Sep
26
The Biology Quilts
Filed Under Quilt shows, Show & Tell, Spotlights
Over the weekend I was in Reedley, California, for their semiannual quilt show. Reedley is not far from Fresno. That’s right, Fresno, where the hot sun turns grapes into raisins. It was 99 degrees on Friday. My neighbor Donna and I nearly suffered heat prostration trying to get everything loaded in and set up.
I was delighted to be there, though, because the amazing Janice Whittington was one of the featured artists!
Jan Whittington
Jan’s daughter Shamara runs Second Chance Fabrics, a genius concern that rescues unused fabric out of quilters’ stashes and gives it a second chance! Jan helps out at the booth at shows, and mom and daughter have become buddies of mine.
Part of Jan’s display was a collection of Biology Quilts. Let me see if I can get the story straight. Jan’s husband Nathan, Shamara’s dad, is a high-school biology teacher. When they moved to a new building, the high ceilings made the room echo. Plus, the articulated cow skeleton couldn’t come along, so the space that had been dedicated to it in the new classroom was now bare. On top of that, the school administration sent down a decree that there could be no nails in the new walls.
Now you know what a quilter does with bare spaces and echoing halls. Jan immediately started on a series of quilts to go in that new classroom. The rebel in her came out. She went down there herself to put the nails in the walls. “They’re not MY boss,” she says LOL!
Here are some of the pieces in her amazing biology series.
Octopi for Nathan
Inspired by her husband’s many coastal class field trips.
The Bug Collection
The first quilt Jan made to help baffle the echoes.
Wee Beasties
My personal favorite. Now how many people do you know who’ve made a bacteria quilt?
Here’s another of Jan’s quilts that I just loved.
Aztec Rose
From the Aztec Rose Garden pattern by Colette Belt. Longarm quilted by Cynthia McGunigle of Mac Quilting, Fresno.
Beautiful pattern, beautiful colors, beautiful appliqué.
Well done Jan!
By Sunday the temperature had gone down to “only” 85. The local residents said they were grateful for the cool weather.
Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay
Comments
10 Responses to “The Biology Quilts”
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What an incredible collection!
As a microbiologist and a quilter, I have to say I love the Bacteria quilt! What a creative person Jan must be, as well as an excellent quilter.
What amazing quilts and really creative ideas.
It is so humid here, it is killing me, never been this humid in the fall.
Debbie
Qué trabajos tan preciosos!!!, estan fantásticos, me encantan. Un beso
I felt so sorry for you all that had to stay in those buildings for the two days. It was a wonderful show! My husband and I enjoyed viewing all of the quilts and especially liked Jan’s quilts. And poor Jan was stuck in the hotter of the two buildings.
wow what an imagination and some really awesome quilts.
Very enjoyable since my husband is an entomologist and my sisters quilt
Yep, that’s my big sister, Jan! Hard to ever keep up with her talents but I do try…she is my hero, my mentor and such a generous person. Love you Jan!
Please tell where to get the pattern for aztec rose quilt….it’s beautiful!!
Rhonda, just google it! As it says in the post, it”s “From the Aztec Rose Garden pattern by Colette Belt.” A quick search turned up the link, at one of my vendor buddies Quilters Paradise.
http://www.clothcarousel.com/shop/Patterns/p/Aztec-Rose-Garden-x5400946.htm
K.