Waltz Across Texas

I'm on my way to Houston for International Quilt Festival (for work) and then to Dallas for a day and a half. I've been to Dallas many times before, but never Houston. There are things about Texas that I really like -- the colorful, creative, rebel Texas mythology, the open road, the music, the Friday Night Lights nostalgia, the Anne Richardses and Willie Nelsons and Lyle Lovetts -- and a lot that feels pretty alien, like the sprawling oil-and-gas cities and the red-state majority. Texas has some phenomenal textile artists, like Jane Dunnewold and Mary Ruth Smith, and a lot of creative people working in Austin and elsewhere.

I'm most excited about the chance to meet Glennis, and Malka, who is one of my authors, and some of the other artists who'll be there.

And speaking of quilters, thanks to Elsie Campbell for mentioning this blog on her lovely blog. Maybe she'll be there too . . . in fact, if any of my readers will be there, please look for me. I'll be at the Quilting Arts booth some of the time, or email me at elainelipson at gmail dot com and we'll find a way to meet.

Meanwhile, I spent some time today looking for information on the Korean technique of pojagi - piecing small pieces of fabric, often sheer, with French seams so that there are no raw edges on the back. Here's a great link, and also click on the "wearables and theater" button on artist Chunghie Lee's site. There are some beautiful examples of pojagi on Flickr, but none are licensed for noncommercial reproduction. 

Now I must go pack. Updates soon.

Comments

[Cathy B.]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/186317074X/102-5050725-1247324?camp=14573&creative=327641&link%5Fcode=as1&n=283155 This is THE Pojagi book to find. But, I settled for some from Amazon Japan http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/images/4877512365/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=465392&s=books

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/images/4579107977/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=465392&s=books

and even though they are in Japanese, the pictures explained well enough how to do the seams. I have been trying to find a source for some of the fabrics they use, but they may have to wait until I can get together a trip overseas. My after school art club made a pojagi wallhanging from their dye samples. I will post a pic of it on my blog tonight.

[Kim Baird]

I fell in love with this see-through patchwork, too. Finally there is some info available in print or on the Web.

I got a great catalog from the Honolulu Academy of Arts called Wrappings of Happiness. It's a very thorough treatment, with lots of great color photos.
http://shop.honoluluacademy.org/