QuiltCon 2016 Classes and Demos - Alison Glass Appliqué & Heather Jones Improv Pineapple

One of the things that I loved about QuiltCon were the fantastic lectures and demos.  There were demos going on at the back of the show all day, and I saw one with Alison Glass, where she talked about appliqué and reverse appliqué techniques.  Appliqué is one of those things that has always scared me.  So much fine detail and my handwork leaves a lot to be desired.  I'm sure this is because I don't do it enough, but I'm now motivated to try some. 

Alison Glass with one of her "Fountain" reverse appliqué quilt from her book

Alison Glass with a partially finished Appliqué Quilt

The quilt in the photo below (the image is from alisonglass.com) literally took my breath away.  She held this one up too, but I was so taken with it, I didn't even get a good enough picture to share.  I couldn't find the pattern anywhere once I got home, so I emailed Alison directly to plead with her to help me find it.  She was incredibly kind and gracious (as usual) and told me that her plan was to have it available by late April or May.  I will be making this one for sure.

Image taken from alisonglass.com of an appliqué quilt pattern coming this spring

The full day class that I took was an Improv Pineapple quilt with Heather Jones.  This was her quilt made with the Denyse Schmidt solids box for the Modern Solids Traditional Inspiration Quilt Challenge.  It is just so beautiful in person and the photo doesn't nearly do it justice.  This is the technique she taught. 

Like appliqué, improv is not something I'm comfortable with, which is why I took the class (besides the fact that I LOVE Heather's work).  It was big stretch for me to cut a quilt with no rulers.  Heather teaches you how to make what resembles a traditional pineapple block using strips and triangles.  If you're interested, she has this class available on Creativebug as well.

Heather Jones Improv Pineapple Quilt

This is the design wall with the student examples.  As you can see, no two are alike and the look, while similar in style, is actually really varied.  The twisty block, third from the top in the far left row...yeah, that's mine.  It is the perfect embodiment of my linear thinker right brain fighting wildly against the left brain, creative draw to make something imperfect.  Push.  Pull.  I got a crazy twist that I probably couldn't do again if I tried.

Student Improv Pineapple work

A few of the students in the class were experienced Improv piecers.  Check our their amazing fussy cut centers and cool mix of patterns and colors.  The one red triangle in the lower right block just knocked my socks off.  It looked so cool and unexpected to me.

Student Improv Pineapple with Fussy Cut Centers

As soon as I got home from QuiltCon, the next morning, I finished my blocks and sewed them together.  I'm leaving this only four blocks because I want to hang it on my sewing room wall to remind me to loosen up a little.  Relax.  Enjoy the process.

My Improv Pineapple wth green solid and a Denyse Schmidt Shelbourne Falls navy print

QuiltCon West 2016 - Pasadena

I signed up for QuiltCon West 2016 last June.  It seemed so far away at the time.  And here I am, home, and feeling like it passed by in a blur.  

I tried to take advantage of as much of the event as I could while I was there.  I went to lectures, demos, and classes.  I walked the show (twice) and of course, I shopped.  But I also connected with SO many other quilters.  Made new friends, and had lunch one friend I hadn't seen in something like 5 years.  It.was.awesome.

I am going to do a separate post about the classes I took, but the show was amazing.  These photos are not nearly all of them, and I realize that ones I took of Melissa Averinos' "Best in Show" quilt, are on my phone, so those will have to come another time as well.

This is intended to be eye-candy for those who couldn't attend.  I'm sure you've seen lots of them already on Instagram or Twitter, but these are the ones that called to me to have their pictures taken.

Enjoy!

Amazing hexy quilt by Nicole Daksiewicz - of Modern Handcraft fame

2nd place winner - Double Wedding Ring - Tara Faughnah

First place winner - Handwork - Places Unfold by Heidi Parkes

Amazing Carolyn Friedlander "Everglade"

BRAND NEW Jungle Abstractions quilt by Violet Craft - elephant

Jungle Abstractions Quilt by Violet Craft - giraffe - this is on my "must make" list

Jungle Abstractions by Violet Craft - Lion, in a very cool alternative color-way

MY FAVORITE FOR THE WHOLE SHOW - the colors, the plaid, it's perfect

Amazing mermaid dress in the Michael Miller booth

Entry in the Charity Quilt challenge

Entry in the Charity Quilt challenge

Entry in the Charity Quilt challenge - Love this one, structured, but obviously improv

Better Together by Laura West Kong, won a judges choice award and 3rd in the Michael Miller challenge

EZ Triangle Challenge - 1st Place winner - Mickey Beebe

EZ Triangle challenge - 2nd place "Catnado" (the tornado is all cats!) - Karen Duling

Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill's (Whole Circle Studio - she had FIVE quilts in the show!) entry in the Michael Miller challenge

3rd place - Pieceing - Diamonds #2 - Tara Faughnan

Piecing - 2nd Place - Pointed Statement by Amy Friend

One of the smaller number of quilts with a strong color (not black or white) background

Piecing - 1st place -Under the Radar by Corinne Sovey

My absolutel favorite palatte!  Navy, orange and grey!

Forest Abstractions by Violet Craft

1st Place - Modern Traditionalism - Whimsical Logs - Letitia Chung

Kim Kight taking a photo of a quilt using her Scorecard Fabric from her Lucky Strike line

Berry Hunt by Elisa Sims Albury - this is the modern bear paw quilt in Michele Muska's Quilting the New Classics

Version of a scrappy trip-a-along

SO LOVE the use of Alison Glass' Handcrafted line in this quilt

Not a lot of bright yellow in the show so this really stood out