Monday, April 23, 2012

My Quip – Who’d A Thought – 1940 US Census West Milwaukee

Good Day,

Minding my own business, taking a break from quilting, and doing my own research of the Rogers Family, I am amazed at what I just stumbled upon. I am searching, page by page, the 1940 United Census in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Rogers.

After about 100 pages and scrolling through surnames I opened up the next set of pages for the Enumeration District of West Milwaukee No. 40-113 and on Sheet No. 5B, I’m attracted to the surname of a family at 4905 West National Avenue… Liberace. I wonder???


The family is Salvatore and Francis and their two sons Walter and Rudolph, 20 and 9 years of age, respectively. And did I think I had found Mister Showmanship? Damn right!!!

And the above inserted You-Tube video is of Walter (aka Wladziu Valentino) Liberace performing in the 1940s.

Enjoy,

Jim
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Friday, April 20, 2012

My Quip – Crak Slaw and Mondrain I

Good Day,

Now you have to know that my most favorite show on TV is Chopped… It is my idea of “forced” creativity, and at times the served result can be quite appealing. Every so often, like most times, I try to do a same type of thing here at home when I’m preparing supper. Yup, it is I who does the cooking…

Last night I was stuck with some ground beef, half a Chinese cabbage, couple of onions, and mushrooms. But I cheated my Chopped idea… I Googled the four ingredients and I discovered a whole new world of Crak Slaw. Combined in my wok, included with the above four I added Thai seasonings, sesame oil, soya sauce, salt, pepper, ginger, and garlic, and a teaspoon of Widow’s Kiss. I was surprised and we really enjoyed ourselves.

And now if you see in the upcoming future a new quilt names Crak Slaw… you’ll know that I went to our stash of fabric, which has now taken over one of the bedrooms in this house, and picked four fabrics with some other touches. T’would be interesting to say the least.

Work is continuing on the quilting of Mondrian I. I’ve inserted a very blurred picture of the completed top of Mondrian I. I don’t want to jump the gun just yet on a presentation… I’m still trying to figure an idea for the quilting between the blocks on the sashing. Many ideas and thoughts at The Free Motion Quilting Project. I really take my hat off, if I did wear one, to Leah, for her ideas and site presentation.

I am excited at the direction we’re going with Mondrian I. Our original idea, inspired by the art work of Piet Mondrian…and my love for stained glass windows. This Mondrian I has been accepted to HQMS 2012 in Salt Lake City, showing next month.

Oh and by the by, Andy reminded me that we have an 18th quilt in progress. I was wrong in my previous Posting when I mentioned only 17. Our 18th, right now, it is titled Just Trees. This small wall hanging is inspired by the quilt work of Juanita Yaeger and Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiulionis' painting and style.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

Andy and I are moving at a steady pace with our quilt and fabric wall hanging work. Keep abreast of all updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” to follow Quilts SB. I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

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 or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

My Quip - Tampa Lightning and Mondrian I - Plus 17 More

Good Day,

Tampa Lightning is being prepped for its trip to Kansas. It has been accepted as entry to the Machine Quilters Showcase - MQS at the Overland Convention Center in Overland Park in Kansas. Our Tampa Lightning is our adaptation of Kaffe Fassett’s design, Lightning.

We are working on the completion of the “bevel-quilting” of our Mondrian I. Mondrian I is our design based on works of Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). Mondrian I has been accepted as entry at the Home Machine Quilting Show – HMQS at the South Towne Exposition Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

And we don’t stop there… Not including Tampa Lightning and Mondrian I we have 17 more quilts in line. They are in stages of design, piecing, and quilting. Here’s our list.
      - Blue Memories - Designed
      - Savanna’s Memories - In design
      - Amulet - Top completed
      - Joseph’s Coat - Top completed
      - Joseph’s Ladder Pants - Pieced and in design
      - Astro-Physics - Pieced and in design
      - Kumquat - In design
      - S’Monkey - In design
      - Chambray - In design
      - Blumish - Pieced and in design
      - I Really Love Lucy - Designed
      - Gunta Stöltz - In design
      - Mauk II - In construction
      - Eagle Mosaic - In design
      - Rán - In design
      - Orange Peel Indian Summer - Top completed
      - N ‘members - In design
Evolution, 26 of our quilts and wall hangings, has been placed into storage for a short spell. It will be on display at MQX West 2012 in Portland, Oregon this coming fall.

You'll have to check back time and again to check up on our work and status.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

Andy and I are moving at a steady pace with our quilt and fabric wall hanging work. Keep abreast of all updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” to follow Quilts SB. I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

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 or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
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Monday, April 16, 2012

My Quip - MQX Closes - And The Great International Beer Festival Moves In

Good Day,

Our first MQX, albeit quilting conference, in Providence, Rhode Island is done… and we’re back at home in Tampa, Florida. A very different and challenging experience. And for the next show we are in tune with what to expect.

Of course as we were dismantling our display, ever so slight traces of hops and suds wafted gingerly through the halls of the Providence Convention Center. On the heels of Machines Quilters’ Exhibition East 2012, a new Show and Party was moving right in… The Great International Beer Festival, America’s largest International Beer Festival. Say what? Admission price provided and allowed the unlimited sampling of more than 250 brewers.

And I keep focused on quilts…

At times, seeing the other works of quilting art and masterful composition, it was a wee bit overwhelming. And thoughts of “We’re never going to ever achieve that level of accomplishment” kept surfacing.

And at other times I felt my chest bursting with pride, when I heard and received the many number of positive compliments regarding our Evolution display. A number of our quilts received a good amount of personal commendations. Our Patience, inserted above, was one such.

Two, of many of the quilts on display that caught my eye were Fiesta Mexicana and The Ancients.

Fiesta Mexicana is a brilliant quilt. It was pieced by Karen Kay Buckley and machine quilted by Renae Haddadin.



The Ancients, pieced and machine quilted by Marilyn Pugh, is a breathtaking quilt.



And now back to our work. Stay tuned for more updates and details.

Enjoy,

Jim
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Friday, April 13, 2012

My Quip - Tremendous Time MQX - And What's a Steam Press?

Good Day and Evening,

I have to say that I am thoroughly enjoying myself at MQX... I am thrilled and thoroughly astounded and appreciative at the level and caliber of organization, and the sense of fun that has and is being presented. I certainly bow with respect to both the head honchos, Janet Lee and Mary.

This being my first quilting convention show ever I would definitely recommend MQX to one and all.

Andy and I have met a number of very good teachers... and all-things-being-equal some life-time mentors. Our experience and learning will most definitely gain with our continued association. Further, we are both humbled and in awe of the positive comments voiced regarding our Evolution display.

The quilt the was announced as this years MQX East 2012 Viewers’ Choice is titled Turtle Bay.


Turtle Bay was pieced and machine quilted by Claudia Pfiel of Krefeld, Germany. Congratulations to Claudia.


And tonight at the MQX Banquet I lucked out and I won the door prize of a Steam Press Iron. Who would have thought?

Enjoy,

Jim
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Thursday, April 12, 2012

My Quip - Are We Sure We're In the Right Place?

Good Day,

Well the first day of the open show of MQX East is over...and my legs are tired. And my mouth is exhausted. I think I talked non-stop about our Evolution for about nine hours straight. True, it has never been said that I did not have the gift of the gab.

And I have been extremely humbled to hear and receive the positive comments and compliments about our Evolution display.

Andy was a bit confused when he asked to see one of the Chief Organizers of the Show, and Bozina, Bozo the Clown's twin sister, showed up.

I am in awe, this being our first major quilt conference, of the technical and explicit organization performed and presented by Janet-Lee and Mary and their team.

Winners were announced and prizes and ribbons awarded. Many of the quilts are certainly works of art.

Best of Show was an entry from the Solo Artist Category. The winning quilt, America, Let It Shine was created and quilted by Sherry Reynolds of Laramie, Wyoming. It is stunning, amazing, and breath-taking.

Here is her America, Let It Shine -





Will be back tomorrow.

Enjoy,

Jim
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

My Quip - MQX Set Up and Splish Splash Feathers

Good day,

Springtime in Providence.

Today was an interesting day.. I assisted the MQX personnel to set up our Evolution display for the open Show tomorrow. I was flabbergasted that our Evolution was given a complete aisle of the conference room floor, of the 60,000 square feet total... All 25 of our quilts submitted completed the presentation aisle. It is a mind-boggling experience. And it is different from climbing trees and hanging ropes to display quilts.

I have certainly met a number of interesting and talented people.

Andy took an afternoon class called Splish Splash Feathers. The idea is to use the longarm sewing machine to create free-form feathers. Think of doodling with a sewing machine and thread... You got it.

The Winners, as decided by the Judges, are some exceptional works of art. It is great seeing all the skilled accomplishments. Our Blue Diamonds is on display and will join Evolution after the Providence Show. Evolution will be traveling to Portland, Oregon for the October MQX West 2012 Show.

Tomorrow the main doors, and I am looking forward to meeting many attendees.

Regards, and enjoy,

Jim
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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

My Quip - We're Off To See the MQX'zard

Good Day,

Well we're here in Providence, Rhode Island at the cusp of the MQX East 2012 Show.

We are neophytes in the Quilt Show circuit. This is our first Major Quilt Show... Wow, and I am somewhat overwhelmed...


Here's the sign that was made for our Special Exhibit Evolution. And JLS used my logo... Neat.

Thanks to brother Ray for taking the photo of Andy and me.

I will try to keep you posted of what is going on here at MQX East... and what we see and experience.

Stay-tuned, and enjoy,

Jim
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Q97 – Tampa Lightning – Quilt

Good Day,

We are pleased to announce that we have now completed our newest and latest quilt, Tampa Lightning.



Tampa Lightning is an adaptation and inspired design based on Kaffe Fassett creation called Lightning Quilt. The Fassett quilt is composed of 11 fabrics; his designs. Our Tampa Lightning is composed of 21 batik fabrics in our attempt to capture the dramatic shows of electric forks across the Tampa Bay sky. Another comparative difference between our construction and Kaffe Fassett’s design is based on the use of templates. Ours isn’t.

Tampa Lightning has been accepted as entry to the Machine Quilters Showcase – MQS 2012 to be held at the Overland Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas. The dates of MQS 2012 are May 16 -19.

The dimensions of Tampa Lightning are: Width – 86” ( 218.4 cms); Length – 88” ( 223.5 cms). The blue, green, and yellow shades of batik fabrics create the lightning bolts and are separated by light cream bolts of batik fabric patterned with swirls of similar colors. The backing is the same as the separating light cream fabric.

Our quilting is a variation on the lightning bolts – parallel lines for the actual bolts and free-form jagged echoes. All quilting was done with a domestic sewing machine.

We are truly proud of this creation; our Tampa Lightning.

And here are more images of Tampa Lightning.



If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

Andy and I are moving at a steady pace with our quilt and fabric wall hanging work. Keep abreast of all updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” to follow Quilts SB. I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

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 or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
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