A Quarter-Inch Essence
We've been on a pretty fabric-intensive jam here over the last year or so. I have another post lolling in draft that starts out almost identically. If I can, as I hope, get a mini-post out here that sets the stage, maybe I can do some scrubbing on prior more lengthy draft with photographic ambitions, and get it posted "soon" too.
I re-delved into the sewing arts last Winter, making a table-runner for sister Ann for Christmas when I saw a couple go by and concluded I too could do that, and then a couple more for Mom and sister Mary. Before I knew it, I was angling for bigger fish. I invested in some fabric early this year, riffed on approach I had seen on PBS and eventually in print, leading with no little drama and printed-paper exercises and excellent suggestions from relations and accomplished pros, to my first mini-quilt.
Around about this time I was inveigled into attending a quilt expo at the Puyallup fairgrounds. Alas, that turned out to be a bit of a disappointment - comparatively limited actual creative work on display, very commercial, and quite crowded. One of the few times I brought out my camera I was harassed for it.
But we decided we couldn't resist attending the Stanwood Quilt Show. This was quite overwhelming. Astonishingly well-made quilts, with concepts and methods way beyond me. But then again, there were a number in the show that to my eye were not that far beyond what I have observed in my little Q circle. By this time I had done my first quilt front piecing but was clueless on next steps. I was very lucky to link up with a sympathetic pro with good suggestions as to some options for the border. Later on, I had great advice on binding fabric from another pro.
Next thing I knew we were going for the Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop, a multi-day fabric shop extravaganza in late June well beyond my previous imagined boundaries. Wow. Details to be found on another post!
And as if that wasn't enough, we also attended the 30th-or-so Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon, a prestigious event that draws folks from all over the country and beyond, always held on the second Saturday in July every year. Yikes!! An amazing display of quilting talent and audience for this stuff. More Triple-A quilts than I could possibly count (or photograph!).
We continue to cherish our fabric work, a great creative outlet and wonderful respite.
Stay tuned for hopefully illustrated more-detailed posts on one or more of the above events.
I re-delved into the sewing arts last Winter, making a table-runner for sister Ann for Christmas when I saw a couple go by and concluded I too could do that, and then a couple more for Mom and sister Mary. Before I knew it, I was angling for bigger fish. I invested in some fabric early this year, riffed on approach I had seen on PBS and eventually in print, leading with no little drama and printed-paper exercises and excellent suggestions from relations and accomplished pros, to my first mini-quilt.
Around about this time I was inveigled into attending a quilt expo at the Puyallup fairgrounds. Alas, that turned out to be a bit of a disappointment - comparatively limited actual creative work on display, very commercial, and quite crowded. One of the few times I brought out my camera I was harassed for it.
But we decided we couldn't resist attending the Stanwood Quilt Show. This was quite overwhelming. Astonishingly well-made quilts, with concepts and methods way beyond me. But then again, there were a number in the show that to my eye were not that far beyond what I have observed in my little Q circle. By this time I had done my first quilt front piecing but was clueless on next steps. I was very lucky to link up with a sympathetic pro with good suggestions as to some options for the border. Later on, I had great advice on binding fabric from another pro.
Next thing I knew we were going for the Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop, a multi-day fabric shop extravaganza in late June well beyond my previous imagined boundaries. Wow. Details to be found on another post!
And as if that wasn't enough, we also attended the 30th-or-so Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon, a prestigious event that draws folks from all over the country and beyond, always held on the second Saturday in July every year. Yikes!! An amazing display of quilting talent and audience for this stuff. More Triple-A quilts than I could possibly count (or photograph!).
We continue to cherish our fabric work, a great creative outlet and wonderful respite.
Stay tuned for hopefully illustrated more-detailed posts on one or more of the above events.
posted by Sir Gumbo at 12:49 AM
2 Comments:
Paul! I am so impressed. Do you and Margaret have an actual room where you can leave the sewing machine set up? That, I have always thought, would make all the difference.
Mel
We have a large room, at times formerly designated the "play room," between our bedroom and Eric's former bedroom. It is a good-sized room in the lateral sense, to the point that it houses the ping-pong table my dad built way back when. Actually indulging in ping-pong always had some iffy qualities, as the ceiling, in contrast to much of our home, is marginal at best. Said table is now covered with various fabric-related materials. The primary machine sits nearby. We have our backup machine housed in a cubbyhole in our bedroom, next to the ironing board.
Quite the little craft nook.
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