Shows and Shows

Today I had lunch with a friend. She mentioned that she hadn't seen me ever look so tired. When I got home I realized I had forgotten to pull my morning double espresso! So that probably explains part of her observation, however, I have been going non-stop without a day off for the last six weeks. I've been teaching in a few places, and in between that I've been ripping, dyeing, rinsing, washing, ironing, cutting and bundling fabric for my booth at the Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild's Festival of Quilts this past weekend.  I am home now until May 29 but have much to do to get ready for three major teaching trips in June.

While I was selling fabric this past weekend, the opening of The Grand National show, "Connections" took place at Joseph Schneider Haus Museum in Kitchener, Ontario. Here's a picture of my "Curtain Call 2" hanging in the show, thanks to Gordana Brelih. I really like the way they've hung it with another piece similar in size and colour to mine.  I will see this show on my way to London, Ontario at the end of this month. The show runs until September.

Here are some photos of my booth at the show this past weekend. This wall shows some of my patterns for sale. 

Velvets and textile temptation packs.

Velvets up close.

One meter cuts.

Fat quarters in the colours of the rainbow.

Bundles and fat quarters in neutrals.

The Grand National and a Grand Day

Today my sister and I headed over to Homer Watson Gallery to check out the Grand National Quilt Show. This year's show features a selection of quilts from across the country, interpreting the theme of "Local Colour". You can view the award winners on the Grand National website, and all the works will be posted to the website down the road. Two of my pieces are in the show (Red Stool and Invitation).

Homer Watson Gallery is a historic house, where Canadian artist Homer Watson once lived. The house is situated in a lovely wooded area on the outskirts of Kitchener, Ontario.

 

It is always a pleasure to enjoy the property after or before viewing the show.

 

On this glorious May day the lilacs are in full bloom. 

 

I was surprised to learn that we were permitted to take photos. I am going to share my favorite pieces.

 

 

Red Iris, by Carolynn McMillan. The backlit section is superb! Asection of this piece was featured on the show postcard.

 

I found myself drawn to Kit Vincent's abstract interpretation of life along the St. Lawrence River ("Big River Series: Last Light"). I think it is fair to say that at this stage I am most drawn to elegant simplicity.

 

Anna Hergert's Joie de Vivre, was well ... a joy to behold.

 

Tracy Lawko's "Daybreak". Heavily thread painted. Simple elegance.

 

I had a limited amount of time at the show, and did not realize when I took this picture, that Pat Herzberg's "Local Colour, Don Cherry" was really about hockey celebrity, Don Cherry. A celebrity that I find rather offensive myself (outspoken, arrogant and garish), but since the quilt does not remind me of Don Cherry, I still like it. Hard to get a photo as the light was shining from behind. It was hung that way because it is made predominantly of sheers.

 

Visiting my father today, I found lots of hosta plants unfurling around his residence. Love this composition of spiralling hosta plants.

 More spirals.

 

I guess I am still attracted to hosta leaves. Never more so than when they are unfurling. Maybe I'm not finished with green yet!

 

I am hanging out with family for a few days, on my way to my teaching gigs in Southwestern Ontario. Hope you are enjoying a wonderful long weekend!

 

 

 

Carolina on my Mind

That old James Taylor song has been rattling around in my head since finding out last week that In the Act has been accepted into the Professional Art Quilt Alliance-South (PAQA-South) show in Cary, North Carolina. The theme of this year's show is "Movement", and I thought this piece does show some movement, but also I think the title (which implies action) hints at movement. So far this piece has had a successful life. It was accepted into Quilts=Art=Quilts at the Schweinfurth Memorial Arts Centre this past fall (see my post on Quilts=Art=Quilts), and perhaps most exciting of all, art quilt diva extraordinaire, Hollis Chatelain wrote to me and asked permission to include a photograph of the quilt in a slide lecture she is creating.

It must be spring because lots of quilts are leaving for shows. The following two pieces have left for the Grand National show at the Joseph Schneider Haus Museum in Kitchener, Ontario. This year's theme is "Balancing Act". I do not usually make pieces for specific themes, but rather enter them when I have something that fits the theme (or can be made to fit the theme ;-)). I came up with these two (Act 3 and Standing Still), and entered both just in case one didn't make it in. They were both accepted.
Act 3:

I decided to exhibit Standing Still one more time before it is too old. It was made in 2008.

Now I just need to find a show for Standing Ovation
.I'm working on that one, but for now it will be in the invitational show (teacher's exhibit) at Quilt Canada London.