Art Quilt Show

The Midwest Fiber Artists Alliance had our opening reception for our first show at the Jewish Community Center in Omaha, Nebraska, this past Sunday.  Here are a few of the quilts in the show, which the makers kindly agreed to let me post to my blog.  You will need to enlarge the photos to get a better look. 

I'm very excited as I sold my Kool-Aid quilt! 

All of the Nebraska Squared quilts had to be based on something from/in Nebraska.  Since Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings, Nebraska, the quilt is entitled "Hastings" (how clever is that?).  I dyed the silk background fabric in boiling water with cherry Kool-Aid mixed with vinegar.  It set nicely without any fading or running.  I used heavy vinyl for the pitcher and stitched the envelopes inside. 

This quilt is called "Nebraska Bloomers" because some of the flower centers have names of famous Nebraskans who were born and/or bloomed there.  I took the plastic stems and doodads out of silk flowers, sewed them to the background and then used Transfer Artist Paper (TAP) to put the names into the centers.

This is my third quilt and was made in a hurry as my three previous attempts to add the final required 3'x3' quilt were not turning out as I wanted.  I just "went for it" and the results are okay but not my favorite.  It is not hanging straight because I accidentally sewed the hanging sleeve on (at 6 a.m. on the morning I had to turn it in) at an angle.  That is what happens when you procrastinate.  Will I do that again?  -- probably!

This is my friend Wendy's quilt.  It is hand-embroidered and attached to plexiglass rods. Be sure to take a closer look at the lovely embroidery.  It's a stunning piece.

This is Debi's quilt.  Take a look at the fun quilting she did.  I love this simple and elegant quilt.