Sunday, April 05, 2009

Northwest MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE-SPOKANE WASHINGTON


Below the photo was taken from a landing...all of the quilts together were breathtaking and wonderful in every way......

Well, today was a lovely day for Kathy and I. We set out to visit our local Museum and see the quilt show and painting display we had heard so much about. It was wonderful and after about three hours, we walked out to the parking lot filled with colors, designs and ideas. We went to dinner and talked about the quilts and the paintings we had trouble interpreting. It was great fun and we are proud of our Museum. If you live anywhere close to Spokane, I would suggest you come and see this wonderful show. Well worth the money. The gift shop is one of the best I have seen. Aren't the gift shops always a highlight?

This is by far my most favorite quilt and it is inspiring in that I am going to add some of these things (wheels) to my current quilt I am doing. Such fun and will be so much fun to teach. I actually did these a few years ago and now I can add them to a story quilt!

Kathy and I agreed that our favorite part of this show was the crazy quilts. I think for me it was because it was the closest of any of the quilts that came to a story quilt. I am so inspired and full of ideas for story quilts now that my book is in full production that it is hard to think of anything else. I just wish that some of these quilts from the late 1800'2 and early 1900's would have had stories of people in them. Think about this please. In 80 years, what will people know about YOU from your quilts? Please do story quilts to tell the world about YOU and who you love.


Below are cigar bands...what fun to read what they say.....



OK, so in many of my three to five day classes, I give out tiaras. I often call us "Hoochy Mamas" after the piecing technique I teach by the same name. I was excited to see these Hoochy Mama's on the cigarette silks below. Aren't these fun? I have some of these and they are just shredded from time and the silk rotting. I adore the images.


Vavavoom!

Possibly my Grandfathers dream girl....or yours too...............

Below is just a portion of this huge and wonderful quilt!

Below is the beginning of another fabulous crazy quilt....so much detail and so many wonderful tidbits to look at.........

A cool horseshoe for luck....this was the best I could do for a photo but look at the thread work!

These flowers below were fabulous...all beads and threads...............

This gives you a good perspective of the blocks....and the fabulous quilt!



If this isn't ART, I don't know what is!!! You must see this show!

I know this next photo is a little blury but keep going......

I would love this quilt to hang in my house...wouldn't you? It is just spectacular!
Stay tuned for more from the Museum coming up this week...... Please add your comments, they encourage me to keep taking the time to blog.....

7 comments:

Pam said...

Love the crazy quilt and the sunflowers... thanks for sharing.. just love to see pics of quilts.. thanks MaryLou!

Maree in NC :-) said...

Mary Lou, thank you so much for sharing the great pictures from your afternoon at the museum! Those quilts are awesome! You always give me such inspiration and encouragement to be creative! If I can ever finish up with my &%$#@! taxes, I'm just going to quilt, quilt, quilt! LOL Thanks a bunch for being so generous!!!

Hugs to you all!

Maree in NC :~D

Dede said...

I feel like I went to a museum today instead of work! Thanks for all the photos to inspire us. I LOVE that sunflower one!
Dede

Sandi said...

Beautiful pictures Mary Lou,

I'm surprised they let you take them though, a lot of museums won't let you.

I've got a couple of crazy quilt blocks from old quilt and they are so interesting to check out. I love seeing what they used for the base fabric.

The sunflower quilt would definitely find a place in my home if I could have only one...
Sandi in New Westminster B.C.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting these lovely pictures Mary Lou. That crazy quilt is a real work of art - I woulld love to see it in person - looks like it is packed with wonderful details best seen close up.

Sunflowers are my favorites - wouldn't mind having that gorgeous quilt on my wall - I've got just the spot!

Carol from Panama

Marilyn Wall said...

Mary Lou that bowl of eggs looks familiar.
Marilyn

Ginger said...

Dear Mary Lou:

I hope this note finds you doing well.

My name is Ginger Ewing and I work at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. One of my co-workers ran across your blog the other day and was thrilled to see that you are enjoying so many of our exhibits.

In fact, she was so impressed that she forwarded your blog to some of our staff...all of whom agreed...your blog is great. Actually, we like it so much, that we thought it might be nice to provide a link to your blog on our Facebook page.

Being the one who is currently running our Facebook page, I didn't want to post a link without getting your permission. If you think this is something you might be interested in, please get a hold of me at gewing@northwestmuseum.org

Again, glad that you are enjoying the museum...please continue to let us know how we are doing.

Thanks so much and enjoy your day.

Sincerely,
Ginger Ewing