Quiltfest Oasis is excited to include local designer and mid-century modern expert, Kurt Cyr as part of its fantastic 3-day event. The Modernism Presentation and Tour on Friday, October 7, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., starts at the Palm Springs Convention Center where those enrolled will enjoy a short presentation seeing Palm Springs through Cyr’s eyes and learn the techniques he uses for creative inspiration.

Following the presentation, everyone will board the air-conditioned tour bus for “Out of the Workshop,” a Modern Experience of architecture and design with the Palm Springs Mod Squad. You will discover how Palm Springs became the epicenter of mid-century modern architecture. Palm Springs is filled with outstanding examples of the modern designs dubbed Desert Modernism, a style of architecture perfectly suited to the arid climate. You will learn how the light and landscape helped guide architects and designers to create a version of modernism specifically suited to the California desert.

Cyr finds inspiration everywhere in Palm Springs. As a designer and creative thinker, textures, shapes and shadows all become fodder for creative re-use and interpretation. Whether it is the rugged San Jacinto Mountains or  the meticulously coursed block work of an Albert Frey building, these all  contribute to a daily dose of visual inspiration that find their way into his designs.  Palm Springs provides a never-ending source of inspiration. Learn more about Cyr and his tours at www.psmodsquad.com.

Major Annual Sponsor Brother, and Sponsors Ralph’s Sewing & Vacuum: Bernina, Handi Quilter, ABM/Innova, and Monica’s Quilt & Bead Creations generously support Quiltfest Oasis Palm Springs.

In addition, Quiltfest Oasis, held Thursday, October 6 through Saturday October 8 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, features workshops and lectures, a Merchant’s Mall and a magnificent quilt display. Pre-registration and other information is available on quiltfest.com.

Quiltfest Oasis Palm Springs is excited to announce the first ever National Modern Quilt Competition, “Mid-Century Mod” to be judged and juried at the event, held at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, CA, Thursday, October 6 through Saturday, October 8. The entries will then travel to be displayed at the Pacific International Quilt Festival, held at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Thursday, October 13 to Sunday, October 16.

The call for entries for the National Modern Quilt Competition received a staggering  response with over 100 accepted quilts in the competition. Quilt artists from coast to coast have submitted their modern quilts for judging at Quiltfest Oasis in seven categories.

Palm Springs, CA, well known for mid-century modern design and architecture, provides the perfect backdrop for this incredible competition. Quilt entrants, who are competing for over $6,000 in prizes, were asked to describe how and  where they drew inspiration for their Mid-Century Mod quilt.

Quiltfest Oasis Palm Springs is generously sponsored by Major Annual Sponsor Brother, and sponsors Ralph’s Sewing & Vacuum: Bernina, Handi Quilter, ABM/Innova, Monica’s Quilt & Bead Creation.

Pacific International Quilt Festival is generously sponsored Founding Sponsor BERNINA: California Sew & Vacuum, Major Annual Sponsor Brother: Meissner Sewing & Vacuum Centers, Major Sponsors Gammill: Meissner Sewing & Vacuum Centers, Baby Lock: Eddie’s Quilting Bee, Janome: Ray’s Sewing Machine Center, Handi Quilter, ABM/Innova, Nolting Longarm Quilting Machines, Quilter’s Slidelock, SewBatik and Intelliquilter.

Pre-registration and other information for Quiltfest Oasis and Pacific International Quilt Festival is available on Quiltfest.com. View and/or print the event brochures from the website.

Quiltfest Oasis prides itself on bringing talented and inspiring instructors to present workshops in Palm Springs. Creativity and expertise are always abundantly available from the wonderful teachers. This year’s QuiltFest Oasis Palm Springs at the Palm Springs Convention Center, October 6-8, has a spectacular faculty who will be offering a wide variety of workshops for beginner to advanced quilters and textile artists. Included for 2016 are well-known instructors and internationally admired quilters Joe Cunningham, Libs Elliott, Gloria Loughman and Ashley Nickels.

Gloria Loughman, from Australia, lives by the sea, on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula, in Victoria. Her initiation into the world of quilting occurred approximately 20 years ago. After completing studies in design and color, she began to make her large vivid landscape quilts depicting the Australian bush. Having the opportunity to travel to many unique and fascinating parts of the Australian continent, she finds herself continually challenged to reproduce these images in fabric. These quilts have won many major awards internationally. If you have wanted to learn the techniques that make Gloria a prizewinner, here is your chance. However, be sure to sign-up early – Gloria’s classes fill quickly. She really enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills with others. She challenges students to design their own quilts, but is also happy to provide patterns for those less confident.

Gloria Loughman will teach one full day workshop Light Up Your Landscape and present one Luncheon/Lecture Share the Journey.

If you visit instructor Libs Elliott’s website, you will see the words TECHNOLOGY and TRADITION. Based in Toronto, Canada, Libs is a textile designer who combines technology with quilting. Using a program language called Processing allows her to create random compositions from simple geometric and traditional quilt block shapes. The Processing project began as collaboration with designer and technologist, Joshua Davis. Libs states on her website, ” My goal is to underline the importance of craft as art in our contemporary age by producing bespoke modern heirlooms – just like quilts from a century ago, these are pieces that can be passed down through generations.” Libs studied Material Art & Design at OCAD University. Her commissions include work for individuals and corporate clients such as Playground Inc. In addition, Libs teaches internationally. Her first fabric collection, True Love, was just released this year.

Libs Elliott will teach three full day workshops Dynamic Stripes (Wednesday and repeat Thursday) and Embrace the Chaos as well as present a lecture Quilting with Code: The Quilts of Libs Elliott

Joe Cunningham, from San Francisco, California began making quilts professionally in 1979, after a ten-year career as a musician in Michigan. His early mentors were steeped in the history and traditions of quilts, leading Cunningham to a life of study in quilt history and a love of traditional technique. Over the years, his quilts have evolved into a unique, personal style. His quilts are in the permanent collections of museums, as well as in numerous private collections. Cunningham has authored 11 books on quilts include the 2010 book “Men and the Art of Quiltmaking,” (the first book on the subject). His column for the national magazine The Quilt Life is called “Biased and Edgy.” He has appeared on numerous television programs including the PBS series “Craft in America,” the HGTV series “Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson.” He gives talks about quilts and teaches workshops nationwide.

Joe Cunningham will teach two full day workshops Rock the Block (Wednesday and repeat Thursday) and present one Luncheon/ Lecture Share My Life in Quilts.

Ashley Nickels is a quilter, teacher, and writer based in San Francisco, California. She was greatly influenced by quilters in her family; she made her first nine-patch at eight years old and designed her own handbags in high school. Ashley, a former English and Spanish literature and language teacher, taught in both the United State and in Spain. Currently she is a full time member of the creative community. She teaches sewing and quilting classes across the country, writes, and owns, Alphabet Summer. According to an interview with Dear Handmade Life, she draws inspiration for her projects often from nature, “I truly do find inspiration in the world. Even if it’s not a tangible idea that’s formed, whenever I go on a hike or travel, my brain always starts to fire on more cylinders.”

Ashley Nickels will teach one full day workshop Basic Machine Quilting for Modern Quilters: Using the Home Sewing Machine to Add a Modern Twist! and present one Luncheon/Lecture New Aesthetic, Same Quilt! A Look at the Evolution of the “Modern” Quilt.

Major Annual Sponsor Brother, and sponsors Ralph’s Sewing & Vacuum: Bernina, Handi Quilter, ABM/Innova, Monica’s Quilt & Bead Creation generously support QuiltFest Oasis Palm Springs.

Pre-registration and other information is available on quiltfest.com. View and/or print the event brochure from the website.

Nannette Konstant posted her winning quilt on Facebook:

“This quilt was so much fun to create,glad one of the judges (Karen Boutte) liked it…..I was shocked when I saw the ribbon….. Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, Oaks, PA. Sucker is heavy….”