Yesterday I returned from Quilt Canada in Vancouver, just in time for the opening reception of Hollis Chatelain’s West Africa exhibit at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. What an inspiring week I’ve had!
We’ve become a regular sponsor for both organizations, and it wonderful to see each year how the Canadian quilters are expanding and expressing their unique culture through their quilts. This year was very special because I’ve always wanted to visit Vancouver BC, and I managed to squeeze in a Whale-Watching tour my first day there. (Yes, I did see humpback whales – whoo hoo!) Vancouver was the site of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the convention center was the site of the giant Olympic Flame Cauldron where the medals were awarded. The giant cruise ships are coming in and out of the bay and the trees and azaleas were lush and beautiful. Thank you to my Canadian friends who came to spend time and share our passion for quilts.
Last night I saw Hollis’ West African quilts for the first time, and they are just stunning. She has used a new technique for this collection, and everyone was admiring and examining her exquisite work. You may recall that we carry her West Africa coloring book. This was the basis for her new quilt collection, featuring portraits and fabric designs of West Africa. She turned each detailed ink drawing into a colored pencil artwork, then had them enlarged and digitally printed, and then she quilted them with her dense detailed and multicolored stitching. These portraits were – as I said – just stunning. I hope you can see her collection in Golden this summer, or in one of the other future venues for this traveling exhibit.
We are so excited to be hosting Lea McComas Applique and Thread-Painting Portrait Workshops the week of July 16-20 … hope you can come join us for one or both! You can find products for her supply list by searching for “mccomas” on eQuilter.
If you are a teacher and would like us to stock a specialty product for your students, please write to me through Customer Service and we will be happy to provide those products, and insert your name so your class supplies will come up in a name search.
sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul
