Thom’s journey into beaded quilts began after a car accident made it impossible to work using clay to create his bronze sculptures. Finding he could still use a needle and thread, Thom began with a series of bead-embellished quilts, looking for a balance between the fabric and beads. To begin with, they were small art quilt, heavily encrusted with beads. Some became quite sculptural in nature, with pieces extensively embroidered, stuffed, and then appliquéd onto the quilt. Eventually Thom turned to landscapes and freeform abstracts. New techniques called for new piece. He added dyeing, painting with textile paints, using tulle as shadow or as a way to hold down small pieces of cloth. Photoshop opened a whole new world of printed images on fabric. New ideas kept coming and new fabrics called out to him. When he had added the three dimensional sculptural forms in fabric with bead embellishment, he felt he had come full circle, back to sculpture, in a new media. His fingers still itch for clay every now and then and someday he may go back but for the time being, he is happy. Beads and fabric have given him back the color that he was missing in the bronze. To him, beads and fabric seem much more vibrant and immediate.

Thom lives and works in Santa Cruz, Ca, and travels nationwide to teach. One of his pieces was used on the 2006 invitation for the International Quilt Market in Houston. His published work can be found in Lark Publishing’s books 500 Beaded Objects, and The Art of Beaded Beads; Interweave Press’ book Beaded Embellishment; in Margie Deeb’s book The Beader’s Color Palette; and now, in a new book by C&T Publishing called innovative Fabric imagery for Quilts.

Above, Coral by Thom Atkins.

At right:  American Indian meets Australian Aboriginal by Thom Atkins.

Susanne Staton creates all her Wearable Art vests using one pattern, altered to fit, that has become her “canvas.” Each class, book, and color technique inspiration has found its way into a variation of this pattern. Initially using piecing techniques, she now works mostly doing hand appliqué. Her work is not limited to fabric; she also makes vests using felting techniques. Although she has a felting machine, she prefers nuno felting on wool pre-felt.

Susanne enjoys the entire creative process and hand-dyes most of the fabrics she uses. She also creates the buttons for her garments using polymer clay, hand painting wood or fusing glass to match the theme of each piece. Garment construction techniques are varied and include: hand-dyeing, bleaching and over-dyeing, shibori, silk-steaming, nuno felting, appliqué, broderie perse, piecing, crazy patch, beading, embroidery, needle-lace, and free-motion quilting.

Susanne’s quilts are often original designs. Again, she uses a variety of techniques, including:  hand-dyeing, painting with inks, broderie perse, embroidery, beading, and 3-dimensional elements. Sometimes using free motion quilting to finish her quilts but most often her quilts are hand-quilted. Susanne is a member of the Fidalgo Island Quilters and the DIVAS, a Wearable Arts group in Anacortes,Washington.

Above, left:  Leaves, a vest by Susanne Staton. Above, right:  Pear Cubism, a quilt by Susanne Staton.

Exhibit Sponsored by the Fidalgo Island Quilters

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The first floor of the Gaches Mansion will be covered with Embroidered Beauties:  Old & New, a look at embroidered quilts over the past 200 years. We will have many examples of hand embroidery on hand but we will also feature a few fine examples of work done by artists in the computer age.

On display will be a white-work technique known as Candlewicking. This was a popular embroidery technique during Colonial times in America. Candlewicking derives its name from the thread used for the design work–the thread was braided and used as a wick in candle making. The design is composed of knots, satin stitches and running stitches, this embroidery decorated all types of fabric surfaces.

We will also have embroidered Crazy Quilts on display. The Crazy Quilt fad ran wild from about 1880 through the late 1920′s. The earlier quilts are often made of silk fabrics and are highly embellished with a wide variety of embroidery stitches.

The embroidery phase continued in the 1930′s when a large variety of patterns were available through newspapers, magazines, and by mail order. Newspapers carried patterns that could be used for appliqué; at times this pattern would be adapted for embroidery. One of our quilt tops is embroidered using designs by Nancy Page. Early transfer patterns were “printed” by piercing the paper and applying black powder for transferring the pattern. Later, hot-iron transfer became popular; red was usually a multi-stamp pattern, while blue, green or yellow was often a one-time use pattern.

We will also feature some embroidered quilts from post WWII. The 1950′s saw the rise of the pre-stamped cross stitch kit. Available through a number of magazines, these embroidered quilt kits can still ordered today.

Some contemporary quilters are still doing their embroidery work by hand. Susanne Staton (exhibit on the 3rd floor) is just such a quilter; making most of her wonderful crazy quilt vests with hand stitches. Other quilters might use computerized sewing machines to embroider a pattern. We will have a machine-stitched embroidery quilt made by John James on display. If you are a fan of embroidered work, this is a wonderful exhibit for ideas and inspiration.

At right our Best of Show winner:  On the Wings of a Dream by Caryl Bryer Fallert.

See the complete listing of the Award Winners & Entries here.

This exhibit is sponsored by:  Quality Sewing & Vacuum.

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December Closures:  We will be closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. We will be open Monday- Friday, December 26-30, but will be closed on the 31st.

January Closure:  January 1-10, 2012 We will be closed in early January for our annual indoor maintenance. See you on opening day, January 11.

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Together is a collaborative project between pairs of Canadian artists – one working in fibre and the other in their chosen media. This exhibition has brought together a group of textile, quilt, and fibre artists working in a wide range of styles and paired them with painters, woodworkers, mixed media artists, potters, and glass artists. Each pairing of artists chose their own  theme and their themes are as diverse as their media. 

Some of the artists began with a word or words as inspiration:  “Orchid”, “Stone Threads”, or “Runes, Wings, & Keys.” Other artists were working from an inspirational photo or painting. Many artists sought inspiration from the world around them:  organic and abstract patterns found in nature and landscapes. The issues facing nature also appears in some of the work:  “What’s happening in the oceans”, “Pine beetle devastating the forests”, and “Clear cutting of forests.” While many of the artists are working in their own media, some of the pairs have decided to work on one project using their combined talents to interpret a theme.

All in all, a well-rounded grouping of artistic works made by an eclectic group of artists working in their respective media to bring you a brilliant collage of works.

Vivian Kapusta, guest curator.

Above:  Woods on a Snowy Evening Fiber Art by Coreen Zerr

Right:  Spring Thaw Painting by Sari Spenser

Ann Fahl is a prize winning quilter and author from Racine, WI. Her new book about her cat is “A Black and White Tale.” “Dancing with Thread” is about free-motion quilting in a free-spirited style. Her first book and DVD, “Coloring with Thread” covers every aspect of machine embroidery and use of decorative thread.

She has been interested in the fiber arts all her life, and first discovered quilting in 1978.  As a beginning quilter, she started out with traditional patchwork and appliqué, her quilts have evolved into heavily embroidered pieces over a patchwork background. They have been exhibited in quilt competitions, solo and invitation exhibits across the USA. Many private and corporate collections include her quilts. Quilting enables Ann to combine the things she loves; color, fabric and sewing. She finds the entire process of quilt making an enjoyable creative experience as well as stimulating and challenging.

Ann’s joy in working with color, texture, and fiber is reflected in her quilts. They emerge from her life, surroundings and childhood memories. Much of her work includes four themes:  large birds, fans, botanic imagery and the geometry of triangles. She enjoys mixing machine piecing, appliqué, embroidery, and quilting with hand beading. Using a combination of these techniques gives her great freedom and flexibility to create a variety of effects. Her quilts convey her positive outlook on life and her love of nature, color, and fiber.

As she teaches and lectures across the country, she encourages quilters to be creative by using subjects that are important to them.  You will find Ann’s quilts pictured in many quilt publications, books, calendars and her website. She has a line of patterns based on her prize-winning designs, and can be seen on TheQuiltShow.com and Simply Quilts.

Ann works in her studio at home.  She balances home, husband, 2 grown children, a cat, and her art.  She lives in a naturally wooded area, with many birds and wild flowers.  These surroundings are an important part of her work, and can be found in many of her quilts.

Above: Coneflower Fiesta by Ann Fahl, © 2011  62.5 x 45.5 inches.

For more about Ann visit http://www.annfahl.com/

December Closures:  We will be closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. We will be open Monday- Friday, December 26-30, but will be closed on the 31st.

January Closure:  January 1-10, 2012 We will be closed in early January for our annual indoor maintenance. See you on opening day, January 11.

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Spirit of the West Featuring the work of the Association of Pacific West Quilters.

Over thirty APWQ members have been invited to create in fabric their interpretation of the phrase Spirit of the West. The artists were given this as a guideline for their creation: We live in a marvelous part of the world, full of diversity in folklore, history, and natural wonders.  Let your imagination soar and create a quilt that speaks of the West from Alaska to New Mexico, Saskatchewan to Hawaii, and all points in between.  Feel free to mix images, techniques and styles from traditional to contemporary.  Individual expression and construction techniques of unlimited variety are encouraged.

The Spirit of the West exhibit will travel to major quilt shows and museums and will be auctioned at the 2012 Pacific West Quilt Show Gala & Auction.

Elaine’s quilting career included teaching an after-school quilting program; beginning her longarm business, Unfinished Dreams; and serving as president at Quilters Anonymous, based in Snohomish County, WA.

Reception:  A Tribute to Elaine Colvin, Saturday, August 20; 5-8pm. Join us for a evening reception in Elaine’s honor.

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Smiling Tigers by Elaine Colvin, 60″ x 72″, 2010. Pattern ”Borealis” by Pamela Dimdorf.

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A collection of quilts and fiber art inspiring viewers with the guild’s signature artistic creativity and sustainable earth, global footprint message. “Mixed Greens” is a celebratory project exhibition, offering a diverse perspective of regional and local Northwest efforts to re-use, re-purpose, and recycle, while continuing to honor “America’s favorite pastime.”

The collection, composed of some twenty-two individual offerings is organized to satisfy the senses while respecting the environment. Each piece, though uniquely special, compliments the collection like a freshly tossed fine summer salad, or a combination of mixed kale and mustard greens. The title piece selected for the exhibition: “Carbon Footprint” (seen at left) by quilter Marilyn Wilson Hanseling sets the pace. It conveys a sense of “earthiness” and respect for “Mother Earth.”  “Paper or Plastic” by creative quilter Annie Harper is a mixed media piece that utilizes plastic bags and wrappers, fabric trimmings, threads, ribbon cuttings brought together to demonstrate a personal interpretation of “proper recycling technique.”

Viewers will come away from “Mixed Greens” inspired, and full of new possibilities to explore. Simple and functional “idea gifts from the earth”, like preparing beets, other varieties of vegetable dyes and teas to color or hue fabric as offered by the inspirations of traditional hand quilter Johnnie Miller, who learned from her family farming traditions as a young girl, rotating crops and the conscious behavior to recycle their bounty to the fullness thereof.

Mixed Greens: Saving the Earth One Quilt at a Time brings back to conscious the social responsibility we share to protect and preserve “Mother Earth” for generations to come. This exhibition presents the evolution of the art form from traditional/utilitarian quilts to contemporary abstract fiber art.

Exhibition curated by Deborah Boone – quilter/fiber artist and member of the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters, “Mixed Greens: Saving the Earth One Quilt at a Time”, June 29th – Oct 2nd 2011.

-Deborah Boone

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Website of the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters Association.http://www.pnwaaq.com/

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Carbon Footprint by Marilyn Hanseling. Materials: Cottons, flannels, dryer lint, and dryer sheets.

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