WI Quilt Expo, Part 1

This past weekend I went to the WI Quilt Expo (obviously, since that's what the title says!). I asked my husband a couple times throughout the week whether he wanted to accompany me. He really didn't. And actually, I enjoyed myself going alone. Don't get me wrong, I would have enjoyed having company, but I really liked being able to linger at certain vendors and bypass other altogether and revisit yet others. I composed little blog snippets as I went.

For instance, I definitely got a kick out of this and wanted to share:

Ingenious!

I haven't been to too many shows, but I've been to the State Fair a lot and I think most judged shows definitely skewed to a certain type of quilt: more traditional in design and muted in palette (like the vendor booth below).

But I think times are a-changin' a little bit, at least. This quilt was draped on a mannequin at the Bernina booth (I think that's what it was...) that greeted people near the front of the Expo. Pretty modern looking!

And there were a number of more contemporary booths, as well. I loved Janie Lou's booth, but I was too busy perusing to take a photo (I picked up a small purchase of Sandy Gervais Merry and Britght). I also saw Weeks Ringle (from FunQuilts) - sitting at the desk! She and Bill Kerr have a new book coming out early next year. Can't wait!  

I have Color Harmony for Quilts and the Modern Quilt Workshop from the library and I'm really enjoying them. I just like their philosophy and aesthetic.

Of course, I tended to take pictures of the ones that struck me most, which were more in that style. But there are also several that I really liked that were pretty far outside my norm. I can fully appreciate the time and effort it takes to produce any quilt, especially the amazing hand quilted (and sometimes pieced!) quilts.

Let the show begin!

This was the big winner of the show: Vintage Button Bouquet, by Linda Ray from Knoxville, TN.

I really loved this one. Tiny, tiny 9-patches and every other block had a little embroidered motif.

Nine Patch Plus, Deanna Waltz, Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

I did not get the attribution on this one. But I love it! Simple piecing, dynamic colors, and I love the cross-hatching on the inner squares.

Dahlia's Bullseye, by Cherie St. Cyr, Madison, WI. Hand-dyed fabrics. I love this one. Though I overheard a woman telling her friend (referring to this quilt), "I like all of them, except that one. I don't even understand what's going on there." Ugh. It's maybe my favorite. Cherie St. Cyr has a number of her works on display at the Madison Public Library-Sequoya Branch (my library!).

Quilting by Cheryl Payne. I love this style.

Tutti Frutti Fanfare, by Maribeth Schmit from Cedarburg, Wisconsin (Thanks to Sandi for the "made by" info!). I recognize the pattern and through some internet sleuthing (and plumbing the depths of my quilty memory), I found it! It was the free Sweet pattern from United Notions.

Winter's Light, also by Cherie St. Cyr. I think this is my favorite. I love the colors, the central panel and the line of the piecing.

The fabrics are hand-dyes and the middle is one quilter's favorite painted pieces and it took her years to decide what to do with it.

Quilting by Cheryl Payne.