First, here’s the snake made by my friend Michele. The pattern is Renewal by Eudaimonia Studio. Michele commented that the directions were very clearly written!

Second, here’s a quilt top I designed and made for Flying Horse Farms. I’ll turn it over to my friend Jerri when we next meet and she will quilt it and even deliver it in person!

The background fabric has all sorts of scientific formulae on it, so I’m hoping this goes to a young person who is interested in science and will enjoy identifying them.

Of course while I was designing this quilt I had to try a few other options, including this one. I do all my designs in EQ8 and find it very helpful.

The quilt was quick and easy, since the blocks finish 10″. Feel free to copy it if you need a bunk-sized quilt.

The Weatherspoon Museum at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro currently has an exhibit of African American quilts from the Southern U.S.

I went with friends recently and we enjoyed the quilts. Here are a few of my favorites.

Star Quilt, by Emma Russell, 1978

I particularly liked this next one because the label said, “Elizabeth Talford Scott was a recognized quilter who ate mischief for breakfast, just like her daughter Joyce”. Don’t you love the idea of eating mischief for breakfast?

Monsters, Dragons, and Flies, by Elizabeth T. Scott and Joyce J. Scott, 1982.

And I love the way some of the lighter colored pieces kind of disappear into the background in this next one.

Patchwork Stars Quilt, made by Decia Scott and quilted by Annie Dennis, 1984

Blue Log Cabin by Geraldine Nash, 2007

All Star, pieced by DeElla Pringle and quilted by Virginia Thompson, about 2000

I wondered about this next one, which appears to be bound on only 3 sides. It’s wonky enough that I was able to peek behind the right edge without touching it, and that edge was turned to the back and stitched down instead of having binding!

Improvisational Strip Quilt by Mabel Williams, 1968

Folk Scenes Quilt by Mary Mayfair Matthews, 1992

And isn’t this next one unusual? I never would have thought of this design!

“P” Quilt by Mary K. Williams, 1986

Finally, my favorite. I totally would have made this quilt (if I’d thought of it).

Triangle Within a Square by Christina Neely, 2007.

A lot of things about these quilts make the usual “improv” modern quilts look stilted and over-planned. The quilts in this exhibit seem so free by comparison. I think it’s another hint to me to “lighten up”.

Admission to the museum is free, and if you live in the Triad area this exhibit is worth the trip.

The Mid-Atlantic Quiltfest (MAQF), put on by the Mancuso company, is held in Hampton, VA, every year and sometimes I go since it’s only a few hours away. This year I had a quilt accepted in a challenge category, so I went to see the quilts and take some classes.

Since this show was the week after QuiltCon, comparisons are inevitable. The most obvious difference to me was that, despite the MQG (Modern Quilt Guild) commitment to diversity, there were many more people of color attending MAQF. Not sure what that’s about, because I think the MQG honestly tries. With regard to the quilts, of course there was more diversity at MAQF since the focus is not entirely modern.

Here are a few of my favorite quilts from MAQF.

First, one guild had a display of quilts made using African fabrics. Here are a couple that caught my eye:

Umoja (Unity) by Brenda Johnson

Colors of Spirituality by Eulanda Banks. I especially like the way the solid green makes the gold fabric stand out.

Of course I preferred the modern quilts, but there were plenty of traditional and art quilts as well. Here, in no particular order, are some quilts I especially enjoyed.

Fiesta is a throw size quilt by Mary Anne Fontana. It was hung behind a bank of chairs so I couldn’t get a straight shot of it.

Technicolor Dream by Susan Braverman won first place in the Mid-Century Modern competition.

This next one was in a vendor booth to sell a kit, but I thought it was extra pretty. I have no idea what the pattern is!

Cloverleaf by Betsy Vinegrad won Honorable Mention in the Mid-Century Mod category

Zion by Debra Nagelholt Newhall was inspired by Zion National Park

I thought Flutterby, by Betsy Vinegrad, was exceptionally well made.

I enjoyed the arrangement of the little blocks in Trinket by Kristine Byrn

I’m happy to say I took 3 good classes at MAQF, so I’ll tell you about those in the near future!