I feel I have been in the middle of a Hallmark movie this past week. I am in picture-perfect, Bedford, Pennsylvania. It is the end of October, and it is full-blown fall. The air is crisp and clear, the leaves are every warm color of an artist's palette, and the architecture is pristine Colonial. The doors are brightly painted in blues, reds, yellows and oranges, and decorated in fall regalia with pumpkins and gourds as the main attraction. What a perfect place to attend an art quilt retreat.
Before I share my week with you - I want to apologize for the VERY LONG break we seem to have taken here at See How We Sew. I could make every excuse in the world, but the truth is, sometime life just gets too busy. For me, I seem to have been on a whirlwind since my last post. I was doing a lot of traveling and teaching, which I will share in a few upcoming posts. I also had my daughter's wedding in September, which I have shared photos of on my Instagram page here - Pati Fried. Oh yes, I forgot to mention I managed to make 9 quilts for the cozy, quilty ambiance of the wedding. More on that in a future post also.
The Happy Couple
But for now? Lets stick to:
A Landscape Art Quilt Retreat in Southwest Pennsylvania
The retreat was hosted by Twila's Sewing Shop & Retreat Center, which is in a beautifully preserved 1814 historic building located in downtown Bedford, PA. The new owner, Taylor, an energetic 22 year-old, is a sewing enthusiast, art lover and foodie. Her business is named after her grandmother, Twila. Taylor has a true passion for the business she is carving out in her shop, including the retreat center and Bed & Breakfast upstairs. There is also a strong sense of community evolving with her neighbor businesses and the community. You can read all about this beautiful 210 year old home on the website: Sewtwilas.com.
Twila's is a testament to what we saw in the downtown area. Young and excited small business owners focusing on a revival of the town with curated, quality merchandise and food. Paulie's on Pitt Street was right next door with yummy soups and sandwiches, and a pickle with every order. Up the street was Composition Art & Wine, which was hosting our instructor's work for the month of October. Most of our meals were delivered by talented local chefs, and trust me, we did not go hungry!
Nancy Hershberger, Art Quilter and Instructor
The retreat was a workshop with the super talented Nancy Hershberger, who lives in the area. Nancy is a SAQA Juried Artist, has held residencies at many of the National and Historical Parks, and has exhibited her work for many years. I really hope you take a moment to view her website. Her work is incredible. Nancy Hershberger
Nancy Hershberger, Art Quilter and Instructor
Now, I know you are all wondering why I was attending a landscape art quilt workshop. I know, I know, it isn't something I would normally gravitate to. I have a very good friend that was attending and she asked me to join her. Here is the scoop - sometimes, the best way to get those creative juices moving is to do something totally out of your wheelhouse. I knew that I wanted to spend 2025 exploring more collage work with paper and textiles. I wasn't sure what I would get out of the course, but I knew that I always learn something from great teachers - and I knew that Nancy Hershberger was one of them. So I signed up!
There is so much I am taking away from this workshop. First, it was a small group, and every one of them was a true artist in their own right. So yes, I was among rockstar art quilters. Just watching them work was inspiring. At times, I found myself feeling more involved in our conversations about art and life than actually working on my piece. I have posted their work on my Instagram if you would like to see. Student Work
It was a joy to watch how each student took the instruction and technique that was being shared and developed it into their own style and interpretation -- including yours truly. After working in Nancy's process for a while, I began to understand how I could embrace the emotional aspect of the photo, rather that the actual photo. BAM! That is what I am all about! And so I was off! Snipping and fusing, playing and collaging - focusing on depth of the trail, the light filtering through the trees, and a deluge of autumn leaves. I have a long way to go, but I'm looking forward to finishing. Here's what I've got so far:
Until I get a chance to finish, I will have to be content to remember the smells of the autumn leaves, the sound of the babbling brooks, and the warmth of our creative space!
Exciting News!
Patchwork Luxe: Quilts from Neckties, Kimonos & Sari Silks, by our very own Julia McLeod, is on sale now!
Congratulations to Julia for creating an absolutely stunning book with so much valuable information inside! We will hear from Julia soon, but if you can't wait to order - you can find this beautiful book on the C&T Publishing website.
More News. . .
The Quilt Show (with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims) episode #3509 has aired!
I was so excited to spend the day with some amazing Bay Area quilters/instructors on the set for The Quilt Show a few months ago. Now the episode is up! I have known and admired Sujata Shah, Mel Beach and Lynn Koolish for many years. They are all super talented and it was a joy to be on the same episode with them. We all brought something totally different to the show and it was a lot of fun. I promise you will enjoy it.
See the show here: TQS#3509
If you are not a member, you can sign up for a week free membership, watch the shows that you want and then cancel your membership before the week ends.
That is all for now. I will be back soon to share my making of the 9 wedding quilts with you. It was not as daunting as it sounds, I had a lot of good friends to help. It was quite a learning experience and I gained a whole new level of interest to working in a series, and exploring a color palette.
Until next time!
Pati Fried
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