The Chef's Dilemma quilt and a birthday wish

The Chef's Dilemma, 2003.
Best of Show 2004, A Mountain Quiltfest.

In honor of Larry's (my husband) birthday today, September 24, I've pulled a photo of an all-time favorite quilt, The Chef's Dilemma, from the archives. This quilt was made in the fall of 2003, when I was a brand new quilter and a member of my first-ever quilt guild. It was created in response to a Guild Challenge—another concept at the time that was new to me—where it won a first place. What an honor and a surprise for me as the members of this guild were all long-time and very accomplished quilters.

This quilt is a combination of patchwork and raw-edge appliqué [raw-edge means the edges are not turned under as in traditional appliqué]. The quilt is free-motion quilted and straight-line quilted with the walking foot. With the popularity of raw-edge appliqué collage quilts these days (see the wonderful collage quilt patterns by Laura Heine), this is a fun and freeing technique for anyone to try, or to revisit if you've not done it is a while!

"Fabric Larry" (the working title) then went on to receive the Best of Show at A Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN in 2004. It was the first time a non-bed-size quilt won the top honor, and it was the most complete surprise and honor for me. I am forever thankful that the SBs (my quilting sisters) were there to support [literally—as I got weak in the knees when I found out it won] and celebrate this amazing accomplishment with me.

The Chef's Dilemma was accepted into other quilt shows and exhibits—the McMinn County Heritage Museum quilt show, The Smoky Mountains quilt show, and the Quilts for a Change Zonta exhibit—where it received awards.

These days, The Chef's Dilemma occasionally comes with me when I teach "Intro to Free-motion Quilting on a domestic machine" or if there is a special Show and Tell at a guild meeting or presentation. And "Fab Lar" is part of the quilt rotation at our house.

So, Happy Birthday, Larry! 

You'll always be my favorite chef.

A quilting class with Pepper Cory—the complete package

Pepper Cory at A Mountain Quiltfest.

Last month, my quilting buddy, Cristy, and I were fortunate to get the last two openings in Pepper Cory's "Sweet Potato Quilts" class at A Mountain Quiltfest. Aside from Pepper Cory being a prolific quilter, a respected teacher and author, and an icon in the quilting industry, she is a fabric designer for StudioE Fabrics—one of the companies I rep. StudioE produced a number of Pepper's previous fabric collections and now offers her two current collections— Peppered Cottons and Brushstrokes—in its lineup. So, I wanted... I needed... to take a class... any class... she was teaching at the Quiltfest... just so I could... meet... her... in person! (ooooh, I was so thrilled to get in!)

If you've ever taken a class from Pepper Cory (and I hope I get the opportunity again), you know what I mean when I say "with Pepper, you get the complete package." Her extensive background in quilting and knowledge of all areas of the industry are woven throughout her discussion of the class project, the tools you're using, and in the demonstration of the technique. You get tips and instruction to help you with the class project, but you'll discover that other choice little nuggets get tossed into your toolbox for use in your quiltmaking endeavors down the road.

The project for this class, "Sweet Potato Quilts," was inspired by an antique quilt in Pepper's collection. Students were treated to the story behind this scrappy, orange-and-brown quilt as well as a history lesson about quilts from that era and the quiltmakers who made them.

Pepper Cory discusses the background of the orange and brown antique quilt.

Following the introduction to the project and the overview of the quilt block, there was an exploration of each student's fabrics. All the class participants got Pepper's suggestions and guidance on colors and prints that would work for our quilts. With the suggestions, Pepper interjected a lesson and Q&A on the Elements and Principles of Design and how they should be considered when making fabric choices. (See what I mean by the "complete package"?)

Fabric selections for my sweet potato quilt.

Pepper even helped one student re-draft the block pattern to suit her fabrics (a.k.a the complete package!).

Pepper helps a student re-draft the quilt block.

Several examples of sweet potato quilts were shown during the class. A handout and pattern for the block was provided. We had a demonstration on "marking" the paper foundations for the blocks (a new technique for me). And there was a discussion not only about piecing blocks and potential block layouts for the top, but consideration for potential quilting designs for hand and machine quilting. After all, it's not a quilt 'til it's quilted, right?

The Baptist fan design can be done by hand or machine.
These are examples of both (left by hand, right by machine).

Pepper enjoys big stitch quilting and discussed threads as well as thread manufacturers. Did you know that one thread company, Presencia, offers a 3-ply 60 wt. cotton? (Bonus nugget!)

Hand quilting on Pepper's current project using the big stitch (left), and
the hand quilting on a the antique quilt—showing knots and all (right).

Along with the big stitch, Pepper includes decorative embroidery stitches (see the white feather stitch on the lower left of the photo) on her quilts.

Detail of Big Stitch quilting and embroidery stitches
on one of Pepper Cory's Sweet Potato quilt.

By late afternoon of this full-day class, students had one or two completed blocks. Pepper assembled the group outside the classroom for a display of everyone's accomplishments. Even though we each chose different fabrics, the star block unified the composition and all our blocks could have easily been assembled together into a lovely quilt. Pepper suggested this block would be perfect for a group quilt or a block swap. (Again, the complete package.)

A group discussion of the Sweet Potato star block with ideas for
additional applications.

Students' Sweet Potato star blocks made in class.

As in many a class, unexpected situations or "teaching opportunities" can arise. The best teachers, in my opinion, are those that can capitalize on these unplanned instances and turn them into benefits—or "bonuses"—for the class participants. During a break, I brought in my fabric color card and quilt samples using Peppered Cottons. This is a clip of Pepper talking about her shot cotton fabric line [Peppered Cottons] and graciously promoting a vendor that had them in a booth on the show floor.

The second sample (quilt top) is a modified version of a pattern called "Point Taken" by
Boutiques and More. It uses two charm packs of Peppered Cottons by StudioE Fabrics.

Cristy and I invited Pepper to join us during the lunch break and she did. It was great to have lunch with Pepper and also bounce around ideas about StudioE's fabric lines—especially the new 108" Peppered Cotton wide backings that will be coming out this fall. Stay tuned! Be sure to contact YLQS (your local quilt shop) and request them.

Me with Pepper Cory at A Mountain Quiltfest.

A Mountain Quiltfest and Pepper Cory's class was a delightful and energizing experience for me. It was fun to spend the day piecing scrappy quilt blocks (on the student's side of the table), and listen to and learn from such a high caliber teacher. There were several other golden nuggets that I and my fellow students took away from this class—too many to mention here. Just know that if you ever get the chance to take a quilting class with Pepper Cory, don't miss it! She's the complete package.

This embellished photo is for Scott, the president of StudioE. Think his ears were burning???

Our outfits were even color-coordinated!

Quiltfest: the quilting up close

One of my favorite things to do at quilt shows is to admire and feast upon the magnificent machine (and hand) quilting the brings those 2D quilt tops to life. Here is a visual study of the fabulous quilting I saw at the 2013 A Mountain Quiltfest—machine, hand, and occasionally a mixed collaboration!

 

The quilted motifs (below) became part of the composition of this quilt.

The appliquéd cats in the border of this quilt (below) had hand coloring and shading to bring out the details in their faces.

 

  

This quiltmaker combined heirloom hand stitched blocks made by her grandmother and combined them with a soft peachy batik alternate block.

Here are some of the hand quilted pieces. The first one is by Linda Roy. All the embroidered feathers are by hand!

 

This was one of the Challenge pieces. It combines hand and machine quilting. Check out the hand stippling in the arc beside the rouched roses.

In your next quilt, be sure to leave some blank canvas for some fabulous machine or hand quilting!

Quiltfest, and "Fabric Larry" still remembered

To celebrate National Quilting Day, my friend Sherry, from the Choo Choo Quilters guild, and I made a one-day road trip to A Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This is the 19th year of the show, and the caliber of quilts, class instructors, special displays and the vendor mall has expanded and becomes better each year.

Detail of "Many Masions" by J. Graber.

Here are a few highlights from the show.

Best of Show: "Circle of Curiosity" by A. Armour
quilted by A. Armour and D. Parks

"Circle of Curiosity" won the Best of Show. The quilting plays a major role in supporting the composition's center of interest in this raw-edge appliquéd quilt, as well as the quilt's theme. 

More quilts and ribbon winners...

The 2013 Mountain Heritage Challenge was entitled, "The Blue and the Grey: Quilting America's Great Divide." These small wall quilts had powerful connotations and were quite thought-provoking. No doubt, this theme spoke to many quiltmakers and exhibit attendees.

The Challenge packet included these four fabrics. There were over 25 quilts in this special display.

Incidentally, this is the quilt festival at which, during its 10th anniversary year, my quilt, "The Chef's Dilemma" [fondly referred to as "Fabric Larry"] was honored with the Best of Show ribbon—the first time a non-bed-size quilt won this prestigious prize. Surprisingly, two show attendees and one staff associate recognized me, asked if I had entered something this year, and mentioned they remembered "the quilt she did of her husband cooking"—aka The Chef's Dilemma. It's still a humbling experience.

So here he is once again, the 2004 A Mountain Quiltfest Best of Show, Fabric Larry.

"The Chef's Dilemma"
2004 Best of Show, A Mountain Quiltfest