AMAZING QUILTS!

Posted on Saturday, November 13th, 2010, by Janet - Calico Gals store owner, gabby gal, newsletter editor, occasional piecer

This little gal went off to Quilt Market…

Just last week Melonie and I returned from Quilt Market. Of course we came back loaded with ideas and projects and plans for the winter and spring semesters at Calico Gals. Since I am working on the newsletter, you will be seeing many of those things very soon. I am tossing teasers onto our Facebook page, so if you just can’t wait, head on over and take a peek.

In this post, I decided to share photos of some of the truly amazing quilts we saw at the International Show that takes place along side of the wholesale trade show. Many of the quilts could not be photographed, but many could! Here are a few that I know you will enjoy.

Ruffled Feathers by Roxanne Nelson, Alberta, Canada

Roxanne’s parrot quilt was large and wonderful – all fabric, no paint, raw-edge applique and machine quilted. See what I mean? Incredible!

Fantasy in Lace by Mary Buvia, Greenwood, Indiana

Mary utilized cotton, silk and original “lace” quilting designs to reproduce an acrylic painting by her husband.

Tea with Miss D. by Sandra Leichner, Albany, Oregon

This is just the center of Sandra’s quilt. The quilting was beautiful and was accented with trapunto, embroidery, beads and hand crocheted lace. There was so much to see in one quilt.

Forest Walk by Pat Durbin, Eureka, California

Pat’s quilt was so realistic, I felt I could step right into it. Walking through the show, you begin to lose your sense of reality!

Lady Liberty Has the Blues, For Mark by Diane Sehorne, Cape Coral, Florida

Here are the numbers on Diane’s quilt: 168 blocks, 305 fabrics and 487 hours of work. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Innocence by Hollis Chatelain, Hillsborough, NC

Showstopper. In fact, there was a crowd around Hollis’ quilt. The artwork was dye painted on cotton, but what fascinated everyone was the quilting. Can you see it? This is just a section of this very large quilt. In fact, many of the quilted faces were life-size or bigger.

There you go… enough artistic inspiration to last quite a while!

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Looking good!

Posted on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010, by Janet - Calico Gals store owner, gabby gal, newsletter editor, occasional piecer

What happened to our mud?

How do you get to Calico Gals? We have seen some interesting vehicles around the Syracuse store this summer as the landscaping and parking lot get some finishing touches.

So that's how they do that!

We like to keep a few guys hanging around outside – just for eye candy, but lately they have been working very hard…

...when they aren't too busy posing for the camera!

It was definitely worth all of the noise and dust and inconvenience.

Before the grass, shrubs, flowers and sprinklers: guys with a plan.

Just a few weeks later... wow!

Taste of Summer

The patio wasn’t ready yet and the weather didn’t cooperate, but the Taste of Summer event went on as planned. In addition to a smorgasbord of wonderful summer class offerings, the Calico Gals Executive Chef made an appearance!

Pat, Gay's husband, cooking dogs for the gals

Here, there and everywhere

I have done quite a bit of vending this summer, including a gig at Long Lake with Melonie, Lynn and Wenda. One evening we did a lecture and trunk show for the attendees of the Adirondack Quilt Camp. Can you tell which night was ours?

Hint: we aren't the African Quilts or the Common Threads.

Last weekend was the last of our summer vending. We attended a great show in Skaneateles by the Thumbstall Quilt Guild. The quilts were amazing and the “Don’t Touch the Quilts” sign got a lot of attention. Each was made by a guild member as part of a challenge. I’ll leave you with a few photos. No further comments needed!

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