AQS Quilt Week Branson - Wrap Up

Aerial View of Vendors at AQS Branson 2023

There is no shortage of sensory overload one experiences when attending quilt shows.  Between the workshops, things to buy and/or experience and the people, it's an exhilarating adventure.   The AQS Quilt Week Branson, 2023 was no exception.

One of the workshops my friend, Elizabeth and I took was "Free Motion Machine Quilting" with Author/Designer/Instructor Cindy Needham.  Cindy was pretty funny.  She referred to me as "Glamour Girl" throughout the day.  In all of the things I've been called during my lifetime, I can honestly say "glamorous" is certainly not one of them. 🤣.  In any case, it kept the class interesting. The workshop was not only fun, it was quite helpful.  Cindy brought along floral fabric for us to practice on using decorative, colorful threads.

My friend, Elizabeth and I before our workshop with Cindy Needham.

Classroom sample of a free-motion embroidered quilt.

Classroom sample of a free-motion embroidered quilt. Detail pic.

Classroom sample of a free-motion embroidered quilt. Detail pic.

My practice piece of fabric. I used variegated thread for an extra pop of color.

Me with Cindy Needham.

I met some wonderfully engaging and fun people during this show.  A couple of people really stood out to me this time around.  The first was Bernie Collier of WonderFil Specialty Threads, all the way from Canada.  Bernie was an absolute riot.  We had a few good belly laughs while I shopped in their booth.  He was a real character.  WonderFil has the most beautiful selections of threads for sewing, quilting and embroidery.  I purchased several spools of thread in addition to merino wool for some needle book and pincushion designs I am working on.  

The Exuberant Bernie Collier. 

Me with Bernie Collier of WonderFil.

Me shopping at the WonderFil vendor booth.

Another person I met when shopping at the show was the bubbly Rebecca Lidstrom of Studio R Quilts.  Rebecca is a modern quilt pattern designer and instructor.  I enjoyed visiting with her most days of the show.  Be sure to check out her patterns here.  She has some wonderfully unique and fun designs.

Rebecca Lidstrom of Studio R Quilts

One shop of note that I enjoyed spending a ton of money with visiting was the Midway Wool Company.  I have been on a wool buying kick these days as I work on developing new patterns and designs for the sewist.  What I liked about this vendor - besides the wonderful, friendly service I received - is that they offer smaller cuts of wool and loaded scrap bags for little projects. I think it's nice - especially for beginners in this craft - to have the ability to try working with the medium before making a large financial commitment for supplies and the like.  Midway Wool has a YouTube channel where they share several techniques. 

The Midway Wool Company Christmas project display.

The Midway Wool Company Christmas project display.

The Midway Wool Company pincushions display.

 Legit Kits offers their colorful foundation paper-pieced quilt kits for sale.  Some of the quilts are reversible.  (Be sure to check out Michelangelo's David.  Very clever, indeed!)

My friend, Elizabeth and Michelangelo's David. 🤣🤣🤣

 And that's a wrap.  I hope you've enjoyed this series on the AQS Quilt Week Branson 2023.  

If you haven't done so already,  please be sure to follow me here on my blog so you don't miss anything new.  I'm also on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Until next time,

AQS Quilt Week Branson - Part II

 

Laura Heine's Guitar Collage Quilt

It's no secret to close friends and family that one of my favorite quilters of all-time is collage quilter, Laura Heine. In my opinion, she has absolutely revolutionized the world of quilting with her collage techniques.  When I found out she was offering workshops at the AQS Quilt Week Branson, I knew I had to take her course.  My friend, Elizabeth and I registered first thing in the morning when registration became available for her Guitar Collage Quilt workshop.

We took her all-day workshop last week and absolutely, positively loved it.  Laura is a very hands-on instructor.  She explained her processes and gave additional tips for success in making her style of quilts, along with information about why something works (and why it doesn't, as the case may be.)  

Laura explaining her process of collage quilting.

 

My kit for the workshop.

 

Laying out fabric in a pleasing combination.

Me - sorting out fabrics for my quilt.

During the workshop, Laura showed us several of her other quilts, like:

Hummingbird Collage Quilt (Laura Heine)

 

Rosie Bear Collage Quilt (Laura Heine)

A Merry Little Christmas Collage Quilt (Laura Heine)

Crystal Ball Collage Quilt (Laura Heine)

Bouquet, Mosaic and Statement Vases Quilts (Laura Heine)

Dee-Ceased Quilt (Laura Heine)

Unicorn Quilt (Laura Heine)

We didn't finish our quilts in class, but here we are with our quilts in process:

Elizabeth, Barbara and I with our Guitar quilts (in process.)

 

Me with Laura Heine!!! :)

Me and my friend, Elizabeth with the wonderful Laura Heine!

 One thing is for certain - we had an ABSOLUTE BLAST taking Laura Heine's workshop.  We would do so again in a heartbeat.

After I arrived home from Branson, I completed the top of my Guitar Collage quilt.  This weekend, I'm planning to assemble and complete it.  I'll share photos of it here after it's done.

In the meantime, please come back and join me for the next installment of AQS Quilt Week Branson where I will share photos from around the show, including the quilts.

Until next time,

AQS Quilt Week Branson - Part I

 

AQS Branson 2023

Last week, I attended the AQS Quilt Week in Branson.  It was a total overload of the senses in a great way.  I (literally) took hundreds of pictures at the event.  For blogging purposes, I'm only going to share the highlights here on my blog in bite-sized chunks.  (You're welcome.) :)

Gail Garber during our workshop.

On the first day of Quilt Week, I took a half-day workshop for Foundation Paper Piecing with author and nationally known quilter, Gail Garber.  Many, many years ago, I attempted to learn foundation paper piecing, but I found it to be overwhelming so I set it aside and never looked back.  I recently signed on for a Block of the Month quilting program where foundation piecing is required for the first couple of blocks.  Thinking there's no time like the present, I decided to try my hand at paper piecing once again, hence my decision to sign up for Gail's workshop.  To be honest, I still find it a bit overwhelming, however, I know that it will only become easier with practice.  It also helped when Gail mentioned that she hated paper piecing when she first tried it, but now she loves it and all of the quilts she makes uses this technique.  So there's that.

This is the block that we worked on in the workshop:

This is the same block multiplied and made into this gorgeous quilt:

Gail Garber's Winding Ways Quilt

Our workshop was just a half day long, and I don't think any of us were able to complete our block.  I do intend to practice working on it on my own time, though.

Gail Garber's Book, Flying Colors.

 

Another of Gail Garber's stunning quilts. This was the prize in a quilt raffle at the show.

Another event I attended on the first day of the show was the All-Star Review. During the review, several nationally-recognized quilter-instructors gave brief demonstrations showcasing their skills and techniques.  Afterwards, we had the opportunity to meet each quilter and purchase books, patterns and supplies from them.

This is author and television personality, Gyleen X. Fitzgerald with her beautiful polygon quilt.  

Gyleen X. Fitzgerald and her beautiful polygon quilt.

What I found really impressive about Gyleen's presentation is that she developed a special polygon template using engineering techniques that allows quilters to make visually-stimulating quilts - like the one shown above - without using any Y seams!!!  When Gyleen demonstrated how to use her template, I was totally inspired.  She made it look so easy! Needless to say, I purchased one of her books and a set of templates from her so I could try my hand at making one of her designs. 

Gyleen X. Fitzgerald's Polygon Sampler Books

 

Award-winning fiber artist, Sally Manke demonstrated how to make fiber flowers to embellish everything from quilts to baskets.  

Fiber artist, Sally Manke with a few of her designs.

 

Sally Manke's Whimsical Bicycle Art Quilt

Personally, the highlight of the day for me was meeting author-needlework aficionado-art quilter, fiber artist, Judith Montano Baker.  I have admired Judith's work for a very long time.  For as long as I can remember, Judith has been on the quilt scene, and her list of accomplishments is quite impressive.  It was through Judith's early books that I became enamored with ribbon work and utilizing embroidery stitches in quilts.  She is truly an icon in her field.  

Judith gave a presentation on making silk ribbon roses during the Review.  Afterwards, I was able to meet this talented lady.  We spoke for several minutes and I found her to be quite interesting, humble and kind in every sense of the word.  I purchased one of her books from her, which she graciously autographed.  This was an experience I will truly never forget.

Me with the one and only Judith Baker Montano.

Judith autographing the book I purchased from her.

"For Dear Wanda, With Love, Judith Baker Montano." :)

Be sure to come back for Part II of my series on the AQS Quilt Week focusing on my workshop with one of my favorite quilters, collage quilter, Laura Heine.  (Trust me, you won't want to miss this.)

For now, I will leave you with a couple of photos taken from around the show.  "See" you soon!

A view of the AQS Branson show floor.

A view of the AQS Branson show floor.