I stole away yesterday afternoon to revel in the glory of PIQF 2010!  I took some snapshots of quilts that represented ideas that I’m most interested in.  In no way do my photos represent what one might consider “best of” or any such judgment.  I just thought it could be fun to share some of the beautiful, fun, and innovative quilts from my perspective.

I didn’t catch all the artist names, so you may have to just go yourself to see who made ’em!

Color and Piecing

Okay, Mary Mashuta’s signature is so strong, you don’t have to look at the tag to know this is hers.  How does she make buttons and ric rac and crochet work look sophisticated?? I think it must be the precision – both in form and in color choices.  I went back to study this one 3 times.. particularly the binding.  Amazing.

And Roberta Horton, Mary’s sister… kinda challenging one’s ides about composition and color choices, I think.

This artist says she loves polka dots.  She makes me love them too – even if just for a PIQF fling!

I loved this color palette.   I found it aggressive and daring, yet synchronous.

More ways to think about color and fabric choices.

This one is even more of a stunner in person.  The powers of concentration involved… wow.  So many careful decisions about the color green and so many beautiful stitches!

I had to do a double-take on this one.  Lent by the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, it is from 1890, and it looks just as fresh as the quilts made in 2009.  Loved the textures of the fabrics!

Innovation, Invention, Plus a Dose of Whimsy

I can’t help but seek out the quilts that show the artist’s heart as well as her (his??) hand.  These are just a few that got me thinking about new perspectives and techniques.

This was one of the few that featured hand-stitching, which is, of course, near and dear to my heart.  I also loved the imaginary perspective, the palette, and the willingness of the artist to just “make it work,” rather than get wound around technical skill issues.

Ah, the fantasy, balance and flow of the wisteria.  Wistful…

A playful yet mysterious and dark take on the owl & the pussycat.

And… the beekeeper.  This one’s for my brother.  He loves real bees.  I love symbolic bees… they promise fertility.

Humor Me

Okay, that’s not a real category!  But this did strike my funnybone.  I bought this piece of Robert Kaufman fabric from the fat quarter section at New Pieces last week.  I’m really not a fabric name-dropper.  But I bought this because I loved the hand, and I thought a little black and gold might create a good contrast with all my hand-painted fabrics.  As I bought it, I reminded myself, “Cyn, this will always be very 2009-2010.”

Well, walking around PIQF, I saw two other quilters who’d used the fabric beautifully!  I guess the challenge is on…!