The latest exhibits from textile artists around the country are on display. Let your mind wander as your feet take you past art and traditional quilts, art-to-wear, whimsical dolls and more.
Explorations in Quilting – Invitational Quilt Show
Original Sewing & Quilt Expo is delighted to announce Explorations in Quilting, the latest chapter in our ever-growing response to quilters’ requests for MORE! We’re bumping up the quilting education program, launching a new quilt competition and bringing together more enthusiastic retail vendors to provide the most innovative tools, patterns, books, gadgets and fabrics for quilters ever! Our goal is to offer quilters and would-be quilters an all-inclusive experience – workshops, shopping and extraordinary displays.
Most enthusiasts never get to quilt shows in Houston or Paducah or one of the other international events, and therefore don’t have the experience of seeing many of the extraordinary and award-winning quilts shown there first-hand. We are pleased to announce a curated invitational exhibition will travel with Original Sewing & Quilt Expo to our eight Fall 2009 / Spring 2010 events. We’ve carried and displayed many quilts and quilt collections over the years, but this is the first time we’ve invited a select group of artists to become part of a unique exhibit at our events. Please join us as we explore the developments and variations in their styles and techniques. You'll be seeing a spectacular show.
HGA Designers' Fashion Challenge
In preparation for Convergence 2008, Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) invited six designers to participate in their First Designers' Fashion Challenge, creating a collection to be featured at the event. The Fashion Challenge invitation was extended to Louise Cutting, Diane Ericson, Daryl Lancaster, Irene Munroe, Nancy Peck and Loretta Dian Phipps. Paired into three teams of two designers each, they all accepted the challenge. The Designers agreed to collaborate in the design and creation of a wearable ensemble (more than one piece) that reflects current fashion trends; they would use fabric that has been created especially for the ensemble, showing the mark of the hand – i.e. handwoven, handdyed, surface designed, knitted, crocheted, quilted, etc.
Each Design team was given the same amount of hand-dyed yarn, custom designed specifically in ‘Textures in the Tropics’ colorways by Laura Bryant of Prism Yarns. Each Design Team had the option to add whatever they chose to the original yarns supplied by HGA including, but not limited to, additional yarn, fibers, feathers, beads, buttons, trim, or fabric to complete the ensemble. The collection of ensembles was presented during the Dance of the Flamingos runway Fashion Show at HGA's Convergence 2008 Tampa Bay, and pieces from the collection will be appearing in the Display Gallery at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo Fall 2009 / Spring 2010 series.
www.weavespindye.org
Textile Center: A National Center for Fiber Art
IKEA Project Patchwork Art Quilt Challenge
Fifty quilters lined up early one morning to receive a packet of fabrics and just four months to complete their own unique quilt for the Project Patchwork Art Quilt Challenge, a partnership between IKEA Twin Cities and the not-for-profit Textile Center in Minneapolis. In the end, the quilts were displayed at IKEA Twin Cities and judges awarded prizes, including a $1000 studio makeover for the Best of Show winner. See many of these quilts, which are for sale, at Original Sewing & Quilt Expo. Proceeds benefit the Textile Center’s youth education program, which teaches sewing, knitting, dyeing, felting and many more fiber art techniques to young children and teens.
The Textile Center is a not for profit art center working to honor textile traditions and promote excellence and innovation in fiber art. Located in Minneapolis, MN, the Textile Center facility features a gallery, retail shop, library, dye lab, and auditorium and classroom space. Exhibitions showcase exceptional fiber art by regional and national artists. The education program provides hands-on instruction in a wide range of fiber art techniques, at all levels. The Textile Center is also preparing the next generation of fiber artists through the Textile Mobile, its arts education program that serves thousands of children from across the region.
www.textilecentermn.org
Robert Kaufman Batik Remix '08
The challenge was to give any Quiltmaker pattern an original interpretation using Robert Kaufman Artisan Batiks. Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka, the artists behind these stunning batiks, joined QM Executive Editor June Dudley to select the winners. These one-of-a-kind Artisan Batiks are produced on the island of Java in Indonesia by skilled dye masters. Each yard of these sumptuous fabrics is unique. The fabric is hand-stamped and then hand-painted multiple times, with many different pairs of hands working on every yard.
www.robertkaufman.com/contest/batik_remix/
From Knock-Out to Knock-Off: Gorgeous Gowns from the Silver Screen
Slip into fantasy as you view gowns inspired by Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, Lucille Ball, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Rosemary Clooney, Audrey Hepurn and others. Made by knock-off and re-creation master Jim Suzio. Check out the class schedule for “What a Knock-Out Knock-Off”, which includes a special Gallery walk to the display with Jim Suzio, the artist who created these gorgeous gowns. Or take in the
Stage Presentation "From Knock-Out to Knock-Off" and watch as live models show off these
gowns on the runway accompanied by commentary from Jim Suzio.
Original Sewing & Quilt Expo Faculty Exhibit
We take time to search out the best faculty in the industry, introducing you to exceptional designers, best-selling authors, creative thinkers and visionaries. This exhibit showcases the latest and most popular pieces from the faculty at Original Sewing & Quilt Expo.
The Artist's Table
What inspiration can a painting or art piece give you for table dressings? Just imagine . . . you can almost taste the beauty of the colors, feel the luscious hand of the fabrics and smell the lovely scent of flowers. Accompanied by the inspirational pieces from which the table settings were derived, see fun and flirty aprons, haute-y luncheon hats, time-for-tea cozies and oh, so much more. The Artist's Table urges you to create your own lovely linens and graciously requests your time as well to enjoy it all with friends. The Artist’s Tables will be changing during the Expo, so you’ll want to wander by each day to see what's new. Check out the class schedule for “More Dress Your Table In Style”, which includes a special Gallery walk to the display with JoLee Tarbell, the artist who created these tables for your visual pleasure and sewing inspiration.
www.mycozycottage.com
2009 Hoffman Challenge Dolls
Every year, a team from Hoffman Fabrics chooses an upcoming fabric design, and then issues a challenge to quilt, clothing, accessory, and doll makers to create original items using the fabric. This year's choice from the Paisley Collection: F9006 Earth Pearl. Original Sewing & Quilt Expo showcases the doll category of this favorite annual challenge and the entries will inspire the artist in all of us.
www.hoffmanchallenge.com