The QuiltersTable

Celebrating the fourth of July brings out flags,fireworks and the serious start of the grilling season in New England. Getting together with family and friends to celebrate our nation's independence is a tradition we all enjoy. Thinking about what  to cook makes me consider some of my favorite seasonal dishes and a trip to the farmers market. It also makes me remember of some of the other areas of the US I have had the opportunity to visit.

Being a National Quilting Association certified quilt judge has taken me many places. Traveling to where you're judging sometimes involves a bit of planning and multiple modes of transportation to get where you need to be.

Gratefully the quilters who have hosted me have shared so much. First to find me at what ever airport bus or train I've arrived on. Next I get to touch all their quilts and award ribbons and prizes. Then they feed me! Sometimes there has been a tour of interesting historical sights and local color.

This experience provides an cultural snapshot of the quilters and the influences that make them unique to their region. Food is always high on the list of sharing. Quilters are the  national backbone of social events that require "covered dishes." 

Judging in Athens Georgia was a great experience, there was time for a little history, great quilts and great food!  Cleo Ward shared her recipe for Hoppin' John Salad.

This fourth of July we're adding a little Georgia to our table. It was challenging to find some of the ingredients. Persistence paid off  I found what I was looking for.

                                     

 

 Hoppin' John Salad

1/2 C uncooked long grain brown rice 

1/4 C fresh lemon juice

1/4 C olive oil

1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 (15-oz) can seasoned tiny field peas drained and rinsed (Cleo recommends Gold brand)

1/2 C chopped celery (3 stalks)

1/2 C loosely packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped

1/4 C chopped green onions

1. Prepare rice according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, jalapeno pepper, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl.

3. Stir in rice, peas, celery and parsley until blended.

4. Cover and chill 2 hours. Sprinkle with green onions just before serving.

Thank you Georgia for sharing your quilts and your table.as we celebrate our national birthday as one big quilting family. What's your favorite fourth of July covered dish?

                                                                                                                   Happy Quilting,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mary

Using the F-word in Quilts! 

 

In February 2013 the Modern Quilters Guild had their QuiltCon conference in Texas. It housed all the usual quilt conference attractions, quilts, vendors, lectures and exhibits. So far so good until the viewing audience was a bit surprised by some of the quilts on exhibit.

The modern quilt movement participants consider themselves rebels. Resisting the overly   fussy traditional quilts and opting for simpler cleaner influences, these artists take their inspiration from color guru Joseph Albers' paintings and lean industrial inspired designs for their quilts.

Simply put traditional quilt making is to cursive handwriting as modern quilts are to texting. 

Wall Street Journalist Meg Cox wrote that "Chawne Kimber, a math professor, assembled the F-word blocks from many quilters. She said she was challenging the notion that some words must be censored from quilts". I can relate to her strong sentiment and people who shared her views including the 56 who contributed blocks for their quilt entry.

Kimber is expressing her point of view through quilting to highlight a message for change. 
Georgia quilter Jessie Telfair also expressed a strong sentiment with her F-word quilt. 
What surprised me was the date her quilt was completed. I would have hoped closer to 1880 not 1980 when her quilt was made. 

 

Freedom Quilt by Jessie Telfair 1980 from the collection of Shelly Zegart

One vote for F-words in quilts here! What about you?

                                                                                                   Happy Quilting,

                                                                                                                    Mary

My Quilt Entry Once Rejected Now Accepted

Last week my Big House Barn quilt wasn't accepted into the quilt show I entered. It's hard to do all the work, make a quilt, get it photographed, fill out the entry form and post it all on time. My response after the upset of getting rejected was to enter the quilt to another juried show. After all I liked the quilt and the prep work was done. I optimistically sent off my entry in the afternoon mail.

 

                                © Big Sky Barn by Mary Walter 2013 (44 x 36)

While waiting to hear about my entry I reasoned, " I like this quilt, I like houses and architectural shapes. I want to make more quilts like this I have photos, sketchbooks
and piles of possible fabrics tucked away waiting for opportunity, inspiration and time
to merge." Maybe now is the  perfect time to get into  my studio and see what comes
of the idea I have pinned on my design wall.

Today there is good news and good news. My quilt on the design wall is happily taking shape and my Big Sky Barn quilt was accepted into the Brush Gallery "Tangled up in Blue" exhibit! For more info on the exhibit opening Lowell, MA in August visit  www.thebrush.org.

I'm glad to have my quilt included in the Brush exhibit and also excited about the next one
evolving on my design wall.  Maybe there was a reason after all that my quilt entries went
the way that they did. Either way  I have a quilt exhibiting this year and another cool one
that just might be ready for next year's show. What's on your design wall?

                                                                                                             Happy Quilting,

                                                                                                                                          Mary

Entering a Quilt Show and Getting Rejected!

Recently I entered a quilt in a juried quilt exhibit and got rejected! I really liked the quilt and just expected to get in! Hmmm...lets review good photos, complete application, application fee, theme of show would fit my entry. After the initial shock I thought OK why ? really why?

I'm a quilt artist and  an NQA quilt judge, I've been on the jurying and judging end of things for a long time.There have been instances when a quilt entry I really loved just didn't fit into the exhibit and there was not a good way to make it work. (That is why I love a judges choice ribbon, but that's for another post)

When I jury I have to think about my commitment to the organization that has contracted me to put together the best exhibit I can with the artworks submitted and the gallery space available. Sometimes a hard choice has to be made.  Still it stings because just like everyone I want to be included, show my work, attend the opening, talk with other artists and the public as a nice way to offset all the creative hours spent solo. 

In the end I pull myself together and consider the big picture which is having a place to exhibit my quilts and my entry fee is a donation to support the organization. I am thankful for the opportunity AND I still have time to send this quilt to another exhibit. If I hurry I can print out the entry form, burn another CD I can make it to the post office before 5:00!

I'll let you know how it goes and if you need a virtual pat on the back for your quilt experience accepted or rejected, send a picture or a note. In the meantime here is the quilt that's being entered again!

    Big Sky Barn 44 x 36

                                                                                                                         Happy Quilting,

                                                                                                                                  Mary

waiting for the muse: matchers promotion aleck

waiting for the muse: matchers promotion aleck

Sandra Donabed's Vintage Textile Art Quilts

Sandra Donabed's Vintage Fabric Art Quilts

Planing and collecting fabrics for quilts is half the fun of creating. Being inspired by a piece of fabric  is like the chicken and the egg. Does the fabric inspire the quilt or does the quilt call out for a certain color or pattern of fabric? 

Quilt artist Sandra Donabed creates quilts using vintage tablecloths as her inspiration.

I love looking at them and discovering what treasures she has cleverly included in her quilt designs. 

Here are two fabulous quilts from her twin series. Sandra says "And I now have a fascination with twins (for no particular reason) and I've used old quilts, quilt tops, and tablecloths for both of these":

Leadville Twins

                                                                  Parallax Patterns

I hope you are as engaged by Sandra's wonderful quilts as I am. Check out her website to view even more of her creative art quilts. www.sandydonabed.com.

If you would like to try creating your own vintage fabric art quilts, summer yard sales and flea markets are a great source of material. Two of my favorite places are the Brimfield Flea Market www.brimfieldshow.com in Brimfield MA and the Vintage Fashion and Textile show www.VintageFashionAndTextileShow.com  in Sturbridge MA. Both are happening in early July. Consider devoting a whole weekend to shop both events you won't be disappointed. 

If  Western Mass is  not in your neck of the woods drop me a note to share some of your local finds or vintage fabric creations!

    


                                                                                                  Happy Quilting,

                                                                                                                  Mary