Then and Now
Our hope is that by displaying our first quilts with our current work, we will inspire other artists to keep working and growing in their endeavors. Creating art is always a journey, never a destination.
January 11 – May 11 2019
Curated by Kathie Cook, Marla Varner, Sue Gale
Le Moyne Star - "Then Quilt"
70" x 70"
NFS
This is my first quilt and it was made in 1976.
Technique: Hand pieced and hand quilted
Materials: Commercial cottons
Portals: Tomb
34” x 22”
NFS
This is from my Portals Series.
Technique: This is hand pieced and hand quilted
Materials: My hand dyed cottons
Spring Garden
24" x 24"
NFS
Technique: Hand pieced and hand quilted
Materials: Commercial and my hand dyed cottons
Portals: Windows
40” x 55”
NFS
This is from my Portals Series.
Technique: Hand pieced, hand appliquéd, hand quilted
Materials: Commercial and my hand dyed cottons
Kathie Cook:
I have loved quilts since I was a little girl and watched my grandmother making them. My own quilt making began in the 1970s with the Le Moyne Star quilt you see displayed.
My personal quilting journey went from traditional patterns with traditional cottons to traditional patterns with nontraditional fabrics. In 1990 I made the decision, going forward, that all my quilts would be original design. A decision that was both freeing and terrifying.
My work is 100% hand done: hand pieced, hand appliquéd, hand quilted. I work with commercial fabric and my own hand dyed cottons. I basically create in two ways:
I create abstract landscapes by layering fabrics and building a design. I work from my own photographs and the scene must have a personal connection for me.
I do improvisational piecing by creating a lot of different components, arranging them, rearranging them and letting the quilt tell me what it needs to be balanced and complete.
Color is always my inspiration for starting a new piece and I never know at the beginning how the end product is going to look. It is a combination of hard work and serendipity.
Marla Varner pennylanequilts@gmail.com, pennylanequilts.com
Salmon Seminole quilt
69' x 43"
NFS
My first quilt, created in 1993 during a class by Dorothy Hanisko, the pattern designer.
Materials: commercial cotton
Quarter log cabin
18" x 18" x 3"
$95
Materials: hand dyed cotton and yarn dyed linen
Technique: Log cabin variation, cut freehand and created using an improvisational approach.
Color-doku
61" x 48.5"
$1,200
I interpreted the same sudoku solution in nine different colorways. The colored sudoku panel was created using free form cutting techniques. The negative space was also created with improvisational methods, this time using rulers to create straight lines in contrast with the focus section. The sudoku theme is carried into the nine small bits of color in the negative space as well as the binding.
Materials: commercial and hand dyed cottons
Square Block
20" x 20" x 3"
$105
Materials: hand dyed cotton and yarn dyed linen
Technique: Log cabin variation, cut freehand and created using an improvisational approach.
Marla Varner:
My quilt making journey began in 1993 with the Salmon Seminole quilt you see displayed. The pattern was taught at a local quilt shop by the pattern designer and jeweled tones were a popular palette at that time.
Most of my early quilts were traditional patterns of the scrappy variety because I loved playing with color and design.
A turning point for my quilting began when I took a series of workshops from my friend and mentor, Pat Oden. We did a series of exercises exploring lines, shapes, and color and I learned how to cut without a ruler. Pat also taught me how to dye my own fabric. Oh, the possibilities!
I enjoy combining an improvisational approach with traditional techniques like hand quilting. My fascination with color and value drive my creative process and I am drawn to solid fabrics and geometric shapes.
Twist & Shout
74” x 60”
NFS
Materials: Commercial fabric, pre-designed pattern.
Technique: Pieced and quilted by artist.
Season's Change
28” X 33”
$300
Materials: Commercial fabric. Applique, painted fusible webbing. Technique: Designed, pieced, and quilted by artist.
Lily
21” x 14”
$150
Materials: Commercial fabric, painted fusible webbing.
Technique: Designed, pieced, beaded, and quilted by artist.
Partly Cloudy
14” X 15”
$100
Materials: Commercial fabric, painted fusible webbing. Technique: Designed, pieced, beaded, and quilted by artist.
Sue Gale kssgale@att.net
I’ve always loved art in one form or another. In the early 90’s I was introduced to quilting. I took some classes with traditional patterns, fabric, and techniques. I tried my hand at it for a while, but gave up after becoming frustrated with those quarter-inch seams and disappearing points. I kept all of my tools and fabric thinking I would, perhaps, someday try it again.
Years later, I met some women at work who were very accomplished quilters and persuaded me to join them for sew days and classes. With their advice and encouragement, I saw my patience and perseverance paying off with finished projects. My taste quickly moved to modern quilt designs, and fabric with bold, vivid colors. I enjoyed seeing patterns come together on my design wall. I began quilting some of my smaller pieces and it’s gratifying to have work completed with my finishing touches.
I’m beginning to venture into my own designs, a new journey in sewing and fabric art. Through the years, I’ve met some incredible people who share this passion for fabric and quilting art forms. I’m indebted to them for their encouragement, friendship, and shared enthusiasm for quilting.