Tag: QuiltCon

Quiltcon 2024- Jacquie Gering

A lecture that I attended at Quiltcon that I cannot stop thinking about is the one by Jacquie Gering. I should have known there was going to be something specail happening in that room, just by the size of the line. The line went round and round through every nook and cranny of the convention center. They even had to open a satellite ballroom area at the hotel next door to hold everyone. It was so inspiring and a therapy session on why we quilt.

I have known of Jackie for many years but had to do a little google search to get my facts straight.

Jacquie Gering is a well-known and highly respected figure in the quilting world. She is recognized for her innovative approach to modern quilting and her contributions to the modern quilting movement. Gering is a co-author of the book “Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts,” which has become a staple resource for modern quilters.

She is also an active member of the Modern Quilt Guild and has served on its board of directors. Gering is known for her expertise in improvisational piecing techniques, which involve creating quilts without precise patterns or templates, allowing for greater freedom and creativity in design.

Gering is an influential teacher and speaker, frequently sharing her knowledge and passion for quilting through workshops, lectures, and demonstrations at events like QuiltCon and other quilt shows and conferences. She is admired for her ability to inspire and empower quilters of all skill levels to explore their creativity and develop their own unique quilting style.

In addition to her teaching and writing, Gering is also an accomplished quilter, with her work being featured in various exhibitions and publications. Her quilts often feature bold geometric designs, striking color palettes, and meticulous craftsmanship, showcasing her distinctive artistic vision and technical skill.

Overall, Jacquie Gering is a prominent figure in the modern quilting community, known for her innovative techniques, creative approach to design, and dedication to sharing her passion for quilting with others.

Books- WALK and Walk 2.0- Which I now own both and can’t wait to dive in.

“Unlocking the Creative Potential of Your Walking Foot: A Review of ‘WALK’ by Jacquie Gering”

“WALK” by Jacquie Gering is a groundbreaking resource that revolutionizes the way quilters approach machine quilting with a walking foot. Drawing on her extensive expertise and innovative techniques, Gering presents a comprehensive guide that empowers quilters to unleash their creativity and master the art of machine quilting.

One of the standout features of “WALK” is Gering’s clear and accessible teaching style. She breaks down complex quilting concepts into manageable steps, making them easily understandable for quilters of all skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner looking to improve your quilting skills or an experienced quilter seeking new inspiration, Gering’s guidance is invaluable.

The book covers a wide range of topics, from essential quilting tools and materials to advanced quilting techniques. Gering emphasizes the importance of understanding the capabilities of the walking foot and demonstrates how it can be used to achieve stunning results, from straight-line quilting to intricate designs and textures.

What sets “WALK” apart is Gering’s emphasis on creativity and experimentation. She encourages quilters to think outside the box and explore different ways of using the walking foot to create unique and personalized quilts. With Gering’s guidance, quilters will gain the confidence to trust their instincts and develop their own signature quilting style.

In addition to the wealth of technical information, “WALK” also features stunning quilt projects that showcase Gering’s distinctive aesthetic and artistic vision. Each project is accompanied by detailed instructions and helpful tips, ensuring that quilters can successfully recreate the designs while also adding their own creative twist.
.Jacquie’s  passion for quilting shines through on every page, making this book both an inspiring read and an indispensable reference for anyone who wants to unlock the full potential of their walking foot, and then there is also Walk 2.0

I am a huge fan of anything red and anything with red crosses on it. This quilt was on the front row of the special exhibit honoring Jacquie. I fell in love every time I walked by.


It is hard to see but this quilt shows the matchstick style of quilting that is used on so many of the quilts exhibited at Quiltcon. She certainly was instrumental in teaching so many this technique. I also found out in her lecture that she was retiring from teaching, so my chance to take her class has passed.


To learn more about Jacquie, visit her website. AMAZING!

Quiltcon 2024- part 1

QuiltCon is an annual event organized by the Modern Quilt Guild, a community of modern quilters worldwide. Each year the show is held in different locations. 2024 was n the beautiful Raleigh, North Carolina. Moda Fabrics had an exhibitors booth showcasing Moda’s Bella Solids including some of the new bright palette.

Pattern- Beasley Hollow by Lori Danelle of She Makes Joy

QuiltCon features a variety of activities such as workshops, lectures, demonstrations, Vendors booth and an assortment of industry exhibitors and a quilt show. The focus is on modern quilting, which often involves bold colors, geometric shapes, and innovative designs. Quilters from all skill levels, from beginners to experts, attend QuiltCon to learn new techniques, gain inspiration, and connect with others who share their passion for quilting.

I attended 2 lectures. We need to talk about Bertha by Mary Fons. Anytime I see Mary’s name on a class or lecture listing, I sign up. She is incredible and this lecture did not disappoint.  (description from brochure-

She called them her “sculptures in cloth”. In the mid-20th century, while other quiltmakers stitched Grandmother’s Flower Garden and Churn Dash bed quilts, Bertha Meckstroth was reverse-appliquéing bats, crosses, and Aramaic text into quilts made for the wall. Anticipating by some 50 years the emergence of the art quilt movement, Bertha made nearly 200 of these iconoclastic objects, finished with spider web, angel wing, and feather motifs. For all her artistic triumphs, however, Bertha’s tale is a tragedy: When she died in a Chicago sanitarium in 1960, her will — which explicitly stated her quilts should be kept together — was ignored. Nobody cared what a “spinster” wanted, after all. The bank contested the will and won, scattering Bertha’s life’s work to the wind. For the past two years, Mary Fons has been tracking down the quilts of Bertha Meckstroth and her investigation is paying off. In this debut lecture, Mary will present her extraordinary findings, including intel from primary sources and never-before-seen images. This fascinating, true story of a woman wronged isn’t over yet.
ASL services provided through generous support from HandiQuilter.

Mary, also known as Quilt Nerd.  and has written about Bertha in an issue of Quiltfolk. 

This lecture was so introspective for me. Bertha died in 1960 and in her will she requested for all 89 of her quilts to be kept together and left money to make sure her wishes were followed. for more of this story you will have to read Mary’s article in Quiltfolk, but the thing that hit home for me is that Bertha had inventoried every quilt she had made. I do such a bad job of this!! As I listened to Mary’s talk and how she was able to research this incredible woman and her story was mainly because everything was documented. I have got to improve on this!

The second lecture was from the keynote speaker, Jacquie Gering. ( more this lectures in a  separate post.)

The quilt show at QuiltCon is a highlight of the event, showcasing stunning modern quilts created by members of the Modern Quilt Guild as well as other quilters from around the world. These quilts often push the boundaries of traditional quilting with their contemporary aesthetic and artistic expression.

Just a few of my favorites!

I seemed to take lots of pics of rainbow like quilts.

I look back at the pictures of quilts that I took. Was I influenced by color, design, pattern or quilting?

YES, YES, YES and YES.

I can’t ever imagine making anything so grand but could not help but be influenced by the creativity shown at this show.

As in any show the judging and winning quilts are up for speculation. The best of show sent chills down my spine and was the topic of much conversation.

What We Will Use as Weapons: A List of School Supplies by Ginny Robinson @minnowpeck

Ginny is a teacher and she asked other teachers in the Us what they would use to defend students in the event of a school shooting. The quilt is shaped like a door and has  everything from pencils to jugs of paint and many more items that were sent in as answers to Ginny’s question. Imagine bringing a stapler to a gunfight are the words in the description that really got to me.

This was the back of the quilt with an automatic rifle. Ginny’s art and comment of never wanting to see this in our schools.

Not that I am partial but some of my favorite quilts were in the Moda booth including Stars Above pattern by Megan Collins

This was made with Moda’s Bella Solids and background fabric from Amarilys Henderson’s Playground collection..

Pattern- Radical Cassettes by Love Sew Modern. This version took on a country feel using Moda’s bandana toweling on the cassettes.

Overall, QuiltCon is a celebration of creativity, community, and the art of quilting in the modern age. It’s a fantastic opportunity for quilters to come together, learn from each other, and celebrate their shared love of the craft. This show is so much fun and the energy is so inspiring. Mark your calendars now for next years show in Phoenix, Arizona, Feb 20-23rd.

Enjoy!

QuiltCon part 2

One of the funnest things about being at Quilt Con was the MBS booth and photo booth. 
Derek from Booth66.com is the coolest guy.  He made our booth the place to be!
Anyone that stopped by the booth could get a printed picture. They could also load the pic to any social media platform or email it to themselves. Now I hate having my picture made just as much as the next gal, however their is something about grabbing some props and striking a pose. So here are some silly pics  of the staff from the show.
 Mark Dunn, Cheryl Freydburg and little ol me!
 Alex from Auriful was one of the sponsors 
so I had to throw in a pic of him and Kim.
 Angela Yosten, Holly Hickman and Sarah Castaneda
 Angela Yosten feeding me!
 Cheryl Cantoya, a moda sales person all the way from Omaha!
 Christin
 Eric and Julie Comstock showed up and had a ton of fun as the next pictures show. Of course I was the one hitting the picture button so I did catch them off guard. They are so cute, I couldn’t resist.
 I love Eric’s grin on this one.
 Debbi Duckworth and Julie Hardgrave
 A trend in the pics was too hold 2 jelly rolls up to your chest….. 
you can only imagine how the pics went downhill from here.
 “I am so excited to be here,” said Ducky.
 Debbie, Angela and myself stirring the pot.
 Hear no Evil, See No Evil and Speak No Evil is a classic.
 Holly and Sarah, so photogenic!
 Holly and her balancing act.
 Lisa Calle and Angela
 Lisa Calle taking a bite of Moda Candy (mini charms)
 I was threatening the girls if they didn’t get back to work.
I told them I was sorry for “forking” them.
Put a fork in it. We were done.

What I am baking…

If any of my family members are reading this they will be 
laughing out loud or saying finally.
I have been busy getting ready for the QuiltCon Show in Austin, Texas  
this weekend, so let me just say the cupboard is bare. 
However, I have had some time to cook up a 
little project for the Moda Bake Shop.
I will also be demoing this technique at the Moda Bake Shop 
booth #100 so stop by and say hello.
-modalissa