Three Mennonite Quilting Sisters

Three Mennonite Quilting Sisters
Polly, Julia, Barbara

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Polly's Posting

Polly's Posting


Part 2:  Knoxville Quilt Show

 I have so many pictures of my time in Knoxville that I hardly know how to begin.
These first three are still of our time in Lexington.
Barbara had a lot of her small quilts tacked to the wall the evening we gave our power-point-lecture.


This is a very special quilt.   Barbara was telling the ladies how she was facing a deadline in her book and just HAD to get a quilt completed.  So on labor day she enlisted the help of her three daughters, and with four sewing machines running all day they got this top completed!
Now I wonder which of the three will inherit this quilt!  There just might be a battle!


That evening I also showed my "Dresden Doodle".  Not sure what the four fingers are all about but I do know what that scared look is all about.


On to Knoxville!
We didn't do much sight seeing because our time was spent at the show.   However we did take in the skydome and had a grand view of Knoxville from the air.




I think one of the most special honors went to Julia.
AQS chose her quilt, "Ezekiel Saw Da Wheel" to print on their advertizing mug!
This quilt was in the show and is currently on a two year tour traveling to various museums, guilds and shows.


One of the highlights of my time was being able to take an all day class by Karen Stone.   I have admired her work for many years now and it was so special to see her quilts upclose and personal.
This quilt is called "Clamshell"  and has won awards.   I LOVE it!  That is Karen on the right.


Detail of her work.





I loved the way Karen had so many demonstrations throughout the day.


Partway through the day mother, June, Coleen, Julia and Claire peeked into our class.
Mother, Coleen and Claire checking out the details.


Here are some other quilts she had in class for us to see.




Saturday Morning I woke up with butterflies in my stomach!   We were on the program.  Oh me oh my!  How did this happen?


It went well but I was sooooooooooooooo glad when it was over!



Part 3 will be on some of the details of the show quilts.
I came home and hit the road running.  Tues. and Wed. were corn days for me and both my girlies are gone.    Mark and Tim were great help tho!  70 bags in the freezer!



Friday, July 8, 2011

AQS Quilt Show in Knoxville

Come to Knoxville for the AQS show July 13-16.  There is room in my classes and lectures for you to join me in learning new techniques and meeting new friends.   Here are the class:
Lecture/Brunch Sat. July 16, "Three Mennonite Sisters Quilting Journey"  Three of the seven Heatwole sisters share how quilting has been and continues to be a special part of their lives.  This power point presentation of stunning quilts reflects their Mennonite heritage, and show many quilts and designs they have made.  See a trunk show of their work.  Hear their story and see the contemporary and traditional quilts.




Class: "Pinwheel Spin". 
We will learn how to create triangle blocks with polygons.  If you have never learned to sew a “Y” seam. Now is the chance to learn.  We will sew the triangle blocks into rows and the rows into a wall quilt.  In the end you will have interlocking pinwheels.  This will challenge you in the world of quilting.


Class:  "Shenandoah Star"The goal of this class will be for each student to create a beautiful strip pieced star.  It is quick easy and fun.  No inset seams.  The techniques learned in this class are strip piecing, cutting triangles and diamonds and creating a zippy pinwheel in the center of the star.


Polly made a complete quilt from the "Shenandoah Star" pattern.


 

Class:  "Star Tricks II"  Bring your colored pencils and a creative mind.  Starting with a lone star layout we will create design within the diamond blocks. Learn key points in creating your own diamond blocks that are placed in a lone star layout.  We will discuss why designs will or will not work.  And how to give them some zip.

Lecture:  "Creating Designs in a Lone Star" Bring your colored pencils and a creative mind.  Starting with a lone star layout we will create design within the diamond blocks. Learn key points in creating your own diamond blocks that are placed in a lone star layout.  We will discuss why designs will or will not work.  And how to give them some zip.



For the "All Star Review".  I will be demonstrating  a strip method of how to make a diamond chain.



Check out the AQS Knoxville, Quilt Show .  Hope to see you there.

Friday, July 1, 2011

My day started with helping Terry take care of baby turkeys, garden work and a little house work.  Then came piecing.   Look at the two triangles.  The one on the right has a nylon netting over the right side.
 Why the netting?




The netting adds a darker shading, which makes the stars look 3-dimmentional.
 



This class is part II of the "Desert Rose" pattern.  The class sample is in the background.




Here is one with a gold background...


...and a cream background.



Mother, Emily, and I eating at Xeina, a middle eastern restaurant.  We had a fun day in town together.