CAMEO Quit Guild Hosts Karen Turckes of Windberry Studio

On May 17, 2018, the CAMEO Quilters Guild hosted Karen Turckes of Windberry Studio as their speaker. Karen uses hand dyed fabrics, fabric manipulation, and surface design in her quilts.

Karen holds a degree in Textile and Clothing Degree from Michigan State University and is a graduate of Jane Dunnewold’s Surface Design Mastery Program. She has participated in the Grand Rapids Art Prize and her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums.

Samples were passed through the audience. Below is a pillow with trapunto work, traditionally created by stuffing wadding between lines of quilt stitching. Karen uses a layer of batting to quilt the top, then cuts out the batting outside the stitching lines, and then used another layer of batting behind the whole top.

The sample below demonstrates the use of machine stitches and couched cording in surface design, which she then machine quilted.

Using a stabilizer fabric, Karen machine embroiders commercial fabric. The stabilizer washes out.

Karen uses a folded fabric technique similar to Cathedral Windows to create blocks which are set together in the quilts below.

In this project, she used two fabrics to create a fold that contrasts with the inset and outer fabrics.

Fabric can be folded and pressed to create texture. In the pillow below a folded purple fabric gives visual interest. It is embellished with Chinese coins.

The fabric is folded and pressed to create roseate forms in the quilt below.

Here is another example of fabric that is pressed, with inserts of her folded blocks, all sewn down flat.

The round folded top was created with a center hole later filled in with an insert and button.

A sampler shows many ways of using manipulated fabric.

Fabric can be sewn to a base that shrinks, resulting in a puckered look. Here Karen tried a whole applique block. She also uses the method to create textured fabrics for her landscape quilts.

Samples of hand dyed fabrics using various methods were also passed around including folded fabrics, use of dye resist wax, printing, and other methods.

Karen was to lead a class in designing landscape quilts but we only saw slides of her work. Her process is quite simple, starting with three fabrics for sky, water or main section, and near section. She adds elements of natural or manmade structures, animals, trees, etc. When she is satisfied she irons the pre-fused fabrics in place and embellishes with thread and quilting.

Karen warns that Steam-a-Seam II must be ironed to fabrics with a hot steam iron. She uses a denim needle to sew through the fused or folded layers of fabric.

During her presentation, Karen covered all the techniques for surface and fabric manipulation and fabric dying as a basic introduction.

Quilts Inspired by the National Parks

I was so excited about the concept of Inspired by the National Parks. The quilt on the cover was a big selling point for someone who loves landscape quilts.

To celebrate the anniversary of our 59 National Parks, Donna Marcinkowski DeSoto brought together quilters to create 177 original art quilts depicting the landscape, flora, and fauna of each park. Accompanying articles by park rangers and park personnel brings to life the people who preserve and protect our cherished shared lands.

Throughout the book the author quotes John Muir, the "Father of the National Parks." Known as the founder of the Sierra Club, Muir was a true devotee of nature as a source of spiritual revitalization. Through his writings, he educated America about our natural wonders and called for their preservation.

DeSoto gave the quilt artists a choice of park and category and size restrictions of 20 x 44 or 44 x 20 for landscape quilts and 20 x 20 for the flora and fauna quilts. The artists could not use commercial patterns, so each quilt is an original design by that artist. An artist statement accompanies each photographed quilt.

The quilts are wonderfully varied. With amazing use of fabric and construction there are realistic quilts, interpretive visions, humorous depictions, flowers and animals in natural settings or portrayed apart.

The parks are identified by location, date of establishment, a brief description of high points, and a link to the National Park Service website for the park.

Including statements from park rangers was brilliant. We learn first hand about the park, what the people who work there love most about the park, and the park's attractions for tourists. The joy and love of work shines through the statements.

This is a beautiful book whose appeal reaches beyond quilters, a celebration of our precious natural heritage. 

Resources are offered at the end of the book, including links to the Junior Ranger Program, volunteer programs, Artist-in-Residence Program and donating to the NPS.

DeSoto's previous book was Inspired by the Beatles: An Art Quilt Challenge published by Schiffer Publications.

All illustrating photographs are from Schiffer Publication.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Inspired by the National Parks: Their Landscapes and Wildlife in Fabric Perspectives

by Donna Marcinkowski DeSoto

Schiffer Publications

$34.99 hardcover

ISBN: 9780764351198