Study, Study, Study...

Quilt Judging Certification Programme (QJCP)

I'm on a long term learning curve to become a quilt judge and the process has been sometimes easy, sometimes hard, but always fun. Being a teacher in the quilting world, I take the best results of what I've learned over the years and share that knowledge and passion with students. But that doesn't mean that there still might not be a better way. Taking the QJCP course has really opened my eyes that there is always something more to learn. Here's a quick glimpse at one of the fun exercises I had to do along the way...

These required exercises were from the book: Color and Composition for the Creative Quilter by Katie Pasquini Masopust and Brett Barker. For the judging course we did ALL of the exercises in this book and I highly recommend it for quilters who are looking to boost their knowledge for their own designs.

Line and Shape - Composing with Line

Horizontal Composition

Radiating Composition

Diagonal Composition

Framed/Border Composition

The idea of the exercises was to simply cut fuse-backed fabric in strips and work out a few designs of your own following the Nine-Patch of Compositions in the book. It was fun and a great way to train your eye to spot the different compositions as a judge. 

If you are interested in checking out this excellent book I spotted it on Amazon for a great price. And you can get it on your Kindle for under $10, although I'd recommend the hard copy color version of course!

So happy trails with quilting - are you stalled with creativity? Sign up for a local class in your area to boost your creative spirit, or book one of my workshops for your guild at Brandy Lynn Designs.

Fibre Artist Feature - Val Wilson

This month has been such a fabulous whirlwind of activity teaching in Manitoba and then having visitors for a week. All this culminating in a lull of blog postings - SORRY!

But judging from the quilter and artist I am about to feature, I promise it was a wait worth enduring.

Val Wilson - Fibre Artist, Manitoba, Canada

Val has a refreshing sense of fibre artistry that captures the viewer and makes them linger on every intricate detail. She has a clear love of the outdoors and the natural colour schemes of flowers, trees and landscape. She is also drawn to those brilliant old photos depicting the way we once were. You are drawn in by the whimsical titles and led to wonder - "What were they thinking and doing in that time and place?"

With her busy schedule, I thought I might get a quick midday peruse of this lovely fibre art show in Selkirk, Manitoba, but since she is a dear friend I hadn't seen in over a year, it turned into a prolonged meandering and then a lovely lunch out at the world famous Barney Gargles!

Here is just a sample of some of the brilliant art pieces that were on display during her recent show:

With fabric and thread as her art medium of choice, Val loves the tactile nature of the textiles and the abundant colour palette. Just viewing the skin tones of her characters, it is clear that she is also a brilliant fabric dyer and strives to create every shaded nuance.

Over the years I have become wonderful friends with Val. She has gotten me absolutely hooked on fabric dyeing and we've shared some wonderful mishaps and adventures in colour. Although she'd never admit it, she has had a huge impact on me as a mentor and a friend. I was thrilled to just happen to be in Winnipeg teaching and visiting at the same time as her first solo show.

On Cloud Nine

My heart is soaring tonight after a full day of teaching the Inksations workshop for the Manitoba Prairie Quilters. There are a few elements that have come in to play here...

1. I lived in Manitoba the first 39 years of my life before I moved away to BC.
2. My quilting friends and mentors brought me back to teach.
3. They filled up my classes because they care about me and believe in me.

There is not much else to say except that I am in heaven doing what I love, and this weekend it was for people that I love. I am so blessed with support. They lift me up when I'm not sure. They talk about me in gushes like I'm their only child. My class today included friends, followers, family and even a wonderful mentor who taught me my first beginner quilt class.

Not everyone stuck around for the photo, but here's a quick shot of the students with finished quilt tops. That's me - bottom left corner - with a finished sample.

I can't wait for another fun-filled day tomorrow teaching my brand new Black Sheep Block Party workshop for the very first time. 

You know if you are one of my guinea pigs for a brand new pattern, you're gonna have fun!