THE QUILTER'S ALLEY

We spent the  weekend vending at the Empire Quilt Guild’s, bi-annual quilt show.  It’s a terrific opportunity for us to make the public aware of the creative possibilities we offer to the crafts of quilting and sewing.   We love meeting new folks and hearing that what we’ve put  together is beautiful or just what their project has been waiting for.  We’re on our feet for three days,  packing, loading the car, unloading while dodging NY City taxis and making everything look pretty, so that it can be picked over and hopefully purchased before the show ends.

Snowing on the First Day of Spring

10 by 20 and counting

Voila!

We see friends  from our local Ridgefield area, who make us feel like we’re really home.  Thanks Dorma, Annie, Laura, Susan, Janice , Tasha etc.  Thanks also to our guild friends who really make us feel NOT like out-of-towners.  We’ve developed a lot of  good  relationships in the time we’ve had our store and the Empire Guild is one such.

Folks are allowed to photograph, but NOT touch the quilts in the show.  We watch and wonder, what-all they will do with all the memorabilia they collect.  The cameras are out and snapping the whole time.  Occasionally, someone visiting our booth will ask to shoot one of our display quilts and they may if they purchase the pattern and just want a better shot to help them while making it.  Another type of person takes the picture without asking, and I fault my lack of vigilance.  But  it’s the person, who when you tell them that the quilt design is copyrighted and “I would appreciate if you don’t take a photo.  The pattern is available for sale, if you’re interested,” and she proceeds to blatantly shoot away,  that I wonder if  trace of conscience exists.

We got permission/Miss Fanny Apron happily modeled

I really do believe that most people are good, and even more are good when they know someone is watching.  So I decided to try to capture the culprit on film myself, and hope that if she realizes we actually are watching and just trying to pay the rent and feed ourselves, she might recognize how inconsiderate she has been.  We’re not just objects of entertainment, but real.

Still At-Large

Making their Get-Away

We love Manhattan and we’ll be back undaunted!

George Washington Bridge in Sunshine

I have said before that I see myself as a kind of archeologist of craft sorts. Whether, I’m  uncovering forgotten scraps from throw-away objects or celebrating vintage imagery and inspiration in modern context, I get a good feeling from this kind of recycling.   These treasures deserve more air time and serve to make the past, last.

I have also repeated this a few times lately:  that planning your project is a good idea (within reason, of course.)  It seems  to throw the idea of improvisation out the window, but each has a place.  I like to alternate.  This adorable embroidery has been lovingly planned to dress the front of a fancy laundry bag.  

This beautiful improvisation in black and red is the work (and planning) of Quilt Initiative led by Lizzy Rockwell. She always thrills me with the projects she elicits from a group of men and women at the center – some from scraps.  But always delightfully designed, often with Quilter’s Alley fabrics.

We’re planning for the Empire Quilter’s Show at the Fashion Institute of Technology –  28th and 7th Ave. NYC, this weekend the 21, 22 of March.
Hope to see you there!

The week we spent in Israel was too quick, of course, but most fabulous! Views, tastes, people, sounds and some of the most torrential rains of Israeli Winter. And don’t forget inspiration. Often, what we gain most from travel is a change of viewpoint, or at least an easing of it.   The days ahead will reveal that of course, but a brief look at the recent gorgeous past.

Rosh Pinah balcony: Looking toward the Sea of Galilee

A quilt, maybe?

New fabric from Westminster, Free Spirit arrived on Monday.  Stay tuned!