Gumbo Ladies Workshop: Master Five Techniques at 2013 Atlanta Quilt Festival

Gumbo Lades 2 by Aisha Lumumba, 2009. Photo by India Brantley.

Aisha Lumumba will lead a master quilting class on Saturday August 3, 2013 during the 2013 Atlanta Quilt Festival. The workshop will be held at the South Fulton Arts Center from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Cost of the workshop is $60.00 which includes the kit and admittance to Aisha’s lecture at 3 p.m.

Aisha Lumumba

Quilters will learn five techniques that were used to create Aisha’s famed quilt Gumbo Ladies. This workshop is designed to improve basic piecing skills. It includes fussy cutting, easy appliqué, raw edge applique, trapunto, simple curves, and fabric painting. A fabric kit is provided with workshop. A sewing machine is required.

To sign up for the workshop, email Marva Swanson at mmswan@bellsouth.net. Space is limited so act quickly.

Entry Forms For 2013 Atlanta Quilt Festival Due June 30th

The deadline for your entry into the 2013 Atlanta Quilt Festival is June 30, 2013. Here are  the details.

The Clara Ford Foundation seeks original quilts and dolls for its 2013 Atlanta Quilt Festival. The theme is A Legacy of Quilting — “Look What Big Mama Started.”

If you love sharing your quilts, see the form below to get all the details about entering you quilt in the 2013 Atlanta Quilt Festival. All quilters welcome – beginners and professionals. A $50.00  prize will be awarded to  three quilts: Best Traditional, Best Art Quilt and Best of Show (as voted upon by the viewers). 

Quilts must be no larger than 60 x 60 inches. The entry fee for each quilt is $10.00. Quilts must be available for exhibition from July 26, 2013 – August 13, 2013. 

The entry forms are below. Please mail the form by June 30, 2012 or email Marva Swanson for an extension. Email Marva Swanson at mmswan@bellsouth.net with questions or for more information.

See you at the Festival! Meanwhile, follow the Clara Ford Foundation on Facebook for the latest news.

 

Entry Forms For 2012 Atlanta Quilt Festival Due June 30

The deadline for your entry into the 2012 Atlanta Quilt Festival is June 30, 2012. Here are  the details.

The Clara Ford Foundation seeks original quilts and dolls for its 2011 Atlanta Quilt Festival. The theme is A Legacy of Quilting — “Look What Big Mama Started.”

If you love sharing your quilts, click on the link below to get all the details about entering you quilt in the 2012 Atlanta Quilt Festival. All quilters welcome – beginners and professionals. Cash prizes will be awarded to  three quilts: Best Traditional, Best Art Quilt and Best of Show. 

Quilts must be no larger than 60 x 60 inches. The entry fee for each quilt is $10.00. Quilts must be available for exhibition fromJuly 27, 2012 – August 13, 2012.

CLICK HERE FOR QUILT ENTRY DETAILS:  Forms for 2012 Show. Please mail the form by June 30, 2012 or email Marva Swanson for an extension. Email Marva Swanson at mmswan@bellsouth.net with questions or for more information.

See you at the Festival! Meanwhile, follow the Clara Ford Foundation on Facebook for the latest news.

Get Ready to Celebrate the New Year

Christmas in July by Marva Swanson

Now that the excitement of Christmas is behind us, it is time to get ready to bring in the new year. Marva Swanson’s quilt called Christmas in July in just the thing to get us in a celebratory mood. Although the picture does not do it justice, there are thousands of red crystals making the holly on this quilt sparkle.

Marva Swanson

Make your plans now to bury the old and dull and welcome the new and sparkling things that make you glow like Marva’s quilt.

World Quilt Show Opens Thursday in West Palm Beach

The quilts of two Atlanta quilters will be part of the World Quilt Show when it opens Thursday, November 10 in West Palm Beach, Florida. They are Nina Moore and Marva Swanson. Nina will exhibit  In the Tall Grass, and Marva will exhibit Tumbling in Space.

The show will feature over 450 quilts from 10 countries. It will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.  For more information, visit the show’s  website.

Tumbling in Space

Tumbling in Space by Marva Swanson, 2009. Photo by India Brantley.

One of the quilts that will be part of the Georgia Quilt Show which opens October 20th is Tumbling in Space. It was created by Marva Swanson. 

Marva Swanson

Tumbling in Space was part of the International Quilt Festival in Houston last year. It has now returned home so that Georgians can enjoy its beauty. This quilt takes a traditional block to another level by placing it on a black background with thousands of crystals to provide starlight.

This quilt was also part of the 2009 Atlanta Quilt Festival held at the South Fulton Arts Center, 4645 Butner Road, College Park, GA. The 2012 Atlanta Quilt Festival opens July 29th.

Quilt Festival Opens to Large Crowd

Sitting on the Porch on a Southern Summer Day, 30 x 40 inches, by O.V. Brantley, 2011. Part of the 2011 Atlanta Quilt Festival exhibit.

The Opening Reception of the 2011 Atlanta Quilt Festival opened Sunday to record crowds and enthusiastic attendees. The South Fulton Arts Center (located at 4645 Butner Road, College Park, GA) was alive with activity.

Over 50 quilts and 20 dolls were on display for viewing. Marva Swanson curated the quilt exhibit, and Cookie Patterson curated the doll exhibit.

Additionally, attendees were treated to quilt demonstrations, doll-making demonstrations, and children were able to create their own quilt block. The highlight of the reception was the Book Fair. Six local authors shared their work in their own unique way. The authors were Faye Adams-Taylor, Dilsa Bailey, Imani Constance, Marquetta Bell-Johnson, Aisha Lumumba and Yusef Poole.

The exhibit remains at South Fulton Arts Center until August 13, 2011. Make sure to go by and vote for your favorite quilt. The prize for “Best of Show” will be awarded to the quilt getting the most votes.

Please help spread the word!

Swanson’s Quilt Featured in Magazine

A Sunflower in My Garden, by Marva Swanson

Marva Swanson’s quilt A Sunflower in My Garden is featured in the current issue of the magazine published by the National Quilting Association.

You can see more of Marva’s work at the upcoming Sewjourners Quilt Exhibit entitled Uncommon Threads that will open Friday, April 29, 2011 at the Southwest Arts Center, 950 New Hope Road, Atlanta, GA.

Marva will also exhibit her quilts at the 2011 Atlanta Quilt Festival  July 31, 2011 – August 13, 2011  at the South Fulton Arts Center, 4645 Butner Road, College Park, GA. The theme for this exhibit is A Legacy of Quilting — Look What Big Mama Started.

Christmas in July

Christmas in July by Marva Swanson

The featured quilt of the week in the December 26, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter is called Christmas in July.  It was created by Marva Swanson.

Marva Swanson

Unfortunately, this is another quilt where the picture does not do it justice. This quilt, made of Christmas holly, has thousands of red crystals that make the holly come alive. Since we will ring in a new year in a few days, this quilt will add lots of sparkly fireworks to your celebration.
 
Embellishments such as crystals are another step on the quilting journey. I am sure your grandmother never put crystals in her quilt, but modern quilters continue to embrace the quilt as art.
 
To see  Christmas in July  in person, visit the H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multi-Purpose Facility in East Point, Georgia. It is part of the Clara Ford Foundation Christmas Tour of Quilts.

Tumbling in Space

Tumbling in Space by Marva Swanson, 2009. Photo by India Brantley.

The featured quilt of the week in the October 31, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter  is called Tumbling in Space, and it was made by Marva Swanson. This striking quilt made its debut at the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Show in 2009. Now, after being juried into the exhibit,  it is representing Atlanta at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas which opens Wednesday. Marva’s quilt will be featured in an exhibit entitled “In the American Tradition.”

Marva Swanson

This quilt creates an optical illusion by the color choices and the placement of the blocks. They appear to be tumbling in space. Marva added to the illusion of space theme by adding thousands of crystals on the black fabric that is the background of the quilt.

I know this quilt will wow all those who see it in Houston. Congratulations, Marva!

Journey Home

Journey Home by Marva Swanson

The featured quilt of the week in the October 3, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With A Quilt newsletter  is called Journey Home, and it was created by Marva Swanson.

This  quilt was featured in the 2010 Atlanta Quilt Festival held recently at the South Fulton Arts Center in College Park, GA. It was offered for sale for three hundred dollars ($300.00). 

Marva Swanson

To create Journey Home, Marva used applique techniques to create the beautiful lady on a purple background. Her dress is embellished with royal blue crystals, seed beads and gold braid. Marva also machine quilted the piece.

We don’t know what this lady did all day, but whatever it was, Marva believes that it all led to that most  wonderful part of the day when we are headed home.  With each step, you leave the stress farther and farther behind even though you carry a heavy load.  The journey is almost over, and the joy of home is just a few steps away.

 

Wine and Words at Hammonds House Museum

O.V. Brntley, Marva Swanson, Irene Latham, Michelle Gipson and Myrna Anderson-Fuller

Last night  a capacity crowd enjoyed  meeting Irene Latham, author of Leaving Gees Bend at the Wine and Words event at Hammonds House Museum. The event was a collaboration between the Clara Ford Foundation, Hammonds House Museum and Written Magazine and part of the 2010 Atlanta Quilt Festival lineup of activities.

The audience gained insight into the author’s inspiration for the book and were spellbound by her powerful readings from the book and other historical documents. Ms. Latham spoke earlier in the day at the South Fulton Arts Center where the quilt exhibit is ongoing through August 13th.

Hearts and Houses

Hearts and Houses by Rosalind Newell

The featured quilt of the week in the June 20, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter  honors Ms. Ollivette Allison, an extraordinary woman who passed away recently. Before joining her fellow angels in heaven, she left an indelible mark on this world. For over 59 years, she worked at the Carrie Steele Pitts Home, becoming its executive director in 1976. During that time she personally touched and impacted the lives of over 6000 children.

Soon after its formation, the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild adopted the Carrie Steele Pitts Home and its children as its primary service project, thanks to member Rosalind Newell. Each year, the guild made quilts for the children so that they would have something special to call their own.The joy of making the quilts for the children and the gratitude of the children receiving them became a remarkable partnership over the years.

Rosalind Newell

The featured quilt is called Hearts and Houses. It was a group project organized by Rosalind to help raise funds for the Carrie Steele Pitts Home. It did indeed bring a substantial price for the home. Other quilters who helped Rosalind make this extraordinary quilt are Maxine Moore, Bessie Barnett, Cathy Johnson, Marva Swanson, Nina  Moore and O.V. Brantley.

Hearts and Houses is truly a special quilt — not because it is beautiful, but because of what it did to help others.

Judy Tipton Rush Will Headline Atlanta Quilt Festival©

Judy Tipton Rush

 

Arkansas Fiber Artist Judy Tipton Rush will headline the 2010 Atlanta Quilt Festival©. Judy will lead Atlanta quilters and fiber artists in a Fabric Painting Class August 7, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. at the South Fulton Arts Center. The Center is located at 4645 Butner Road, College Park, GA.  

The cost for the class is sixty dollars ($60.00) which includes materials, supplies and admission to Judy’s lecture which follows at 3 p.m. Space in the class is limited to 30 participants, first come first served. To register for the class, mail a check in the amount of sixty dollars ($60.00) to the Clara Ford Foundation, 505 Stonebriar Way, SW, Atlanta, GA 30331 with a note that it is for the Fabric Painting class.  

For questions or more information, email Marva Swanson at mmswan@bellsouth.net.

Swanson’s Tumbling in Space Juried into International Quilt Festival

Tumbling in Space by Marva Swanson, 2009. Photo by India Brantley.

Marva Swanson’s quilt Tumbling In Space has been selected for inclusion in the special exhibit In the American Tradition 2010 at the International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston October 30, 2010 – November 7, 2010.  From many exceptional entries for this edition of the exhibit,  only  39 quilts were chosen, and Tumbling in Space was one of them.  The exhibit will also travel in 2011 to various International Quilt Festival and Market sponsored shows.  

Marva Swanson

Tumbling in Space made its debut at the Brown Sugar Stitchers 2009 Quilt Show. It is currently part of the Sewjourners Quilt Show at Southwest Arts Center until May 31, 2010.

Marva is the Program Director for the Clara Ford Foundation, and is curating the Foundation’s first Atlanta Quilt Festival A Legacy of Quilting — Look What Big Mama Started. The Atlanta Quilt Festival  will be held at the South Fulton Arts Center August 1 -13, 2010.   We can’t wait to see what amazing quilt Marva debuts at the Atlanta Quilt Festival.

Congratulations!

Swanson’s A Sunflower in My Garden Juried into NQA Show

A Sunflower in My Garden, by Marva Swanson

Marva Swanson’s A Sunflower in My Garden has been juried into the 2010 National Quilting Association. 41st Annual Quilt Show. The show will be held June 17-19, 2010 in Columbus, OH.

Congratulations to Marva!

A Sunflower in My Garden

A Sunflower in My Garden, by Marva Swanson

The featured quilt in the April 4, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter  is called A Sunflower in My Garden, and it was created by Marva Swanson. This quilt was made using a machine applique technique made popular by renowned quilter Sharon Schamber. The technique requires that you work from the back of the quilt, glue all the pieces together and then stitch the seams on a machine. Marva hired Regina Carter to professionally machine quilt the piece, and then embellished her quilt with crystals.
 

Marva Swanson

Marva says A Sunflower in My Garden was even more fun to make because it was created in a class of quilting friends with friend Maxine Moore as the teacher. “It was very interesting to see how differently the quilts turned out even though they were made from the same pattern,” she said.
 
If your garden is not in full bloom yet, this quilt will remind you to look forward to the beautiful blooms that will arrive in just a few weeks.

Mary Lin Elementary Students Learn Quilting

Mary Lin Elementary students display their quilt blocks

The Clara Ford Foundation participated in the Black History Month celebration at the Mary Lin Elementary School in Atlanta. Quilters Marva Swanson, Laura Sorton, Nina Moore and O.V. Brantley shared the art of quilting with 236 elementary school students. 

With the help of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild, the Clara Ford Foundation prepared a quilt block for each of the students. Each student then finished his/her quilt with an original drawing in the middle of the quilt.

The students and the teachers loved designing  their quilt blocks, and they learned a lot about quilting as well.  

Like a Little Bling in Your Christmas Quilt?

Christmas in July, by Marva Swanson, 2008.

Crystals have been all the rage for the last few years in the quilting world. It is no surprise that they would end up in Christmas quilts.

Christmas in July, created by Marva Swanson, will appeal to all of those who like a little bling in their quilts.  The picture does not do justice to this quilt because there are  hundreds of red crystals adorn this quilt. It is quite striking when you see it in person.

This quilt is currently part of the Clara Ford Foundation Christmas Tour of Quilts at the Helene S. Mills Senior Mult-Purpose Center, 515 John Wesley Dobbs  Drive, Atlanta.

Marva Swanson Creates Public Service Celebration Quilt

Partnership for Public Service by Marva Swanson.

Quilter Marva Swanson created the poster quilt for the  Celebration of Public Service Quilt Exhibit currently underway at the National Archives in Morrow, GA. The quilt was prominently displayed at the front of the room during the September 24, 2009 opening ceremony of the exhibit.