Lancaster, PA, Quilt Show

I just returned from the great annual quilt show in Lancaster, PA yesterday. The show flows over into three separate showing areas with many judged quilts as well as a number of invitational quilt groups and this year a selection from Quilt National. According to the staff there are around 12,000 attendees every year and 79 vendors spread through the show and in the hotel across the street. And then, of course, is the draw of shopping for under $5 a yard batik in the local quilt shops and the food.................! Our roommate Rose decided to skip going around through the outside door and come in the window.
And I had taken Wendy a hat from Thailand which she had to try on.
She ended up wearing it around in the show.
Their tee shirts said "Let me drop everything and work on your problem"

The Wearable Art Contest. The blue ribbon winner. As usual I forgot to write down the names.

One of my students, Barbara Ackley, has the beautiful black, red and white jacket in the second row.

Beautiful fabric and machine stitching on this one.

Another Great Day at Marcia's Studio

Another great sewing day at Marcia's beautiful studio. I brought in some men's ceremonial collars from Southwest China for a show and tell.
The stitches on these is absolutely incredible.
I have started a jacket in blue batiks with a cross stitch jaguar as the centerpiece on the back.
I will add some hmong strips from Laos and some beaded belts from Guatemala to the mix.
Beth's jacket fronts at the beginning of the day.

And Donna's jacket back.
As the day progressed Beth got to the point where she could pin the jacket together for a final fitting.

And Donna made progress on the jacket front.
My jacket back at the end of the day. The hmong strips are blending in nicely and I am going to sew two of the beaded bands on the dark strips between them.

Jacket Class at Marcia's- Day Two and Three

Inspector Suki checked in early on day two to ensure the class was going well. Marcia laid out her jacket back to check the mitering process for the corners...using a hand woven strip from Thailand.
Donna sews the geisha panel on the jacket back.
Jeanne's jacket begins to come together.

Julie makes a few appliqued squares to weave their way across the front. Beth adds tulip squares and seminole strips for the jacket front.

Marcia's jacket begins to come together with black strips.


Julie adds a panel of hand made silk yoyo's from Thailand to the center panel. The purple background peeks through.

She also brought some other neat pieces she hopes to use in future projects.

Some wonderful yarns add a bit of texture to the jacket.
Inspector Suki drops by for a bit of attention.
Julie tries on her jacket for a last fitting before she sews it together.

Donna adds a couple of strips to the back.
Jeanne has the front and backs done and has added some cording. Beth makes a lot of progress on her jacket.

And Donna arranges some strips for the front. The centerpiece is a pillow with shisha mirrors from India. And of course there was lots of time for talk, pizza and cookies.

Another Jacket Class at Marcia DeCamp's Wonderful Studio

Another great class at Marcia DeCamp's wonderful studio. Jeanne Simpson is working a group of brown/rust fabrics.
Julie Brandon is working on the "butterfly jacket" using a gorgeous striped and a hand dyed shibori fabric which don't photograph well. Inspector Suki took time out from her busy schedule to stop by and inspect the progress and be admired.
Marcia is working on an ethnic composition with a batik as the centerpiece.
She plans to use a small mola and an embroidery from Vietnam on one of the fronts.

Beth Brandkamp is using a beautiful tulip print from Michael Miller as the focal point. Donna Patrick worked on several combinations before deciding which one to focus on. This piece is a batik from Southwestern China.