There are quilters, and then there are QUILTERS. I belong to the first group. I’m self taught and lack even one artistic bone in my body.
So, when I had a chance to attend a class, View Through
the Window, taught by an amazing teacher, Judy Lily, I was signed up. The day was a fun learning experience because a very talented quilter and friend decided to attend as well. There was a lot of laughing going on as we worked on our landscape projects.
The following week, we attended the local quilt guild and were amazed by the various quilts on display. We even won the 50/50 raffle, but then spent almost twice as much as we won at a local quilt store because they were having a sale. 🙂
Class and guild were followed by the annual quilt show where we were all in shock and awe at the amazing skills on display.
This week, I’ll be back to small projects interspersed with outdoor adventures like a walk at Brookgreen this morning with good friends to see what’s blooming.
You see, it’s a beautiful day in our neighborhood today, and I wish you the same.
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
I have no aptitude when it comes to sewing, but enjoy learning more about the quilting process. I adore seeing quilts because I feel like there’s so much spirit in them. And I like that. The bicycle ones is particularly amazing.
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I loved that bicycle one, and I heard it won second place in its category. 🙂
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Yes, it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood and the quilt show was amazing. All you quilters do an amazing job.
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We haven’t seen a beautiful sunrise like this in quite a few days, and it’s a beauty. 🙂
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Wow, on every level! Thanks for sharing it all. 🙂
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You’re right. You don’t have ONE artistic bone in your body. ALL your bones are artistic, creative and talented! Your quilted landscape is amazing…..and this was your first attempt. Blue ribbon for you my friend.
The quilts on display at the annual quilt show are stunning. I love them all, but that bike…..oh, that bike!!
So happy it’s a beautiful day in your neighborhood. Here? Cold and the wind is ferocious! But there is some faint sunlight! Maybe this wind will blow all the snow/ice away.
Gorgeous sunrise. Makes getting up worthwhile! Lol. Enjoy your walk through Brookgreen this morning.
🐾Ginger 🐾
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The lady who taught my class was a true artist both in quilting and in having perception about how different fabrics would play together and how to really ‘see’ a landscape. I don’t have that. I try, but… Sorry you’re dealing with the cold and the wind. I checked the weather at home and they were forecasting 60 mph winds. Besides wondering about power being interrupted, all I could think about was how many truck loads of branches will come down and need to be moved. 🙂
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WOW! Yes, indeed, there are “quilters” (me!) and QUILTERS!!!! (these people!) I’m amazed by all of them, but that bicycle is particularly intriguing. Dresden Plates for spokes is genius, and it looks like she carefully cut the flowers out and appliqued them in place.
Were you able to complete a block in one session? What did you make? Are you going to show us? I’d love to see your results! (Or Is that landscape behind the window frame yours?)
And, I love your header photo – bleak, but so serene!
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There are different levels of quilters and going to a quilt show certainly points that out. I loved that bicycle too. 🙂 Yes, the landscape behind the window frame was what we did in class. I’m going to learn from that one and try another one.
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Wow – I really like the bicycle and the polar bears. I wouldn’t say you have no artistic talent, Judy. I’ve often been amazed at the stuff you show. It is always interesting and often inspirational to see other people who do what we consider to be a hobby.
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At the risk of sounding repetitive…wow! And wow and wow! Would have a hard time choosing a favorite, but the birds and the bike vie for first place.
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Oh I just love that bicycle quilt. It sounds like you had fun at the workshop. Paducah, KY is not far from where I live and my mother in law lives there so we frequent it. They have a quilt museum and a huge quilt show yearly that draws people from all over the world. The quilts they display are works of art!
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I’ve been to the quilt museum in MA, and it was a trip back in time to when women quilted together and everything was done by hand. They are definitely works of art.
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These quilts are extraordinary. Wow! The time involved is considerable for these types of quilts! Beautiful post overall!
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Gorgeous quilts you saw and shared here, Judy. I bought a book, materials, etc years ago and never got started. So you, at least, are making an effort! Brava.
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I just took a photo of a glorious sunrise too. It must be the day for it! Your quilt show looks fantastic. I haven’t been to a really good show for ages. I am a hand quilter but I do appreciate seeing good quality machine quilting too.
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To everyone’s dismay, there was not one hand quilted piece on display. Hand quilting is such a gorgeous art form, and I’m afraid you are one of the few with the talent. There truly is nothing more beautiful than a hand quilted project.
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It’s the same here – rare to see a hand quilted piece any more. I have only one friend out of my quilting friends who regularly hand quilts. You might like to see this post from a few years ago, with some of my quilts. The red, pink and green quilt features on the cover of a book that was published in Pennsylvania several years ago by a friend. The book was about friendship quilts. https://theeternaltraveller.wordpress.com/2013/10/19/weekly-photo-challenge-the-hue-of-you/
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Those four quilts are absolutely gorgeous. Applause to your quilting skills. Impressive.
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Thank you! I do love it, but have been bitten by the crochet bug and I’m busy with that these days. I have a large pile of quilts, my girls have three each and my parents have one each.
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Such great art (hard) work.
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I’m not a quilter of any sort, but I can certainly admire them. I particularly like the View Through the Window, the tree in winter, and the one with the mountain view in the middle. Hmmm, might be a mountain theme going on here. 🙂 Here we had only a bit of sun and it was quite cold, even though we had a respite from the over 24 hours of wild winds that followed night of thunderstorms. Ahh, winter in the Midwest. Never a dull moment. 🙂
janet
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I really wanted an appliquéd barn and horse in the view through the window, but those supplies are at home. Next time I’ll get the whole mountain theme going. 🙂
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Add another WOW or ten! I was spluttering as I scrolled slowly down over the quilts, and then I came to the sunrise. I couldn’t even splutter. What glory! The satin look of the water and the slight scalloped edging to it — well, I can but congratulate you. What a start to your day. As to the weather here, we are re-attaching our heads. The winds yesterday blew them into Ohio. Those are likely the winds assailing NH now.
I don’t know how you come to think of yourself as non-artistic. Your gardening and your quilting would say otherwise. You bring a lot of beauty into the world, and what else makes an artist? The artistry in all those other quilts is amazing too. I think I covet most the all-white and the one with the cardinals on the snowy tree, though you’d think that would be the last thing that would appeal to a Hoosier at the end of February!
As always, thanks for inspiration!
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I have trouble with snow scenes too, but those cardinals are just too gorgeous to ignore aren’t they. I love that pattern.
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My husband and I attended a large quilt show last summer and were blown away by the talent. Modern quilts are often true works of art… much more suited to be hung on a wall rather then spread over a bed. I do disagree, though, about your statement about lacking artistic talent… you definitely have it. I think we get into trouble when we compare ourselves with others like that. There will always be those who are more talented than we are… and those who aren’t.
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You are so right about the majority of these quilts needing to be displayed rather than on a bed. There was quite a discussion at the show that day about that.
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Beautiful projects. Thanks for sharing!!
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How beautiful! I have a few talented quilter friends and I am in awe of the ability to create such lovely works of textile art. Some day I will learn how to quilt myself, I hope.
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I’m a quilter without even the capital Q 😉
I love art quilts, they’re so creative. White quilts, with intricate needlework, though, they always have my heart.
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Oh, I did enjoy this post…I love your view through the window…and enjoyed the others, too. Specially the bicycle! And that snow laden tree with the birds is wonderful!
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Your quilt is so pretty. The photo needed to be larger! I have a very dear, long-time friend who is an award winning Quilt Artist and Quilting Instructor. Her website is: Studio2724.com
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I went over and looked at her site. She is one of those QUILTERS. Impressive talent. Thanks for sharing.
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Judy, these are beautiful. And I think you have many artistic bones!! Have you heard of the Sisters Quilt Festival/Show? Quite a big deal here. Thanks for sharing these, I love them.
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Thank you so much for that info. I just spent about a half an hour going through their website. I can only imagine how much talent is gathered there in July.
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Come out some time!
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That is some beautiful quilting.
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Those quilts are gorgeous…. I agree, the quilters are very talented and pay such attention to detail, (my big downfall)….. the bicycle is something special isn’t it? I was introduced to quilting by a Canadian teacher on a teaching exchange. We had so much fun doing that course, and trying out colours and patterns and materials…I miss her when I read your post.
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That bicycle was really amazing, and your teaching exchange sounds like a wonderful opportunity to make a new friend and learn new tricks. Yes, detail is an issue. I’m very close friends with my seam ripper. 🙂
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Wow, such talented quilt artists – I am drooling over that white wintery one!
I’m envious you get to see sunrises and walk on the beach every day – lucky you!
You’re (not) missing a real humdinger of a windstorm today – yowza! We have two big trees down at the edge of the woods – and I imagine more on the trails. Free firewood! 😉
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Your glass is always half full, and that is why so many folks follow you. Love the free firewood. 🙂
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Aw, thanks for that boost, Judy!
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These are all stunning, however I do love the bicycle. 😍
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You finished your quilt! It turned out great–I love the “looking thru the window” technique. The quilts from the show are spectacular but the only difference between those quilters and you is time and experience. Sounds like a very nice time you’re having!
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When it looked like we were going to be smacked with a nasty blizzard, my wife grinned from ear to ear. She has been quilting for three days straight.
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Now, that’s my idea of keeping yourself challenged. You go girl!
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I can just imagine how wonderful all those quilts were in person. I went to a quilt show in New Hampshire when we lived there and it was simply amazing all the work that went into some of them. Sounds like you are having a great time and keep enjoying the beautiful weather.
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I know FL is considerably warmer than SC, but I didn’t have to bring a snow shovel so I’m pretty happy. 🙂
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I agree with Janis. You do have artistic talent – we all do in different ways and in different degrees. That fact that you quilt at all puts you in rarified air as far as I’m concerned. Add to that the magic you weave with plants and I think you rock!
Those quilts are quite the works of art – and I’ll add my voice to the others who love the bicycle.
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Classes are a great way to stretch yourself, to develop new skills, and to pick up new tricks. I felt like I was really bad at machine quilting, so I took many classes which were great opportunities to practice as well as to learn different tricks. But the best thing about really good teachers is that they give you confidence in yourself, helping you to be bolder in your quilting. I hope you got that in your class.
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The teacher certainly makes the difference. I’ve taken two classes since being down here, and I was fortunate to have two really good teachers. I learned a lot, and next year I will try for three classes, one each month. 🙂
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