Quilting by the Lake...peek inside!

Ok, I am a quilter through and through so a holiday that involves quilting obviously makes me very happy.  One that doesn't involve cooking, laundry or sports is also good.  Don't get me wrong I love my job but the last few weeks off have been very relaxing!

To set the scene of Quilting by the Lake, home for this week is a dorm room at the Onondaga Community College.  We, a large group of happy quilters, are gathered here to expand our skills, creativity and circle of friends...that is official speak for having an absolutely fabulous time with like minded individuals doing heaps of fun stuff like making ART!!!  The days are filled with learning and the evenings have a variety of special events from lectures by uber talented quitlers like Judi Blaydon and Katie Pasquini Masopust to show and tell from the students and tomorrow night a visit to the Schweinfurth Art Center for a showing of quilts by Judi. If you have never done a workshop based experience like this and you live well...anywhere... check out this link www.quiltingbythelake.com for information and details. 

To make it extra special I am here with my oldest bestest friend who is also a quilter and has been a regular here for 8 years.  To add wonder to amazement we are doing Face Value with Rosalie Dace...just one of the FABULOUSLY inspiring classes being held on this campus for the next two weeks.  We are going to bed early every night so we can spring out of bed with gusto for a day full of quilting experiences.  Those of you that know me know I do Rosalie's class every time I get a chance because...well she makes me better at what I want to do.  Face Value is a challenge for me as I have never attempted a portrait before but we did lots of fun exercises that broke down any anticipatory fears.  By the end of day one I was ready to go.

We talked about value and line.

and did some blind drawing which was really fun.  I mean really really fun, particularly if you are doing a portrait of someone that looks just like Emily and Barbara!

Looking around the room over the last three days I have witnessed a variety of intense moments as each one of us dug deep to discover what we have to communicate about ourselves.

 

 

Then we got busy with our subject matter.

There are many fascinating things about doing a workshop.  One is the opening of the mind but another is learning from others about a variety of personal interpretations of a theme.  The workshop brings home what we are all about...sharing the quilting experience on many levels.

 

The subject matter is very diverse....one subject for each person.

Young and old alike became the focus of our reaction to what we were seeing in the faces of our lives.

Focus...It gets very interestingly quiet at times as everyone digs deep and concentrates.  Then of course someone makes a joke, or tells a story and we all gather on another layer.  It is particularly interesting to learn new techniques for construction of these quilts.  Despite bringing what I thought I needed, each day I have ventured to the handy shops to make purchases to help get the work done.

 

This event has a particular Art Quilt theme to it.  Does that sound scary? Well, it isn't!  There was a day not too long ago when I ended up in an art quilt class quite unintentionally.  However, what I found was that the experience, albeit terrifying at first, really opened my mind to ways to make my "traditional" quilts more interesting.  By learning to look inward for inspiration I found my own sense of style. So if I can offer up any advice from my experience it is that if you have an opportunity to look at your quilt making as art then take it up!

Besides, what we make should always have an individual sense of style but how we make it generally ends up being a bit the same...

 

This is the table that Kathy and I share with the tools of the trade all scattered and buried.

Scenes like this are all over the room. With two days to go I am already dreading the end of this rewarding experience.  There are so many friendly quilters and the general feeling is welcoming and relaxed.  Maybe because I am not teaching but relaxing into the event or maybe just because this is a wonderful place to be and it is a blast to have some time to simply focus on what I love to do....make, make, make...create! 

Here's a sneak peek at my work...based on a photo of John...a fact I am sure he will love!  The elements are gathered and on the wall and progress was about to be made! 

 More to come.  Love to all my gals at Material Obsession working their fingers to the bone in cold and wet Sydney.   Enjoy whatever you do and plan to do things you enjoy!!! k

Comments

[Victoria]

Oh What fun! I talked to Emily a while back, and she said she was going to that, and I said you'd be there! say hi! Looks like so much fun... Wish I could sneak up and say hi...

[Sally]

I'm so glad you're enjoying the experience at QBL and your class especially. I hope you'll get far enough along so we can see the almost final portrait. It's a great start--looks like your style. Your tble looks like my quilting room at various times. I've never been disappointed in any class I took. And it's fun meeting so many with similar interests. Today is Thursday--so that should be the day you're able to visit other classrooms (not that we don't peak beforehand...) and that's always a great experience. Sometimes gives a clue what to try in the future.

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