SMALL STUDIES WITH GWEN MARSTON & PAM BEAL

An unexpected phone call interrupted the sewing and minutes later I was scheduled to team teach with Gwen.  

SMALL STUDIES WITH GWEN MARSTON & PAM BEAL----Madeline Island School of the Arts
October 10-14, 2016.  Small Studies, the practice most important to my growth as a quilt maker.  Small Studies, the subject of Gwen's award winning book, 37 SKETCHES.

Ontonagon Clay 9" x 11 1/2" by Pam Beal
Published in Minimal Quiltmaking by Gwen Marston

I hope you can join us!  

Small Studies with Gwen Marston & Pam Beal

ANNOUNCING.........

announcing..........pambealquilts      When you can't visit our gallery, Wayne and I have some of our work available on Etsy.  Please pay us a visit.

etsy.com/shop/pambealquilts

INSIDE LOOK-SMALL STRIP STUDY CLASS

A sold out Small Strip Study class was the highlight of my experience at the AQS QuiltWeek in Grand Rapids, MI.  Thanks to all who joined me!  This was a talented group who really made me look good during my debut as an AQS instructor. My mom enjoyed 'take your mom to work' during QuiltWeek, and it was my pleasure to have her along.  Mom offered an observation about our work without a pattern, our improvisation.  She said she had been advised to encourage children to use their imagination, give them crayons and blank paper instead of always offering a coloring book.  Watching the class, she saw people using their imagination and having fun doing it.  

As side entertainment, my class was the stage for a reunion with my college roommate Ellen!  We had not seen each other since graduation all those many years ago.  My Beaver Island Quilt Retreat friend, Karen, gave me another happy reunion opportunity.  Ellen and Karen have generously shared photos of their small strip study quilts.  

JOUEZ (Francais for "go play")
by Karen Duling

  

Ellen's work in progress-above & below.  Approximately mid-right, a gap was produced via improvisational piecing giving the opportunity to add another design element.  Ellen experimented with an oval appliqué pierced with a small strip.  Nice work Ellen!  I should add that this is Ellen's first experience working without a pattern, and I think she has an exuberant and successful start.

Several students offered kind words:  Overheard............."great energy in here-a positive, joyful vibe"..."I loved this class"..."I can't believe I made this"..."I had so much fun"..."I thought I had made a mistake, then I decided I liked it"..."I was way outside my box & loved it"... 

Thanks everybody!  pjb

and just a little more about Karen Duling, an AQS published author:

Quilting for the Paws by Karen Duling & approved by quilters and their 4 legged friends--
    White Chocolate Mocha Joe seen here, tips from Merle inside.

karendulingquilts.com

americanquilter.com

DOG MEETS VICTORIA FINDLAY WOLFE

Dog Walks Girl in Uptown Grand Rapids.  My quilt was a semi-finalist at the American Quilter's Society international show.  It was displayed in the Hand Quilted category, which was on exhibit right next to the group of Large Quilts-Longarm Machine Quilted.  Dog Walks Girl 49" x 54" was one quilt away from Lace 86" x 86" by Victoria Findlay Wolfe.  Now that is uptown. 

DOG WALKS GIRL BY PAM BEAL

LACE BY VICTORIA FINDLAY WOLFE

DETAIL OF LACE

Here is a look at the ribbon winners in the Hand Quilted category...............

IRISH CROCHET LACE 77" X 77"
Chieko Shiraishi, Saitama-shi, Japan
3rd Place Award

INVERARAY, A TRUE SCOTTISH TREASURE 81" x 81"
Antonia Hering, Hoorn, Netherlands
2nd Place Award

LADIES OF THE SEA 84" x 84"
Peggy Green, Sparta, TN
1st Place Award
(with apologies that the photo is poor)

DOG WALKS GIRL AT QUILTWEEK IN GRAND RAPIDS

Dog Walks Girl 49" x 54"

pam j beal, quiltmaker

Inspired by vintage silk kimono, yukata cotton and walking my dog, I improvised the piecing and quilting, played with funky shapes, then chased a ball.


AQS QuiltWeek in Grand Rapids, DeVos Place Convention Center August 12-15, show hours W-F: 9-6, Sa: 9-5.  My quilt is #301 on display in the hand quilted category.  

I will be at the quilt Wed. afternoon around 3:30 if you would like to stop by and chat.  pjb

quiltweek.com

SOON TO BE RELEASED

Free Range Triangle Quilts by Marston and Jones, published by the American Quilter's Society will be available soon.  Gwen Marston and Cathy Jones promise a free wheeling, free form, free ranging look at triangle quilts.  My quilt has a gig in the gallery of quilts, in the company of several quilts made by liberated quilt makers.  

I present BREAKING TRAIL 26" x 27"

  
The name of this quilt was inspired by two grand, bright, free range loving girls who have many "bentures", translation-adventures on mountainous trails.  These two are grand daughters in fact!  

Consider this a sneak peek, and I'm sure you will want to add another book to your library! pjb

Watch these sites for more information-
americanquilter.com

gwenmarston.com

DOG WALKS GIRL IN GRAND RAPIDS

The quilts are gathered in Paducah.  Next stop, Grand Rapids where they will look spiffy for the judges and await their fans. More than 15,000 fans.  

Here is the scoop from the Press Release: Paducah, Kentucky, USA--  Pam Beal from Mass City, MI is a semifinalist for the 2015 AQS QuiltWeek-Grand Rapids, Michigan August 12-15, 2015 at DeVos Place Convention Center.  Pam has been chosen to display the quilt, Dog Walks Girl, along with 311 others in this AQS contest.  First, Second, and Third Place prizes in seven categories will be awarded, along with six overall awards including Best of Show. Winners will be announced at the show and posted on the AQS website, QuiltWeek.com. More than $50,000 will be granted, including $10,000 for the Best of Show and $3,500 each for Best Wall Quilt, Best Use of Color, Best Original Design, Best Hand, Best Home, and Best Longarm Quilted.  Regardless of how Dog Walks Girl places in the final judging, all semifinalists' quilts will be displayed at the show, which is expected to draw more than 15,000 people. 

AQS Founder and President Meredith Schroeder says, "Extraordinary quilts are being made by today's quilters, and the contest quilts represent an extensive variety of styles, sizes, and techniques  Each quilt in the show is an intricate, creative work of art to enjoy."

Quilts were entered in this international contest from 38 US states and 10 other countries. Come see a wide range of special exhibit quilts including: Living Colour!; SAQA Wide Horizons IV; Stitch Like an Egyptian; New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Nine Patch; Red, White, and Quilted; The WICKED-TM Cherrywood Challenge; and the AQS Authors' Exhibit.  

The American Quilter's Society hosts several shows annually, each with its own quilt contest. Besides the Grand Rapids, Michigan show, AQS hosts other prestigious shows in Paducah, Kentucky; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Syracuse, New York; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Des Moines, Iowa and Phoenix, Arizona.

For more information, please go to www.QuiltWeek.com

DETAIL OF HAND QUILTING

I'll share a full photo of Dog Walks Girl, 49" x 54" just before the show opens.  It's fun to have a secret!  pjb