> ~ Insights by SewCalGal ~

Monday, January 30, 2012

Cindy Needham at Road to California Conference and Quilt Show

While at the 2012 Road to California Quilt Show, I was delighted to have a chance to admire two beautiful quilts made by Cindy Needham. While Cindy is a very talented quilter, and Expert Free Motion quilter, author, teacher, she also has a expertise in preservation and restoration of old antique linens, and talents to turn them into spectacular pieces of art.



The first quilt that I'm sharing is the  "The Nuns Quilt",  was created by Cindy Needham.  The display sign for this quilt on exhibit read:
 "This linen was hand made by nuns in a French convent in the early 1900's.  The linen was placed on top of an underlayment of green fabric, wool batting, and vintage raw silk.  Hundreds and hundreds of hours have been spent meticulously quilting and beading this piece.  The original handwork of the nuns is incredible.  I can only hope that they approve of what I've done with their beautiful piece"


I found the detail workmanship by the nuns, was complimented with the spectacular workmanship by Cindy.

From my perspective, I'm sure the nuns that created the original linen are delighted with the excellent work that Cindy did turn this linen into such an exquisite piece of art, using exceptional free-motion quilting and embellishment.  I just wish my photos could capture the true beauty of this quilt become a treasureable piece of art.


The second quilt is the Infinity quilt,  created by Cindy Needham.

The display sign for this quilt on exhibit read:
"This started out as a beautiful linen tablecloth which was placed on top of bone colored cotton fabric for the underlayment, wool batting and cotton fabric for the backing. I loved adding my quilting to this amazing piece. The embroidery work of the original maker is incredible. A doily was separately quilted and added as the centerpiece. Hundreds of beads and pearls were added for embellishment.

The detail free motion quilting on this quilt truly complimented every inch of this beautiful linen.

Cindy's elegant feathers in a formal setting dazzles the eye.

While at the show, I enjoyed having a chance to chat with Docents and fellow quilters who were unfamiliar with Cindy's work.  When I shared insights on how she finds old linens, from all over the world, repairs them, and turns them into spectacular quilts of art, I was delighted to see their smiles and their interest peak in taking classes with Cindy.

Cindy teaches a variety of free-motion quilting classes and workshops for beginners thru expert quilters.  She teaches at quilt guilds, quilt shops, quilt shows, and also with Superior Threads' Threadology workshops too.  Plus, she hosts various "my time" retreat workshops where you can work on your own projects and a "my designs" workshop where you can learn her FMQ techniques.

As an author, Cindy has published "Wholecloth Linen Quilts: Patterns & Designs".
Wholecloth Linen Quilts: Patterns & Designs (Golden Threads)
And, she has several self published books including a Beginning Machine Quilting Collection, Beginner's Guides to Feathers and Backgrounds, Needles & Threads: Mastering Tension, and more.

The Quilt Show #202 "Antique Linens and Textile Revival" features Cindy.
Cindy has also volunteered to help the 2012 Free-Motion Quilting Challenge, providing a tutorial that will be shared this coming June.
I hope you get a chance to take a class with Cindy.  I'm certainly looking forward to attending one of her "My Designs" workshops this coming fall.

You can find Cindy at:


12 comments:

Linda said...

Those are absolutely gorgeous! I think I love everything I've seen that she has done. What a wonderful way to preserve vintage lace items!

Lisa Sipes said...

I have just recently become a little bit familiar with Cindy's work (found some of her stuff on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago) and it's amazing. I've always wanted to do a quilt with cutwork but had never seen it done before until now! Magnificent! Cutwork is so beautiful (and time-consuming) so I would never put the effort into it for it to be used as a table cloth but a quilt? Oh, yes. Now I might have to take the plunge.

The Village Queen said...

I saw both those peices in process when she was in CO to teach at our Guild. So much amazing detail and thousands of hours. She is a great thread teacher and a really nice person. Im glad she got them finished and in a show. For sure take any class you can with her.

Library Gal Quilts said...

Cindy is such an incredible quilter and teacher. I am lucky enough to have her in my home town! The Nun's Quilt is my favorite ever.

2ne said...

Lovely work - thanks for showing us :-)

Tatyana Ratcliffe said...

Thank you!!!

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

I'm speechless....the only word that even comes to mind is AWE.

THANK YOU!

Smiles,
Kelly

Kay Lynne said...

Very beautiful quilting!

Wacky Woman said...

She truly is amazing. Took an all day class at Road with Cindy this year. Very inspiring.

Josie McRazie said...

I love how beautifully simple these whole cloth quilt are!! Oh, some day I wish to be that talented!! Thank you for sharing!

Purl Buttons said...

Thank you for sharing those spectacular quilts. What a treasured memory, to have seen them in person.

Mom C said...

I signed up for a March class with Cindy in St George. What was I thinking! I'm thinking I'm in way over my head! But she has assured us that she'll take us at our level and go from there. That is exquisite work. I think I'll just sit at her feet and worship.