this quilt, "I was inspired to make this quilt after seeing these majestic beauties on a road trip to Colorado.  Fussy cut Raw edge Applique, Mistyfuse, inks, pastels, shiva paint sticks, textile paints."

Sometimes it is difficult to get a good close up of these types of quilts....

Last but not least is another fabulous quilt by Joanne Baeth, "The End of the Line?" by Joanne Baeth of Bonanza, OR.

Joanne says of this quilt, "While Salmon Fishing on the Oregon coast, I have become intrigued by the fate of old fishing boats that have been taken to boat yards to be repaired, sold or scrapped. Is it the end of the line?"

As you can see it won first place in the Art Naturescape category.

I really like this one.  I reminds me of several scenes I saw in Prince Edward Island, Canada while visiting my family.  I don't know about you, but I would love to have it hanging somewhere in my house!


Next week, we will shake things up a bit and look at a different genre of quilts.  I hope you will come back.


Thanks for reading today,




Jen

Inspirational Sunday (7) - via Road to California 2015

Welcome back to Inspirational Sunday.  Today's quilts will have you doing a double-take.  I was so struck by how much these looked exactly like a high resolution photograph (no doubt one was used to assist the making of these quilts).

First up is, "Dazzling Dahlia" by Andrea Brokenshire of Round Rock, TX.

Andrea says, "I am constantly taking photographs of the beautiful flora I encounter on my travels.  On a trip to Oregon, I took a number of photographs of the many beautiful Dahlias that grown in the Willamette Valley.  I was amazed at the variety of shape and size of these magnificent flowers.  This is one of them."

Here is another lovely quilt.  This one is called, "Larger Than Life" by Carol A Kolf of Sheridan, WY

Carol states, "A class with Jennifer Day inspired the technique I used for this moth.  I had taken the photo several years ago and always thought it would be a great design for a quilt.  More than 80 different thread colors were used to create "Larger Than Life".  I used the grain in my sewing room floor as a model for the grain design in the frame."


Here is another.  This one is called, "Aggregating Anemones" by Carla Stehr of Normandy Park, WA.

Carla says, "This piece was inspired by a photograph I took of Aggegating Anemones in a tide pool near Port Angeles, Washington.  I used painted silk organza to represent the green and pink transparent tentacles."

I wish I knew how she used that organza, the effect is amazing!

I have a few more remarkably realistic quilts to share next week, but then we will move on to another genre.


Thanks for reading today,



Jen

QuiltCon recap

It's been a couple of months since I returned from Austin, and I am glad that I took a little time to decompress before telling you all about my trip.  My brain definitely needed a little time to get back to its normal rate of speed.  I also wanted to wait until I got my quilt back so I could factor that into the experience.

Firstly, QuiltCon was AWESOME!  The people were great, the classes were good, and the show was lovely.  But I'm sure you already guessed that.  Here's what I really got out of the experience.

Camaraderie:

This one may be obvious.  I mean we were all there for the same reason, but it was delightful to feel like one of a group.  I kept hearing, "these are my people", and "these people get me", and I was feeling the same way.  Whether it was the stranger you sat down next to in a class, or someone you swapped a pin with in the hallway, or the roommate you stayed up with until 1 am every night talking about quilting; everyone was there because they love to quilt and they were just as excited as I was to be there.

I generally sew alone.  On occasion, my daughters join me, or I stay late at a guild meeting to sew, but most of the time I am down in my dungeon studio with the cat, working on my projects.  So, to be immersed into a large group where anywhere you went you would run into someone willing to talk quilting, was bliss.

Inspiration:

QuiltCon is kind of like inspiration overload.  Everywhere you turn you are met with something or someone that gets you really thinking.

Unlike some other shows, when I walked around QuiltCon, there were more moments of "I could do something like that".  Perhaps it is because simple shapes and patterns are part of the modern quilting movement, or maybe it is because making quilts for USE is also a big part of modern quilting.  Either way, as I walked around and viewed the quilts hanging in the show, there was at least one feature in each of them that I was inspired to try.

My classes challenged me to try something new or to do a skill better than I've been doing.  That process is always inspirational, even when the new skill isn't going so well.

Perhaps the most inspirational thing was getting the comments back on my quilt, and the fact that they weren't negative!  I was pretty much expecting a bunch of negative comments, especially hearing about some from the previous QuiltCon.  Plus, I know that my quilt had issues, I can point them all out to whoever wants to know.  Now I don't know if the QuiltCon judges were making an effort this year to be more positive or what, but I was inspired by the comments I received: "Great pixelation of background", "Quilting is technically good", "Piecing is precise and even".  This was just the encouragement I needed to keep trying.

I know many of us put down our own work.  We know where all the flaws and mistakes are, and we can't help but compare ourselves to others.  I have tried really hard to just get over it.  Yes, my work is flawed, but I am on a journey here.  Perfection is not my goal.  My goal is to improve with each quilt I make, but I know I rush sometimes and so of course, mistakes are inevitable.  That is part of the journey as much as anything else, learning from errors.

Getting feedback from someone looking at my quilt in person instead of through a computer screen was extremely helpful.  I hope to enter a quilt in next year's show.  I hope you will consider it too!

Next year's QuiltCon is practically in my backyard, Pasadena!  OK, so in LA traffic that is really an hour away (only 25 miles, mind you).  If you are planning on attending, I hope you drop me a line so we can meet up for coffee or something.


Thanks for reading today,



Jen

Inspirational Sunday (6) - via Road to California 2015

Today, and probably next Sunday, I thought I would share a few of the quilts from the Art Pictoral category at Road to California.  I think you will agree they are stunning.

First up is the winner of the category, a quilt called "Beneath My Wing" by David M. Taylor of Steamboat Springs, CO.

David says, "From the moment I saw Inge's stark, dramatic photo of a mother swan protecting her cygnet beneath her wing, I knew I had to recreate the moment with Applique and quilting, and lots of "white" fabrics."

The details on the feathers are just amazing!


Second place went to this lovely quilt, called "The Landing" by Joanne Baeth of Bonanza, OR.

She says, "The challenge was to create Canadian geese in different positions of flight as they came in for a landing.  Over 1500 pieces were cut out, shaded, fused, and stitched-one feather at a time."

I think she did a marvelous job of capturing the geese in flight, even down to the awkward way they stick out their feet to slow themselves down.


Third place went to this stunning quilt, called "Fancy Shawl Dancer" by Linda C. Anderson of La Mesa, CA

She says, "Having seen local Indians dance with this eye-stopping dress and mesmerizing movement reflecting a butterfly, I knew I had to capture that feeling and motion.  The dark sky makes me think of dream catchers in the southwest, as well as starry, starry night by Van Gogh.  I used 100% cotton and hand painted all the fabric used.  I machine stitched the raw edged applique."

Here is a close up.

I do like those circular motifs in the background, and I think she did an excellent job on the shadow (silly, I know).

Next week, I will share a few quilts that will make you do a double-take wondering if they are actually photographs!


Thanks for reading today,



Jen

Inspirational Sunday (5) - via Road to California 2015

Hi everyone!  I've been busy designing and testing paper pieced block patterns for an upcoming class I am teaching to my guild, and I guess it has me in a bit of a paper piecing appreciation mood.  So...here are some lovely paper pieced wonders from the 2015 Road to California show.

This first one is just amazing!  It is called "Outta the Loop" by Karen Machetti and Eyvonne Smith of Port St. Lucie, FL.

It's a shame that the table was in the way!  The bottom of the quilt is equally amazing.

Here's a closer look.

Check out that wonderful quilting too.

Here is gorgeous star quilt called "Going Green" by Patricia C. Robertson of Reedley, CA.  I love the addition of the appliqued leaves.

The stars themselves are Carol Doak's patterns, but Patricia designed the rest.  So lovely.

And then there is this tiny wonder!  Sea Breeze by Pat Kuhns of Lincoln, NE.

Yep! That is some tiny piecing, and as you can see it won 1st place in the miniature category.  The Mariner's Stars and the sashings are both foundation pieced, and then the Mariner's Stars are appliqued onto the background.  I like tiny, but this is really tiny!

And now for something a little less intricate, but equally as lovely.  Floating Jewels by Tanya Heldman of Los Angeles, CA.

I just love the quilting and modern look of this quilt.

What about you?  What kind of paper piecing do you like best?


Thanks for reading today,



Jen

Inspirational Sunday (4) - via Road to California 2015

Another special exhibit that is usually seen at Road to California is the Hoffman Challenge.

Hoffman Fabrics is located here in Southern California and they have some lovely fabrics.  Each year, they choose one fabric and challenge the community to create with it.  There are several categories for quilts of various construction methods, but there is also a "doll" category and clothing and accessories categories - just in case quilts aren't your thing.  If chosen as part of the travelling exhibit, your item will see the halls of many a quilt show during the year!

What I like about this challenge is that while you have to use a recognizable portion of the fabric, you can mix in other fabrics from other manufacturers.  This really allows you to create what the fabric inspires as your masterpiece as you envision it.  Several of the challenges I've been a participant of in the past have limited which coordinating fabrics you are allowed to use.  This does make it challenging, but sometimes you just have an idea that needs to be realized and requires another fabric.

This is the fabric for the 2014 Hoffman challenge.

2014 Hoffman California Fabric Challenge

Here are some of the quilts from the 2014 challenge.

This one is called" Circles in the Mist" by Sonia Reed, and is of her own design.

And for those of you that still haven't finished your One Block Wonder quilt from the Quilt Along a couple of years ago, perhaps this will inspire you to get it out again and finish it up!

It is called "Here Come the Blooms" by Penelope Harris.

Perhaps one of my favorites of the challenge is this one called "Segovia" by Deana Steel.  She let her love for Spanish guitar music to inspire this lovely quilt.

In case you are interested in trying your hand at the 2015 Challenge, the challenge fabric is:

2015 Hoffman California Challenge Fabric

I'm not sure why, but this one reminds me of flying carpets and the movie, Aladdin.

All the details of the challenge are listed here at the Hoffman Challenge website.  Entries are due in July!

I've heard it said several times that the Hoffman Challenge is a great place to get your feet wet in the quilt show circuit.  I was considering entering last year and planned on making a coral reef scene, but alas, that summer deadline is a tough one for me.  By the time I found the fabric, I just didn't have time to make the actual quilt.  Perhaps one day....If you are worried about sourcing the fabric, Equilter.com seems to usually carry the challenge fabric.  I have ordered from them in the past with good results and they have the 2015 challenge fabric.  So go for it!

Who is going to enter?


Thanks for reading today and Happy Easter if you celebrate!



Jen

Inspirational Sunday (3) - via Road to California 2015

Welcome to another Inspirational Sunday courtesy of the Road to California quilt show for 2015.

I'm continuing with special exhibits today.  The next several quilts were part of an exhibit highlighting many of the wonderful State Parks we have in the US.


This one depicts Antelope Valley California State Poppy Reserve by Dorinda Goff.

Mid-February through May acres and acres of California poppies bloom just outside of Lancaster.  Dorinda's quilt focused on the poppies.  They are quite lovely, aren't they?

This next one depicts Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park by Barbara Blake.

Pigeon Park is located on the California Coast about 50 miles south of San Francisco.

This one is for Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park by Linda Molter.

Bale Grist Mill is 3 miles north of St. Helena, CA.  Built in 1846, and restored in 1925, this water-powered grist mill was operated by the Bale family in the late 1800's.


This lovely quilt depicts the Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park by Kimberley R. Heaps.

I can tell you that there is nothing quite like walking through a redwood forest, and it is difficult to capture its beauty,even on film.  Kimberley did a fantastic job though!

This one shows Tomales Bay State Park by Julie Harris.

Julie decided to focus on the tranquility of the park's picnic area.  Tomales Bay State Park is located about 40 miles north of San Francisco.

This last one depicts a park a little closer to my home.  It is Malibu Lagoon State Beach by Karen Griffith.

I love how simple this quilt is with the strips of color.  Lovely!


That's it for this week.  I hope you return again next week for another installment from the Road to California quilt show.


Thanks for reading today,



Jen

Inspirational Sunday (2) - via Road to California 2015

Hello!  For today's inspirational post I thought I would dive right into some of the special exhibits at Road to California, because they are my favorite to look at.

First up, the Wicked Cherrywood Challenge.

In this challenge, the participants had to complete a 20 x 20 mini quilt, with the theme from the Wicked musical, oh, and a very limited color palette (using Cherrywood fabric).

The results are dramatic!

And I love how different they all are!

The next group of quilts are just a couple from the "Celebrate the Day with Quilts" exhibit.  In this exhibit 53 artists came up with 72 quilts that interpret some "special days" that might make it onto your calendar.


This quilt is called "National Tooth Fairy Day" by Bunnie Jordan.

Who wouldn't want to celebrate losing a tooth by getting a quilt like this?

I only snapped a few of these as the crowd was thick on the day I went to the show.

This one is called "DNA Day" by Renelda Peldunas-Harter.

I learned that April 25th is a significant day in the history of DNA discoveries, and here I just thought it was a few days after tax day.

This one is called "Nerd Pride Day" by Kathy Lincoln.

So the next time May 25th rolls around, make sure to hug the nerd to your right and left.  I just love the pocket protector included in the quilt!


Thanks for reading today,

Jen