Birch Fabric's Avalon Quilt

Avalon Quilt on the Cover of International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene

We are delighted that the Avalon quilt we showcased at the Spring Quilt Market is on the cover of this year's International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene magazine.  We asked Pokey Bolton, the editor of Quilt Scene, for a comment - "I love this quilt by Elizabeth Hartman, and how she came up with such a geometric yet whimsical design that really showcases these fun fabrics." - Pokey Bolton.

We really enjoy working with Elizabeth Hartman, the quilter who made the Avalon quilt, and thought it would fun to interview her for this blog post. 

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and Oh Fransson!
I guess you would say that I'm a full time quilter, which I think sounds like kind of an odd job description. More specifically, I'm an author, pattern designer, and teacher. I live in Portland, Oregon. Since 2007, I've written a blog (ohfransson.com) about my sewing and quilting projects and my first book, The Practical Guide to Patchwork was published by Stash Books last Fall. I love making quilts and am here to tell anyone who will listen that it's a fabulous creative outlet that is both fun and achievable!  

2. Why do you love to sew and quilt?
I have always loved making things, but I'm very practical. Sewing is perfect for me because it's a creative outlet that produces useful objects. Patchwork quilting is even better because, in addition to making a useful object, there are seemingly infinite design possibilities. I adore color and bold prints, and I like finding new ways to combine them. I also enjoy numerical and spatial problem solving, so the planning and pattern designing part of quilt making is very appealing to me.

3. The Birch Fabrics Avalon Quilt - what was your inspiration for the design?
The design was inspired by the Avalon Squares print.  I love the look of the blocks and strips floating around in space. That motif reminds me of a mid-century idea of something futuristic, which I love. In the quilt the block-like shapes provide an opportunity to show off the larger-scale Avalon prints.

4. Modern Quilting vs. Traditional Quilting - what is your perspective?
Ask 100 quilters this question and you'll get 100 different answers! I self-identify as a modern quilter and, for me, modern quilting is about form, function, and freedom.

Forms in modern quilting are often bold and graphic, with an emphasis on architectural designs, negative space, and flat areas of color. Modern quilters tend to keep up with trends in color and pattern and are often influenced by mid-century modern aesthetics.

Function means that I make quilts for people to use today, not put away in their closets. I spend a lot of time on my quilts, but they're made to be used. If they get dropped in the mud, covered in cat hair, or have coffee spilled on them, I consider that just a natural part of their useful life.

Freedom refers to the fact that I don't think there's one right way to make a quilt. Good construction fundamentals are important, but I think quilters should be free to explore techniques and designs that work for them.

I'm also an officer of The Modern Quilt Guild and would encourage anyone wanting to learn more about modern quilting to visit our website, themodernquiltguild.com.

Thank you Elizabeth!  Thank you Pokey, and the entire staff at Quilt Scene.

To order your copy of International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene click here.

If you would like to learn more about Birch Fabrics please visit our website, or come by our booth #1548-1550 at the Fall Quilt Market.

xxx
Cynthia