Fiberchick wrote "These quilts are the most colorful, joyful and soulful expressions of their creators' spirit. Made of polyesters, wools and corduroys as well as cottons they are the embodiment of recycled materials. They were made for warmth and they were made to be used. Stylistically, these patchworks intersect traditional quilts and purely improvisational ones. They are abstract in pattern and yet have form". After reading this I immediately thought of a wonderful quilt that was at my Guild's quilt show. It was made by Jennifer K and it is her first quilt. The name of the quilt is "The Cottage Quilt". Tell me, is this not an amazing quilt? Note: it does not have a blue border; that is the back of the quilt on the other side of the frame.
This is what Jennifer had to say about her quilt: "There was a threadbare bedspread at our family cottage - a vintage 1970 floral. in purple, turquoise and green, which started life as my bedspread at home when I was a kid. I decided to "upcycle" it into a crazy quilt using the same colour palette but more saturated and punched with a bit of hot pink, funky "me" patterns, all kinds of different fabrics and embellishments "galore". This was all before I learned how to quilt! My sewing machine was broken so I started piecing by hand - and couldn't stop! This is my first quilt." I had a chat with Jennifer and every piece of fabric had some sort of meaning. There is a rosette in the centre that is made from a fragile scarf that she remembers her mother wore when she was a child. Her mother told her it was also worn by her mother. All in all there are five generation of fabric remembrances in this quilt! In my humble opinion it is a beauty and quite possibly the most unique and special quilt in the show! I suppose it is what would be called a utility quilt but I don't think that term does this or others of its ilk justice. Right now I can't think of a better name but it is certainly is a free-spirited quilt!
I made a scissor fob for one of he vendors at our quilt show, Anita of Cotton Mill Threadworks. Anita sells Superior Threads, a personal favourite of mine! You know I love grasshoppers so I appliqued and embroidered the little critter on a pretty piece of fabric! She loved it!
So day one of the quilt show is down and day two is about to start. I will share lots of pictures from the show in the coming days!
Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H
