New Quilt Shop in Indy--Crimson Tate

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit a new quilt shop on Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis called Crimson Tate. The owner, Heather Givans, is a young, enthusiastic "modern" quilter. I have asked her to answer a few questions about "modern quilting." I'll include the questions and answers at the bottom of this post. Heather sent me a bit of information about the shop via her blog. Here are some of the pictures I took while I visited. (Oh, I should tell you, too, that the shop is located between a chocolate shop and a cupcake shop! What could be better...fabric, chocolate, and cupcakes!)

This is Heather (the proprietor). The fabrics in front of her are beautiful wax blocked printed textiles from "the shores of Africa's West Coast." (Of course, I had to buy some of them!) She says, "Beyond being inspirational in color and aesthetic, these textiles are being put to good use. 10% of the sales of these fabrics will benefit a local Indianapolis not-for-profit, JabuAfrica." Read more about that here--http://crimsontatemodernquilter.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/crimson-tate-jabuafrica/.

Little vignettes are scattered around the shop displaying fabrics, books, patterns, and collectibles...

The shop carries several contemporary fabric choices and (according to Heather) has more fabric coming in all the time. Notions, patterns, and classes are also available.

The shop is holding a grand opening on Friday, October 7, beginning at 2:00 p.m. You can find out more about the shop at http://www.crimsontate.com/home.html. You will also find links to Heather's Etsy shop, blog, and the Crimson Tate Facebook page on the site.

On my trip to visit my son in Arkansas, I stopped by two quilt shops (one in Missouri and one in Arkansas); both had closed. I am saddened by the loss of these quilt shops (and many others); but for them to stay in business, we must support them. In this time when many local quilt shops are closing, it is refreshing to have a new shop open. Good luck Crimson Tate!

I asked Heather, "As a "modern quilt" shop owner, what is your definition of a "modern quilter," and what sets your "modern quilt" shop apart from other (maybe more traditional) quilt shops?" 

Heather answered with the following... 

"I'd love to address this issue. 

In the 1960s, the art world shifted from modern to post modern. And now, a constant debate of whether are we still living in the post modern era or whether we have moved into a new movement that we can't yet identify exists.

My opinion is that in quilting, in particular, pattern and fabric design, has taken a turn toward the highly designed. We have transitioned. In more modern fabric, the textile itself is like a work of art. There is an intricacy (or albeit simplicity) to the piece of cloth that in its elements of art work beautifully together. It is a complex mix of design, color, scale, and repeat. This isn't to say that you don't find intricacy in a beautiful piece of French toile from the 16th century or a civil war reproduction fabric rendered in two tones. But what you do find across the board in modern fabric is a bold, sophisticated pattern that is influenced by contemporary design. That boldness can also be found in the 100s of shades of solids that urge unconventional quilt piecing and top stitching. Quilt patterns tend to lend themselves to showcase vignettes of these textiles rather than complex pieces that tell a story. I completely appreciate the double wedding ring or grandmother's garden as a work of art. No doubt, there is an amazing artistry in those works. So whether you consider the time in which we are living a new, more modern era in quilting, or you consider it a natural progression and rehashing of what has already been done, it doesn't matter. The truth is that the amount of sophisticated fabric available to us is rich and abundant and I want to see it all and be overwhelmed in its opulence."

What is your "take" on "modern quilting?" What do you think? Comments are much appreciated. 

One Top Finished--Lots More to Go!

I have been frantically working to "finish" some pieces to take to the upcoming meeting of a critique group with Jane Dunnewold. One of the pieces I have been working to "complete" is this black and white "Zentangle" one.

This is the fabric version using French knots, fusible applique, yo yos, embroidery, paper piecing, and beading. Take a closer look by clicking on the picture. I think you can click it again to get an even closer look.

This is the paper pattern I drew up to start this project (drawn with black markers). I think it is a pretty good match.

Check out the Zentangles site here--http://zentangle.com/index.php. I think Zentangles are beautiful, and I find them SO relaxing to do.

Can I Call It a Series?

I worked in the studio all day today. Gosh, it seems like it takes me FOREVER to get anything done. I spent a little time sketching, and this is the result.

It has the same colors and uses the same techniques I used for "Prayer at Sunset" (in the previous post). I have some other ideas I'd like to try using this same look. Do you think I can call this the beginning of a series?

"Prayer at Sunset" and a Zentangles Piece

I have actually been working on some pieces to take when I go to my Jane Dunnewold independent study class in late September. I have to have something to take for critique. I really don't want to be the one student whose "dog ate her homework," so... Here are a couple of pieces I'm working on. They aren't nearly finished yet.

This first piece is called "Prayer at Sunset." I saw a picture of thousands of people in rows on their knees in prayer at sunset. The picture stayed with me. I'm not sure where the sword and the eye came from; but when I started sketching, they appeared. I'll have to think on the meaning of them (obviously, it came from my subconscious somewhere). I pieced VERY narrow strips of sari silk together to get the color. They are separated by 1/4" bias tubes. I used 1/2" bias tubes for the upper portion of the piece. The sword is made of silver/gray silk. I still want to do some stitching between the eye and the rows.

I have written a blog post about Zentangles (http://quilterbeth.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-bird-pics-surprisezentaglesa-book.html) and have several of the Zentangle books. I have found great enjoyment and relaxation doing the Zentangle "doodles." I like it enough that I decided to try it with fabric. I knew it would be challenging, and it was (is). If you click the picture for a close up, you can see the detail of the work. There is lots of embroidery and texture--the upper left is made up of thousands of french knots; the circles are yo yos; the black in the clam shells is satin stitching; the spikes are paper pieced. I'm not finished with the right-hand side of the piece yet; I'm working on that. I will be adding more small yo yos to the wavy section. I'm thinking of adding one red yo yo as a focal point. 

 I did take a close up of the french knot section. The color turned out really yellow--not sure why.

More Inspiration from Chihuly--Chandeliers and a "Tree"

These pictures come from a recent exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts called "Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass." Chihuly is famous for his chandeliers. A chandelier is the first of his pieces I ever had the opportunity to see. I fell in love right then and there.

You like?

You know I have been blogging about using some of these Chihuly pictures for inspiration...well, Robbie (from "Robbie's Paw Prints" blog) wrote me to say that her friend (Mary Andrews) made and last year displayed some quilts inspired by Chihuly pieces. Check out the pictures on her blog at http://robbiespawprints.blogspot.com/2010/08/glass-inspired-fiber.html. The quilts were on display in an exhibit called "Glass & Inspired Fiber" along with some glass work by David Hilty. I really enjoyed seeing Mary's fiber interpretation of Chihuly's work. Thanks Robbie!

Just so you can get an idea how large some of his pieces are...this "tree" was in the restaurant area outside his exhibit. I kept the background people and windows so you could actually see the size of this piece.

It, too, is made totally of glass.

Room Full of Chihuly Glass and a Boat

Boston Museum of Art--Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass Exhibit...

Inspiration for fabric art comes from many places. I was truly inspired by this work. I'm hoping to make some fiber art inspired by this beautiful exhibit. Maybe you will too.

One room was filled entirely with spectacular pieces of glass. It was arranged sort of like a forest with lots of undergrowth and a huge orange and yellow "tree." All of the following pictures are of the glass in that room with the exception of the last three.

 This is a close up of the orange and yellow "tree."

This is a glass boat--fabulous. It was almost as fun to observe the people at this exhibit as it was to view the pieces themselves. Literally, mouths were hanging open...mouths were covered with hands...and cameras couldn't click pictures fast enough.

One room contained a purple glass forest. The pieces of glass were actually coming out of real logs.