Tag: Media Review

New Blog Hits the Blogosphere

Linda Cline, a very prolific and talented quiltmaker has started her own blog, Linda’s Art Journal. Although she only has a few posts up, I was immediately struck by her comments on sketchbooks/visual journaling in her first post.

Linda plans to use her blog as her visual journal, which is an interesting idea. Obviously, I do that, but I don’t think it is the same as a visual journal in which I use colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc to convey and idea or get an idea out of my head. I feel, for myself, that the screen and the keyboard are a kind of barrier. Not a complete barrier, because, obviously, here I am writing away. Still, I do find them to be a partial barrier. In order to post something, I have to use the keyboard to write it, modify (crop, shrink) photos in a piece of software and then upload everything so you can see it.

I enjoy putting pen/pencil/crayon etc to paper. I enjoy the feel of the implement gliding or sliding or rubbing over the paper. I enjoy the feeling of the paper on my hand.

I think there is a place for both in my fiber and visual work. I look forward to exploring more on this topic with you. I think there is value in exploring creativity via different media.

Welcome to the Blogosphere adventures, Linda!

Magazine Reviews

I finally found a copy of the latest issue of Quilter’s Home. HOORAY! This one truly has a subscription card in it. I haven’t filled it out yet, but will. I want to encourage Mark who seems to love us, has a great sense of humor and fun, which I think the quilt world needs AND has articles that make me want to move in next door to him and become his new best friend.The fridge article was a bit weird, but it made me think about what was in my fridge (WAY too much leftover rice). I also thought that there was too much diet Coke in those quilt teachers’ fridges. I love that Alex Anderson keeps face cream in her fridge.

The project for big prints was great and I might add it to my list of things to make.

I wasn’t interested in the Splish-Splash needlework pieces, but that’s me. I really enjoyed the bio of Mark. It was great to learn how he became a dad and that he used to work in a quilt store.

QH isn’t perfect, but the overall entertainment value makes up for the articles that don’t interest me.

I also recently read the quilt issue of Piecework. Sigh.

I used to have a subscription and devour the magazine. I love history and remember one article on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that riveted me. Even the quilt issue is now a pale shadow of what it used to be. The article on Marie Webster’s quilts was pathetic. It has footnotes, but they were all to secondary sources and it just wasn’t long enough to do justice to the woman or her quilts. There are too many projects for a history type magazine, but I guess that is supposedly what sells. One project was for knitting quilt blocks. Why bother? The knitters can wait for an issue while we quiltmakers revel. I just think Piecework has lost its way and its focus. I hope CPS and Quilting Arts don’t follow in Piecework’s footsteps.

Not Enough Colors

Need More Colors.
I was thinking tonight as I stared at my Pineapple and Cross Block (Flowering Snowball) projects that there are just not enough colors in the rainbow. Each time I add a strip to the Pineapple, it seems like I have just added that color. Granted, the blues are different and they have bigger dots or little splotches, but sometimes I just think I need more colors. Not sure what those colors would be, but I do think I need more.

Life is Good
Despite my back hurting and feeling a bit unwell and trying all day not to tell off a bigwig at work for being self-centered and oblivious, Life Is Good.

Why?

Because of quiltmaking. I was able to indulge almost all day in some kind of quiltmaking activity. I listened to Alex Anderson’s Quilt Connection podcasts. While she is a little big giggly and squealy, once she gets into the groove, I really enjoy the info she provides. I listened, again, to a couple of podcasts, which sent me to Paula Nadelstern’s site and also to Jinny Beyer’s site. I also looked at Valori Wells site and found that she has a blog.

Paula Nadelstern’s kaleidoscopic quilts are amazing. I love her work. After listening to the podcast, I went to the library’s site and reserved her book, Puzzle Quilts. It is still available on her website, but I want to look at it before I buy it.

Jinny Beyer puts up a new block every week. I haven’t found one that I really want to make yet, but in terms of inspiration she is the go-to-girl. I have to admit that I don’t go there every week and look at the new block. I was also reminded that I need to look at her handpiecing book and find out what she uses to mark around her templates.

I don’t think I have used any of Valori Wells’ fabrics, but she is a good speaker and inspirational. After listening to her interview, I wanted to go home and find all of my large scale prints, download VW’s patterns and make a large scale print quilt! It is so thrilling to be able to listen to something about quilting, look at a website and then come home and look at the book and sew.

When I came home the Collaborative Quilting book by Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran was calling to me -(read my post about it). Alex also interviewed Gwen and I was reminded how much G.M. is inpired by old patterns. She and Alex made the point that we are where we are today because of the ladies that came before us. They also talked about giving credit and it occurred to me that if you give credit, people will come to you because you have a link to your inspiration or because they know they will find the information from you.

I know some of you only come for the photos, so here is the Cross Block (Flowering Snowball) that I finished on Mother’s Day.

The Art of Quilting – REVIEW

Being in the dark ages has its drawbacks, especially when quiltmaking shows come along on cable. I am lucky enough to be friends with people who are willing to tape shows and send them to me. That was the case with the Art of Quilting, a special on PBS.

Melody Johnson and Pam RuBert show up right away in the show as does Quilt National. It is a show trying to explain what makes up art quiltmaking and who the players are.

The show starts out being a slideshow of many art quilts with a voiceover by Hilary Fletcher. The introduction is followed by videos of the work of various artists including Jane Burch Cochran, Bob Adams, Pam RuBert, the Chicago School of Fusing, Carol Krueger, Kristin Hoelscher-Schacker, as well as descriptions of their work. The show also watches the artists working and listens as they talk about their work. I was surprised that there weren’t any California art quiltmakers. In between segments the slide shows continue.

I have never seen the detail of Jane Burch Cochran’s quilts and really enjoyed seeing the hidden messages she incorporates into some of her quilts. She said that she is playing with the idea that you are not supposed to touch quilts, but you have to touch her quilts to find the hidden messages. She had one about peace that grabbed my attention. She also gave some hints about being inspired as you work and how to work to facilitate inspiration.

Pam RuBert has a fabulous studio that I covet. I will think of a way to incorporate her lovely large walls in my workroom. Seeing the details of PaMdora’s world is so fantastic. The pieces of PaMdora’s world were on full display during RuBert’s segment, which was fun. I also liked the humble way in which she described her work.

Laura Wasilowski sings along with Frieda Anderson, Melody Johnson and Emily Parson in the segment on the Chicago School of Fusing. The School is fully described and each of the members of the School have a bit. I do like the clear colors that Melody Johnson uses, though she has moved on to more nature colors: fawn, stone, beige, etc. Frieda Anderson gets inspiration from nature. She also said that until recently she carried her Featherweight around in her car. Emily Parson likes the impact of large flowers and their effect on viewers. Some of the designs I liked were their machine quilting designs and the leaves as well as the smaller flowers. I also the simpler designs rather than the really detailed designs. They disparage piecing a bit, but I looked at it as of their progression.

Philadelphia Quilt Art is discussed as the next up and coming venue for art quilts. I want to say that the quilts they discuss are not quilts. I mean paper clips and candy wrappers…really? BUT, I am not going to say that, because the next thing I know, I will be making quilts out of candy wrappers and paper clips. WE must keep an open mind. Still I want quilts to have three layers and be made out of fabric. I can’t have everything. 😉

I like the way the show introduced me to lots of different artists. This is definitely a show that you have running without the sound and just have a great show running. The nice thing, aside from showing lots and lots of fabulous art quilts is that they touch on a lot of different techniques including beading, discharging, machine embroidery, fusing, painting, etc. There is a lot more to quiltmaking than just piecing. But can’t they all coexist without paper clips and candy wrappers?

It is a show worth watching and by which you can be inspired.

P.S. I struggle all the time with the whole art thing. Am I an artist? Am I not an artist? I don’t know and after hearing Wayne Thiebaud, a long time ago, on City Arts and Lectures saying that he is a painter and history can judge wheather he is an artist, I have decided to adopt this as well. I just want to do my work and grow and change my work as I progress.

I think that at heart I am an art quiltmaker, but at the moment I am in an art quilt fallow period where I am sewing with colors and patterns that I enjoy, but that are not necesarily Quilt National quality. What Comes Next and Blood and Oil are both art quilts. They will have companion pieces to follow them at some point. Just not today.

Quilt Podcast

Alex Anderson has a podcast. It seems to be an extension of Simply Quilts, though not officially. She has about 24 episodes all ready for you to hear via your MP3 player or on your computer (iTunes works well). The episodes vary in length and she does follow up on previous episodes. I would start from the beginning because she does refer back to previous podcasts.

I was skeptical about hearing about quilting, because quiltmaking is such a visual medium. I was pleasantly surprised to hear what a great job AA does using the tools she has. She does refer to supplementary materials which are posted on her website. I think this is a great way of using available technology to deal with a visual medium.

I also find that hearing a podcast helps me keep up with quilting even if I am not actually sewing right at the moment. I find that getting different kinds of sensory stimulation for quilting keeps me in the loop.

If you are not used to listening to books on tape or podcasts, this is a fun and free way to get started.

The first episode talks about what happened with Simply Quilts and how it worked out for her. I get the impression that this is the first step in something larger – another TV show, perhaps?