We had a Plaid Llama sale, which is vastly more colorful and fiber filled than a White Elephant sale.
We also had an extended Show and Tell of our work since our last meeting. It was great to gather again for a new meeting year!
Category: sewing
Seaview member and accomplished quilter Michele Murnane lead us in a mini-workshop on Easy Fractured Quilt Blocks.
By cutting and piecing some simple quilt blocks, one easily make much more complex designs.
We had fun exploring the different arrangements one could make with the pieces.
We met via Zoom. Any organization you, the reader, were involved with probably did, too. So. Much. Zoom. Your reporter did not document our meetings, and is ready to move on from the Year of Zoom, so we will pass over the content of our meetings for the time being, and move into a new meeting year with hope in our hearts and hands ready to work.
The 2021-2022 meeting year calendar is now up here. If you’d like to join us, read the About page, for more details and pack a mask to wear during the meeting.
Award winning quilter Lisa Jenni gave a wonderful talk about her quilting history and working process.
Here she is holding the first quilt she made, in a class.  From this beginning comprised of traditional blocks, she has gone on to create an incredible body of work, pushing the borders of quilting new and exciting directions.
She makes a custom label for each of her quilts, often a hand drawn image that references the quilt itself.
This is tour de force of piecing! She also hand drew some elements, such as the maple helicopter seed detail.
Thank you, Lisa, for sharing your astonishing work with us!
Inspired by the wonderful items we saw at the vintage fashion show that Seattle Children’s Hospital put on for us at our November 2018 meeting, we dived into our closets and brought in items of handwork from our personal collections.
Valerie Day brought these stunning christening gowns that have been used in her family for generations.
Astrid Bear brought hand embroidered items made by her mother, her grandmother, and her great-great aunt.
Toni Burton brought garments and hats worn by her mother.
Christine Stewart brought the silk velvet wedding dress her mother designed and made.
And for Show and Tell, Gail Parris shared these quilted portraits of her mother that she made.
We enjoyed connecting with our family histories and heritage through these textiles and garments.
We enjoyed a fabulous fashion show of historic garments from the collection of Seattle Children’s Hospital! Their Vintage Fashion Collection is a wonderful survey of mostly women’s garments, going back into the 19th century.
This dress not only had spectacular beading at the neckline and pockets, but also matching shoes!
A very glamourous evening look of silver and blue brocade.
Many garments had astonishing details of beading and fringe.
This exquisite cotton lawn dress featured tucks, embroidery, and inserted lace.
Thank you to the volunteers who collect, preserve, and model these remarkable clothes! It was wonderful to have the chance to see these garments up close and personal. The very modest fees they charge for their programs go directly to the uncompensated care program at Seattle Children’s.
Guild members Toni Burton and Jeff Botten shared many items from their extensive ethnic textile collection. Other members also brought items to share — the morning was a combination of a visual and tactile treat and a trip around the world in handwork!
Toni and Jeff with some of their Indonesian ikat weavings.
Assorted South East Asian and Chinese items.
Embroidered table linens, silver, jewelry, and a knitted sweater from Fotini’s trousseau. All these items were made in the town in Greece that she comes from.
Counted thread cross-stitch made by Graham, from a Danish pattern. He did this piece while he was studying weaving in Copenhagen in the 1950s.
Dee Brown of Trillium Studios led a wonderful mini-workshop on raw edge applique. Here’s Dee with just some of the wonderful work she had on display.
And there were more…
These are all Dee’s designs, and they are for sale through her website — link above.
The project we did was called Kokio, a beautiful hibiscus image. Here’s her sample.
 
Gail and Marie, very carefully cutting out sections of the flower pattern.
We didn’t have time to do the final fusing and sewing of our Kokios, but here’s what some of ours looked like. It was great fun to play with different color combinations!
Learning to make bowls with Meg Taylor
was great fun and easier than expected.
We are sad to announce that our talented Ms. Taylor will be moving away.
We wish her the best!
Seaview Weaving and Fiber Arts Guild 