QuiltCon 2024

Considering I was home, watching from the sidelines while QuiltCon was taking place in Raleigh this year, I'll keep this post brief - basically a collection of quilts in the show that I had a hand in. First was my Duality, which hung in the Minimalist Design category. 

photo by Tina @itsme.tinad

photo by Tina @itsme.tinad

And then there were several Bee Sewcial quilts that I had contributed blocks to, shown below. Though I don't have photos of the placards hanging by them, I'll add their maker's statement under each piece. 

Subtle Secrets, by Felicity Ronaghan @felicityquilts, which won first place in the Group or Bee category

photo by Stephanie @spontaneousthreads

|| Using two fabrics with little value or colour variation, these traditional blocks were made improvisationally without rulers. Black batting was chosen to feature the seams and subtle colour differences of the light blocks and deepen the impact of the darker blocks. ||

The Essence of Sonia Delaunay, by Kenny Smith @thekingslacker, which won second place in the Group or Bee category

photo by Stephanie @spontaneousthreads

|| This quilt was a product of my time with Bee Sewcial. My bee mates were provided with a prompt to create a block that captured the essence of Sonia Delaunay (a 20th Century French Painter). Sonia co-founded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colors and geometric shapes. I believe that my highly talented bee mates did quite well in accomplishing this prompt. The way that I have arranged the blocks, the quilt has the feeling of Sonia’s painting series called “Rhythme.” The quilt was quilted with a domestic sewing machine with each fabric color being uniquely quilted with matching thread. ||

BeeConnected by M-R Charbonneau @quiltmatters - see M-R's post to see the effect of her retroreflective thread!

photo by Stephanie @spontaneousthreads

|| The prompt for this quilt was 'Circuit board,' using scrappy backgrounds of reds with circuit board-inspired features in grey and white. It was a fun challenge to piece the variety of block styles made by my BeeSewcial mates into a cohesive design. A base layer of matchstick quilting in a variety of reds also helps tie the whole quilt together. For a final 'circuit board' touch, I outlined the white and grey features with retroreflective thread, which gives an added metallic-like pop when photographed with a flash. Give it a try and see for yourself! In our technology-enabled lives, circuit boards play such an important role in helping us stay in touch and communicate with each other so it was easy to come up with a name for this quilt -- BeeConnected. ||

Connections by Karen Foster @capitolaquilter

photo by Stephanie @spontaneousthreads

|| A design element that I enjoy emphasizing is the connecting of parts to bridge one portion to another creating a visual flow for the viewer. The maximalist palette resulted in a feast of color and shape, a puzzling delight that is continued in theme with a freeform quilting motif. The two fold meaning of the title also represents the closeness of the group despite our physical distance and the "Connections" found by translating our personal interpretation of a prompt into fabric. ||

Additional contributing bee members included Stephanie @spontaneousthreads, Marci @marci_girl, Leanne @shecanquilt, Silvia @astrangerview, Anne @playcrafts Kari @quiltsforthemaking and honorary members Sharyl @itssewscottsdale and Christine @ccpquilt.

There was also a fifth Bee Sewcial quilt, Elements, which I did not have a part in, since it was created at a retreat I was unable to attend. But it was pretty cool to have such good representation from the bee. 

Gotta say, it wasn't easy watching from the sidelines. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the awards ceremony, perusing the app, skimming through QuiltCon magazine, and following the happenings via Instagram - participating in the ways that I could. And yes, I'm still reading every recap post I come across and crossing my fingers for next year!