(One of my favorite Non Sequitur cartoons for years ago -- about a "been there, done that" experience for all of us, I'm sure.)
Many, many moons ago -- okay, it was right after Spring Market -- I had an interesting e-mail conversation with a SewCal gal about inspiration. She encouraged me to write a little bit about it so here I am.
When I posted after missing Market, she asked me if I missed the inspiration at Market -- in fact, did I get inspired at Market. And what about quilt shows? Did I still go to quilt shows? If I was inspired, in what way? Were specific quilts ever inspired by something I had seen?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Generally. Not specifically but indirectly.
Yes, I missed seeing all the wonderfulness at Spring Market because I am inspired by it. Not so much by any one single thing but just by being surrounded by so many wonderful fabrics, projects, quilts, bags, people, ideas, etc. While it can be a bit of sensory overload, I also come away with the overwhelming urge to make something. Anything!
I think you can imagine how that is multiplied when there is a new fabric group you love, or a new product that will absolutely change your life, or a new designer with an amazing style that wows you.
You know how in living your life, the Oprah adage of "when you know better, you do better" applies to the decisions you make. I've always thought the same is true when it comes to what you do creatively. It isn't so much that you DO better so much as maybe you try more, you experiment more, and your work becomes a greater reflection of who you are. And yes, I do think that what we make as quilters, sewists, stitchers, hookers and weavers all says something about our personalities, what we value and how we see the world. They are a reflection of us.
But since none of us is just one thing, or is "birthed" at this point fully-formed without any need for growth, experience or additional knowledge, we have to add to where we are. If you want to get somewhere, you can't just stand still waiting for "it" to come to you. So you need input from other sources -- like at quilt Market and quilt shows. Even the dinkiest little shows have something inspirational to see -- and yes, even if it is a "warning" to not ever use a particular color combination. You still learned something, right?
Since I can't take you to a real quilt show, and since I can't show you pictures I've taken as I either don't have the names of the quilters or their permission to show you their quilts, here are some Internet pictures I find inspiring for one reason or another...
JP Burgoyne Surrounded
c.1855 -- 78 x 83 -- Unknown origin.
Because it is red and white, because it has all those fabulous little geese and because it is just amazing, I love this quilt.
As a quiltmaker, what I take away from this is that it looks completely finished without a border, and with half-blocks as setting triangles. I don't know if the blocks were partial blocks that were chopped off, of if whole blocks were cut in half and in quarters.
From the 2007 Tokyo International Quilt Festival, this quilt is made with Liberty of London prints collected over many years.
If you haven't taken time to see the quilts in the Flickr sets by Movinghands, you're missing out. She's posted hundreds of pictures of spectacular quilts from the Tokyo shows and elsewhere. No matter what your style of quilting, something there will inspire you.
From the 2011 Tokyo International Quilt Festival, this picture was taken by Be*mused -- another treasure trove of amazing quilt pictures. And a terrific blog -- one of my favorites.
This is one of those terrific quilts where the fabric does more of the "work" than you would first suspect, and where the color placement is random and yet fabulously balanced at the same time. I love this quilt.
I think this quilt shows how big an impact a couple of printed fabrics can have when mixed with solids -- especially with a lot of solids. It also shows that even a little bit of some colors is all that is needed, this quilt combines very vivid colors with very muted, subdued colors. The contrast ranges from very high to very low, another example of the balance in this quilt.
Do you know what the biggest downside of these pictures is?
I really want to go to Tokyo to see the International Quilt Festival.
are you starting work on making patterns for those beautiful quilts?! :-) the Burgoyne Surrounded is especially gorgeous--would love to make something like that "one day."
Posted by: dorothy | July 05, 2011 at 09:53 AM
thanks for this one. It is now my background. I would never, never have used that pink plaid and just look, it is stunning. shows you what I know.
Lisa from No. Cal.
Posted by: Lisa Vancor | July 05, 2011 at 02:54 PM
Wonderful blog today. Thanks for the inspiration. I love the quilts! Amazingly I don't know which I like the best, I like them all for different reasons. Good job once again. Thanks for blogging so much lately, you have made my summer! Stay cool.
Posted by: Jane | July 05, 2011 at 06:15 PM
great post! ok, going to the quilt show in Toyko is on the top of my bucket list!
Happy Summer!
Hope you and Miss Rosie enjoyed the fireworks
kathie
Posted by: kathie | July 06, 2011 at 02:31 AM
I love your creative process and what inspires you...You no doubt inspire me and many others to be our best and showcase the true beauty that surrounds us, especially when it mirrors your heart...go to Tokyo..
Posted by: madame samm | July 06, 2011 at 02:57 AM
I couldn't agree more! There are so many inspiring and creative quilters... past and present. always something to learn.
Posted by: Sinta | July 06, 2011 at 04:07 PM
Time to start learning Japanese, I s'pose! I'd love to go to the Tokyo quilt show--sounds awesome!
Posted by: Sharrieboberry | July 08, 2011 at 07:57 PM
what year are we supposed to go? And remember Jennifer is going to carry our bags!
Posted by: pat sloan | July 12, 2011 at 05:21 PM