As promised, I wanted to show you some things from my Kalamazoo Log Cabin Quilter's Guild meeting. George Siciliano was our guest quilter. He was doing a workshop on Wednesday this past week. The workshop was on miniature quilts, which is something that has intrigued me for a long time. So, I was really tempted to sign up and wanted to attend. But for some reason, I resisted. I think I had an inkling about how busy I'd be the past couple of weeks and just thought it was a bad idea to try to play hookie from work for a day at this time. In hindsight, I think I was right. But, I have to say, after seeing his work at the guild meeting, I was just dying---I wished I had signed up for the workshop so badly. Maybe it would have been a good week to steal away (I could have used the break)...I just think I couldn't have afforded the time. I even jokingly thought to myself, "Could I be 'sick' tomorrow and go?" LOL. I would never do that. I mean, then I couldn't blog about it, right?! But the thought did cross my mind.
I had never heard of George Siciliano before the flyer for this came out in our guild meeting. So, I had to visit his website. Here is a link to his website, if you want to check it out, too. It's very informative.
Now, this is going to get photo heavy. In fact, I'm splitting this into two posts because it's so photo heavy. Are you ready for this? These first photos I'm going to show you are of the stuff he had hanging on the walls as examples. Keep in mind that all of these quilt tops I'm about to show you are about 6" to 12" square. I'll just insert the photos and a few comments here and there. Prepare to be amazed!
All of the blocks are a variation of the log cabin block, believe it or not. George said he only does log cabin blocks.
This one spoke to me, because it reminded me a little of a pineapple block. And I love pineapple quilts. See the quilt block on the right? That's the block that makes up this quilt (in a different color way). It's about 3" square (or less). I had to buy this pattern. I just HAVE to try this and make this. This will be something I'm going to tackle this summer as a reward during my "time off." (LOL--as if I'll really have that this sumer.) These are all foundation pieced, in case you are wondering. You can see the little foundation peeking out behind the back fabric on that sample block.
Are you digging these bright colors?
When you look at the one on the right here, keep in mind the entire quilt top is about 6" to 8" square. Those little trianges are so tiny!
This one was prety small. 6" square at the most.
I really loved this one, too. This one is like a Christmas Catcus or something, isn't it? I would have bought this pattern if he had had it. But he didn't have it with him. After I finish the other one, I might go get this one from his website. Again, this might be about 9" square!
This is at his table where we could buy stuff. This block was set up with the mirrors, illustrating how you could make one block and then see how it would look if you put it together with three other blocks in this way. You could twist and turn the block and see how it would look in different ways. Neat. I have some of these mirrors, but have never had the opportunity to play with them much!
Here are the fabrics he was selling. These are little fat eighths bundles in color gradations. Look how he's made a sample block with each bundle, showing how the gradations will work out in a block.
More eye candy. I just loved looking at all these colors!
And these are 12-step color gradations (the others were 6-steps).
So, these are the photos I took BEFORE the guild meeting even started!!!! I was so excited for the guild meeting!
In my next post, I'll show you what George presented to us and show you some of his finished quilts!
Hope you're enjoying these really cool little quilts!
Until next time,
Mama Pea
Amazing! Wish I could have seen those in person. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: carolld | March 19, 2011 at 09:37 AM
Wow. Those are some amazing quilts. At first looking at them, you don't realize they're log cabin. It amazes me how some people are just so artistic!
Posted by: Sue | March 19, 2011 at 09:48 AM
I have been a fan of George Siciliano quilts for a couple of years now and, like you, I'm just going to have to make one. . . one of these days. . . I really like the one you selected. Someday I'm hoping to be close enough to one of his classes to attend! Looking forward to the rest of the pictures.
Posted by: Deb | March 19, 2011 at 11:10 AM
WOW! I would never have the patience nor dexterity for those but I love them! I do not see anything Log Cabin about them but what I do see is one of my favorite things in life - kaleidoscopes! The picture under your 'Christmas' one reminds me of Geisha fans.
Posted by: sisLH | March 19, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Beautiful quilts; glad you took those photos. The gradations of the fabrics are gorgeous. It would have been hard to leave there without a couple of packs of those.
Posted by: LuAnn | March 19, 2011 at 01:10 PM
Stephanie, the pattern you purchased is the one we did in his work shop! I am presently working on it and loving it! When you get ready to work on yours, give me a call and I will give you a mini workshop!!!
Posted by: Sequoia | March 19, 2011 at 05:40 PM
OMG!! Now those would get me back into quilting! And I love that they are so small. Are they paper pieced? They would have to be, I would think. What fun! They are gorgeous!
Posted by: Peg | March 19, 2011 at 06:33 PM
Holy crap. I think my favorite is the one you bought the pattern for....wow those are tiny.
Posted by: Allie | March 19, 2011 at 07:27 PM
Wow!! Amazing!
Posted by: Brooke | March 19, 2011 at 08:34 PM
WOW! I am going to have to check him out further! This is definitely my style!
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | March 20, 2011 at 07:13 AM