Spread The Word!

International Quilt Festival opens in Chicago on Thursday.  Are you going?  I'm not...but my Rhythmic quilt is in the "Hands All Around" exhibit, representing modern quilt-making in Canada. 

If you are there, I'd love to have a picture of the quilt in the show. (photos are permitted,)   IQF runs from April 6 to 8, 2017, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois. Please pass this along to any friends who may be going. Thank you!!!

Surprise Delivery

The delivery itself was not such a surprise, as I was expecting my Farrago quilt back from IQF Houston.  What was surprising though was that the parcel was delivered just a few moments ago...on a Sunday, in Nova Scotia.  I don't recall that ever happening before, but I suspect the volume of Christmas mail at present has Canada Post working overtime.

I was thrilled to see they had included the books from all three shows:  Cincinnati, Long Beach and Houston.  The biggest thrill of course is seeing my name on the page with so many quilting celebrities.   There I am, in the column next to Caryl Bryer Fallert and Anna Faustino! :)  (yes, Mary -Karen Eckmeier is there also.)

Farrago has had a stellar run of shows and I am happy to have it back home now for a bit.  It's one of my favourite quilts.

 

IQF - Houston

You know life is too hectic when...it totally slips your mind that you have a quilt in an exhibit at International Quilt Festival, Houston!!  If anyone reading is attending the show, I'd dearly love to have some pictures taken of "Farrago" which will be in the O Canada exhibit.  I know there are regular readers of this blog from the Houston area who have sent photos before;  I hope you will again.

International Quilt Festival, November 1-4, 2012, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas

IQF 2012- Long Beach

My long-distance friend Marilyn has come through again, with pictures from International Quilt Festival held this weekend in Long Beach California.
My quilt "Farrago" is part of the travelling O Canada exhibit.

Marilyn is very dedicated to quilting and is involved in lots of quilt-related activities. If you've been to the Long Beach show, you may have seen her there. Last year she worked at IQF "white-gloving" the O Canada exhibit; this year she was back selling raffle tickets on an opportunity quilt. Here's Marilyn (on the right) and her friend Sandara enjoying some California sunshine.
Thanks so much for sharing the pictures, Marilyn; it takes the sting out of not being there in person.

From My Friends At Festival

International Quilt Festival was held this past weekend at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati. I was not there to see my quilt hang, but am so lucky to have received pictures from two attendees at the show. Here are some shots taken by Carol Fulgate. Can you see Farrago in this picture?! :)
Here it is! That's a lot of quilts, and a lot of people!

Last year, fellow blogger Katie Wiseman sent me pictures of the "O Canada" exhibit, and I am so pleased she did the same again this year. Here's Farrago hanging with its neighbours.


And here's Katie, who looks like she is having a wonderful time!
Sincere thanks to both Carol and Katie for sharing these images. It's so wonderful when friends have your back.

Deadlines and Commitments

"...what to leave in, what to leave out..." (Bob Seeger, Against The Wind). The past few weeks have certainly felt like running against the wind...or the clock. Work on the antependiums progresses - the first was delivered this week actually (more on that later)- and now the deadline for mailing the Farrago quilt to the O Canada exhibit in Houston is here.

I went over and over and over the checklist many times to make certain everything is there, and then sent it on its way. It needs to arrive in Houston by next Friday and even though it went 3 day delivery, my confidence was shaken last week by another parcel that went the same way...and took 5 days. Like raising kids, you send them on their way and hope for the best. With Farrago out the door, next up is the Trend Tex Challenge. This annual fundraiser for the Canadian Quilter's Association is one I have been doing for many years. It's fun to do (when there's time). This year's fabrics present a real challenge in that they are watery, pale pastels...so not me. The theme is, At Home In My Garden By The Sea.

I won't show the whole quilt until the deadline passes but here's a sneak peak for Mary who is working on the same challenge with similar enthusiasm for the fabrics.
Where's the bright red or green when you need it? My sea garden needs lobsters...!

Farrago A Go

It was with great delight that I received the news earlier today from IQF (International Quilt Festival): Farrago has been juried into the 2012 O Canada traveling exhibit! It is one of 26 quilts selected from across Canada to be shown in Cincinnati, Long Beach and Houston before returning home in November.
This is the same quilt which made it to the semi-finals last year at the AQS show in Paducah, KY and to the finals at the New York State of Mind exhibit at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York. (Always a bridesmaid :) This makes three times that one of my quilts has been selected to be part of this O Canada special exhibit, now in its 4th year. It's an incredible honour to have your quilts shown so far from home, with a little tag attached proudly reading "Amherst, Nova Scotia".

IQF Houston

International Quilt Festival, Houston is now in full swing. Diane Shink who is coauthor of Canadian Heritage Quilting sent this picture taken on opening day. This is the "O Canada" exhibit which has been travelling across the U.S. since April and my With Glowing Hearts hangs at the opening of the display.

You Never Know...

...who you might meet at a quilt show! :)
My "With Glowing Hearts" quilt will be on display in the "O Canada" exhibit at the upcoming International Quilt Festival/ Houston November 3-6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. If you happen to be one of the lucky thousands who attend this show, perhaps you will have a minute to stop for a peek.

IQF - Long Beach, California

International Quilt Festival/Long Beach runs July 29-31, 2011 at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Long Beach, California. If you happen to be in the area, my quilt With Glowing Hearts is part of the traveling "O Canada" exhibit. I guess we knew from the start that this quilt was destined to move around, as it certainly did the day we took it to be photographed. Here are some outtakes from that photo session, on a very windy day at Fort Beausejour in New Brunswick. (Actually, I think every day is a windy day at Fort Beausejour...) My very patient husband chased the quilt all over the historic grounds while I tried to snap a picture before the quilt got airborne. Here he is very neatly propping it up on three baskets to give a better angle for viewing.
By the time he steps out of the photo and I snap the shutter, the quilt has blown off the plastic ground sheet.
At one point, the quilt actually did float through the air, almost like a magic carpet! We lugged the quilt to various locations around the grounds, even onto this stone foundation deep inside the shelter of the walls. I stood on top of one of the case mates to shoot...but still the quilt flapped and billowed.
We tried securing it with clear packing tape but it wasn't strong enough to hold against the wind.
In the end, this fence proved the best spot.
If you happen to be heading to the Long Beach Show this weekend, perhaps you will have a look for this peripatetic quilt. Several folks have emailed that they are going and will send photos and I welcome any you take as well.