“A Quilter’s Gathering” Show Review - 2003
November 6-9, 2003
by Patricia L. Cummings
photos by James G. Cummings
Every year we look forward to seeing the quilts at a juried New Hampshire show that is organized by Marie Geary and Jeanne Glenfield. This year marked the fifteenth anniversary of this major east coast quilting event. The theme of the contest was “Quilts: Our Pride and Our Passion.” The quilts entered in the show reflect this idea nicely.
The one quilt that stands out above all the others is “Sail Away Home” which was designed by Christine Fries. While her latest quilt features many techniques, every component works to make the whole quilt a cohesive statement. This pictorial quilt focuses on a beautiful baby who is adrift on a body of water in his cradle, tucked in with an exquisite little three-dimensional, silky-looking, Log Cabin quilt. The cradle has slipped away and is floating, while the serene baby is busy studying the many butterflies that hover over him.
This quilt is awarded the Quilter's Muse Virtual Blue Ribbon.
The quilter plays with the concept of light and dark colors on a hand painted background to create an illusion of depth and distance. She effectively manipulates shading to show the shadow cast on the water by the cradle and by other objects. She utilizes both silver and copper color metallic threads for quilting lines, the lighter color ones having been placed in the center of the quilt; the darker ones in the "distance."
Both of these color techniques work in tandem and demonstrate a very painterly approach to the work. The realistic looking blond hair of the baby, and his painted features make him appear very life-like. The whole scene is a “feel-good” one that makes your heart sing.
After being attracted to the quilt from afar, the viewer is not disappointed at close range. In my opinion, the measure of an excellent quilt is just that... it looks great from a distance but further delights the viewer upon closer examination.
From the prostate squirrel who looks plum tuckered out, just hanging from a tree branch, to the Beatrix Potter type mouse at the lower edge of the water, to the beading done on branches to simulate dew, every single detail is a complete delight and a window into the maker’s love of whimsy. The dragonflies are neat! The cobweb and spider are very nicely done and even the three-dimensional water plants are charming.
There is nothing I did not like about this quilt. Therefore, I cannot praise it enough. Although this quilt apparently did not win a ribbon at the show, it wins my vote for BEST OF SHOW, hands down! One can believe the artist’s statement that quilting for her “is more than happiness- it is ecstasy”! To see more of Christine's work, please visit her website: http://www.loveabideth.com/
Another striking quilt in the show is called “Flowers in a Sea of Darkness” made by Terri Vadenais of Bellingham, MA. She used Moda Marbles fabric against a black background to make this bed size quilt. She had started the project in a Block of the Month class. This quilt, designed by Pam Bono, has outstanding color use. The professional machine quilting done by Janet-Lee Santeusanio is both artistic and excellent. The quilt was awarded several ribbons. (All fourteen patterns to make the quilt are available from Pam on her online website).
Another wonderful quilt adapted Bethany Reynold’s idea for Stack ‘n Whack
quilts and took the concept a step beyond. “Flamingo Fireworks” by Julie
Stegna of Walpole, Maine also has a black background, and employs a colorful
“flamingos fabric” placed whimsically, not only as a large appliqué in the
lower right hand corner, but also pieced, as part of the border. This is
another quilt to make one smile!
A very noteworthy quilt is that of Pamela A. Danesi of Brooklyn, NY called “Introspectively Hexagonal”. The entire quilt was hand pieced using the English Paper Piecing method and it boasts of having 11,556 pieces. What a work of art and what a lot of work!
Oh, really, there were so many wonderful quilts in this show, you would have had to have been there in person to truly enjoy them all! This editorial is an inadequate representation of our enjoyment of the one hundred ninety two quilts in the show.
We extend best wishes and congratulations to all who entered the show. If you made it through the jurying process, you are all winners! In addition, we applaud all of the behind the scenes efforts of the organizers, the volunteers, the judges and teachers, the hotel staff, the quilt guilds, and everyone else who work so hard to make this kind of show possible. The Quilter magazine published by All American Crafts Publishing, Inc. has been a major sponsor of the show for the last fifteen years.
Congratulations on another successful show!
For more information, please visit the following site: www.aquiltersgathering.com