Scrappy Oak Leaf and Acorns
Dear Mary Jane
Leaves of Change
I was speaking with one of the organizers of the show and commented how I thought the show was getting smaller each year. She said the most quilts they'd ever had entered was around 100 and this year they had 75 entered. Maybe it seemed small because I was taken with fewer quilts than in earlier years, or perhaps there were more small quilts than larger ones. I hope the quilts I didn't photograph didn't feel rejected. ;-) I know someone will love them a lot.
--Nancy.
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all three very nice....a quilt gets hand pieced just like eating an elephant...one bite (block) at a time...
ReplyDeleteYes, absolutely one stitch at a time for any quilt, but especially for hand pieced or hand quilted one.
DeleteI especially like the Oak Leaf and Acorns!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love that quilt, too. Both the pattern and the colors! It actually makes me think of you.
DeleteI've often felt that dilemma of machine quilting versus hand quilting when I see a Dear Jane Quilt or others that are hand appliqued. I decided that the maker figured it's the only way it will ever get quilted. You and I, who are hand quilters, know it would take a long time to quilt something like that but also know we wouldn't be satisfied with anything less. I have to admit I hand pieced a quilt years ago and knew it would NEVER get quilted unless I had it machine quilted. Thank goodness it was a small quilt or it would have cost an arm and a leg. I honestly don't like to put hours into a quilt and then have to pay $$$ to have it quilted. I"m cheap, I guess.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts, Robin. It helped me clarify a few thoughts of my own. My response was one of surprise at seeing the quilt machine quilted but as I think about actually hand quilting a quilt like Dear Jane I would be overwhelmed at the size of the quilt and the time it would take. I think you're right that sometimes a quilt won't get finished unless it's machine quilted. (And I may have one or two of those.)
DeleteThat Dear Jane quilt is amazing! An interesting choice of colors. And I like the leaf quilt a lot. I think it sounds like 75 entries is a respectable number considering the max was 100?! Entries always ebb and flow at our local show.
ReplyDeleteHi, Claire. It is amazing, isn't it? It's a really muted color palette with mostly tans/light browns and blues with a few reds thrown in.
DeleteMaybe it seemed like a smaller show because it was condensed into a smaller space than usual. I hope they continue to have it and have plenty of entries.
It's nice to support a local small show. I think they are so important. The oak leaf quilt is stunning. Ya, there are so many facets of quilting, and I think some folks concentrate on the tops, and feel "done" at that point and happy to have someone else do the quilting. There could be many reasons, from not having the physical ability, or the know-how, or the time, or just the desire. The great thing is, her Dear Jane is truly finished on her own terms, and able to be used and enjoyed. Not another unfinished project, lol!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts about the Dear Jane not being hand quilted. I think my response was truly one of surprise but it's true that I also prefer seeing a quilt hand quilted instead of done by machine. But you're so right that there are plenty of reasons why a quilter would choose not to hand quilt and yes, for sure, it's finished and that's always something to celebrate.
DeleteThe quilts you have shared are wonderful - what a classic is the oak leaf quilt! In our area we have witnessed the loss of a number of local quilt shows. The ones that remain however are growing as quilters seek out new venues to display their work. However, hand quilting is definitely a vanishing technique...so sad, but a sign of the times that we live in...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat. I wish I had the patience to make one of the oak leaf quilts. Maybe some day.I don't often get to quilt shows so don't have any comparison with other show. It's sad there are fewer shows and great that some just continue and some are growing. I need to see if there are more to visit in our area this coming year. Hand quilting is so slow and people often want fast these days.
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