Windy City #14 by Laura Wasilowski
This week you’ll find me and my latest art work hanging around the Artfabrik/Friestyle booth #1911 at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Or as I like to call it the IQF.
There is so much to see and do at this giant quilt show. My favorite part is when friends appear in the booth (cause you know I’m trapped in the booth and don’t get out much). Hope you have time to stop on and visit us!
Windy City #13 by Laura Wasilowski
It’s that time of year when I pack for the International Quilt Festival in Houston and forget something of great import. You can ask me what I forgot when visiting me in the Artfabrik/Friestyle Booth, #1911, next week.
Please stop in and check out our wares. Frieda and I will have hand dyed fabric, thread, patterns, books and little quilts like the one above, Windy City #13.
Windy City #12 by Laura Wasilowski
Today I’m finishing up another house quilt from the Windy City series. I have a penchant for the theme of “houses” when making improvised art work. And each year I try to come up with a different name for the series of house quilts made during that year.
Have any ideas for titles of the 2019 house series? I’d love to hear them.
Windy City #3 (detail) by Laura Wasilowski
If you’re into making house quilts too, you make want to consider donating one to Quilting Arts Magazine new reader challenge. Jamie Fingal’s “Heart of the Home” project provides a decorative “home” themed quilt to families and individuals who are transitioning from homelessness to a permanent residence. You can read about it here.
Windy City #6 (detail) by Laura Wasilowski
Leaf on Wool by Suzanne
Do you know about my free Tutorials? I’m so happy that Suzanne tried the Leaf Stitch Along tutorial to make this delightful piece of art work. Don’t you love the thread colors she chose? They really pop on the dark background. Thanks for sharing your work, Suzanne!
The Leaf Stitch Along is just one of many you can try on wool, felt, or silk fabrics. This particular tutorial is a sort of sampler of stitches. Each partition in the leaf explores a different stitch combination. Change up the colors, fabrics, or stitches for your leaf. It’s all about enjoying the embroidery process and creating. Check out other free Tutorials here.
Cheddar Quilts from the Joanna S. Rose Collection on exhibit through February 3, 2019 at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum
Recently, I was fortunate to see the William Morris exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The next textile museum on my bucket list to visit? The International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The International Quilt Study Center & Museum’s mission is to build a global collection and audience that celebrate the cultural and artistic significance of quilts.
And they have a gift shop too!
The Quilt Study Center is a superb building dedicated to exhibiting and preserving our quilt heritage. It is also educating future textile lovers as part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design.
Pine Burr pattern, maker unknown, around 1879, possibly North Carolina
The galleries are beautifully curated and quilts are displayed with love and reverence. I highly recommend a visit and becoming a member in support of the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. You can even get a behind-the-scenes tour! (Another thing on my bucket list.)
Snakeshead textile design by William Morris
I’m one lucky gal! In the past month I’ve be able to visit 2 museums with wonderful textile collections. Here you see an image of Snakeshead a design from the William Morris: Designing an Earthly Paradise exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art. This fabric design features one of Morris’s (and my) favorite flowers, the fritillaria, a flower with a checkerboard bloom.
Embroidered bed hanging by May Morris
Items on exhibit range from actual William Morris fabrics to an embroidered bed hanging by May Morris to wood engravings illustrating books for the Kelmscott Press. Contained in one gallery, the exhibit extends until January 13, 2019.
Can you guess what other museum I was lucky enough to visit?