Revisiting a quilt by Karin Franzen 04-01-18

This quilt was part of an exhibit of Karin Franzen's work at the La Conner Quilt Museum in La Conner, Washington, in April 2013.  It was very difficult to choose a favorite quilt and I left Washington without one.  But once I was home again and looked at the pictures, this quilt stood out and I had to call the museum to give them my credit card number.  When the exhibit came down they sent the quilt to me and I was so glad I had made the decision to add it to the Collection.  It is so much more wonderful "in the fabric" than in the pictures. 

It is currently part of the "Birds from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection" at Back Porch Fabric in Pacific Grove, CA., through April 30th.  

Karin generally bases her work on Alaskan birds and plants. There were about twenty quilts on the walls at La Conner, each was beautifully made using her unique techniques.

 This quilt has great balance and a lovely subtle color scheme.  The bird is a Northern shrike. 

"Flowers Come in Stony Places"  Karin Franzen - Alaska  2012 32"W x 46"L

Various fabrics (cotton, brocade, sheers, hand-dyes.  Piecing, fusing, applique, layering, printing, stamping, whatever is necessary!

Label at La Conner Quilt Museum in La Conner, WA.  2013

Karin beautifully blends color, value and texture using many different types of fabric.

Her quilting defines this fern frond.

An irregular piece of sheer fabric is laid over a brocade fabric and accented with machine quilting following the lines of the brocade. 

Pictures originally posted on this blog 05-09-13.

Check these sites for more info on Karin's work":

www.karinfranzen.com 

http://www.cfqgalaska.org/Karin_Franzin.pdf

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Exhibit at Visions Art Museum 11-02-13

After spending the night at an HIE near Sea World (ate TWO cinnamon rolls for breakfast), I drove back to the museum for a few photos while things were quiet - as they usually are in the morning. 
I enjoyed giving a little tour to a few ladies who came in, but I was very disappointed that the Gallery Guides have not arrived from the printer.  What a let down when we worked so hard to make them exceptional.  Hope they arrive by the opening next Saturday. 
Here are three views of the gallery showing only nine of the 28 quilts on exhibit.

On the left is Terry Grant's "Judith's Garden:, in the background is "Lizard Lock" by Charlotte Patera, "Gravida" by Karen Rips and just the side of "Flowers Grow in Stony Places" by Karin Franzen.

 

Far left is Ruth B. McDowell's wonderfully expressive "Street Corner". then "Strip Tease #1" by Mary Leakey, and on the right "Structured Chaos #14" by Beth Carney.
 

Jenny Bowker made the quilt on the left "Hot Water, Dead Sea", "Red Wave" is by Dianne Firth, and Carol Ann Waugh made "Allegro" on the right.

These happen to all be somewhat subdued quilts, one of the comments I heard several times last night was how bright and cheerful the exhibit is.   But for some unknown reason I photographed mostly calm quilts today.  I rarely see so many TCQC quilts hanging together, I can only hang one large quilt in three of my rooms - too many windows and doors.  Arranged in the gallery I appreciate the interspersed "quiet" quilts, although I doubt many people would count "Red Wave" as calm.  But with the rhythmic repeat of the lines and the limited color palette, I find it is almost hypnotic..

La Conner (WA) Quilt Museum Part 3 05-09-13

Karin beautifully blends color, value and texture using many different types of fabric.
 

Her quilting defines this fern frond.
 

An irregular piece of sheer fabric is laid over a brocade fabric and accented with machine quilting following the lines of the brocade.

The exhibits will continue until June 23, 2013. http://www.laconnerquilts.com/

La Conner (WA) Quilt Museum Part 2 05-09-13

Karin generally bases her work on Alaskan birds and plants. There were about twenty quilts on the walls at La Conner, each was beautifully made using her unique techniques.
www.karinfranzen.com
 

I didn't enquire about the price of this piece - I was afraid I could afford it!
 

Great balance and a lovely subtle color scheme. I believe this bird is a shrike.