MODERNLY TRADITIONAL, ME

I think my quilting style reflects...

Why?

 I like combining elements and techniques 

that make me happy!

My roots are planted deep in traditional quilting

after 20+ years...and  I like to break the rules.

I have never liked quilt police or quilt snobs

of any professed quilting style.

Lets take a look at some of the 2019 Quilt Con quilts.

I don't mention makers because 

this post is about MY THOUGHTS

on traditional vs modern 

and not about WHO made the quilt.

This quilt looks and feel modern 

with solids, two colors and amazing quilting

in the negative space.

BUT curves and circles have been in quilt designs 

forever and a day.

Solids here, in a rainbow color flow,

Negative space quilting...yep there is a lot

of that when one uses solids.

BUT

The clam shell pattern and echo quilting

 (lines that repeat in same design)

speaks very traditional to me.

Here are two designs of quilt blocks that are traditional

but presented with modern aesthetics.

Left looks like traditional cathedral window blocks.

A traditional window has folded fabric in it

and this quilt does not.

These blocks look flat to me...

Using curves to make the cathedral design

very modern.

The flying geese have been in quilts a long time.

I doubt an entire traditional quilt 

would be "just" geese, but maybe.

Again, solid color fabrics speak to modern design.

Straight organic line quilting brings the modern feel home.

This pretty modern quilt is designed with solid and

 prints that read solid...the black and white
and a pop of color caught my eye.   
The spiral quilting of the negative space, very modern.

The two things make this look traditional to me.

Drunkards Path (curves) quilt blocks AND
I remember a guild quilt challenge called
Black and White and a Spot of Bright.   

The modern spin on the traditional Log Cabin Block

had me spinning.  I love the modern wonky design 

and the use and placement of color for a modern feel.

The Traditional Log Cabin Block has a very 

structured light and dark side 

of specific sizes of fabric pieces.

Finished blocks can be arranged 

in a variety of layout designs.

Next is a rectangular block quilt.

Traditional in the sense that the rectangles

might have been strip pieced.

NOT SEW here.

Modern improv piecing of the rectangles.

The solid colors and straight line quilting 

lend to the modern aesthetic.

I see a stained glass quilt here.  

Stained glass has been a traditional technique

The window panes were usually made with

a black bias tape with a sticky back that

was pressed on and stitched down.

Here the gray fabric represents window panes and 

incorporated into the piecing of the improv blocks.

The quilting in each block of color...

"echo" the lines and feels traditional to me.

The wonky design makes is very modern.

 I did a double take when I looked at this eye catcher.

At first glance I saw circles with a novelty print

inside the big circles.

The appliqued (traditional technique) "rocks" 

with supporting characters are on each big rock.

What I saw were very modern and unique 

"I Spy blocks" made modern. 

The wonky spiral quilting and wavy background

 quilting made this one "sing out loud"!

I have never been on board with all that is professed 
to be MODERN.  For instance,
I get annoyed when I hear batiks are now
acceptable in modern quilts...really?
Traditional quilters have been using batiks 
for a very long time. .
I loved them, sewed them and then 
SOLD my stash of them!

 I am old enough to know
"what goes around comes around"

For me...I have always danced to my own drummer...
BUT

when traditional collides with modern...

Kwilty Pleasures do happen.