Glacier Star Quilt

 During Jackie Kunkel's 

Judy Niemeyer Trunk Show

one of the ladies in the class

brought a few of her quilts 

for Show and Tell

 Tropical Sundance

made by Jan Fellows

 Quilted by Ann Skitt

Christmas Celebration Tree Skirt

 Glacier Star

 Jan really did an amazing job!

 It's so nice to see these beautiful quilts made in various color ways.

Jackie's version of Glacier Star

Jackie will be teaching this as a 7-part

Technique of The Month class

at 35th Ave Sew and Vac, Phoenix location

during January, February and March 2014

You can view Jackie's teaching schedule

HERE

Stepping Stones Quilt and More

 Not all Judy Niemeyer quilts are complicated.

During Jackie Kunkel's trunk show

she shared with us several that 

are quite do-able.

Using a paper foundation

really helps with accuracy and ease.

 Stepping Stones

was my favorite.

Love Jackie's use of Kaffe's in this quilt.

 I was intrigued when I saw how Jackie used Kaffes in smaller sections.

Normally, his big bold florals are best used for large blocks.

But Jackie said she looks at his fabrics for their use of "color"

If she sees a purple flower she likes, she isn't afraid to cut it up

just for it's color usage.

 And the entire time she showed this quilt,

I kept singing

"I..I..I..I..I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone"

(by the Monkee's 1966)

OK-that dates me.

When I was in 5th grade, I met Micky Dolenz (the drummer).

His father was the minister of the church my family attended

and I used to sit and talk and giggle 

with his sister Coco.

The Monkee's TV show was a hit

for young girls, and I was a FAN.

I think I need to make this quilt just for the memories :)

 Which Way Is North

 A version of a Dutchman's Puzzle block

 And if Judy Niemeyer blocks looks difficult

start the learning curve 

with a table runner or two.

 For a list of Jackie's classes

you can view her schedule 

HERE

at Canton Village Quilt Works

 Several of Judy's designs are traditional

like this Double Wedding Ring.

Love the scrappy Border

More Judy Niemeyer Trunk Show Quilts

 As a Nationally Certified Judy Niemeyer Teacher

Jackie Kunkel has made

some amazing quilts.

The combination of pattern design

and beautiful fabrics

shown during her trunk show 

took my breath away!

 Golden Harvest

 Jackie likes bright, happy fabrics

and wanted to show us 

how each pattern can be adapted 

to your own personal style.

 Original pattern

by Judy Niemeyer

 Jackie and I became friends 

years ago when we both started our quilt blogs.

One of the things we have in common 

is our love of Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

 Summer Solstice

 Jackie said

"If you want to try a Lone Star pattern, 

this is the way to do it!  With Judy's techniques

there are no bias edges in this quilt.

All of the angles are made with strip piecing."

 Samples from the Lone Star series were on the back wall.

 Feathered Star Queen

 wow!

 Jackie said she made her favorite quilt so far

up at a Judy Niemeyer retreat held recently

in Montana

 One of the newest pattern releases

 double wow!

This is a King size!

*More from Jackie's trunk show

will be coming tomorrow.

Judy Niemeyer Quilt Trunk Show

 My friend

Jackie Kunkel (Canton Village Quilt Works)

flew in all the way from Connecticut

to teach some quilt classes in the Phoenix Metro.

It's always so fun to have her here!

 Jackie is a 

Nationally Certified Judy Niemeyer Teacher,

and started the day off today

with a trunk show/ lecture

at 35th Ave Sew and Vac

I will show you several of Jackie's quilts,

but because she brought so many, I will split

this trunk show up into several posts.

Jackie made

 Sunflower Illusions

in her favorite colors of pink and green

to look like the Asters planted in her yard.

  The original pattern

is an example of

  how different the quilt looks in 

this color way.

 All of Judy N's patterns can be found

on her Quiltworxs web site 

HERE

 Many of Judy Niemeyer's quilts have a 

New York Beauty feel.

Jackie pointed out that Judy designs her patterns

so the stars "float"

Notice how the star ends

have plenty of room within the circle

and are never cut off?

 Love love love this 

Willow Bed Runner

I think it has a Frank Lloyd Wright feel.

 Jackie likes bright, happy colors

and often uses

Kaffe Fassett fabrics for her quilts.

 Indian Summer

is a nice place for a beginner to start

as they learn the 

Judy Niemeyer techniques.

The block really is fairly simple.

Jackie's samples ranged from 

easy to complex.

More tomorrow!

Sharon Schamber Lecture and Trunk Show

 We felt very fortunate to have

Award Winning Quilter

Sharon Schamber

 provide a Lecture/ Trunk Show

for our

Phoenix Modern Quilt Guild

this month.

Christy Fincher is a member of our guild

and she had asked her mom to come as a favor.

What a treat!

I've watched Sharon's videos 

and admired her work for years.

It was wonderful to see her amazing quilts up close,

and to hear her story.

If I understood right,

Sharon is the only person 

to have been awarded

 three 1st place ribbons

at International Quilt Festival.

 The room was packed for this outstanding trunk show.

 For the first part of the trunk show,

Sharon showed a large stack of 

Baltimore Album blocks that she has been working on for years.

 Such intricate tiny details in each one.

 As many of you know, Sharon is a very prolific quilter.

We asked her how many hours a week she spends on her art.

She replied 

" I travel quite a bit.  But, when I am home I quilt at least 

14 hours a day, 7 days a week."

She said she has a condition called

Hyper Focus,

which is an intense form of mental concentration

where a person focuses on a subject

with an inability to switch tasks.

She will often see the quilt in a dream,

and will visualize it in it's entirety

from beginning to the final quilting.

Fortunately, Sharon has a husband who takes care of most 

of the day to day tasks,

allowing her to work on her art.

 Dream Weaver

Sharon said this image is her "alter ego"

 When Sharon began quilting,

it was not acceptable to quilt the human face.

From the start of her career, she 

has broken the rules 

and created what she feels inside,

often developing new and innovative techniques.

 Sacajawea 84" X 66"

Won 1st place AQS, Nashville, TN 2003

and many other awards.

 The images were painted first

and then stitched to add details and depth to the faces.

 Sitting Bull 90" X 93"

2002

 All of her quilts are quilted on a domestic machine!

 For a list of all of the awards Sharon's quilts have won

you can visit the gallery portion on her web site 

HERE

I thought Sharon's life story was as interesting as her quilts.

Christy is her oldest child, and only girl.

She had her laughing over many of the stories.

This is just a beginning of the pictures I took.

More tomorrow.