I am home the the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster and still unpacking. It was a fun 4 days working in the Wonderfil Specialty Threads booth. I met up with lots of blog friends and guild friends and made lots of new friends. I took lots of photos, but you can get the best view of the winning quilts by visiting the link here: WINNERS
I had mixed feelings about the show. I wished there had been more competition quilts. I wish there had been more variety. The one thing that stood out the most, as an overall theme, was the machine quilting. It was over the top. The intricacy and the minute detail was just draw dropping. Every single square inch was covered with thread. I feel like we have crossed a divide and we will never go back to where we were before.
The highlight of the show for me was an exhibit by the Tentmakers of Cairo. The applique are needle turned and made with a very large needle and pair of scissors with a very stabbing motion following a chalked line. Only men make these quilts and they make them only for their families. The backing is a piece of canvas. They were for sale at the show.
It started to snow on Saturday. Just snow flurries. But Hosam and Tarek had never seen snow before! What a treat it was to see their excitement.
I loved the tent makers of Cairo, both the exhibit and the lecture. I have to agree that for a juried show, I was a bit disappointed. There were so many Baltimore quilts and, while I can appreciate the work that goes into them, I was looking for some variety as well. Since my current passion is crazy quilting, I'm always on the lookout for this genre (and often disappointed).
ReplyDeleteThe tentmaker's quilts are wonderful! Thanks for sharing these pictures. How wonderful for them to get to see snow for the first time and how wonderful for you to get to see them see snow for the first time! Glad you had a fun 4 days!
ReplyDeleteDo you like the quilting that you describe? I am not a fan. For so many reasons. One, it is unrealistic for most people to be able to do that type of quilting or afford to have it done. Two, so much thread is used. Three, the quilt is stiff. Four, it just seems like I would be afraid to use the quilt. Five, it intimidates me and makes me feel like I will never enter a quilt because my quilting wouldn't be good enough! Curious about different peoples opinion.
ReplyDeleteI really love the designs on the tents, gorgeous and really unique.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I think the over-the-top quilting is a phase that will pass eventually, to some degree. Quilts become stiff and crunchy with all that quilting, and it is one of those things that is not necessarily "more is better". I for one am hoping in years to come that there is more emphasis on good design, good use of color, and originality. Nothing is sadder than a quilt that has hundreds of hours put into it that is less than stellar in these departments, which I see a lot of at shows. I am a longarm quilter and design my own art quilts and try to let the "art" of my quilt do the talking and not the stitching.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Tentmakers work as well. I must have spoken with you in the Wonderfil booth, but not realizing it was you I didn't introduce myself! I admired your wedding chuppah last year on your blog and was buying some threads to try out on the wedding quilt I'll be making for my son and daughter-in-law..... a wall quilt hopefully to be completed in time for their first anniversary in August.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Tentmakers work as well. I must have spoken with you at the Wonderfil booth, but without realizing it was you I didn't introduce myself! I admired the wedding chuppah on your blog last year; I was looking for threads to try out on the wedding quilt I'll be making for my son and daughter-in-law..... a wall quilt that I hope to complete in time for their first anniversary in August.
ReplyDelete