Kalamazoo Log Cabin Qulters' Show

This is a close up of my newest quilt Dance of Spring. This quilt has been a work of love for me, taking 18 months from inception, through production of the piece.

I knew that I wanted the cranes to really stand out from the background and decided that a colorful sunset/sunrise would be the ticket. I used eight different fabrics for the sky and sun, deciding that piecing 1 inch strips would give me the best control over blending the colors to give the effect I desired. I used orange crystal beads on the edge of the sun to give it the sparkle it needed and to help separate it from the sky.

I chose the dark green border because I knew that color would make the sunset/sunrise colors stand out and the dark color would make the wings extending over it, to stand out and give a sense of depth to the piece.

There are 145 pieces, of 16 different white on white and 6 black on black fabrics, in the three cranes. I used needle turned applique for these, putting the birds together before placing them on the background. I placed a piece of batting under the birds to block the background colors from bleeding through, and to help give the birds more dimension. I used jewels and beads to make the eyes seem more alive, and give a sense that they were really looking at you.

I used variegated thread to freehand free motion quilt the bamboo in the border areas. I used invisible thread to quilt the pebble area around the birds' feet, and also around each of the individual feathers, to give them dimension.

I did not show a full picture of either of these quilts because I hope to enter them in upcoming national shows that require that the whole quilt not to have been published prior to the show.

If you live anywhere near southwest Michigan, come to the Kalamazoo Log Cabin Quilters' biennial show on September 22 and 23 at the Kingdom Indoor Center (KIC). It's easy to find, off I-94, exit Sprinkle and head south to Centre Ave. Turn right onto Centre, and go to the first street on the left (just past the Stryker plant). You will see a quilt show sign and the KIC sign out front. There is free parking, admission is $7 for adults. We will have about 350 quilts, 33 vendors, a concession stand, and will be having demos and lectures going all day on both days. There is also a quilt raffle and silent auction (whose proceeds go to charity).

This is a closeup of Colliding Galaxies, which will also be in the quilt show this weekend. It was inspired by a fat quarter of the starburst fabric in the center of the quilt. The circles are appliqued onto the background. I did freehand free motion quilting on the whole piece. There are jewels in the center of the large starbursts, just to give it a bit of sparkle.