This quilt, which combines the traditional lone star pattern with applique borders and surrounding appliqued design, greeted us in the entry hall of my girlfriend's home. I think (judging by the fabrics) that it may be from the third quarter of the 19th century. Let me know what you think.
Dear friends,
Twice a year six lifelong girlfriends gather for a long weekend. And I mean long. We talk, eat, explore, stay up too late, laugh, cry, gripe, create new memories, and remember back to when we were kids in grammar school, middle school, high school, and beyond. These women know my worst faults and foibles, yet they still love me as I do them.
This spring's meeting was in San Diego at the home of a friend who is a quilter. One of our major outings planned was to the Visions Art Museum, which is a non-profit, international organization "dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of the quilt as fine art." It fulfills its promise beautifully. I hope that you will take time to visit this magnificent little gem of a museum the next time you are in the San Diego area.
The museum presents four major exhibitions a year. We were fortunate to see "Art Meets Science-A traveling exhibition from Studio Art Quilt Associates." My girlfriends and I spent time studying the quilts closely (they provide you with white cotton gloves so you can turn the quilts over and examine them). We were all so inspired by the creativity and craftsmanship evident in each quilt. I only wish I could share all of them, but at least here you can see some of my favorites, which I was allowed to photograph (without a flash) so that I could share them with all of you.
FYI, the museum has an impressive schedule of workshops, lectures, and other activities at its location in the fun NTC (the old Naval Training Center) Promenade in Point Loma, the arts and culture district of Liberty Station in San Diego, California. Surrounding this small museum are many others, also shopping and great restaurants. We feasted at Tender Greens and sat outdoors on the patio.
Entry hall, gift shop to left (they have an impressive collection of quilting books), gallery to the right.
Girlfriends Kim and Kathie study the quilts. You can see how small they are (the quilts, not necessarily Kim and Kathie)
A Space Odyssey
by
Sally Wright
2009
Global Warming 1: Greenfields
by
Lili Christensen
Cells Dreaming
by
R. Kwong
Nature's Fractal
by
Frankie Kohler
Southern Hospitality
by
Nancy Cook
Virus H5N1
by
Anita Welty
Glial Neuron Conversations
by
Susan Jackan
Beyond Imagination
by
Cecile Trentini
I have to comment that if you could see the tiny stitches and detail in the black, well, you'd be humbled by the talent and skill.
Beautiful Worms (of course I LOVE the subject)
by
Aileyn Renli Ecob
Wood Cells
by
Deborah Weir
Primordial Soup
by
Carol Churchill
Close-up of detail work
In the Beginning
by
Rebecca Kemble
High Water
by
Suzanne Mouton Riggio
Lipid Cells
by
Virginia Abrams
Lepidoptera
by
Susan Brubaker Knapp
Blue Boobs are Best
by
Sara Kelly
What's this all about? Blue boobs? Huh? This is a copy of a mammogram and the blue signifies healthy, non-cancerous breasts. Hurrah!
We all picked our favorites and Kim chose
Archeology Fragments
by
Kevan Lunney
The Sierpinski Triangle Interpreted
by
Rebecca Kemble
Look at some of the delicious fabrics and the use of beads
I came home feeling refreshed, excited, and enthusiastic about a list of projects I want to tackle now that I'm finished with my book (this one at least). Trips like this are a necessity. Soul food. Sometimes girls just need to be girls, and that's what we were (and are). We had a ball.
Sending love across the miles,
Sharon
P.S. The winner of the Gardener's Supply bird feeder is: Priscilla Palmer. Priscilla, please e-mail me your shipping address.
P.P.S. As a quilt inspired give-away, I will draw a name for this wonderful, easy-to-care-for cow, complete with quilted udders. She is fashioned from a late 19th century quilt that was in tatters and beyond saving. Leave a comment to be eligible for the drawing of this sweet quilted cow.
