Author Archives: Norma Hanson

Kathy Doughty Trunk Show

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I spent this afternoon being inspired by some of the most incredible quilts that I have seen in a long time.  I attended a trunk show by Kathy Doughty from Sydney, Australia.  Kathy is a fantastic speaker and her quilts are jaw dropping. “Making a quilt is like writing a song.  Its pulling in the influences in your life that are important and combining them into one specific piece.” – Kathy Doughty If you are not familiar with Kathy’s work, take some time to watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gdZWumIpGc Or visit her website and blog: http://www.materialobsession.typepad.com/   DSC_1438 DSC_1439 DSC_1442 DSC_1443 DSC_1444 DSC_1446 DSC_1448 DSC_1449 My favorite quilt was this Pickle Dish quilt with a turquoise background.  Kathy calls this one Gypsy Kisses.  The pattern for this quilt can be found in the book, Material Obsession 2 by Kathy Doughty and Sara Fielke. DSC_1452 DSC_1453 DSC_1454 DSC_1455 DSC_1456 DSC_1457 DSC_1458 DSC_1459 DSC_1461 DSC_1463 DSC_1464 DSC_1465 DSC_1462 DSC_1466 DSC_1467 DSC_1468 DSC_1469 DSC_1470 DSC_1472 DSC_1473 DSC_1475 DSC_1476 DSC_1477 DSC_1478 DSC_1479 Kathy talked about using some of those old striped and plaid fabrics in our stash in a new way – as backgrounds for applique. DSC_1480   This pink quilt and the green quilt that follow are made from the same pattern.  The green quilt is Kathy’s version. DSC_1481 DSC_1482 DSC_1483 DSC_1484 DSC_1485 DSC_1486 DSC_1487 DSC_1488 DSC_1489 DSC_1490 DSC_1491 DSC_1492 This purple quilt belongs to one of Kathy’s students. DSC_1493 DSC_1494 DSC_1495 DSC_1496 After the presentation, the quilts were all laid out on tables at the back of the room so we could get a closer look at them.  Some of Kathy’s quilts do not have batting in them.  Some of the quilts have been hand quilted by a quilter that works with Kathy that quilts with perle cotton with the knots on the front of the quilt–the knots are not burried inside the quilt in the batting, or wadding as Kathy calls it. DSC_1497 DSC_1498 DSC_1499 DSC_1500 DSC_1501 I was delighted to see that this quilt was quilted with a swirl design much like the swirls that I like to put on my quilts. DSC_1502 DSC_1503 DSC_1504 DSC_1505   After the trunk show I bought Kathy’s latest book, Adding Layers and I had Kathy autograph it.  Kathy encouraged us to actually read her books, not just flip through them looking at the projects.  So, I will be enjoying this book in the coming days with my coffee during those quiet moments of the day. 61nI6NST0FL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_ Kathy talked about purchasing that incredible focus fabric and then going home to pull the fabrics from your stash to make the quilt.  I am inspired to now look at the fabrics in my stash a little differently. I feel so lucky to live close enough to venues where famous and inspiring quilters like Kathy are visiting.

In Remembrance of my Father

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A-001 A-002 A-003

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A-005 A-009 A-010

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F-008 F-009 F-010 F-012 F-013 F-015 G-001 G-004

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G-015 G-016 G-020 G-090 I-001 K-001 K-005 L-001 L-009 L-010 M-001 N-003 N-005 N-090 T-001 T-002 T-003 T-005 T-006 T-008 T-010 T-013 T-080 U-001 U-003 X-010 Z-009 Z-099 Z-100

 

Last Friday (June 5, 2015), after a short fight with cancer, my Dad came to the end of his life journey.  I have been pouring through old photos of my Dad to select the photos that we will use for a slide show presentation during the Service of Remembrance to be held on June 20, 2015.  These are the photos that I selected for that presentation.

Born on December 16, 1935 on the family farm four miles west of Redvers, Saskatchewan. my Dad was the fifth child of Archie and Elizabeth.

At 19, my Dad purchased a half section of land and began farming. Despite his love of farming, he sold his land to one of his brothers.

In 1959, my Dad attended the Chicago Vocational School in Edmonton to begin his mechanics training. My Dad was awarded his journeyman’s status in 1965. He worked for several garages in Weyburn.

My Dad married my Mom on July 9, 1960 in Carlyle, Saskatchewan. They had two children: me and my brother. My Dad and Mom first lived in a 32′ trailer in Weyburn and later moved into the house they built on Duke Street in 1963.

In 1971, our family moved to Nelson, BC. My Dad continued to work as a mechanic, first at a private dealership and in 1974 for the BC Government Department of Highways. At the end of his career, he was foreman and also started to weld for them. He spent many hours proudly fabricating mower decks and sand boxes for the highway equipment. He retired in 1995 at the age of 59.

Once retired, my Dad and Mom moved back to Weyburn where they enjoyed a wonderful retirement – square dancing and spending time with friends and family. In 2004, they moved back to BC, where they could be closer to children and grandchildren.

In retirement, my parents enjoyed many bus trips around Canada and the US. In the last years, they spent the winters in sunny Arizona which my Dad loved.

We loved him and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Capture

Gee’s Bend Quilters Coming to Vancouver

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Annie Mae Young Gee's Bend Quilt

This quilt is from “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend” exhibit.  The quilter was Annie Mae Young.  It is titled, “Work-clothes quilt with center medallion of strips”.  The quilt was made in 1976 from denim, corduroy, and synthetic blends and measures 76.5″ x 108″.

 

Some members of the Gee’s Bend Quilters will be coming to Vancouver this fall.  As part of the Maiwa Textile Symposium that runs from September to November, the Gee’s Bend Quilters will be presenting a lecture and two workshops.

Monday, October 19, 2015, 7:45 pm:  Lecture at Netloft, Granville Island, $15

Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 10 am to 4 pm: Workshop, at Maiwa Loft, Granville Island, $295 (includes lab fee of $25)

Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22, 2015, 10 am to 4 pm:  Workshop at Maiwa Loft, Granville Island, $295 (includes lab fee of $25)

Registration for these classes opens June 22, 2015 at 10 am.  This link will take you to the full calendar including the class descriptions and registration form: http://www.maiwa.com/workshops/pdf/2015Symposium.pdf 

Gee’s Bend is an African American majority community that has remained very isolated due in part to its geography as it is surrounded on three sides by the Alabama River.

Quilting in Gee’s Bend dates back to the 19th Century.  It is speculated that the patterns of the Western and Central Aftrican textiles had a significant influence on the distinctive improvisational and simplistic geometric signature style of the quilts produced by the Gee’s Bend Quilters.  Many modern quilters credit the Gee’s Bend quilts as significantly influencing the development of the Modern Quilt Movement.

The following links provide further information on the Quilters of Gee’s Bend.

1.  The Gee’s Bend quilters were in Vancouver for the 2005, 2011, and 2013 Maiwa Textile Symposium.  This is a blog post written by Krista Hennebery who attended one of the 2011 workshops.

2.  Video titled, “the Quilts of Gee’s Bend” by the Souls Grown Deep Foundation.

3.  Why Quilts Matter – Sisters in Cloth:  The Modern Quilters and the Quilters of Gee’s Bend

4.  Blog posts from Kristin Shields about the Quilters of Gee’s Bend.

5.  Blog post from Michelle Bilyeu about the Quilters of Gee’s Bend.

6.  Deep South Magazine article – The Future of Gee’s Bend.

7.  Article by Richard Kalina – Gee’s Bend Modern.

8.  Blog post from I’m Feelin’ Crafty regarding the Quilters of Gee’s Bend.

 

Improv Under the Influence Workshop With Krista Hennebury

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2015_April 19_Improv Under the Influence_Krista Hennebury_Workshop-Optimized

This is the quilt that I started yesterday in our guild sponsored workshop titled, “Improv Under the Influence” with Krista Hennebury.  We were to bring 12 – 5″ x 5″ charm squares from each of 5 fat quarters of warm related, solid colours and the same number and size of squares from each of 5 fat quarters of related, cool solid colours.  I picked purples with my daughter in mind as purple is her favorite colour and greens because green is my favorite colour.  My design wall is still occupied with my Strip Stacks queen size quilt so I taped these pieces to my cupboard door to take the picture.  The bottom purple strip still needs to be trimmed and sewn to the rest of the piece.

Krista's Sample Quilt for Improv Under the Influence Quilt Workshop

This vibrant pink and green quilt is Krista’s quilt and one of the sample quilts that she brought along to the workshop.  Krista’s describes her technique as building improv strip units that can be used in many different projects including wall hangings, place mats, table runners, pillow covers, and quilts.  This technique would be suited to making improvisational piano key borders that could be added to any modern quilt.

Krista told us that her quilt was inspired by an unnamed antique quilt that she saw on display in Bellingham, WA during a 2012 show titled, American Quilts:  The Democratic Art.  Krista described that quilt as one large Courthouse Steps block using scraps of various cotton and polyester prints that appeared to come from women’s clothing and scraps of wool that appeared to come from men’s suits.  It was this contrast between the men’s and women’s clothing that led Krista to think about the contrast that results between cool and warm colours.

Krista's Inspiration QuiltAlthough Krista did not have a photo of the quilt that inspired her, I was able to find a picture on the internet of what I believe was that very quilt.  This picture was found on a blog called, Nifty Quilts.  Through some other searching, I believe I have located pictures of the other quilts that were part of that exhibit of quilts that was shown at the Whatcom Museum from August 4 to October 28, 2012.   The description of this quilt is, “African-American Log Cabin Variation, c 1950-75 from the collection of Roderick Kiracofe.”