Copy
View this email in your browser
 
Welcome to Oh Scrap! from Diane at Stash Bandit:
Tips and tricks for better scrappy quilts!


How do you take in a quilt show? What is your goal

when you see an exhibit of quilts? 


 
Mule, made by Betty Rogers, Greene County, Alabama. International Quilt Museum. IQM Object Number 2000.004.0109
 
There was a time when I simply walked through the rows of quilts. I lingered at those I liked best. I took plenty of photos.  

But I rarely went back and studied the images, and I didn't get all that I could've out of the experience. 
 

 
At the Junction by Marla Varner, QuiltCon 2019

Now I have a different approach. I don't only walk among the quilts. I observe carefully and I shoot deliberately. I keep a few questions in mind. 

Here's a different and more purposeful way to engage with a quilt show. 


 
Cheddar quilts from the collection of Ken Burns at International Quilt Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska


1. On the quilts you admire most, the ones that knock your socks off, identify and articulate why they give you a buzz. What specifically appeals to you?

Noticing and explaining the answers builds your skill in several ways. You become more confident in knowing what you like and what you don't. You become aware of features that light your fire. And in turn, you move closer to creating quilts that make your heart sing



 
Pine Burr, seen in Bellevue Arts Museum exhibit: Bold Expressions, African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley, 2012


Now reverse the process.

2. On the quilts you don't care for, state what you dislike.
(Do it silently. No use hurting the maker's feelings if he/she happens to be nearby.) Is it the color? Is it the design itself? Maybe it lacks cohesion or is jarring to the eye.

Once again, you're building a skill by practicing observation and articulation—the idea of "see it, say it." Everything you don't especially like is something you can avoid in your own creations—or better yet, modify to suit your fancy.

So even the quilts that aren't your cup of tea have something to teach you, and lead you closer to knowing what you do wish to make. 


 

Now, quickly, here's what I noticed about these quilts when I saw them in shows or exhibits, and how they've informed my work in the days since.


 
Mule, made by Betty Rogers, Greene County, Alabama. International Quilt Museum. IQM Object Number 2000.004.0109

My favorite thing about this quilt was the single mule turned sideways. Utterly charming, in my book. I've embraced the whimsical in some of my own quilts, like My Wild Garden, below. 
 
My Wild Garden, designed and made by Diane Harris, 2018-ish


The improvisational nature of Marla Varner's quilt below intrigued me. Repeating a simple shape over and over can be interesting when it's done like this! 
 
At the Junction by Marla Varner, QuiltCon 2019

I made this casual Log Cabin string quilt without much thought until I started setting the blocks together. Then I was more deliberate. It was entirely enjoyable. 
 
Casual Log Cabin Improv Strings by Diane Harris, waiting to be quilted

I knew when I saw this Ken Burns exhibit at International Quilt Museum that I wanted to make a cheddar quilt or six. And I did.


 
Cheddar quilts from the collection of Ken Burns at International Quilt Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska


Big Cheese graced the cover of Issue 145 of Quiltmania late last year. That cheddar exhibit had a major influence on me. 
 
Big Cheese, designed and made by Diane Harris
Pine Burr, seen in Bellevue Arts Museum exhibit: Bold Expressions, African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley, 2012

I've made several Pine Burr quilts after seeing this textured wonder in Seattle 12 years ago. The influence of a quilt exhibit can last a long time! Next time you attend a quilt show, be sure to use it to expand your creativity and enjoy your quilt making even more.
 
Pine Burr by Diane Harris, 2017


 
If you're convenient to Omaha, Nebraska, there's still time to join my "Color, Contrast & Cohesion" class on Sunday, June 26 at Mangelsen's. We'll cover the most important parts of making your quilt WORK and we'll have a good time doing it. You'll choose from several easily-pieced designs so you can concentrate on the big ideas of CCC.

Come and get inspired to combine fabrics like a boss and be thrilled with the results of every quilt you create! 10:30 to 4:30, prep is minimal, fee $75. Register at the door or online here: https://www.mangelsens.com/events/color-contrast-cohesion/

 

 
Check into booking Diane for a guild program
Instagram
Facebook
Stash Bandit Home
Email Diane
Copyright © 2022 Stash Bandit LLC. All rights reserved.
My mailing address: 771 Road V, Bladen NE 68928

You're receiving Oh Scrap! because you signed up on my website or at a meeting. I'm glad you're here!

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
Email Diane