I’ve been home for 24 hours and I am still going through my photos from the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham UK. I have to be careful before sharing photos, because there were many quilts made with someone else’s pattern, but only the quiltmaker’s name was listed on the wall plaque next to the quilt. There are a lot of amazing talented new paper-pieced pattern designers coming up out there, but I’d prefer to see the original quilt made by the pattern designer, in an international show like this. So pardon me while I do my homework and sift through the photos for the next few days or week….
The central image here is a stunning modern figurative quilt made by Wendy Ward of New Zealand. It is called “Friday Drinks BC – Before Covid” which is nostalgic and fresh at the same time. This is the trend of “Black and White and Color” that I’ve been talking about for awhile. Her silhouette figures are very precise and evocative. I see that Wendy won Best of Show at the 2021 Great New Zealand Quilt Show in Rotorua, (Hey! I’ve been there!) with a similar figure quilt called “Belonging”. So I am glad to see this talent from down under, bubbling up in the UK big quilt show. Beautiful work Wendy!
The world seems to have (mostly) moved on from Covid, although it is still out there simmering away with new variants. How do I know? My best friend is studying the latest variants. Anyway, what do we call this period of time? Before Covid is ‘BC’. So is After Covid ‘AC’?…. or maybe ‘PP’ for Post-Pandemic? I am sure in hindsight there will be an established term for this period of time. Like, have you noticed that the first decade of the 21st century is now referred to as the Noughts, or the Noughties? (Nought means nothing, or zero, so the years 2000-2009 have picked up this nickname.) There are Noughties fashions, Noughties hair styles, Noughties music….you get the idea.
So what is a Noughties quilt?
Sorry, I had to ask.
If you are in the Boulder area, you are welcome to come on Monday Aug 14 to the opening reception for “Little Creatures” with my quilt “Uncompahgre Fritillary” at the Boulder Library Gallery on Canyon. The gallery reception starts at 4 pm and a program follows at 5 pm:
Music performance by Melody Blauw and world-renowned Entomologist Dr Sammy Ramsey in the library theater.
I just found out I am a “Cover Girl” – my quilt “Stardust Mothers” is on the cover of the new issue of ‘Patchwork Professional’ Magazine, coming out this Saturday in Germany. It also contains my article on Art & Activism. I am honored, and delighted!
Thank you for the many kind words of condolence for our beloved dog Ruby.
Sharing your love of fabric…
Luana and Paul
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Travel/Quilt Calendar:
August 18-24 – Bear Camp in Alaska (via Homer)
Sept 14 – “Art & Activism” lecture at CU Boulder
Sept 28-30 – AQSG Seminar – Louisville, KY
Oct 27 – Nov 3 – Quilt Market/Festival – Houston TX
