IHQS and Postcard Quilt

Last week I attended the IHQS.  I go every year.  This year was a little different for me because I found myself really thinking about the quilting on each quilt and how it either enhanced or detracted from the overall image.  There were some really, really outstanding examples of custom quilting.  There were some quilts that had pantographs and some were light custom.  Some of the pantographs were appropriate for the quilt and there was one that I felt really detracted from the piecing.    The other thing I noticed is that one person had a handful of entries in the show and claimed well-known designers' patterns as being this person's design.  That did not sit well with me.  I totally preferred the entrant who noted that it was someone else's pattern but she couldn't find it in order to give proper credit.  I walked away from the show feeling really thoughtful.  And, for the first time ever, I did not buy a single thing from the vendors.

Side note:  I noticed a lot of people getting free Olfa cutters and mats on Instagram.  And before that were the scissors from Warm Crochet.  There are apparently quilt influencers on social media who receive all sorts of stuff for free and then promote it.  I'm not sure why I didn't think about it before.  The influencer revelation has really got me thinking a lot about marketing lately.  Heavy thoughts.

Here are the IHQS quilts that stood out the most for me.  Please, enjoy.  And to see many more quilts from the show, visit the IHQS site where there are much nicer photos.

This is actually the back of the quilt!
Eternal Beauty by Sherry Reynolds, Laramie, WY

This quilt by pieced Kathie Beltz and quilted by Mara Novak was just outstanding!
I can't believe it didn't get a ribbon.

This one was part of a polka dot challenge quilt series.  I thought it was fun.

The next group of quilts were part of a special exhibit.  Again, these are the ones that spoke to me.

 

As I walked through this part of the exhibit, I heard a lot of attendees talking about credit cards and loans, which seemed odd. I had to double back to see what all the buzz was about.  I learned something.  Boy, did I learn something.  I was completely shocked that it took until 1974 for this to happen.  

Moving on to lighter things, we walked through a very large antique mall over the weekend and I had to laugh when I saw this Lizzie McGuire cookie jar. 

And here is a status update on my Postcard from Sweden quilt.  I've got just over half the rows mostly pieced.  Why mostly pieced?  Well, I'm not sure I like the delft color and ordered a little different, brighter color to try out as a replacement.  I ordered from a new-to-me place last week and am still waiting for my order to arrive.  It's finally in transit, so hopefully it will get here soon. 

Once I make the final color decision, I will finish piecing these rows, join them together, and then move on to the bottom portion of the quilt.  (I am running out of room on my design wall.  I can fit two more rows on there right now.  Those two rows are waiting to be pressed at the moment.)

You will notice that I have mini rows too.  I chose the 5" finished HSTs for my main quilt.  That's the larger size given in the pattern.  I also cut 2.5" squares for my mini quilt and am trimming them down to 2", which I suppose gives 1.5" finished squares.

Until next week.