Extreme Quilting for Beginners, in English

Crazy Ohio Star, by Barbi Bamberger

Where: Karmiel, at the home of Nili Marcia

When: Thursdays, 11:00-13:30; Feb 16, 23; March 1, 15, 22, 29

What: In six 2.5-hour sessions (and homework) participants will learn how to make a patchwork sampler quilt from beginning to end. The process includes: piecing the quilt blocks to make the quilt top, basting the “sandwich” (quilt top, batting, and quilt back), quilting the layers, and finally, binding the edges. Participants may use a sewing machine and/or sew by hand.

How: This class will be taught in English by Barbi Bamberger. Please call 054-6510433 for more information.

An Evening with Linda Bar-On

About a month ago, my quilt group had the pleasure of spending an evening at the home of quilter, Linda Bar-On. She gave us the run of her house, served a wonderful spread, and treated us to a show-and-tell of her incredible quilts. Linda's home is a wealth of textiles: small, woven carpets cover chair seats and stools, hand-made curtains cover the windows; patchwork hangings even decorate the door frames.

 In her quilts, Linda’s color choices are often inspired by her carpets and she uses many “ethnic” fabrics: Ikat cottons, textured hand-dyes, as well as used clothing. Linda works mostly by hand, layering her quilts with appliqué, hand-embroidery, and embellishments such as beads, buttons, shells, even coffee beans. Then she adds tons of hand-quilting.

Linda researches her subject matter, which is generally drawn from her list of “likes”. Included on that list are tigers, Biblical themes, and “women with attitude”. Her quilts often comment on important social issues such as the current political situation or feminism.

My group could have spent many more hours examining the fine details and small, embedded surprises, and hearing the stories behind Linda’s quilts. Linda is currently at work on new series, for a solo exhibit that will coincide with the annual summer meeting of the Israel Quilters’ Association. Planned opening: 1 July, 2012, in Jerusalem’s “House of Quality”. Mark your calendars. Linda's quilts are definitely something to see.

Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!

The internet truly provides endless entertainment. Today when I was surfing around I found a really cool blog called “The Sketchbook Challenge”.  The purpose is to encourage and inspire people to sketch. Simple as that. The challenge is being hosted by fourteen artists working in various types of media. Among them are several well-known quilters. Each month has a theme and the participating artists will “open” their sketchbooks and show the blogging public how they responded to the theme. January’s theme is “Doodling” and there is already a post by Susan Brubaker Knapp, a fiber and quilt artist. She created a doodle in fabric and free-motion quilting for the challenge, and explains how she did it with plenty of photos. The challenge is free. Anyone can participate; just follow the blog. You don’t even need to sign up. Participants are invited to upload their own photos to a “flickr” site and there are even monthly give-aways. Click on the link above, or on the logo on the right side of this blog. Happy sketching!

This Week and Next At The Quilt Center

Thursday, January 5: Join us at The Quilt Center for the class “Patchwork Basics According to Jane”; for beginners and those wishing to refresh their skills and knowledge. 19:00-21:00. 

Barbi's choice of mystery quilt colors, and her first finished embroideries

 

Sunday, January 8: Join us for Miri Cook’s clubs: Jane & More; 9:30-11:00. Miri is continuing with the Jane Stickle quilt. In the Penny Squares/Redwork Club, 11:30-13:00, Miri is continuing with installments of the mystery quilt and the butterfly-themed embroideries.

New "Chinese Coin" class

Rivka's quilt sandwich

Ranit masters machine-quilting

There is still room in the “Chinese Coin” quilt class, beginning 5 January – this Friday, from 9:30-12:30. The class is only 2 sessions; the second meeting will be on Friday, 20 January. During the first meeting you learn how to make a Chinese Coin quilt - a versatile pattern you can make again and again, as a scrap quilt or as a more planned design. In the second meeting you will learn the secrets of free-motion machine-quilting. Don’t miss this class. Call or email us to sign up now.

Closed for Inventory

The Quilt Center will be closed for inventory-counting until Monday, January 2, 2012. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Quilt Center is Coming to Hakfar Hayarok!

to the Israeli Quilters’ Association annual winter meeting

December 26, 2011, 9:00-16:00

The public is invited to come browse our wide selection

of cotton fabrics, threads, sewing notions and more!

Please pre-order:

quilt batting, rotary cutting equipment, fabric by the meter.

You may call us or order from our website:

www.quiltcenter.co.il

Debby Sternberg: 054-4722894

Barbi Bamberger: 054-6510433

The Quilt Center, Moshav Bustan Hagalil

We will bring your order with us on the 26^th.

We are looking forward to seeing you!