Chattanooga AQS QuiltWeek Opens, September 16-19

It's Opening Day at AQS QuiltWeek in Chattanooga! 

AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga is open!
Septembre 16-19, 2015

Go see: 

• the show quilts (marvel at the juried entries and the winners), 
• the special exhibits (got your eye on one of the Egyptian appliqué quilts? They are for sale!), 
• drop your dollars at the vendor booths (they're showing lots of cool new stuff), 
• take a workshop or sign up for a lecture,
• visit the other in- town exhibits (the WorkSpace exhibit has 40+ quilts and hand-crafted stitchery items for sale by local artists), and
• munch out at the local eateries in downtown Chattanooga.

Blue Rhino Moon
by Veronica Hofman-Ortega

Here is my quilt, Blue Rhino Moon, that you can see up close if you go to the show. A photo of my entry from last year, Pi E²—Exponentially Embellished is being used in the AQS marketing materials this year and you can see a piece of it on all the name badges.

Make a day or week of it! If you're a quilter, you will appreciate the talent, creativity and exquisite hand and machine workmanship of these pieces.

If you are not a quilter and are not familiar with AQS [the American Quilters Society], these quilts are ART! They are not like the "old time-y quilts" you think of when watching black/white TV movies of settlers crossing the plains in covered wagons, or what someone's granny made from old clothes. 

This is an art exhibit with fabric and thread!  …with several pieces made by local Chattanooga area quilters. And it's here in Chattanooga—AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga.

QuiltWeek name badge includes a photo of my quilt,
  Pi E²—Exponentially Embellished.

See you there!

QuiltWeek exhibits still happening in Chattanooga

Whew! What a exciting, colorful and quilt-filled week it has been at AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga! Although the AQS show is over and the quilts are boxed and being transported back to owners or to future shows, there are still several quilt exhibits in Chattanooga to enjoy!

Gee's Bend performances at the
Chattanooga Theatre Centre,
through September 21.

Tennessee Temple University's Student Union: 35 quilts (8 from the 1800s), African textiles, UGRR arts and crafts, free fabric swatches. Through September 17.

Gee's Bend performances and Gee's Bend inspired quilts at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre through September 21.

Sampling of quilts by Kaffe Fassett and other quilts at the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts through the end of September.

Association for Visual Arts (AVA): Needle and Thread exhibit through October 24.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center: Textile: Quilts from the Zuri Quilting Guild through December 5.

Quilt show sidewalk art

Today, the sidewalks outside the Convention Center were decorated with sidewalk art in honor of the AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga.

QuiltWeek Chattanooga sidewalk art.

QuiltWeek Chattanooga sidewalk art.

QuiltWeek Chattanooga sidewalk art.

Large tables were set up outside for visitors to enjoy lunch from the inside caterers or the myriad outside food trucks. It's been a fun first day at the festival.

Quilters and visitors enjoyed lunch and
lively conversation outside the Convention Center.

Volunteering: behind the scenes at QuiltWeek Chattanooga

Several guild friends and I had the opportunity to help hang the quilts for the AQS show in Chattanooga. Here is a photo chronicle of the two days prior to the show.

Terry Guill, with Michelle Duffy, AQS,
explains the quilt unpacking and hanging processes.

The AQS staff were great to work with and the process was so well executed. Chattanooga quilters were pleased to hear the compliments about the Chattanooga Convention Center facility—especially the natural light that this venue affords an exhibit comprised of stunning quilt artistry such as this.

Volunteers waiting to enter the showroom.

The hanging system is engineered for easy installation. All the equipment, tools and props are in a wooden crate with wheels. This storage crate is wheeled where needed from exhibit space to exhibit space.

Hanging system.

Entering the convention show room, the boxes, signage and displays are laid out on the floor. Vendors are bringing in their displays, racks, shelves and products to set up their booths.

Moving in and setting up.

We used the "pot passers" to hang the corded hooks on the curtained walls.

Quilt hanging system.

Setting up the various quilt exhibits.

Sliding rods into the quilt sleeves.

Sliding the rod into the quilt sleeve.

All the volunteers and AQS staff wore white gloves to handle the quilts.

Sliding the rod into the quilt sleeve.

Raising the quilts.

Raising the quilts.

Raising the quilts.

The "Welcome to Chattanooga QuiltWeek" sign lets you know you're in the right place!

QuiltWeek sign in the Chattanooga Convention Center main hall.

Pre-exhibit process for TN Aquarium, IMAX quilt exhibits, QuiltWeek Chattanooga

On Monday, the Chattanooga Modern Quilt Guild Committee members were stationed at the Chattanooga IMAX Theater for the drop-off of quilts for the Tennessee Aquarium and IMAX quilt exhibits, in conjunction with QuiltWeek Chattanooga. All anticipated quilt entries were present and accounted for at the scheduled drop-off time! 

Susan Lawson shows "Sparkly Sunfish" to Joan Thornbury at quilt drop-off.

Between the aquarium River Journey exhibit, the Tennessee River Collaborative project, the IMAX exhibit and a special Friday night (September 12) after-hours reception, 5pm to 8pm, there will be over 50 quilts on display.

A big Thank You to all the CMQG members who contributed their time, energy, talent and cooperation toward making this outstanding exhibit a reality. Special kudos go out to my Co-Team Leaders, Joan Thornbury and Vista Mahan, for all your collaboration, hard work, and thoughtful and creative insights during the planning and execution of this project.

Here are several committee members diligently working on checking in quilts, handing out quilt pick-up receipts, tagging bags, and separating and packing the quilts for each exhibit.

We had a sneak peek at a few of the quilts that you can see at these exhibits.

"Jellies" (left) and "Otters at Play" by Brenda Cregger.

"River Storm" by Josie Dinwiddie.

Detail of "Sparkly Sunfish" by Susan Lawson.
The inspiration photo is attached to the plastic bag.

The boxes are labeled and ready for pick-up for the final installation. Please visit and enjoy these exhibits and the work by members of the Chattanooga Modern Quilt Guild during QuiltWeek Chattanooga!

Exhibit quilts ready for installation.

QuiltWeek hits the airwaves

News about this week's QuiltWeek Chattanooga is hitting the airwaves! Melanie Coakley of Ready Set Sew was on WRCB's "3 Plus You" segment promoting QuiltWeek with quilted examples of the recent Row by Row Experience quilts, trapunto by machine—featuring my Colorwashed Trapunto class sample—using fabric selvedges, and other quilting and machine embroidery projects.

Melanie Coakley of Ready Set Sew promoting QuiltWeek Chattanooga.

Julie Edwards, 3 Plus You host, likens today's modern quilters cotton fabrics to Vera Bradley prints.

Colorwashed Trapunto sample.

Jed Mescon interviewed Robert Shaw, producer, and actress and singer, Azusa Dance about the upcoming performances of "Gee's Bend" at the Chattanooga Theatre Center during QuiltWeek.

Jed Mescon discusses the Gees Bend quilters.

Note the improvisationally pieced quilt in the foreground of the set. There will be a display of Gee's Bend inspired quilts made by local quilt artists hanging at the Theatre Center throughout the performance dates, September 10 - 21, 2014.

Gee's Bend inspired quilt by Janet Suber.

After you hear Ms. Dance sing a cappella on this TV segment, you won't want to miss this performance. Get your tickets today!

Quilts at Chattanooga WorkSpace, Southern Belle Riverboat, and Kaffe's quilts at the Houston Museum

A selection of quilts by Kaffe Fassett
will be on display at the Houston Museum.

This will probably be my last post prior to a full-swing, 110% immersed, AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga envelopment that begins Monday. Several guild friends and I kicked off the celebration yesterday on the Gallery Hop and a visit to the "Needle and Thread" exhibit at Association for the Visual Arts (AVA) that I mentioned here.

Two quilt exhibits you don't want to miss during QuiltWeek Chattanooga is the 80+ quilt "Quilts of Chattanooga" Trunk Show at Chattanooga WorkSpace and an exhibit of traditional, historical-flavored quilts at the gift shop of the majestic Southern Belle Riverboat at the Tennessee River.

Kim, the owner of Chattanooga Quilts quilt shop, is coordinating and sponsoring these two exhibits that are comprised of over 90 quilts made by local quilt makers. The quilts will display the talent and craftsmanship of these quilters and feature all aspects of quiltmaking—hand and machine techniques, appliqué, patchwork, paper piecing and hand and machine quilting.

"Dream Garden"

I have loaned Kim two of my quilts, "Dream Garden" and "Strips and Flips," for the "Quilts of Chattanooga" Trunk Show. These quilts employ patchwork and lots of free-motion machine quilting.

Machine quilting detail: "Strips and Flips" 

While at the Chattanooga WorkSpace Trunk Show exhibit, be sure to wander the 4 floors of artist studios. Quilt- and thread-themed art will be for sale as well as other pieces made by the resident artists. A Chattanooga Quilts pop-up store will have pre-cuts, kits and fabric bundles available, and visitors can also enjoy munchies while experiencing the quilts and artwork in the evening hours. The "Quilts of Chattanooga" and the Southern Belle Riverboat displays have free admittance.

"Strips and Flips" by Veronica Hofman-Ortega

An extra special treat showing at the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts will be several quilts by acclaimed quilter and fabric designer, Kaffe Fassett. For a dose of color extraordinaire, be sure to visit this venue!

Quilt by Kaffe Fassett

For a recap of QuiltWeek Chattanooga area events, see this article by Times Free Press reporter, Lisa Denton. 12,000 attendees are anticipated for the QuiltWeek events with an estimated economic impact of $3 million in revenue. Quilters have purchasing power!

My improv quilts at Chattanooga Theatre Center exhibit

"Marketplace" (detail)
by Veronica Hofman-Ortega

quilting… check
trimming… check
facing… check
labels… check
sleeve… check.

"Marketplace," my latest improv quilt, has been delivered and will be in the exhibit at the Chattanooga Theatre Center in conjunction with live performances of "Gee's Bend; A Story of the Alabama Quilters" by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, September 10 - 21, 2014.

"A Tribute to Steve," from a guild Challenge, will also be in the exhibit along with a few other Gee's Bend-inspried quilts made by Chattanooga quilters.

Some of my fellow guild members have also made quilts that will be used as props in the performance. Get your tickets now before they are sold out.

Enjoy the quilts and QuiltWeek Chattanooga!

"Marketplace" by Veronica Hofman-Ortega
34" x 32"

"A Tribute to Steve" by Veronica Hofman-Ortega
17" x 18.5"

"Needle and Thread" exhibit reception kicks off QuiltWeek Chattanooga

"Dresden Plate meets
the 21st Century"
by Vista Mahan

Want to get a jump on QuiltWeek Chattanooga with an amuse-bouche of savory quilty goodness?

To celebrate quilters and the art of quiltmaking, the Association for the Visual Arts (AVA) is hosting an exhibit entitled "Needle and Thread," at the AVA Gallery [30 Frazier Ave., Chattanooga, TN] with an opening reception on Saturday, September 6 from 2-8 pm.

This exhibit features artists working with materials and processes often present in quilt making or fabric assemblage. Artists working across a variety of media will be represented, including Hollie Berry, Melissa Hoesman, Vista Mahan, Ongeleigh Underwood and Linda White. The opening reception will coincide with AVA's 8th annual Gallery Hop.

My quiltmaker buddy, Vista, has pieces in this exhibit. We both belong to the Choo Choo Quilters and Chattanooga Modern guilds and have worked on several exhibits, guild programs, Guild Challenges and quilting projects together over the years. It's exciting to see her work accepted for this special exhibit.

Here is another quilted wall piece that will be included in the AVA "Needle and Thread" exhibit.

"Five Red Pyramids" by Vista Mahan

This is just one of the many exhibits and activities happening around town in conjunction with AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga. Hope to see you at several of them!

ATCs: ___-ing up a storm

"Sewing up a Storm" by Cathy Dillon

As AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga is a mere week away, area quilters, quilt shops and quilt guilds are frantically stitching labels and sleeves on the backs of quilts... cutting, folding and kitting quilting lovelies to showcase in their booths at the vendor mall... and double-checking rosters and disseminating information to volunteers who will be assisting at this upcoming city-wide quilting extravaganza.

I am among this vast group of [ahem… slightly crazy and frazzled] people.

The Artist Trading Card (ATC) artists in the FiberAntics ATC swap are also voraciously consuming their time with sewing, quilting, cooking and various indoor and outdoor activities as the summer begins to wane. These ATCs depict this month's theme, "___-ing up a Storm." 

Preparing for AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga
"Stitching up a Storm" by Veronica Hofman-Ortega

"Stitching up a flower garden [during] a [summer] storm."
by Linda Smith

"Gardening up a Storm!"
by Marilyn League

"Mowing... up a storm!"
by Karen Downer

"Creating Up A Storm"
by Lisa Howard

With no required Book Club books to plow through, this ATC artist says she's free to read the pile of books she really wants to read.

"(summer) Reading… up a storm"
by Bonnie Stevens

"I'm Cooking up a Storm"
by Liz Armstrong

This ATC artist says you'll find her wearing an apron canning and baking. I thinks she's got a great idea to accompany this task with a tasty libation.

"Wearing and apron canning and baking up a storm."
by Sharon Griffith

"Dancing up a Storm"
by Carlene Jacobsen

My personal invitation to you:
Come visit Chattanooga next week for QuiltWeek, September 10-13! Dance, run and skip on over to see us and be in awe of what all the talented quilters and fabric artists will have on display all over the city as well as at the American Quilters Society (AQS) Show at the Chattanooga Convention Center [1150 Carter St., Chattanooga]. There are activities happening early in the week before the AQS quilt show officially opens, as well as exhibits and performances the following weeks and months through the end of the year.