November: Jacquie Gering http://www.tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/ Author of Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts
There is a $15 fee for this special program. Please join us!
Though she has been sewing all her life, quilting is a newly found passion for Jacquie. The improvisational spirit of the quilts of Gees Bend inspired her to make her first quilt and the improvisational approach provided the freedom she craved and the opportunity to explore her creative potential. Jacquie's quilt designs fuse her Mennonite background and respect for tradition with her modern design aesthetic. "Quilting Modern, Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts" is her first book. Jacquie is a contributing designer and author for Stitch, Modern Patchwork, Quilter's World and Quilter's Quarterly and her quilts have been featured in other national and international publications. She is one of the designers featured in the books, "Block Party" and "We Love Color." Jacquie is a leader in the modern quilting movement. She serves on the Board of Directors of the National Modern Quilt Guild and is one of the founding members and former president of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild and currently a member of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild. Jacquie teaches and talks quilting across the country and shares her designs and quilting knowledge on her popular blog, Tallgrass Prairie Studio. She lives in downtown Chicago with her husband, Steve, and her black lab, Bruno.
December: Holiday treats and Treasure exchange. Members will bring holiday sweets and a treasured gift to exchange as we celebrate the holidays.
January: "STITCHED" Documentary and discussion. Let's cozy up on a cold evening to watch this quilting documentary:
Stitched is a fun-filled documentary following three quilters racing to complete their entries for the International Quilt Festival, the largest quilt show in the nation. The Houston show draws more than 50,000 quilters including three artists who created some controversy with their work. Quilting legend Caryl Bryer Fallert was the first to win a major prize for her quilt made with a sewing machine. She mentored Hollis Chatelain who caused a stir when she won an award for a painted quilt. And Hollis mentored Randall Cook who sparked controversy with his quilt of a male nude. In this 72-minute documentary, these quilters create their pieces to compete in the 2010 quilt show.
February: OPEN - Volunteer now to demonstrate a technique.
March: Leslie Goddard - “Unraveling the History of Civil War Quilts.”
In mid-nineteenth-century America, quilts not only provided warmth, they confirmed family connections, commemorated significant experiences, functioned as fundraisers, and became vehicles for patriotic and political expression. This program presents a close-up look at ten significant quilts from the era of America’s Civil War, examining both their aesthetic merit and the social history they embodied. Illustrated with color slides, the program explores both the quilts and the role of women in America’s bloodiest conflict. Program type: Powerpoint Lecture Set-up requirements: White screen or wall, Powerpoint equipment (laptop/projector) or a table to hold my own laptop/projector, podium, microphone if needed or desired Fee: $250 (discounted rate for non-profit organizations) Program length: 50-55 minutes, plus Q-and-A
BIO: Trained as a historian, Leslie Goddard is the executive director of Graue Mill and Museum, a museum devoted to interpreting the history of mid-nineteenth-century America, and has worked as a museum educator and administrator for more than ten years. An experienced Civil War historian, she has created portrayals of Civil War notables Clara Barton and Mary Chesnut, and serves on the board of the Chicago Civil War Roundtable. She also holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University specializing in American studies and U.S. history. She lectures frequently on American history in the 19th and early 20th century for museums, civic and cultural organizations, and academic institutions ranging from the Illinois Humanities Council, Chicago’s Navy Pier, the Civil War Museum in Kenosha, Wis., WBEZ-Chicago Amplified, DePaul University, Questers International, and the Victorian Society in America.