Our Cranes Quilts Update - The Hope Project

Good day,

We've done it. Andy and I have finally completed what we said we were going to do 15 months ago, sometime about October 2017. We've completed The Hope Project, our fabric compendium of 1,386 Origami Cranes.

The Hope Project will premiere at the UUC Octagon Art Center in Clearwater, Florida the weekend of January 12 and 13. The address of the UUC Octagon Art Center is 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater. An Artists' Reception will be held on Saturday, January 12 from 1 to 5 pm.

Thanks to Madhu Mathur of India, and Marijke van Welzen of The Netherlands, for designing and constructing two additional pieces to join our 48 other Cranes quilts. Madhu's piece "The Broken Wing" is a beautiful hand sewn quilt using silk fabric. Marijke's amazing coat "Coat of Cranes" include 40 Crane blocks which Andy and I created and sent to her.

An accounting of all 1,386 Crane blocks that Andy and I created, in varying sizes of 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-inches, realize that there are 23,562 pieces of fabric in 49 Quilts plus 1 Quilted Coat the create all the blocks.

Nine (9) Crane Quilts and the quilted Cranes Coat are free-hanging and standing unique quilts. Thank you to Cathleene Tokish of Sweet Darling Quilt Shop in Lutz for lending us the Mannequin.

40 of the Crane Quilts that Andy and I designed and created are included in our Cranes Spectrum. Each of the 40 quilts are composed of a unique batik color and shade representing the 3 primary and 3 secondary colors. Each of the 40 is unique, and each is composed of 3-; 4-; 5-; or 6-inch Crane blocks.

Our thanks to Ricky Rodriquez, filmmaker, who has been working with us to create a short video documentary of The Hope Project.

For any information and/or details please feel free to contact Andy or Jim at jsmith58@gmail.com or (813) 962-2943.

Here's hoping that you get a chance to see visit The Hope Project.

Check out our initial notes regarding The Hope Project at http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/2018/04/origami-cranes-our-obsession.html.

Jim and Andy

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Our Cranes Quilts Update

Good Day,

Labels have been created for all Cranes Quilts. Next on the agenda - sleeves, Spectrum shade orientation, hangers, and write-ups.

Here's hoping my PC will hold up, between crashes of my graphic card.

Our tally of Cranes Quilts that will be included in our Hope Project - 50 quilts and 1 coat

40 Quilts in the Cranes Spectrum - Jim and Andy

9 Cranes Quilts - Jim and Andy

1 Hand Sewn Cranes Quilt - Madhu Mathur

1 Crane Coat - Marijke van Welzen, Jim and Andy

We're counting the number of Cranes. Looks like we're closing in on about 1,300.

Mark your calendars for January 12 at the Octagon Arts Center in Clearwater.

And there is a ton more things to get done before January 10.

Read our initial notes at Quilts SB - http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/2018/04/origami-cranes-our-obsession.html

Follow our updates, progress and history at our Quilts SB Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsbySB/

Our Hope - Cranes Quilts - Project will premiere in January in Clearwater. Stay-tuned for updates.

Andy and I have booked 4 Shows of our Quilts for the first part of 2019.

Octagon Arts Center, Clearwater Jan-Feb = Hope (Cranes Quilts) Project https://www.artstampabay.com/organization/octagon-arts-center/

Charles J. Fendig Library, Tampa Feb-Mar = JSAB Art Pieces (tbd) https://www.hcplc.org/locations/charles-j-fendig

Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa Mar-Apr = Hope (Cranes Quilts) Project  http://www.carrollwoodcenter.org/the-crane-project/

Mirella Cimato Gallery, St. Petersburg May-Jun = JSAB Art Pieces (tbd)
http://stpeteopera.org/art-in-the-mirella-cimato-gallery/

Andy and I hope you consider our presentation and posting of our work and details of our Hope -Cranes Quilts - Project journey.

And if you have any questions, thoughts, comments and/or ideas for Andy and me please feel free to contact us at Quilts SB - email - jsmith58@gmail.com.

Definitely enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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Our Hope - Cranes Quilts - Project Update

Good Day,

We're getting a wee bit antsy. It is Our Hope - Cranes Quilt - Project.


Andy and I started with our initial idea about 1 year ago. We have completed more than 50 Cranes Quilts including the Cranes Spectrum.

Set up for the initial showing of is set for January 10. Our Hope Project will begin its showing at the Octagon Arts Center in Clearwater on Saturday, January 12. (More details will follow)

We've decided to change our tactics in creating and constructing our final quilt - The Mon-ster Crane. (That's just a name we're using for now.)

Instead of fabric and strip piecing we're now using appliqué. Not sure if that technique will work., but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

We are only using 2 fabrics choices to create our Monster Crane Quilt, the image and white, of course.

And there is a ton more things to get done before January 10.

Read our initial notes at Quilts SB - http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/2018/04/origami-cranes-our-obsession.html

Follow our updates, progress and history at our Quilts SB Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsbySB/

Our Hope - Cranes Quilts - Project will premiere in January in Clearwater. Stay-tuned for updates.

Andy and I have booked 4 Shows of our Quilts for the first part of 2019.

Octagon Arts Center, Clearwater Jan-Feb = Hope (Cranes Quilts) Project https://www.artstampabay.com/organization/octagon-arts-center/

Charles J. Fendig Library, Tampa Feb-Mar = JSAB Art Pieces (tbd) https://www.hcplc.org/locations/charles-j-fendig

Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa Mar-Apr = Hope (Cranes Quilts) Project  http://www.carrollwoodcenter.org/the-crane-project/

Mirella Cimato Gallery, St. Petersburg May-Jun = JSAB Art Pieces (tbd)
http://stpeteopera.org/art-in-the-mirella-cimato-gallery/

Andy and I hope you consider our presentation and posting of our work and details of our Hope -Cranes Quilts - Project journey.

And if you have any questions, thoughts, comments and/or ideas for Andy and me please feel free to contact us at Quilts SB - email - jsmith58@gmail.com.

Definitely enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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Andy and I are Keeping Busy

Good Day,

Yes, we're both Cranes crazy. It is our niche right now.

We're managing while creating and composing the Cranes Quilts for our "Hope Project" show, the Cranes Quilt Bedspread for the upcoming Florida CraftArt "At Home with Craft" show, and our "One (actually Two) Man Show" next year May and June at the Mirella Cimato Gallery in St. Petersburg.

And don't forget our current "Two Hallways" exhibit of 26 of our quilts at the @2902 Art Gallery at Jimmie B. Keel Library in Tampa, Florida, through September 30.

Hell, it is giving us something to do and we're definitely keeping occupied.

We've got an extremely short window to complete the Cranes Quilt Bedspread. It will be presented at the Florida CraftArt show "At Home with Craft" in St. Petersburg, Florida, September 7 through October 27. I've attached the press release.

The current tally of Cranes Quilts included in our "Hope Project" is as follows -

19 Quilts completed,

7 tops completed,

1 Coat completed with Marijke van Welzen, and

19 + 2 Quilts designed and waiting, no pun intended, in the wings.

Details of our "Hope Project" showing will follow.

Thanks for your support.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

Please let me know if anything on the Blog site does not properly work. I’m always striving to make sure an ease of use.

If you are interested and would like some more information of the available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please get in touch with us Quilts SB, at jsmith58@gmail.com.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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Quilts SB Quilts Traveling Around

Good Day,

Andy and I have to manage and keep track of the travelings our Quilts follow.

Thought you may be interested about the ones on the road, their current and future locations.

And if you get a chance, at a venue near you, let us know. We would love for you to share any images.

We've included a link, their title, in order for you to check out our notes in our portfolio.

Apollo 1, The Beginning

Fly Me To The Moon Collection

- 8/9 -8/12 Birmingham Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, England

Betwixt and Between

Fly Me To The Moon Collection

- 6/15 - 9/4 National Quilt Museum, Paducah, Kentucky
- 9/20 - 9/22 Original Quilt and Sewing Expo, Cincinnati, Ohio
- 9/27 - 9/29 Original Quilt and Sewing Expo, Fredericksburg, Virginia
- 9/15 - 9/17 Original Quilt and Sewing Expo, Novi, Michigan

Cosmo's Moon 2.5

Fly Me To The Moon Collection

- 5/22 - 9/8 Virginia Quilt Museum, Harrisonburg, Virginia
- 9/20 - 9/22 Original Quilt and Sewing Expo, Cincinnati, Ohio
- 9/27 - 9/29 Original Quilt and Sewing Expo, Fredericksburg, Virginia
- 9/15 - 9/17 Original Quilt and Sewing Expo, Novi, Michigan

Lee Miller

HERstory Collection

- 12/07 - 4/10/19 National Quilt Museum, Paducah, Kentucky

June 19th

2017 European Patchwork Collection

- TBD 24th European Patchwork Meeting, Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines, France

Patience

- 08/11 American Psychological Association, LGBT Division, San Francisco, California

The Silence of Sounds

Two Hallways Collection

- To be added to Quilts SB @ 2902 Gallery, Jimmie B. Keel Library, 2902 Bearss Road
Tampa, Florida

Two Hallways, 26 Quilts

Two Hallways Collection

- Aug-Sep 2018 @ 2902 Gallery, Jimmie B. Keel Library, 2902 Bearss Road, Tampa, Florida

K&J Baby

- TBD When the Stork arrives, Tampa, Florida

Hope Project, Cranes Quilts

- 2019  TBD, UUC Octagon Arts Center, Clearwater, Florida

Another Secret Project

- May-June, 2019 Mirella Cimato Art Gallery, St. Petersburg Opera House, St. Petersburg, Florida

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

Please let me know if anything on the Blog site does not properly work. I’m always striving to make sure an ease of use.

If you are interested and would like some more information of the available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please get in touch with us Quilts SB, at jsmith58@gmail.com.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - Sleep Jezebel and Warhol's Itch Return Home

Good Day,

Our Sleep Jezebel and Warhol's Itch have both arrive back home from England and the Festival of Quilts 2015.

The following are the judge's comments. Andy and I always take judge's comments and notes in stride. It is a part of our learning experience.

Sleep Jezebel - JSAB

Sleep Jezebel -

Judge - "A novel approach to patchwork with interesting results - the quilting creates a vivid secondary design, but the work would improve with a bit more quilting."

Judge - "Lots of 'jaggy' shapes here in the piecing and quilting. On one interpretation, colour choice might be described as bland. A worthy attempt."

Warhol's Itch - JSAB

Warhol's Itch -

Judge - "An interesting combination of cross stitch on bright colored backgrounds. An original idea and the pleated background fabric adds depth - however I feel the blocks are a bit lost on the light background."

Judge - "An unusual quilt and an ambitious project. It will create interest at the show."

I asked the following question on a couple of quilting forums –

“Does anyone know of any venue for display and/or competition where the quilt expectancies are not necessarily “pigeon-holed” (if that makes any sense)?”

Not sure if anyone understood my question. I could reword the question to read -

“Are there any open/free-form quilt displays and/or competitions?”

If you have any comment, thought, ideas feel free to contact us at Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Sleep Jezebel and Warhol’s Itch Off to England

Good Day,

Our two quilts Sleep Jezebel and Warhol’s Itch have been accepted for display at The Festival of Quilts 2015 in Birmingham, England.

The show and competition will be held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Thursday 06 August 2015 – Sunday 09 August 2015, Halls 7 – 9. (http://www.thenec.co.uk/whatson/the-festival-of-quilts)

Check out the links to our write-ups.

Sleep Jezebel - Andy Brunhammer and Jim Smith, 2014

Sleep Jezebel – http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/2014/10/q124-sleep-jezebel-quilt-and-wall.html

Warhol's Itch - Andy Brunhammer and Jim Smith, 2014

Warhol’s Itch - http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/2014/04/q117-warhols-itch-quilt-and-wall-hanging.html

If you have any comment, thought, idea, question, please feel free to contact Andy or me via email at Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - Equality Stencils Completed

Good Day,


We have finished our final stencil for our new Equality quilt.

Thank you Keith Haring.

Pounced stencil.

Follow our progress and work at Quilts SB - www.quiltssb.com.

If you have any comments, questions, thoughts, please email us at Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - Just Announced - Two Finalists

Good Day,

Andy and I just received news this morning that two of our quilts have been accepted as juried finalists at the MQX Quilt Festivals - New England 2015.

Our two accepted quilts are Equality and Sleep Jezebel.

Equality

Sleep Jezebel

MQX Quilt Festival, New England will be April 8 through 11 and held at The Center of NH / Radisson Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire.

If you have any questions, thoughts, comments, ideas please feel free to contact us at Quilts SB. Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - A Quick Update

Good Day,

Just a quick update of our current projects.

The quilting work continues on our new Chopsticks quilt.

And we have begun the elementary designs of a new project.

We’re calling it the Post-it Network.

This one should prove something completely different once again.

The canvases to both our Reflection

and our new commission Moon Over Bayshore have been completed.

Our commission TBAJ is finished.

We're just waiting for the time of day.

Follow updates and our write-ups on Quilts SB at www.quiltssb.com

If you have any questions please feel free to contact via email us at Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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Q125 – NT Celebration – King Size Quilt

Good Day,

Our new commissioned quilt, NT Celebration has been completed.

All-things-being-equal, Andy and I have tried to create, construct and present a quilt that held to the following requested guidelines:

• We used fabrics from the client’s, her husband’s, and her mother’s used shirts. 
• We used the main colors of red, white, and blue. 
• We were able to create a design that expressed and conveyed the client’s request. 
• We believe that we have created a quilt with a patriotic boldness.

NT Celebration has been our way of touching the ever popular tradition of quilting and the same time while creating warm bedding. It is now at its new home in central Florida.

NT Celebration is a king size quilt measuring 97 ½”- width by 114”- length.

The quilt is constructed of all salvaged and recycled clothes except the backing. 

The quilting is edge-to-edge in an interwoven curve pattern. The “patchwork” of the top is made of a series of blocks, all cut in two sizes – 4 ½” and 2 ½”, which were all cut from the clothes provided and then assembled.

The top is a representation of the Red, White, and Blue. The exploding fireworks are the celebrations we were asked to express.

Check out the creative progress and working of NT Celebration at the following links.

My Quip – NT Celebration – A New Quilt in Progress – October 13, 2014

My Quip – NT Celebration – Top Completed – Progress Update – October 22, 2014

If you have any questions, comments, ideas, please feel free to contact Andy or me via email at Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - NT Celebration – Top Completed – Progress Update

Good,

The top of Andy’s and my new king size quilt project, NT Celebration, has been completed. Right now our NT Celebration is 101” (256.5 cms) wide and 113” (287 cms) long.

The following are what we were requested in order to produce this king size quilt.

• Please use fabrics from my own, my husband’s, and my mother’s gently used shirts.
• We would like to use the main colors of red, white, and blue.
• We would like to have a separate but merging effect of the colors.
• We would like it to have a somewhat patriotic attitude.

Sure, we said. We can try. I had an idea.

And with CorelDraw X7 I translated and drafted my initial designs.

Next was the application of the three key colors, red, white and blue.

The provided fabrics were all cut into 4 ½” and 2 ½” squares.

Check out our previous thoughts and post in Quilts SB at –

My Quip – NT Celebration – A New Quilt in Progress

And the top has been completed. Here are a few images –

Next are the choice of backing and the style of quilting.

Follow our progress at Quilts SB. If you have any questions, thoughts, ideas, please feel free to contact us via email at Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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