Dallas Quilt Show 2017

In between trips, the gals are getting together for the Dallas Quilt Show.  I certainly can't turn that down so I leave Mister working from home and zoom down the road to Mama's Daughter's Diner for the breakfast meetup that Stephannie put together.  I LOVE these chances to renew friendships and make new ones.  First we are 9 but then Carol, Janet, and Suzanne arrive.  That makes an even dozen.  Perfect.  (I guess Harry, the Sock Monkey (made for Carol by Sherri) makes 13, but . . . .)

Now it's time for the quilt show.  Once I figure out how to get there - yes, I got momentarily lost - I am lucky enough to find a parking spot close in and am off to have a bit of eye candy fun.  As I walk in the door, I am greeted by the best of show quilt.  It's a modern one this year and that's a change.  Granted, modern and I don't always see eye to eye, but kudos to Kerri Green of Dallas, TX for this amazing honor.  She says, "Sixteen blocks using the same motif were created half using neutrals and half using brights.  The blocks were then cut into pieces and rearranged to create a new configuration of color and design element."  Congratulations Kerri.

As I am waiting for the group to reconnect AND looking for Allison, I am lucky to run into Maria and Rocky.  Yay -- my peeps.  They did the mad power run and are on their way out though.  Drat.

Okay, I'm off to the vendor section in order to try and check of my list of things I need.  Yes, I'm being good here.  I promise.

The first stop is at Punkin Patch Craft Designs from Granbury, TX.  Their wool is amazing and I have bought it before at Sew-Krazee in Granbury.  Today, I am on the hunt for some yellow and pink.  Look at this beautiful display!  Oh, the colors.  Yes, I find exactly what I am looking for and the best prices at the show.  Double score.

Next up is a stop at Minding My P's and Q's to say hello to Jill Baxter. the owner.  As I check out the booth I spot the quilt that she finished at retreat last month in Temple, TX.  It's the one on the far right of this picture.  I do so love those colors.  I manage to find a panel for my sweet granddaughter while here and thus, another item went into the bag.  No, it was not on the list so that is one checkmark for the day so far.

 My last stop is for a piece of neutral batik to finish my Garden Party top.  Once that is safely in my tote, I am off to see the quilts and here is my total haul:

Now for the quilts.  I grab pictures of the ones that really strike me as unusual or WOW.  That doesn't mean that there are no others that could be here.  We all have our own likes and dislikes so just know that these resonate with me.

This is "Stack on Stacks" by Vicki Conley of Ruidoso Downs, NM and here is what she had to say:  "The wide open prairies of the southwestern and midwestern United States are dotted with power plants projecting conspicuously out of the surroundings golden green.  Their smokestacks protrude into the air, repetitive vertical shapes starkly disrupting the gently undulating horizon and contrasting with the softer shapes of alfalfa and hay bales.  Yet, both are marks of people on a seemingly vast and empty landscape - the energy and agriculture without which our society would collapse."

This  more traditional quilt calls out to me and I am fascinated with the tiny triangles all around the border and within the blocks.  Oh my.

It is called "Feathered Stars: and is by Kathy Thibodeau of Carrollton, TX.  It is all hand quilted and that makes my heart happy too.  She writes, "I wanted a new quilt in blues and greens for my bedroom.  I found this pattern in one of my old quilt books and found it just challenging enough to be fun too."   Just look at those cornerstones.  Wow.

Color is everywhere on the next one my camera finds.  It is called O G and is by Karen K. Stone of Southlake, TX.  I am in awe of it and know that it is oh so far beyond my capabilities.  She says, "Gradated backgrounds, combined with smaller color runs and no repeats.  The title refers to the block shape and a rap expression that might well describe the maker."    I think it stands for Obviously Gorgeous.

As I round the corner, I spot the Betty J. Carpenter Award winner for Fine Hand Workmanship and all I can say is Amen.  I am speechless.  It goes to Barbara Ann McCraw of Denton, TX.  For a wee bit of history on Barbara, one need only to go to Google and put in her name.  She has a quilt in the Smithsonian.  Yep, that's right.

"Growing a New America - 38x42 - 2009 was selected for inclusion into Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi's book, "Journey of Hope-Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama".  It is currently on exhibit at the National African American Museum and chosen as one of three in the collection to go into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C."


She has also been spotlighted by the Bullock Museum through the Texas Story Project.  "In 2012 she created The Loving Quilt for the exhibition And Still We Rise, a retrospective commemorating significant moments in African American history.  The subject of that quilt was the 1924 Virginia Racial Integrity Act which banned interracial marriage.  The quilt tells the story of Mildred and Richard Loving, a mixed race couple, who were legally married in Washington, D.C. in 1958.  After moving to Virginia, they were arrested and sentenced to prison."

Now back to the current award.  It is entitled "Family Reunion" and she has this to say about it:  "About three years ago I started searching Ancestry.com looking for missing pieces of my family history.  This quilt represents my entire life, past and present, and those I keep tucked safely away in my heart."  Oh be still MY heart.  It makes me want to try something like it but I KNOW it would take me about 7 times as long, at least.  Bowing down here.

Okay, gotta keep walking.  Next up is another applique and it takes my breath away.  It is entitled "Hadassah" and the colors just touch my soul.  Perhaps it is because I am a redhead, but dang -- love, love, love.  It is by Audra Rasnake of Meadowview, VA and is all hand quilted to add to my adoration.  Her note says, "I was inspired to make this quilt after taking a Bible study about Queen Esther.  'Hadassah' was her Jewish name and the root word for Esther is 'star'".

Moving on, I turn another corner and am delighted by this small wall hanging.  Oh doesn't this remind you of a calm beach?  It sure takes me there.  It is by Elizabeth Budd of Lewisville, TX and is aptly entitled "The Sound of the Sea."  Her description simply contains part of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem of the same name.  "The sea awoke at midnight from its sleep, And round the pebbly beaches far and wide I heard the first wave of the rising tide  . . . "

Down the same aisle is "Blue Koi" by Katherine Dossman of Belton, TX.  Her comments include, "I enjoy using embellishments in my wall art quilts.  I was inspired by the blue fabric and koi fish.  I machine embroidered the center medallion and created the design of the quilt.  I like to use curves in my blocks as well."

Goodness gracious.  Curves scare the you know what out of me.  I have so much admiration for those who tackle them without fear.  Perhaps some day.

Speaking of wall art, I am not a huge fan of character or portrait work in quilts, BUT this is an amazing entry.  It is just oh so lifelike.  I stand and stare for quite some time as I am happy to wait my turn to photograph it.  Incredible.  It is entitled "Frog in Fallen Leaves" and is by Laura Ruiz of Malabar, FL.  Her note says, " 'Frog in Fallen Leaves' was inspired by a photograph taken by wildlife photographer Thomas Marent, and with his permission it became the catalyst for this engaging amphibian.  For a girl who was slightly repulsed by frogs, this little guy has captured my heart."  The only thing I can add to that is mine was captured too.  Crazy cool.

Another art quilt that held my attention for quite awhile was right next door to our dear frog.  It is entitled "More Than a Memory" and is by Kathy McNeil of Tulalip, WA.  Her comments are:  "ET dreamed about a tree whose memories spanned a hundred years.  My own childhood dreams were nurtured under the boughs of a big elm tree.  Look for the ghost images in thread."  Can you see them?

So, part of me really wants to do a red and white quilt.  I haven't found just the right one yet, but dang if this one isn't close to what I want.  It is by Sun Mee Seen of McKinney, TX and is called "Red Red Red!"  She writes, "I tried to quilt this the old fashioned way (all done by hand) only to realize how difficult, arduous and crazy that was.  I regretted my decision during hand quilting, but I enjoyed the project and was really happy to finish it."  Well, I think it was completely worth the effort.  Lovely.

The "Purple Christmas Cactus" by Pamela Wingate of Dallas, TX is the next one to catch my eye.  I do so love purple and green together.  She says that, "this quilt was created as part of a DIY Round Robin challenge with the Quilters Guild of Plano.  Each border required a different technique including traditional pieced, embroidered, paper pieced, applique and embellished.  The quilt pattern in the scalloped border is my own digitized design.

My eyes soon spot "Expanding Block" by Joe Ellen Ticknor of Sherman, TX.  What a joy for a scrappy person to see.  Joe Ellen says, "What do you do with over 150 pieces of fabric 5" x 9" intended for a Dear Jane quilt?  Wise up after 16 blocks and use the remainder of the pieces to make this quilt."  Gotta love her logic.

Ah there has to be at least ONE Judy Niemeyer that catches my eye, right?  This one is entitled "Floral Fandango" and is based on her Japanese Fan pattern.  Florence Beaird of Dallas, TX says that it is paper pieced and that the fabrics drove the quilt.  She also tells us that it provides "memories of all the Southern girls dancing on a hot night."

Now, here is a modern take on a traditional block that I can really grab ahold of.  It is "Hanging Garden" by Judy Mathews of Waco, TX and quilted by Linda Burkner.  Her notes include these comments:  "I never worked on this quilt consistently but I took it to every quilt retreat I attended for about three years.  Miraculously, I finished it in 2016."

The borders AND the setting make me want to pull fabrics and a rotary cutter now.  Mister would really like this one.

Back to the nighttime feel of the ocean I go with this next one.  It is entitled "Stars and Cabins" and is by Alice McElroy of Richardson, TX with quilting by Joan McGee.  The colors make my face smile automatically and I stop in my tracks the minute my eyes spot it.

Now, we all have THAT friend that we will someday be able to say, "I knew her when."  Suzanne has two quilts in the show for the FIRST time and they both ribboned.  The first is called "Flying South for the Winter" and was for a Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake challenge that I remember her participating in.   For some crazy reason I had thought it was Michael Miller and likely told people that as well.  Dang girl, keep your info straight.  Suzanne says, "The colors make me thing of Miami and the pattern reminds me of geese flying in formation."  Nice job Suzanne.

Oooh, oooh --- another scrap happy entry to make my heart swoon.  This one is "Little Italian Block" by Pam Walsh of Dallas, TX and it came about "after admiring a friends quilt using the 'Old Italian Block'".  She felt that she "had to make it" but went miniature.  This is super sweet and super small.  Be still my heart.

Right across the way is another modern quilt that makes me think of my sweet man instantly.  These are so "his colors" and he would love the design in it.  It is by Heather Pregger of Fort Worth, TX and is called "Schist #1".  Heather explains, "I was a geology major in college.  This quilt is based on microscopic view of mica schist, a metamorphic rock, containing mica, biotite, and muscovite."  Yep, I went home and looked those up.  I can still be taught, even at this age.

The next one strikes me as just oh so fun and I would love to have it in my studio.  Super cute and beautiful workmanship as well.  It is by Serena Vrnak of Tyler, TX and quilted by Amy Sandidge.  She calls it "If You Think I'm Sexy" and says, "I am a dress maker and lover of Kaffe fabrics.  This is a blend of traditional (the dress form) and contemporary (Kaffe fabrics).  It just makes me happy."  I absolutely couldn't agree more.

Wow, it is almost 1:00 and all of the Our Quilt World ladies have agreed to meet up front for a picture.  I need to make my way up there and "get 'er done."  There are quite a few of us today and what a great time we are all having.  Say hi to them all.  Back row:  Sherry, Allison, Suzanne, Lydia, Carol, and Karen,  Front row:  Janet, Stephannie, Janet, Annette, Sherri, Mindy, and yours truly.  Quilting friends are the BEST!

Now, back to the quilts and I finally find Suzanne's (yes, that's her above and now you can put a face to the name) second quilt.  This one was part of a Modern Quilt Guild round robin that she was involved in and I have been in love with is since the first time she sent me a pic of it.  It is quilted by Lee Jenkins and Suzanne says, "My center medallion was originally intended to resemble paint drops.  Now it looks like a city's reflection."  Perhaps that is why it is entitled "Reflections."

Allison and I are now walking the last bit together and we spot this hexagon quilt.  For a very long time I have said that I will NOT be jumping on that bandwagon.  Well, apparently so did Rebecca Prior of Henderson, TX.  All around this quilt (in hexies of course) it says "I swore I would never make a Grandma's Flower Garden quilt but I lied.  So, liar, liar pants on fire."  Wonderful.  She made this after discovering English Paper Piecing and wants you to note the "paper" pieced background.  It is aptly entitled "Liar, Liar Pants on Fire" and is beautifully quilted by Jackie Brown.  I am in love with it and the paint sample border is just perfect.  I want that fabric.

Now, I do love wholecloth quilts and this one is indeed lovely.  Huge bows of admiration here.  The purist in me would have loved for it to be hand quilted, but that's old perceptions in an old lady.  It is done by Margaret Solomon Gunn of Gorham, ME and is called "From The Bride's Trousseau."  Margaret says that it is an "original, symmetrical wholecloth quilt.  Quilt is 'colored' with quilting using colored silk threads.  All motifs are my design and hand-guided long arm quilting."  Simply divine.

Well that's it for today.  I am going to take my tired legs home and spend some time with my sweetheart before I leave again tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the eye candy.