Comments on: The Long Beach Quilt Festival

By: Handmade by Alissa » Blog Archive » What a difference a year makes!

Handmade by Alissa » Blog Archive » What a difference a year makes! — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:06:58 +0000

[...] you remember when I went last year? Well, things have changed! Not at all in terms of their offerings (in fact, I saw even less fabric [...]

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:44:07 +0000

Hey Alissa-
It was so fabulous to meet you… and as you know, I agree wholeheartedly about your assessment of the festival. Love that cowboy print! Keep in touch!

By: Claudia

Claudia — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:38:00 +0000

This was my second year attending the show (with my sister flew down from SF). I feel like I have one foot in the traditional quilting world and the other in the more modern one. I’ve been attending quilt shows for maybe 5 years and I have noticed a steady progression toward more modern fabrics at vendor stalls. I do think things are changing slowly. As much as I love designer prints (I picked up a bunch of Anna Marie Horner, etc.) I love looking at quilts without the “designer” element being so obvious.

By: LEslie

LEslie — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:34:35 +0000

i am always a dollar late and a day short. i had no idea there was a quilt festival this weekend. Where do you find these things? I also went to Urban Craft Center Sunday and they said you were doing another class soon. i can’t wait to start it.

By: Dorrie

Dorrie — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:30:37 +0000

Isn’t it funny that in our own little world we’ve taken to modern fabrics, patterns (or lack of) and created a whole new quilting revolution. I’m probably considered older in this new revival, but I enjoy Heather Ross, the fun Lecien prints and others that are considered non-traditional or modern. It’s so empowering to know there is a group of sewists out there who very easily pass up the more traditional fabrics and the “one way of doing things” mantra for a more self-satisfying approach and style of sewing!

By: jaybird

jaybird — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:06:32 +0000

i’m sorry you didn’t see more that you liked… but i did have fun searching with you! i’m impressed that you took a picture of the entrance and overall shot of the floor.. i was too busy looking at fabric to remember to pull my camera out.. i took so few pictures! you have a great ability to know what you are looking for.. and be super selective.. and i envy it!

By: jacquie

jacquie — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:09:36 +0000

we need to have our own show don’t we…invite our fav quilters, fabric designers, bloggers…what a blast that would be. while i think modern quilters are making inroads…the vast majority of quilt shops/guilds in my area cater to the traditional aesthetic. if i didn’t order fabric online, i’d never buy any (with sarah’s in lawrence being the exception). and i have to say….not being in the age range quoted above…you don’t have to be “young” to be modern and may i say….totally hip!

By: Valerie

Valerie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:02:53 +0000

I really think people have to get involved if they want more representation. My quilt guild and local quilt shop (in GA of all places!!) both have tons of representation of the “modern” aesthetic. But a lot of it is because the “young people” in the 25-40 age range are very involved. They participate in the guild, enter quilts in shows, buy fabric from the local shop rather than online, etc, etc.

Also, I’ll be honest, I don’t understand Heather Ross as the standard bearer of the “modern” aesthetic. To me, the modern look goes so far beyond a single designer or a single line of fabric. The gorgeous quilt you posted is done in solids but is undeniably modern. Don’t get me wrong: using a single designer or line of fabric is “easier” in that everything will match, but I don’t think it really has anything to do with the “modernness” of a quilt.

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:26:03 +0000

Kim said it, modern quilters can just wish there were more quilts of their taste in shows, we need to submit quilts so others can see them to. How amazing would it be to see the whole progression of quilting styles in a show? =]

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:24:31 +0000

I agree completely! My sister and I just returned from Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, OR and felt the same way. The modern quilters were represented there, but the traditional style is far more common. You would love the quilt store there (owned by Valori Wells and her mom, Jean). My sister and I went in at least twice a day while we were there. Fabulous store! We talked about how we would love to go to a more “modern gal” quilt show too. The key is that we all have to enter our quilts in the shows, not just attend. We entered a quilt this year and it was really fun! Ours definitely stood out as a modern quilt in the mix! I will try to e-mail you a pic so that you can see what I mean!