Bold Expressions Show 2

Bold Expressions Show, a set on Flickr.

Here are some better photos of the Bold Expressions Show of African American Quilts from the collection of Corinne Riley, now showing at the Bellevue Arts Museum in Washington.

You can click on any of these to get to the Flickr set, or click here to see them all. There are 133 photos, including lots of close-ups. Enjoy the show!


Good news! The museum has ordered a reprinting of the book. They say they'll receive it "any day now." You can phone them to place your order. They'll ship anywhere. Here's the phone number (425) 519-0722.

Bold Expressions Show

I've had a lovely vacation week with quilting friends--sewing, laughing and going to quilt shows.  

The Bold Expressions show of 50 African American quilts at the Bellevue Arts Museum was thrilling!  The quilts are from Corinne Riley's collection, and are also featured in the book, Bold Expressions.  Click on the slide show above if you'd like a partial tour through the show.  I plan to return many times before the show ends on October 7.

Here's what I started with inspiration from the show.

Goodwill Rescue

The other day I was driving, and had the strong feeling that there was something special at Goodwill.  This feeling is not uncommon for me, but often it's just a bluff.   I'd imagined some lovely old bark cloth curtain panels, just waiting for my rescue.  I started looking in the curtain aisle.  Nothing there.  

I was about to leave when, just behind me, an employee rolled in a rack of bedspreads.  I turned around and there was this quilt!

It's about 80 x 80 inches.  

Made mostly of lightweight wools and a few silky fabrics.

Hand sewn, hand embroidered, hand tied.

I just love that patchy spot near the circle.  

And the pieced and crinkled back.  

Want to know what I paid for it?  $24.95!

Does anybody know when this might have been made?

And look what showed up in my mailbox today!  I joined the Quilt Alliance, thanks to Victoria's urging last week.  I must say, these are VERY NICE people.  They sent this pack of Tula Pink Prince Charming fat quarters and a hand-written note!  Amy Milne, the Executive Director, says I can call her anytime.  Geez!  I've never been treated so well by an organization.  If you haven't become a member yet, click here for Victoria's post and click from there.  Super easy.  I only wish I'd joined years ago!

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

I found this bag at Goodwill for $6.

It had an old plastic liner.

I used the plastic as a pattern for the new liner.  Wa-la!

Perfect for my hand sewing on a little trip this weekend.

My Attempt at "Low Volume"

I tried to make a "low volume" quilt, but the red just kept jumping in there.  

I hope it still qualifies for the QAL here.  It seems like a pretty forgiving group.

I had fun making these blocks, "liberated log cabins," Gwen Marston style.

I used any old low volume scrap, and chose them mostly randomly, as I learned in a Denyse Schmidt class.

I didn't have many whites, so I used a lot of "wrong" sides.  

There was a time when I would NEVER have used cut off creatures.  Never say never!

 

It may get a border of this plaid table cloth I found in a thrift store in Norway.  Oops!  More red.

 Well, as Popeye said, "I am what I am."   

I also made a couple of blocks for Tonya's next project.