I joined a bus trip to the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Lakeland, Florida, this past week for an eye-popping time! What a treat to be surrounded by everything quilty, and more. The “and more” included the class I took titled “Almost Steampunk Junk.” Participants brought all sorts of metal and jewelry parts, beads, buttons, and charms. Our instructor brought even more, and we all dug in to make brooches, headbands, bracelets, necklaces- you name it. All we needed was a glue gun and some imagination. There were lots of sample pieces to inspire us, along with rubbing compounds in various colors, and hard felt to use as the base of our pieces. I’m not sure what these will be as yet- possibly brooches, or maybe the focal piece on a fabric journal cover. I’m afraid I’ve started yet another avenue of interest. I always say my problem is that I want to make at least one of everything! And look- I made two.
There were two large rooms at the event filled with vendors. Here’s what came home in my shopping bag. Abbey Lane Quilts had their patterns on sale. Barb Originals had kits to make Treasure Bags from a silk tie or quilt fragments. I love little bags! Fabrics abounded and I purchased this wonderful rust dyed fabric from Art Quilt Textiles as well as some batiks from Vogue Fabrics Store. I was not familiar with them, but they had many wonderful products in addition to fabrics of all kinds. We received two shopping bags with our entrance fee, but I filled only one. Remarkable restraint, wouldn’t you say?
There were lots of quilts on display, including the Double Wedding Ring International Quilt Challenge. This quilt is titled “Organic Pink Pickles” by Karen Williamson. It’s always interesting to see different takes on the same quilt pattern, especially when it’s made modern.
“Shadow Play” by Meg Crowley really used value contrast very effectively, while low contrast was the goal of the quilt below.
One of the trends in Modern Quilts is the use of low-volume fabrics to achieve subtle variation in the design rather than strong contrast. This is “Low Key Rings” by Colleen Molen. I like how she used prints to achieve texture in her quilt even though there is not a lot of value contrast.
I’ll share some more of the display quilts in my next post. If one of the sewing expo 3-day events is in your area, I certainly recommend that you attend if you can. The teaching staff includes some very well-known names like Nancy Zieman of Nancy’s Notions, June Colburn, and quilter Shar Jorgenson. There are plenty of free demos and special events, plus outstanding door prizes. The day we went, a Bernina sewing machine and a Juki serger were the top two prizes. It was a treat to attend and to see the great interest in home sewing.
4 comments:
what fun! thanks for the post and sharing art you saw!
I am enchanted by everything "Steampunk" and yet I won't even try to create any as I don't think I could do justice to the style. Your pieces are uber fun. Looks like a great shopping and viewing quilt show. Creative Bliss...
I agree with Createology. I also have never created any steampunk jewelry, even though my friend Kathy gave me a book on steampunk jewelry. I don't seem to have an eye for it, but you do. I like what you made.
I had NEVER seen one of these quilts before, but happened to watch the show after PBS's Quilting Arts last week, where they showed how to make traditional, then modern Double Wedding Ring Quilts. The guest artist made a stunning quilt that went from pure red in a top corner to pure white in the opposite bottom corner. In the middle was where she changed from traditional to modern and quirky, all the while maintaining the same quilt pattern. I was FASCINATED, and I'm not even a quilter!
Glad you had fun, and got a LOT of great things to take home, too.
Quilts are quite nice...at the Winter Art Fair they had two Steampunk vendors!! Sure wasn't 'junk' prices but amazing work..you should have fun doing this technique!!! So clever on what you can make!!
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