Check Out These Uglies!

 

Now that the Cotton Patch Quilters show is over and I have finished my entries for the Best of the Valley Quilt Show, it is time to spend some time sewing some items for my home. I need several utility quilts to throw over my huge ottoman and the back of my couch where Miss Kitty likes to perch. You can bet that I am not going to use my good fabrics for that. No, it’s time to pull out the uglies.

These don’t look all that bad in the photos, but they are washed-out, off-colored, and blurry-printed fabrics. I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought them.

I am cutting them all into 4 inch squares and fusing them to Pellon Quilter’s Grid.

Here are some more.

They just keep multiplying…

This one is a really blurry print.

This one is just plain ugly.

These fabrics have been taking up a lot of my storage space. It will be good to get them off the shelves.

“Fields of Bounty” 2014

 

Finished!!!

“Fields of Bounty”

2014

 

Close-ups

Not a Secret???

 

According to Suzanne Kistler, the chairperson for Best of the Valley Quilt Show, our challenge entries don’t necessarily have to be kept a guarded secret until show time. When I finish mine, I will post it. Until then, here are a few more snippets. Fortunately, this puppy is really cooperating. I should finish the quilting this evening. Then on to the facings, label, and sleeve…

Supposed to be a Secret

 

No, I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth. Just trying to catch up on some chores and do a bit of playful quilting. Best of the Valley Quilt Show is coming up, and I have received several strong nudges to participate in the new challenge that is reserved for us quilters who actually live here in the San Joaquin Valley. The composition is to be 18 X 24”, landscape or portrait orientation, and reflect what is important to us here in our valley home. Many of my friends are participating, and I have to say it will be interesting to see the diverse pieces all together.

With the Cotton Patch Quilters show demanding so much of my attention and time, I didn’t think I could squeeze in enough time for a challenge. I did start one idea, but the required detail on in was going to take me into 2015. Curry just knocked those blocks off of the design table this morning and scattered them on the floor. I guess he didn’t like that idea, either.

I started something else, but had to set it aside when life got too busy.

Finally I have gotten back to my project, and the time spent away has actually been a good thing. Funny how that works out. Now things are flying right along, and I think I will finish in time.

Although I believe our challenge pieces are not to be revealed in their entirety prior to the show, I have already seen some published online. I am posting a few snippets—just so you will know I haven’t stopped quilting all together. Maybe you can have a little fun trying to decide what the whole wall hanging will look like when it is finished.

Visitors to the Cotton Patch Quilters Show 2014

 

Oh my, what a weekend! With all my cherished friends and quilters stopping by to visit, I definitely ended up with a case of the warm fuzzies.

My dear friend, Janice, came all the way from Utah. She is the one who invited me to attend a machine quilting class with her in 2001. Well, the rest is history.

My friend, Judy, also came on Saturday and had lunch with me. Judy has been a faithful supporter of my quilting from day one. She never batted an eye when I took my first quilt, “Arbor of Roses” to a yoga retreat and hand-stitched the binding down between yoga classes. She also attended my first quilt competition at Best of the Valley. She is still talking about that traveling exhibit of embellished brassieres that was on display there. I believe it was a breast cancer awareness project.

On Sunday morning, a talented group of fellow quilters arrived from Visalia. Most of us are bloggers, and all of us compete at Best of the Valley. Their work is nothing short of awesome.

Right before lunch, my childhood friends came in with a bang. We laughed so much that I was afraid we were all going to be ousted from my own quilt show. They bought tons of opportunity raffle tickets, though, so the management allowed them to stay. What a blessing these gals are in my life! From left to right are moi, Dixie, Teri, Cindy, and Vicky. Amazing to think I have known them for most of my life.

This is our lively group at lunch.

And last but not least—an unexpected visitor. KERO 23 News! This was definitely a surprise! I was not told that this was going to happen until one of the quilt show committee chairpersons arrived at my booth with this gentleman and told me that I was the “expert” and had to represent our guild on television. No time for nerves! In fact, our show chairman had told me weeks before the show that “Nerves weren’t allowed.” That being said, I stepped up to the microphone and got ‘er done. I have not seen the clip but have gotten good reviews from friends who have.

Lots of my readers who live far away have asked that I post photos of my booth.

Here is the view from my table looking straight into the booth.

The guild presented me with the lovely bouquet of flowers. The white card on the stand in my biography that they enlarged and printed.

This is the view to the left.

And the right.

And finally, me.

What a grand weekend!

A Heartfelt Tradition

 

One of my first visits this morning at the CPQ Quilt Show was from Sally Shuppert, the Featured Artist from our previous show. She brought words of encouragement, hugs, and this beautiful corsage. What a beautiful soul.

When it is time for our next show, and a new Featured Artist has taken my place, I will continue the tradition with a flower, a hug, and supportive words.

Blank Slate

 

I have a newfound respect for those dedicated and generous individuals who make a quilt show successful. In the past, my biggest responsibility was to get my quilts turned in on time for judging. Once the quilts are dropped off, the competitors are politely excused to go on their respective ways so that judging can commence.

Today was different. My quilts aren’t being judged, and I am technically a member of the show committee, so I got to see things from the ground up this morning.

This is what greeted me. A blank slate.

Wow! And to think that show time is a tiny bit more than 24 hours away.

This is my little area.

And since there was nothing at home to eat this morning, this is my breakfast. Looks great, huh? Taco Bell without the pizzazz. They didn’t even have coffee. Well, they actually did have coffee. Just no cups. Guess you have to bring your own these days.

This is a jumble of baskets waiting to be made into raffle prizes. And very beautiful and attractive ones at that!

It took me until mid-afternoon to finish hanging my quilts and decorating my booth. At that juncture, there were still vendors just arriving and setting out their wares. The ladies and gentlemen who were hanging quilts ran out of PVC pipe and had to purchase more.

It’s going to be a grand ole show!

Yogini Hits the Bakersfield Californian

Last week I told you that I was being interviewed as part of an article being written about my guild's upcoming quilt show. Well, here it is:

Sorry for some of the random print that is mixed in with the article. The original can be viewed at:

http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/entertainment/community/x54082092/Quilts-Art-you-can-get-wrapped-up-in

Wednesday, Feb 05 2014 04:58 PM

Quilts: Art you can get wrapped up in

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   By Photo courtesy of Richard Sparks

   This Kaleidoscope of Color quilt will be raffled off in an "opportunity drawing" at the Feb. 8-9 quilt show. It was created by 10 members of the Cotton Patch Quilters.

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   By Photo courtesy of Richard Sparks

   Detail on Kay Pennington's "Yogini & the Candy Dish" quilt, part of the Feb. 8-9 quilt show.

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   SLUG: QUILT SHOW Caption: Image is of Kay Pennington, featured artist at the Cotton Patch Quilters' show Feb. 9-10 at the KC fairground. Photo courtesy of Kay Penniongton.

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BY CAMILLE GAVIN Contributing writer

When it comes to wrapping yourself up in something warm and cozy on a chilly winter evening, few things are as comfy as a handmade quilt.

Yet for some women who enjoy making these exquisite covers -- sorry fellas, men are a distinct minority in this craft -- the appeal lies in producing a creation that is truly yours every step of the way.

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Quilt show
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P. St.
Admission: $5; husbands and children under 16 free.

Information: bakersfieldquiltguild.org

On the other hand, quilt making often involves teamwork, as is the case with "Kaleidoscope of Color," designed by Cindy Seitz-Krug and completed with the participation of nine other women who contributed various parts.

The "Kaleidoscope" will be given away in an opportunity drawing this weekend at the Cotton Patch Quilters biennial show at the fairgrounds.

Most quilt makers will tell you the craft gives them plenty of satisfaction although it does take a while to perfect your skills.

Award-winning quilter and designer Kay Pennington is a good illustration -- she is the guild's featured artist at this year's show.

By viewing the Bakersfield resident's display of 19 quilts, visitors can trace her progression from 2001 when she attended her first workshop, to the more personal interpretation she employs nowadays.

Pennington's whimsical "Yogini and the Candy Dish" is a delightful example.
"I always try to twist the design a bit and use it in a way that it has not been done before," she said. "One of the judges at Denver National Quilt Show commented that I had pushed the traditional Candy Dish pattern as far as it could possibly go. I believe she meant that in a positive way since she did award the quilt a ribbon."

What's fascinating to the eye of the novice is its intricacy and the facility required to handle the various parts. The little sprinkles around the cat are about one-quarter inch long, and each small doughnut placed in a circular pattern on either edge is 2 inches wide. Overall the quilt measures 48-by-55 inches.

Early on Pennington learned that she could draw from her background as a painter in creating designs. Some of these she machine stitches directly onto the fabric but it's not done in an entirely freehand manner.

"Fortunately, nowadays we have quilting marking pens with ink that disappears after a time of being exposed to air or being sprayed with water," she said. "On some of my quilts, I meticulously draw out my planning lines with those markers; on other works, I just draw some loose guidelines and go for it."

Even though she's confident about doing things on her own, Pennington definitely enjoys the benefits of being a member of the Bakersfield guild.

"We are so fortunate here in Kern County to have one of the largest guilds in California," she said. "That allows us to hire excellent teachers and speakers from all over the United States."

Another benefit is the opportunity to be part of a "friendship group," smaller gatherings of members who meet about twice a month at local quilt shops or in members' homes.
"Besides making lots of friends," she said, "all of the members are very generous in sharing their skills."

That sort of camaraderie is evident in the making of the "Kaleidoscope of Color" quilt that will go home with some lucky winner on Sunday.

Seitz-Krug designed and assembled the quilt, which has many intricate parts and is centered by a spiral lone star, replicating the progressive blending of a standard color wheel.

The various sized saw-tooth borders were made by Janice Jackson, Juliet Granger and Lynn Brown.
On the outer edge are 28 shapes known to quilters as LeMoyne stars. These are especially challenging because the pieces must be sewn together using Y-shaped seams.

"Carol Smith made these blocks for the quilt, and she did an outstanding job on them," Seitz-Krug said. "From a quilt judge's view, I'd give them an A+++."

Lois Campise, Celia Ho, Jennifer McNees and Cory Starkey did the hand-appliqued border. Quilting was done by CeCe Westerfield.

Seitz-Krug and her husband, Rich Krug, who formerly had a small farm on Houghton Road, moved to Heber, Ariz., last August. She's unable to attend the Bakersfield event because of a previous commitment to lecture at a show in Phoenix at the same time.

"However, I still think of Cotton Patch Quilters as my guild," she said. "And I'm still involved with it to a lesser extent."

For those interested in learning more about the local guild, it holds both day and evening meetings on the third Thursday of each month at Riverlakes Community Center, 3825 Riverlakes Drive.

CPQ Show in Tehachapi News

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Wednesday, Jan 29 2014 06:00 AM

Quilt show at Kern County Fair Grounds Feb. 8-9

By Tehachapi News

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Cotton Patch Quilters of Kern will hold its biannual quilt show on Saturday, Feb. 8 and Sunday Feb. 9, at the Kern County Fairgrounds in Bakersfield. Photo courtesy of Janice Jackson

The Cotton Patch Quilters of Kern will hold it's biannual quilt show, Feb. 8 and 9, at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The show will have on display nearly 200 quilts, including both judged and "display only" entries. Ribbons will be awarded to the winners of each category, and will be on display. The public will also vote for their favorite entry in a Viewers' Choice of Challenge category, which is Small Scrappy Quilts. It is of note that the guild has several members who have won prestigious national level awards for their designs and quilting skills.

On hand will be over 25 vendors of quilting and crafting supplies during the 2 day show with thousands of new, interesting and basic items for sale. There will also be an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for several very nice prize baskets. Winners will be drawn on Sunday afternoon.

Members of the guild completed a queen bed sized quilt designed by nationally renowned quilter Cindy Seitz-Krug. Tickets for a chance to win the quilt will be available at the show, and the drawing will be on Sunday afternoon.

The featured artist is Kay Pennington, local quilt artist and special education teacher. Kay has won several awards at national level shows for her whimsical, colorful and innovative creations, and she will be at the show both days to answer questions about techniques she uses.

The show will also feature a display of antique and vintage sewing machines, some over 100 years old. There will also be demonstrations of various quilting techniques and a "bed turning." The guild will house a "Country Store," with various mostly second hand quilting, sewing, decorating and various crafting supplies for sale. All proceeds from the show go to support the guild's goal of preserving the craft of quilting.

Show hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door, and children under 16 free. Parking at the fairgrounds is free for this event. Kern County Fairgrounds are located at 1142 S P St. in Bakersfield.

Maybe I’ll Go Sleeveless

 

Not me, really. My quilts. I have three quilts finished, but no sleeves for hanging. Only one of them has a label.

I will have time between now and show time on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock to make the sleeves, but not stitch them onto the quilts. Safety pins will have to do.

I am SO GLAD my quilts are not being judged at this show.