New goodies!

Snack set Variety Pack available here.

New Videos up at my website!
You knew I had videos at my website right? I'm also on youtube for ages... Follow along with me to see what's up!

VFWquilts.com  click on VIDEO link at the top of the page...

I added two new videos on using my super cute new 4" SNACK SET templates!  Did you know you can MACHINE piece or hand piece?

You know people still hand piece right?   LOL  I love it on the airplane or car rides..small projects I can take along with me...  So much fun, with these easy to piece cuties! I have two quilts in the works right now... These little gems are quite sweet, and can be used as the start of a larger block or a whole quit just with the 4" size... Possibilities are endless!

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I realize I still need to show some QuiltCon photos! We really had a lot of fun vending and being able to say HI to so many people!  Here's a few fun photos for you to see of our VFW Quilts booth. I also will be sharing pictures from my classes!  Amazing students doing some very fun things! Stay tuned!

If you look closely at the bunting, you will see they are my SNACK set blocks set in a  square in a square... SEE! Super cute!!

They also make great name tags, and mug rugs! (Did you see my last post?)

BTW, are any of you going to Paducah? 

I will be there! As will my "Mr. Swirl E. Bones", and this quilt, "Negative Space, Positive Attitude"! which I found out yesterday have been juried into the Paducah show!    YIPPEE! ( both quilted by my pal Shelly, at Prairiemoonquilts.com

(More details on Paducah to come! I have lots of exciting stuff going on at Paducah, including 30 Double Wedding Ring Quilts, and one 9' X 30' quilt! (yep!) (follow me at Instagram to see what's been up!)  and I hope to see you there!

WOW! What a week!

Quilt Market has finished, and we are in full swing for the International Quilt Festival Houston!  Festival was kicked off with the awards ceremony on Tuesday night, and look what happened??

SQUEAL!

Mr. Swirl E. Bones, by myself and quilted by Shelly Pagliai, Won 3rd place in the Innovative Pieced Category!
We are thrilled! Winning anything at Houston Festival is a huge honor, and we thank the IQA org. and judges, and Tin Lizzie for sponsoring our category!

I also have a quilt in a special Exhibit called, "Patterns" for the Dinner@8 Artists.  

This is my quilt, "Coarse Woven"... this was a fun quilt to make, incorporating as many layers as I could visually, by using my Manor Stripe fabric, (which looks really cool cut up and re assembled as well!)  This quilt is 40" x 40", machine and hand quilted.

It's been an amazing  9 days here, so far.  A couple more days to go! 

Coming to Quilt Festival, You can stop by to say hi to me at these booths and times:

Friday: Sizzix booth 118  10-12

Saturday Sizzix booth 118    10-12

Saturday JUKI Booth, 1052      1-3pm

Stitching with Coffee near by....

 Stitching with Coffee near by....

That is what kind of past week I've had!  We are in the final finishes for Fall Quilt Market.    Most o fly stuff is shipped off, but I have a few last minute bindings, and extra quilts (from my two new fabric lines coming-out!) that will be stuffed into my suitcases, along with all the new patterns, templates, Sizzix dies, and Aurifil thread sets!

I often get so many questions about Market and festival, I always try to recap the difference each season...

Feel free to skip ahead if you already got it sorted out.

Spring Quilt Market and Fall Quilt Market, are the Quilting industry trade shows. Meaning only people in the Quilting industry as suppliers, makers, designers, shop owners, authors, Sewing machine companies, fabric companies, notions etc etc, come to show all the hew goods for Shop owners to purchase for their stores... Quilt Market is NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. You have to have credentials that show you are a part of the industry to get in...  Quilt market takes up HALF of the entire George Brown convention center! Which I believe is Three football fields long... The other half, is all the quilts that will be up for festival... So we get to see the quilts as well! those are up for the entire almost two week time... of both events...

Fall Quilt Market,  which I leave for on Wednesday, happens just before, The International Quilt Festival Quilt Show.

Quilt Market dates are:  Schoolhouse presentations: Friday Oct 28th. then, Saturday Oct 29th-Oct 31st, is officially Quilt Market.

So. If you are attending Market, Here is where to find me.

MY Market Hours and Booths:
Friday 28th Schoolhouses:
Marcus 3:10pm, room 351c- Come hear about my three fabric lines out and coming!
Sizzix 4:55pm, room 352c - see my

Saturday 29th:
Marcus Booth: 1414  9:30 - 11:30 come by to say hi, see our designer quilts, new fabric lines and pick up a goody!
Sizzix Booth: 116  1-5pm

Sunday and Monday, I will be around the Marcus booth and loading around, Feel free to email me to reach me. I'm always connected. vfwquilts dot gmail dot com

Once market ends, (Which happens in the vending area of Houston Festival, for those who have attended Festival before)   They tear down market, Monday afternoon, move out, then all the PUBLIC vendors move in and set up, and are ready to open for business on Wednesday evening preview!

The International Quilt Festival Quilt Show.

Tuesday night November 1st, is the Awards ceremony where all the winners of the Judges part fo the show are announced.  This year, you will be able to watch them LIVE with a $3 ticket code.  Info is here. I'm pretty stoked as I am getting a ribbon this year!!! OMG!!!  I'm tickled pink that he "Mr. Swirl E. Bones" got something pinned to him!

November 2nd, Wednesday night preview, means the show opens Wednesday night for a a few hours... and continues Thursday- Sunday.

My International Quilt festival Hours!

Nov 2nd - Wednesday
Juki Booth #1033 - 6pm to 8pm

Nov. 3rd - Thursday

Juki Booth #1033 - 10am to 12pm
Sizzix Booth #118 - 2pm to 4pm

Nov. 4th - Friday
Sizzix Booth #118 - 10am to 12pm

Nov. 5th - Saturday
Sizzix Booth #118 - 10am to 12pm
Juki Booth #1033 - 1pm to 3pm

 So this is how I have spent my last few days... Binding, Binding, and Binding!!!

Every day, Different chair, Different quilt!  ;-)  Every time I see these pics, I think , who is that old lady sitting in the chair... haha.  It's true... 

I'm also preparing my hand work for the trip!  So basically we work 8am-10pm every day at these things... from breakfasts to dinners in the evenings...  I'm an early to bed kind of gal, so I tend to fall off early and go back and hand stitch until I fall asleep... So I am preparing hand work for a new quilt below!  My days never seem to end... If I'm not working, I'm working...  ( but I'm super duper excited about this new quilt... So, it's fun to do it!

I'm also repairing our new small travel cases... yes we have had a cute smallish sewing case. But now we have smaller ones!  

This size allows you to take them on the plane with your 4" scissors!  And of course you get to decorate your own, by needle turning whatever fabulous patchwork or fabric you want to the outside of them!

Pretty darn cute right? 

It's about 4.5" X 2.5" X 7.5"

Get yours here!  and yes we still have the larger ones available... I still love mine, and use it to teach with ally goodies... but I like this size for taking with on the airplanes!  my teaching one, can go into my suitcase with my large scissors and rotary cutter...

Next up? Packing... Jenny Egg is not happy to see the suitcases out...

stay tuned for:

Market snap shots!

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for faster posting the next two weeks... Blogger has cancelled their iPhone app, so I can't post from iPhone anymore!  BOO!!

I plan on having some posts ready for you ahead of time... so you can see all the new goodies!

OH, and!

Are you going to Festival?

Anyone who has a quilt story--not just quiltmakers but quilt owners, designers, collectors or friends & family of a quiltmaker--is invited to record a 3-minute video with a special quilt. There are no pre-arranged questions or guidelines; just one person telling the story of one quilt in three minutes or less.

Visit the Go Tell It signup page

Each interview slot lasts for approximately 15 minutes to include time for setting up the interview and audio testing. Go Tell It at the Quilt Show! is a free service for the quiltmaking community, provided by the Quilt Alliance, but a requested donation of $10 helps cover the cost of travel, staff time, web hosting, and video equipment. If you would like to volunteer at Festival in the Quilt Alliance booth, find out more and sign up here.

SaveSave

What a week.

It's been a bit surreal around here lately...  Settling back into fall with back to school, getting the studio back in shape for a fresh run at a crazy Fall schedule, Quilters Take Manhattan is coming fast, Quilt Market and Festival is around the corner...etc etc...  No wonder I'm gray haired! 

Forgive me for not being super active on the blog...  I have many new things to share with you, I'll share two here to get caught up.  These are fun! 

First,

My Quilt, "You Are Here" is a part of this exhibition.

 If anyone gets to attend the opening, please send me a photo, if possible? Wish could go! I'm honored to be apart of this competition.

Opening Reception: Sept 24th, 5pm.

Nicolet College Art Gallery
5364 College Drive
Rhinelander, WI 54501
http://nicoletcollege.edu/…/northern_national_ar…/index.html

You Are Here, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, 2013

Second: 

 The Traditional Home Magazine which is out on newsstands now, 

also has the article online now! For all to see!

I think it's pretty awesome to be listed in the artisan section.  

We are quilters, but the are all artist as well.

Third:

Speaking of old Mr. Swirl E. Bones...  Shown folded up above on the Motorcycle...

Which took judges choice, viewers choice at Quiltcon, 1st place at MQX New England.

Well, now.  

He, Mr. Bones, has ribboned at the Houston International Quilt Festival.

I can't believe it. 

It took me three years of submitting quilts, to get a quilt into Houston Festival.

Then I've had several quilts in for the last four years, and this year, I bring home a ribbon. I can not believe it. I'm shocked, happy, excited... and this was never the plan!

I feel so humbled that I get to make and do what I love. 

Perseverance... Keep doing what you love... Make.  Enjoy the process... Share your work.

I wont' know what he has won, until the awards ceremony, November 1st.  I hope to see many of you at Market, Festival! Who is going?

Fourth...

Well... Fourth cool thing, I will announce Monday. So come back Monday. OK?

off to work/play for me...

Have a beautiful weekend.

MQX & AQC

Anyone going to MQX Quilt Festival? Say hi to my Mr. Swirl E. Bones quilt for me! 

Do me a favor, Take a snapshot with him and post it on Instagram and tag me! I'll be missing him! :-) http://www.mqxshow.com/

I'm heading to Australia, Thursday! I'll be exhibiting, lecturing and teaching at The Australian Quilt Convention! See you there! 

http://aqc.com.au

recap: QuiltconWest

Shelly and I thank again the voters for picking Mr. Swirl E. Bones for Viewers choice! (and Judges Choice)  Shelly and I discussed this quilt, as I was making it, as I just knew I would not have time to quilt it the way I hoped too. Shelly quilts many of my quilts, so we have a great partnership and she understands my work.  It certainly helps to have a best friend quilt your work!  For a quilt of this nature, (meaning I made it to be entered in the show) I do not pay her to quilt it.  It is a collaboration. We talked about what the quilting needed to be, and what I was thinking. It was a true collaborative effort between her and I. 

I designed the quilt, and I gave my ideas to Shelly about elements I'd like to see in the quilting carried through the quilt. She was free to add her story to my quilt. I often work this way.   This also means, the monetary award is half Shelly's and half mine...  This is OUR quilt.

I think this is important, just like when I won Best in Show for Double Edged Love, Lisa Sipes is credited for her beautiful work, half the prize money went to Lisa. Lisa also, was not paid for her quilting on Double Edged Love. It's a collaboration, it is OUR quilt ,We put our two brains together so the award is split between the two of us.  

Giving credit where credit is due, is very important. Personally and historically, and in this day and age where inspiration is plentiful, why not share where/who you were inspired by? 

It's an honor an a "good humanly thing to do." 

Tricia Royal's beautiful quilt, "A Kiss for Paul" was inspired by a block and Play process from my 15 Minutes of PLAY book, and I'm honored that she emailed me and asked me about submitting this and mentioning (and giving credit) where her inspiration came from. (This is an honor, Thank you) It is her beautiful artistic vision that put this wonderful quilt together, her color choices are fabulous, I love what she did, and thank you again for giving the credit. Frank Palmer quilted this beauty. Frank does some quilting for me too.  So many talented people out there...

Other Personal Favorites from QuiltCon:

By Leslie Tucker Jenison, the graphic design power and simplicity of this quilt knocks my socks off... I love the color. Design wise, probably my most favorite quilt at the show.

 Kerri Green... Design and color, Fabulous. Well done!  (Anyone know a link for her? Thank you)

 Plaid on Point: Jennifer Jones Rossotti Quilted by Darby Myer

What's not to love? Great use of color.

Color definitely caught my eye at this show...Obviously!

 Frequency   (title correct?? Hard to read from my image, let me know)

 by Cheryl Brickey : Mini Triangle quilt challenge.

Very nicely done.

 Falling by Kathy York.  Impeccably made, clean, and very beautiful visually.... Gorgeous color.

Kathy won QuiltCon last year.

I'm sorry I did not get the name of this quilts maker... Anyone know?

I love it's simplistic pattern, and graphic punch.  Everything about it makes me happy.   

Love the color palette. 

It's bold and gutsy.

(Anyone know the maker?  Please let me know... Thanks!)

It's hard to pick favorites... I literally had one hour to walk the floor to see quilts, so I looked for what grabbed my eyes and allowed my intuition to guide me.

Well done to all who had quilts in the show. 

What I love about QuiltCon is that everyone is so happy to be there.  I also LOVE that they hang the quilts on LIGHT backgrounds. It feels so much air-ier and happier then any other show. (those black drapes really make for cave like viewing at other shows) The brightness really adds to the show.

I love teaching at QuiltCon also. Students are very happy to be there... And everything ran very smoothly, in my experience.

Images from my awesome students work, in the classes I taught, coming soon.

Till Next year QuiltCon peeps! See you in Savannah!

Viewers Choice!!

...And this happened! 

Viewers Choice award, QuiltCon 2016

Judges Choice award from Scott Murkin

Mr. Swirl E. Bones, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, quilted by Shelly Pagliai, 2015

Thank you voters!! We are Honored! 

Thank you QuiltCon,Thank you Windham for sponsoring the award! 

Our BONES are tickled! 

QuiltCon or bust!

Mr. Swirl E. Bones, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, quilted by Shelly Pagliai, 2015

...And I'm off!

QuiltCon here I come!

I'm so looking forward to some sunny days! Winter in NY is sure crazy this year...  (She says as she takes her shoes and jeans out of the dryer...)  monsoon today!

I look forward to visiting my Quilt, Mr. Swirl E. Bones,  my quilt, that is in the Modern Traditional Category of the show!

I'm pretty happy with this guy. He had a long road before he finally became "this"...
I tried to get out of my own creative box, to see what else I could do with a fun traditional design, and really play out the negative space...  The black is the binding on the quilt, the binding changes as you go around, so white binding at the white negative space areas...

Everything is pieced except for the four black dots, which are appliquéd.
I manipulated fabric with stitching before I put the top together, (grunge areas with black lines) just outside the center area, by the orange diamonds...
I used up 8 Panels of those giant skeleton panels, including the arms to add movement.
....And of course, a small bit of made fabric. (gotta add my nod to grandma!)

I'm not one to normally use novelty fabric, but when I came across the giant skeletons in Lawrence Kansas a year and half ago, I knew I had to do something with them and CUT THEM UP! ;-)

Shelly and I discussed at length, how to handle the quilting.  I drew out a large cartoon for most of the quilting pattern, then she let loose and did her thing in other areas.

I can't wait to see Shelly, so we can have a picture together with the quilt!

PHOTOS will come soon! Follow me on instagram (Victoriafindlaywolfe) for up to the minute images from QuiltCon!

Toodles!!!