Florida Quilt Network Newsletter #233

Florida Quilt Network - Newsletter #233
www.FloridaQuiltNetwork.com
March 10, 2018

Quilting Friends,

Remember that peacock quilt from last newsletter? I used the leftover scraps for this one. Fun! The pattern is called 'A Bit Askew'.

Welcome to the several hundred new readers to this newsletter. Whether I met you at a show or a workshop or one of my lectures around the state, I’m glad you’re part of The Network!

Its been a very busy week for this young lady, but I finally found time to put this newsletter to bed. As I’m putting the finishing touches on it, I’m so thankful for this GREAT quilt show season we’re still in the middle of. I hope to have time to drive up to Trenton next weekend to see my favorite outdoor quilt show (see some of the extra activities at the bottom of this newsletter), and maybe over to Lakeland to visit the Sewing and Quilt Expo for a little bit. I hope you get to one or two quilt shows too, before things slow down for the summer.

Carol in Tampa asks if there are any quilters in the Tampa area who can lecture about miniature quilts. Please email me with info and I’ll pass it on to Carol.

Friendship Knot Quilters Guild, Sarasota has Quilt Display PVC & Supplies available for sale. Photo shows our setup. Inventory details available, display potential determined by venue, $450. Contact: Marlene Kurtz, 941.228.1368 or mmekurtz@aol.com

If you’re a fairly new reader of this newsletter, you may not know that the Calendar page on the website is a quick way to view upcoming events all over the state. Give it a look-see.
Happy Quilting,
Mary-Jeanine
PS: I’d love to hear from you, so drop me a line sometime.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS: (Newsletter number follows)
2018

Mar 10-11 Quilt Show in Venice Website (#232)

Mar 13 Quilt Workshop in Amelia Island lchemke@comcast.net (#233)

Mar 15-17 Sewing & Quilt Expo in Lakeland info here (#229)

Mar 16-Apr 26 Fiber Exhibit in Ocala info here (#232)

Mar 17 Quilt Show in Trenton www.TrentonQuiltFestival.com (#230)

Mar 17-18 Quilt Show in Estero momc318@gmail.com (#232)

Mar 23-31 Shop Hop in Central Florida Info Here (#231)

March 28-29 Karen Stockwell, Lecture & Workshops in Melbourne seasidepiecemakers.com (#225)

April 11 Nancy Amidon Lecture in Tampa poodley4us@gmail.com (#232)

April 14 Featherweight Class in Tallahassee jjohnston2654@embarqmail.com (#232)

April 25-26 Lee Chappell Monroe, Lecture & Workshops in Melbourne seasidepiecemakers.com (#225)

July 12-14 Stitchers Paradise in St. Pete www.stitcherparadise.com (#231)

July 20-21 Bus Trip in Lutz www.sweetdarlingquilts.com (#232)

Oct 12-13 Quilt Show in Brandon www.brandonquiltguild.com (#230)

Oct 12-13 Quilt Show in Palm Beach County nanmi@aol.com
(#231)

Nov 9-10 Quilt Show in Ocala www.crqocala.com (#231)

2019

Feb 8-9 Quilt Show in Vero Beach vbsunbonnetsue@Gmail.com (#224)

Feb 15-16 Quilt Show in Seminole www.midpinellasquiltshow.com (#230)

Feb 23-24 Quilt Show in Punta Gorda (#227)

Mar 8-9 Quilt Show in Sarasota info here (#233)

2020

Feb 21-22 A1 Quilt Extravaganza in Amelia Island www.aiquilters.com/quilt-show-2017 (#229)

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MEETING AND WORKSHOP IN AMELIA ISLAND
The Amelia Island Quilt Guild will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday March 13, 2018 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The program features Mary Kerr, an American Quilt Society certified appraiser and an award-winning quilter. She lectures and conducts workshops that focus on quilt history and the preservation of antique textiles. Her recent work marries her love of all things vintage with the freedom of expression that is encouraged in our Art Quilt community. While with Mary, participants will embrace the magic of combining the love of vintage with the fun of modern aesthetic, including working with negative space. Be sure to view her website. Here are the specifics: March 13, Tuesday evening program: “Out of the Trunk and Off the Tables” is a unique trunk show and discussion about quilting with "found" fabrics. The lecture includes many examples and ideas for working with vintage textiles, old ties, period clothing, feed sacks and more. The link for a video showcasing her work can be found on our Facebook page, Quilters by the Sea. AIQG meetings are held at the Woman’s Club, 201 Jean LaFitte Ave., Fernandina Beach. Members and Guests are welcome. For more information visit http://www.aiquilters.com.

Amelia Island Quilt Guild All-day Workshop: March 14, 2018

Register with the Amelia Island Quilt Guild for a full day workshop with Mary Kerr, American Quilt Society (AQS) award winning quilter. On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, her workshop, A Wonky Star: Improve with a Vintage Twist, will allow quilters of all skill levels to embrace the magic of combining vintage quilts and fabrics with a modern aesthetic look. Participants will work with vintage textiles to create a wonky star with lots of negative space for a modern quilting design. The workshop is full of tips for working with vintage fragments and ways to showcase these treasure pieces. Ms. Kerr’s work is currently featured at the National Quilt Museum in Paduca, KY. A video of her museum work is on our Facebook page, Quilters by The Sea. Students are encouraged to bring their own blocks, fragments, textiles, or they may purchase a kit of their choice in class. Finished sizes will vary. Workshop: March 14, 9:00-3:00; $35 members; $40 non-members; space limited; pre-registration required: lchemke@comcast.net. Supply list will be provided upon completed registration. For more information please see our website at www.aiquilters.com

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QUILT SHOW IN SARASOTA
2019
March 8-9 Sarasota, FL Info/contact: https://friendshipknotquilters.com/quilt-show-information-and-links/.

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Hawaiian Quilting Shared at Trenton’s 2018 Quilt Festival

Trenton, Florida - Elaine Nemeth, a frequent visitor to Hawaii over many years who moved to Gilchrist County in 2001, will be showing samples and sharing designs for making Hawaiian quilts at Trenton’s Suwannee Valley Quilt Festival on March 17, 2018. Hawaiian quilting has evolved into a distinctive quilting style. Its major characteristics include whole cloth appliqué of symmetrical designs that feature island flora and fauna, “needle turn” hand stitching and the flowing lines of echo quilting, and a focus on individualized designs.

Hawaiians learned to quilt from missionaries who arrived in the early 1800s. Native Hawaiians adapted quilting to incorporate local spiritual beliefs, to reflect the natural beauty of the islands, and to take into account the limited availability of fabrics. For example, traditional Hawaiian quilts had only two solid colors; usually a bright single fabric appliqué on a light-colored background. They used only white thread because that was all that they had. The designs are highly personalized; filled with symbolic meaning. Some quilters say their designs are inspired in their dreams. One writer noted that Hawaiians dried their quilts turned over upside down. First, this preserved the fabric color, and second, it hid the design.

The designs are made by carefully folding the cloth multiple times (typically eight times), and then cutting the fabric like you would to make paper snowflakes. To unfold and arrange the design onto the backing is one of the critical stages to making a Hawaiian quilt. It often takes several people working together to accomplish this for a large project. Since Hawaiian quilts are hand stitched, the projects often represent a major commitment by the quilter. It is not unusual for it to take 5-10 years to complete a large bedspread. Skilled Hawaiian quilters appliqué with disappearing or hidden stitches. Elaine suggests quilting with a milliner’s needle; one that is long and skinny, and that is used in hat making.

Modern Hawaiian quilts use multicolored fabrics, but still use motifs from nature and whole cloth appliqué. They are more often framed and hung as artworks in contemporary settings. Traditionally, one never sat on a Hawaiian quilt. It was considered disrespectful to its maker and owner.

Elaine will talk with festival visitors about Hawaiian quilting at her location in front of Cherry’s Restaurant on the east side of Main Street; opposite the Florida Quilt Museum. She will have handouts of three simple Hawaiian quilt designs (Beauty of America (based on daisies and ferns), Staghorn, and Breadfruit) and will illustrate the steps for making Hawaiian quilts. For quilters who want to learn more, she suggests the website poakalani.net featuring the designs of John Serrao.

The twelfth annual Trenton’s Suwannee Valley Quilt Festival, Florida’s only outdoor quilt show and sale, will be held Saturday, March 17, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the picturesque town of Trenton, Florida. Located in north central Florida just 20 miles west of Gainesville, Trenton will be festooned with quilts flying from shops, businesses and government buildings up and down Main Street and beyond.

This year’s event is sponsored by the City of Trenton, Gilchrist County’s Tourist Development Council, Ameris Bank, Best Drugs, Capital City Bank, Drummond Community Bank, Gray Construction, McDonalds-Trenton, the Suwannee Valley Quilt Shoppe, Trenton Animal Hospital, Trenton Hardware & Farm Supply, and Tri County Metals.

For more information about the festival, visit us on Facebook, go to the Festival website www.TrentonQuiltFestival.com, or contact the Suwannee Valley Quilt Shoppe, (352) 463-3842.

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The Craft of Kimekomi Comes to the 2018 Quilt Festival

         Trenton, Florida - Quilters love fabric and design. They often have bits and pieces left over from quilting projects or just hold onto fabric whenever it does not seem to fit in anywhere. What to do? Well, quilters can use these scraps to make Japanese Kimekomi (pronounced kee may ko me). The word means “a method of tacking something into a groove”. Kimekomi is a fun craft for decorating smooth foam balls with fabric, ribbons, lace and net. They make beautiful decorator accents for the home, can symbolize and commemorate special events or holidays, or are lovely gifts for friends and family.

Kimekomi evolved from a specialized doll making technique developed in the Kyoto area in the early 1700s that used willow tree wood and fabric scraps. The wood was carved with grooves so that the doll clothes could be tucked into them. This local craft waned, but a similar Japanese doll making technique originated in the 1800s for making larger, more elaborate dolls using pressed wood. These dolls with round faces and bodies are still popular in Japan today. Over time, just making decorated balls became a major interest, and was also called Kimekomi.

Kimekomi is easy and fun. The skills can be learned with just a little practice. You do not have to buy expensive tools and materials. The three-step process is: 1) use a template to mark a design onto the ball as a guide for cutting grooves; 2) cut out fabric to cover the ball to tuck into the grooves and 3) finish off with decorative trim.

Bettie Rowe, who works at the Fabric Arts Shop in Lake City, will be at the quilt festival demonstrating the steps for making Kimekomi, and will have some of her completed Kimekomi creations available for sale at the Florida Quilt Museum. She is excited about telling festival goers all about Kimekomi. She first learned about it from a quilt shop newsletter and ordered a book they were selling about it. Before she moved back to our area, she taught at fabric and quilt shops in the Pensacola area. She developed her sewing skills following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a professional seamstress. She has made these decorated balls for the last seven or eight years and estimates she has made several hundred of them. She does not know more precisely how many she’s made because she gives many of them away.

         Bettie enjoys introducing others to the craft. Typically, she holds two Kimekomi classes each month at Fabric Arts; one during the week and another on Sundays. For March, Bettie will have one class in Trenton at the Suwannee Valley Quilt Shoppe on Thursday, March 22, from 10am to 3pm. She supplies the materials and tools (except for scissors). Students make a Kimekomi ball, executing the process from start to finish, and will leave this class with a completed decorated Easter egg. Generally, classes cost $25-35 depending on the materials. Bettie will teach a second class on Sunday, March 25 from 11am-4pm at the Fabric Arts Shop in Lake City.

            The twelfth annual Trenton’s Suwannee Valley Quilt Festival, Florida’s only outdoor quilt show and sale, will be held Saturday, March 17, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the picturesque town of Trenton, Florida. Located in north central Florida just 20 miles west of Gainesville, Trenton will be festooned with quilts flying from shops, businesses and government buildings up and down Main Street and beyond.

For more information about the festival, visit us on Facebook, go to the Festival website www.TrentonQuiltFestival.com, or contact the Suwannee Valley Quilt Shoppe, (352) 463-3842.