Folk Art Museums

During my visit to NYC I took some time to visit both Folk Art Museums.  The amount of quilts on display right now is small, but they are amazing.  I have to admit to not having any interest or knowledge of folk art prior to quilting, and now I find it quite interesting.   Since you cannot use any flash, my photos aren't the best.  These museums are definitely worth visiting.
Incredible hand quilting on this piece.

 The polka dot fabric caught my eye.  Lemoyne stars that were about 4 or 5 inches.

Civil War Bride Quilt.  The work and creativity in this piece is amazing.

 I loved the cheddar and green combo.

There's no doubt when this quilt was made. LOVE the date on the front so big and bold.

This was the feature quilt at the Lincoln St location. It was made with two fabrics and it's beautiful.

I just love everything about this piece.  The inner border really adds charm.  Using a printed fabric as your color gives your quilt a lot more interest.  You get a srcappy look while only using one print, it's an excellent design element in quilting.  We can learn a lot by looking at quilts from the past.
Sharon

A Few More Red & White Photos

After looking at so many photos of this show, I've had a "hmmmmm" moment. Look at this first photo. Notice that all the quilts are paired with another quilt that is exactly the same size? I guess when you have 650 to work with, the chances of matching them up with another one the same size is pretty good. What a show!

This on really caught my eye. I have to say it was one of my favorites.  Simple, graphic and interesting quilting. It has a very modern look to it.  Diamonds? Square in a square? Lattice work?  I like it!

Click on the photos to see the beautiful hand quilting.

There's a lot of history in this one.  Looks like enough signatures to be everyone in a small town!

 This was one of my favorites. I like the simplicity of the appliqued border.  Since I don't know any history of this quilt, this is just my take on it.  Notice where the red is missing?  Click to enlarge.  To me it looks like there was a mishap with this quilt and someone repaired red pieces and since they didn't have the exact red, they used cream.

 Here's the close up.  What do you think?  What was so interesting about these quilts is that not only are they two color, they are two fabric.  Today we make so many scrappy quilts that are two color but we don't often have yards and yards of just two pieces. Maybe they didn't have any more red but thought the cream would be an easier match?  It changes the whole look of the quilt, I think it adds charm and gives it a twist!  My kind of quilt.

If you have the technology, you can go here to get the App for this show.  We'll have to wait 18 - 24 months for the printed catalog of this show, but I'm sure it will be worth the wait.
Sharon

Red and White Extravaganza - Part 2

NYC is amazing. There is never a lack of things to see and do. While I was there for four days, I figured that since millions of New Yorkers used the subway, I should learn how their system works. After a few minutes of conversation with one of New York's finest, I was ready to tackle my travels. I also put a lot of miles on my feet.
We checked into the Lexington Raddison at Lex and 48th, so we were only a few blocks north of Grand Central Station. What an amazing building! There are lots of fabulous architecture throughout the city, everywhere you look.
Some of the old.....
This one has a quilt painted on it!

And some of the new. Trump Towers at Central Park

I spent several hours with Victoria and B at the Red and White show,

This was the surprise quilt, click on the photo for a closer look. The piecer has managed to add cheddar to this feathered star and it's gorgeous.

My travel mate arrived and we hit the pavement. Our mission was to walk through Central Park and make our way up to MOMA. We took a road that went from east to west through the park. Unfortunately it did exactly that, it went right through. No trails off of it, so we had to back track once we reached the west side. I wanted to see the Carousel and when we got there it was closed for renovations. We can thank Donald Trump. He is funding the restoration of this part of Central Park. The doors were open but gated off.

Workers had tossed their jackets and work gear over the horses that were visible from the gate. I was hoping to get a photo of the carousel, but not while the horses were all covered. Just then, a man arrived and went in through the gate. He looked like a job supervisor, so I politely asked if he could please move some of the workers coats. He made a smart reply and I was hoping he would oblige me. Then he asked if I wanted my picture taken on Bubbles, the lead horse. I squealed with delight and was through the gate like lightening.

OK so the carousel wasn't going round and round, but how delightful to get inside and see the beautiful and ornate horses up close. And to have my photo taken on the lead horse! Thank you, Mr. Trump, for supporting the reno's and hiring such a terrific guy!
The weather was clear and cold every day, but if you watched for the sunny side of the street and kept moving when it got windy, it wasn't too bad.

Central Park was a bit drab, the trees haven't broken out in blooms or leaves, bulbs have poked their heads up but haven't opened up with color.

It is an amazing park, you could spend days walking through and around it.

Some kids had some chalk and wrote on the walkway. "Create your Dream" As quilters, we try to do this every day, and seeing this show was definitely the highlight of my quilting travels and adventures.
Sharon

Red and White Extravaganza

Wow, have you seen all the great photos and stories about the Red and White exhibit that was held in NYC this past week? I'll be posting about my trip over the next few days, so check back for lots of photos.

This photo displayed at the Folk Art Museum says it all, Year of the Quilt.

The best part of my trip was meeting up with fellow bloggers. Victoria and her amazingly sweet daughter B. from Bumble Beans, Linda and her beautiful daughter R, from Quilts in the Barn, Randi(no_blog) from Norway and Lori from Humble Quilts, Oregon.  I felt like we could all sit in this circle and be comfortable right away.  When you quilt, you have friends, it's such a great feeling!

Everyone was so wonderful and sweet and kind, I was so blessed to meet these fellow quilters from across the world.

I'd post the photo of Victoria, Linda and myself at the R&W show, but "someone" had their eyes closed and I have made a pact with my camera to delete unflattering photos. -delete- Trust me that they are both beautiful ladies!

Show review:
Overwhelming, breathtaking, jaw dropping. Ok, there are so many words to describe the exhibition, but I'll let the photos tell you about it.

Aside from seeing 651 quilts, all red and white, (there was one surprise), all in one location, the most amazing thing for me was the quilting. I did not see one quilt that was machine quilted.

There may have been some, but the hand quilting on so many pieces, one after another, was fabulous.

This one was in my top ten favorites. I can see myself reproducing this one.

The hand quilting on this one is fabulous!

Look at the Baptist Fans, how perfect.

There was no freezer paper foundation piecing going on when this was made! Look at the points. Incredible workmanship.

Every time I looked around, I saw my next favorite quilt. I was dizzy with delight.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm so glad I made the trip to NYC. I got to the exhibit twice, and had time permitted, I would have gone again. But NYC is a big place, there was so many other things to see. The two locations of the Folk Art Museum have excellent displays of quilts right now. Macy's launched their Flower Show on the Sunday that I arrived, Broadway was lit up and enticing. Miles of paths and roads through and around Central Park took up many hours.
I unplugged for the whole time, I took my cell phone and only had it on to call for directions/locations and the rest of the time I was tech free. It was fabulous. However, I now want an IPad, they have an app, it's for the Red & White show. I'll have to entice my co-worker to download it so I can revisit the quilts one more time. It's going to be close to 2 years before the book is published. There were no posters, :( but I did get a few souvenirs.
I see a lot of red and white quilts in the future!
Sharon

Blogger isn't Photo Friendly

I'm trying to post my Red and White adventures, but blogger is giving me fits. Check back later today or tomorrow for stories from NYC!
It was AMAZING!
Sharon

One More Sleep

Well, technically, 2 more sleeps but the last night will be on the plane as I fly across this beautiful land and arrive in NYC, The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps.

I'll do my best to take lots of photos. I won't be posting until I return. Have a fabulous week, and if the mood strikes you, get out your red and whites and make a little something to honor the Red & White Exhibit!

I'm sure there are other things to do in NYC *vbg* but this has captured my attention. We will see a show or two, eat from street vendors, shop, take in Central Park and above all, try to stay warm. My retail therapy didn't include 40 degree weather!

Sharon

Six Sisters

Here are six more of my Sisters Choice. 19 done and 53 more to go! These are my "whenever" blocks. I'm making the star points as leaders and enders, then when I have a stack of them, I make the blocks. Having the 9 patches all ready to go from the swap is certainly making this project far more doable.

I also have way too much fabric, I've got bolts of striped fabric I bought years ago for this exact project. Fast quilts for someone. Think about it, you just cut up squares, sew them back together and you have a fun top for someone who really needs one. Add a star block or 9 patch here and there, that would add an unexpected element to the top. I'm sending off a few bolts to my friend to cut and sew, I'll quilt and bind.

Hope you get some sewing time in this week.
Sharon