If I had to choose one word to sum up my time in Austin last week, that word would definitely be “color.” There is just so much color everywhere - and not necessarily always intense color. The sun-bleached, washed out desert hues are just as gorgeous as the bright, Mexican-inspired motifs. The visuals that surround you at every turn in Austin are a feast for the soul as much as the breakfast tacos and barbeque are a feast for the palate.
We stayed in a portion of an old house that we found on Airbnb - it was so much more fun that staying in a hotel! The only drawback was the temperature - when it dropped into the 20s and low 30s it was COLD in that house - the windows were very thin and drafty and the lack of insulation was noticeable. But considering it was unseasonably cold for part of our stay, it’s a risk I’d take again. Because look at this adorable kitchen!!! (and the kitchen was always nice and warm) We did have some warm days too, in the mid-70s, but of course those were the days I was inside all day at QuiltCon. Figures.
But QuitCon, MY OH MY, QuiltCon!
Color is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to QuiltCon. Color, design, texture, form, message, artistry - its all part of the experience. I took two full-day classes while at the conference - one on free-motion quilting and another on color and how to effectively use the fabric you have. I also attended several lectures on topics ranging from copyright to photography to the creative process. In my down time I shopped the vendor hall (and purchased very little, I’m proud of my restraint!) and spent the rest of my time wandering the amazing exhibit of quilts.
It’s impossible to walk through the show and not be completely inspired. Not to mention completely humbled. Yeah, the bar is set pretty darn high with these quilts.
As I learned in my lecture on copyright, it’s expected that any time you show a quilt (other than your own), you should identify the artist. But I took pictures of hundreds of quilts at QuiltCon, and there was no practical way to keep track of who made each one. So at the risk of doing something inappropriate, I hope that if the makers of any of these amazing works of art see this post, they’ll identify themselves - I’ll gladly attribute their work.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this (very) small sample of the amazing and inspirational work from QuiltCon 2015!
Totally amazing, right?!? I'll share some more about the classes I took, and some more of the quilts, next Friday. See you then!