Travelling Quilts

I haven't been keeping up very well with posting where my quilts have been, so here's an update on a peripatetic pair,"Yadanabon" and "Log Canada". By a rather odd coincidence, both of these quilts will end their current display schedules this summer in Texas!

"Yadanabon", which is part of the travelling Hoffman Challenge show, has been criss-crossing the U.S. since last fall. 

Since the grand opening show at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival in Loveland, Colorado, it has appeared at the following venues:

Sept 2015: Amish Country Quilt Show, Ohio.
Sept 2015: Hardy Country Heritage Quilt Show, West Virginia.
Oct 2015: Washington State Quilters, Spokane.
Nov 2015: Davies Manor Quilt and Fibre Arts Show, TN.
Jan 2016: World Quilt Florida (Mancuso), FL

Upcoming shows for "Yadanabon" are:
April 2016: Huntington Quilters, NY.
June 2016: Common Threads Quilt Show, Wichita, KS.
July 2016: Garland, TX. 

"Log Canada" has been in constant motion around the world since it was first created in 2009. I am honoured to say it has represented Canada at many top quilt shows, often as the opening quilt,  and has been part of the IQF Ruby Jubilee Exhibit since 2014.

As part of this show, it has appeared at:

International Quilt Festival/Houston, October 30 – November 2, 2014
International Quilt Festival/Chicago, March 26-28, 2015
Quilt! Knit! Stitch! in Portland, Oregon, August 13-15, 2015

Now, I am  pleased to learn that "Log Canada" has been selected to be displayed at the Texas Quilt Museum,La Grange, TX, June 30 – September 25, 2016. 

This means that in July, the two quilts will be about 200 miles from each other...4000 miles from home :)

Quilt Knit Stitch!

The Ruby Jubilee Red & White exhibit will be travelling to Portland, Oregon in August.  If you are headed that way, have a look for my Log Canada quilt!

IQF - Chicago

The Red & White exhibit of quilts for the Jubilee Celebration of IQF will be shown in Chicago (Rosemont) March 26-28 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre.  My Log Canada is part of this travelling show, and if you are headed there, I hope you will share some pictures.

This is actually the second time that Log Canada has appeared at this show.  It was part of the original "O Canada" exhibit which toured the U.S. in 2009.  Here's a link to a post from back then. Hmmm...wonder if Regina is planning to attend again?

Ruby Jubilee: 40 years of Red & White Quilts

I am blown away by this stunning display of red and white quilts at Houston Quilt Market in celebration of the IQF Ruby Jubilee.  It's amazing to know that my Log Canada is one of the quilts hanging here.  If you happen to be at Quilt Festival, I'd love a close up picture showing my quilt; you can send it to me here

When this show ends, the quilts will travel for showings across the U.S.A., and return home in October 2015.  You can watch a slideshow of more pictures from this exhibit on the Quilt Show blog.

Ruby Red & White

Canada Day 2014;  we're all celebrating our country's 147th birthday!

Over the years I've made a lot of red and white quilts.  Last year I added these placemats to dress up our table.  I have a free pattern for another placemat with a Canadiana theme here if you'd like to make some of your own.

Naturally, I've also made a maple leaf quilt.  Not sure how many years ago this one was made but seriously close to 30, I think!  My machine quilting has come a long way since this one was made.

Although not terribly patriotic, one of my favourites is this geometric Drunkard's Path.

My favourite is my well-travelled Log Canada, pictured here at the Public Gardens in Halifax, N.S.

I am thrilled to read my email this morning and learn that Log Canada has been selected to be part of International Quilt Festival's Ruby Jubilee exhibit this fall in Houston.  IQF is celebrating 40 years and is marking the occasion with an exhibit of red and white quilts.  I am honoured our national colours fit so well with this show.

Happy Canada Day!

Peripatetic Patchwork

Log Canada returned safely home this morning.  It's been gone since last June when it left to join the "Tradition in Transition Show" at Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork in France.  Curator Sandra Reford   
kindly included programs and advertising from the show.  These will go in my book of memories for when I am an old lady.

When the exhibit in France was over, Sandra arranged to hang the show at the Joshua Creek Heritage Arts Centre in Oakville, Ontario for two months.  She did an amazing job.

Polly and Maddie were happy to examine the box for any contraband when it arrived.

...And of course, Polly didn't stop there.  She needed to inspect the quilt also.

I am happy to have this well-travelled quilt back home.  It feels like an old friend has returned.

Roots And Wings

The Tradition in Transition show opened yesterday at the Joshua Creek Heritage Centre in Oakville, Ontario.  Originally this exhibit was presented at the 18^th Carrefour Européen du Patchwork in Alsace, France in September.  Curator Sandra Reford has put together this show with tremendous vision and extraordinary attention to detail.  I am both proud and humbled that my Log Canada is included.  Here you see a picture of the hanging of the show last week.  You can read more on this post on  Sandra's blog.

The gala opening was held yesterday where Sandra once again gave a talk on the show to over 50 guests. This same lecture she delivered in four languages in France, so this must have been a milk run for her!  Previous to this, Sandra hosted a dinner party at her home for all the artists involved. Sadly, I was not in attendance.

This exhibit of 36 quilts chosen from each of Canada’s 10 provinces and 3 territories reflects the diversity of styles and characteristics of Canadian creators and the regions from which they come.  Sandra's mission was to produce an exhibition of textile work of an exceptional technical level and which represents the current state of quilt and textile art in Canada.  The quilts run the gamut from traditional to modern and show how our quilting has grown and "transitioned" from utilitarian to art.  As a Maritimer with my roots firmly planted in traditional patchwork, I love the acknowledgement of where it all started, and the excitement of seeing where we are now.  Our grandmothers laid a solid groundwork to allow us to soar.

                                      

The show runs until January 6, 2013 so if you are in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) please stop in and have a look at this exceptional presentation.

All photos in this post are courtesy of Sandra Reford.

I love this last photo with the Tim Horton's cup;  how very Canadian!

Postcard From France

This week in my mail I was surprised to find a postcard from France.  It was sent by Sandra Reford, who curated the Canadian exhibit at Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork.  It was such a thoughtful move on her part;  she doesn't skimp on any of the details. I am so happy to have this souvenir.  Aren't the houses beautiful?  I expect they've been translated into patchwork many, many times.

I've also heard from several folks who attended the show in Ste. Marie-Aux-Mines, and even got some pictures.  These were sent by Karen Otto's friend Diane.  Karen, who lives in Germany, was kind enough to email me after the show with her wonderful, enthusiastic comments.  Thank you, Karen - I appreciated hearing from you.

This is a picture Sandra sent along showing Log Canada hanging between two pillars at the front of the church.  Sandra writes, "It was on the right when you came in as an announcement that this was the Canadian exhibit... In front of it was a table with a map showing where all the works came from, flyers with all the web sites of the artists, the photo album, another hand out with images of the works in miniature with the names of the artists and the comment book which will be arriving back with the quilts. I only had time to read the comments from the first day and those were great!"

Sandra had an incredibly busy time at the show, and she wowed everyone with her ability to converse in four languages.   What a perfect person to curate an international exhibit.

This picture was taken by magazine editor Chantal Dupont.  You can see Log Canada at the back of the picture, to the left.  The picture was taken when the gallery was closed for mass on Sunday morning.

Sandra reports that the quilts are now all safely back in Canada and she is preparing for their upcoming exhibit at the Joshua Creek Heritage Centre in November.

Tradition in Transition: Hanging The Show

This morning are pictures on Sandra Reford's blog showing the quilts being hung for the show in France. Above you can see Log Canada spread out on the pews with some of the others waiting their turn to go up. Sandra reports that there was a line-up for the doors to open and over 1000 visitors to this exhibit on the first day. She also presented a lecture on "Quilting in Canada" which was well attended and enthusiastically received.

Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork

I had hoped to wake up this morning in France...but it didn't happen. Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork opens today in the Alsace region and my Log Canada quilt went without me to the show. Following is the press release on the Canadian "Tradition in Transition" exhibit, curated by Sandra Reford. Sandra has promised to post lots of pictures on her blog, so I am looking forward with great anticipation to see my quilt hanging in this prestigious exhibit.
From September 13 to 16, 2012, Canada has the place d'honneur at the 18th Carrefour
Européen du Patchwork and will be exhibiting in L'Église de la Madeleine. International award winning textile artist and quilter, Sandra Reford, was asked to curate a body of work that is of an exceptional technical standard and that represents the current state of quilting and textile art in her country, Canada. The Canadian exhibit is just one of many in the carrefour. The event organizers are expecting 22,000 visitors to grace the Val D'Argent area this September. Visitors will be exposed to the European perspective on patchwork and textile art while enjoying the Alsatian culture.
The exhibit, Tradition in Transition, will reflect the diversity of styles and characteristics of the Canadian creators and regions from which they come. It will be for many of the artists their first opportunity to exhibit on an international stage.
Upon its return from France, Tradition in Transition will be displayed at the Joshua
Creek Heritage Art Centre in Oakville, Ontario, from November 23, 2012, to January 6,
2013 with the opening reception on November 25 from 2 to 5 pm. Several participating
artists will be in attendance.