Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Quilt Market: Take & Teach, Festival Classes

*Affiliate links may be present, If you make a purchase through a link, I receive a small commission that helps support the blog at no additional cost to you.

Prior to this Quilt Market, I had neglected to give consideration to one of the most awesome facets of concentrated education and inspiration, Take & Teach. My oversight may have been because the hour and a half sessions come at the front end of a jam packed day or because there is so much to take in at Quilt Market that it feels like your mind will blow, but these hands-on sessions were chock full of goodness.

I snuck in and took a little peek. Lucky you, I'm inviting you to go beyond the scenes with me where usually only quilt shop owners get to explore. Here's the backstage tour!

Last year, I caught sight of the traditionally-inspired, but simultaneously on-trend, Brimfield Awakening Block. Eager participants in the Take & Teach class got a run-down of the basic steps in EPP.


The ladies participating in the Spring Mug Rug, presented by Debra Haney of Clover Needlecraft, took wearable art to the next level.


They were exploring Clover's new paper-backed fusible, Wonder Fuse.



Festival courses were a flurry of creativity and the skillful use of techniques taught firsthand by masters of quilt artistry. Here a student in the Painting Images with Dyes class taught by Hollis Chatelain class put shading, blending, and highlighting to work on a fish.


Another student conquered flora instead.


Hollis is a world renowned, award-winning artist. A privilege provided by Festival is access to the highest caliber quilt professionals all in one location. 


The merging of artistic mediums is a fascinating development shown both in multi-media classes and on the show floor.



Feathered Star is an enduring classic block due to its awe-inducing points. Peggy Martin taught her students The New Feathered Star using Quick Strip Paper-Piecing.


Feathers Four Ways for Domestic Machines taught by Jenny K. Lyon, author of Free-Motion Quilting  From Ordinary to Extraordinary made me want to jump on a machine and join the fun. Just look at all the masterpieces Jenny has created.


Her students produced a flock of feathers in splendid array.




Cindy Grisdela, author of Fabric Painting and Artful Improv, taught a Fire and Ice Bargello class.



Melinda Bula is known by her radiantly and realistic enlarged garden blooms. Students produced a variety of Fabulous Fusible Flowers, specifically hibiscus. Unfortunately, while Melinda was in Houston, her home was lost to the California fires.


Collage the Garden with Sarah Ann Smith brought forth the foliage as well.


Barbara Olson had her Jump Start Your Creativity students well under way on their projects by the end of class. Each was beautiful and unique.



It's all about the details in Seed Bead Botany with Nancy Eha. Many prominent quilts on the show floor certainly used embellishment to create intricate details.


Lama, lama, bead-a-rama!


Now, I must mention that some classes did not live up to their description at all, and I for one, was disappointed. Take for instance, the Take Your Pants Off and Let's Make Some That Fit class. Every last one of the students was still wearing pants--serious proof that it's all smoke and mirrors with Judy Kissinger. Let me know if you have any information about this scandalous modest deception.


Unlike Judy Kissinger's class, Laurie Ceesay's Whimsical Selfie Quilt class had nothing to do with your lower half and focused on above the waist. There were many striking resemblances, and the students said the process was both easy and fun.




Speaking of easy and fun, that's just what Kathy Kansier's Fast and Easy Broderie Perse Appliqué promised. Based on student response, I conclude that she delivered on that promise.


Gail Garber challenged her students to create original artwork using freezer paper foundation paper-piecing methods in her Design Sensational Stars class.




Kimberly Einmo's Fire and Ice Quilt has captivated my attention since I saw it in person at a local show. The student I spoke with had taken one of Kimberly's classes previously and swore her points came together so much better due to the tips she learned. 


Follow on Bloglovin

2 comments:

  1. All I can say is, “Wow!”. So much diverse Quilty goodness happening here! Best wishes to Melinda and her family. So sorry for their loss.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So sorry to hear about Melinda's loss, but happy to get your reviews of the classes. They all look fabulous!

    ReplyDelete