Virginia and George Siciliano visit the Toledo Gathering of Quilters

It's not just the Flamingos who have been crazy busy....I have been too.  I can't believe I'm just getting to share the pix I took last Thursday night at one of my guild meetings.  Virginia and George Siciliano came and gave a wonderful lecture and then George had a class at Quilt Heaven the following day.  I could not find anyone to get the co-workers off the bus ....sadly I was not able to make the class.  I was told it was a great class....next time.

Thursday night was EXCELLENT!  I had such a good time and I'm only a little embarrassed to say I thought it was an "interactive lecture"...as I interjected probably a few times too many.  Honestly...I was so blown away by George and Virginia's work that I just could not help myself.

George started by telling us that he and Virginia had gotten into an argument in the car prior to arriving at the meeting.

Then, Virginia appears with a very large pair of scissors in her head...YIKES.  The smile on her face gives it all away, don't you think?  

George and Virginia have been married for 47 years and I'm thinking one of their great strengths as a couple, would be a wonderful sense of humor.  Without one, who could stay married to this guy 47 years?  (I say that with great humor and I'll elaborate more later in this post)

Ladies First :)

"In The Gloaming"  by Virginia Siciliano

Virginia has hand quilted this amazing beauty.   I tried to take a few close up photos so you could see the beautiful hand quilting...it is absolutely lovely.

 

 The border of this quilt is stunning as well.  That is a pieced border....isn't it amazing?  I just love the colors Virginia chose, the purple-ish and gold-ish thinner borders...the quilt really just pops because of the colors she chose. 

 Who could resist a photo of Virginia posing with Waldo in front of that beautiful quilt?  Not me :)

This was the first time I have had the pleasure of  attending a lecture by George and Virginia.  George does most of the talking....it is a very good thing this man has a great sense of humor....I would have hated to hear a dry or smug mind blowing quilter.

If you are wondering what I mean....check this out....below is George's first quilt....

Below is George's second quilt....

Are you ready to smack the guy yet?  What the heck....first and second quilts looking like this?  REALLY??? (calm down...y'all know I'm a peaceful person at heart...I just could not believe my eyes)

Quilt number 3.....

Oh and by the way...quilt number three was made from just two blocks...the two he is showing you here in the picture.  "Can you see the two blocks" he asks.  I was thinking..."HE double hockey sticks NO I can't see them....I can't even being to take in this quilt much less see it was made from two blocks"  My mouth was hanging open...I'm sure I looked like a real fool....I was just blown away.

George's talent was discovered because Virginia threw his "one" magazine away in the bathroom.  He was left with a hundred quilting magazines.  I cracked up when George told the story...she thought his magazine was and old issue so she tossed it.  Funny how our quilting magazines can be from the 80's and we hand on to them....but a guys magazine...older than a few weeks....must be trash...LOL.  

A Log Cabin Pineapple Variation. 15 1/2 x 21 inches with 2,842 pieces. 
George was offered $10 for this one and the lady that offered it wanted 5 more for place mats!!

Can you imagine...a place mat?  Really?  I would have only agreed to that price if the person allowed me to run them over with my car afterwards!!!  What was this woman thinking?  2842 pieces of fabric all amazingly placed....a masterpiece for sure....and she wants to eat on it....LOUD GASP

Well...if the someone is crazy enough to want it for a place mat...think how nice this one would look on the back of my toilet tank. ROFL

Paper piecing is definitely on my list of must learn.  I bought George's Seam Allowance Guide and Foundation Stuff....I figured this man knows what he is doing and I know I could learn a lot from him.

If Virginia had not thrown away George's magazine...all this amazing work and creativity may not have come to be....I'm so glad Virginia tossed that magazine in the trash :)

I did not fill in all the details of George and Virginia's lecture....I wouldn't want to spoil it for those of you have not had the wonderful pleasure of hearing them speak.  You can visit their website and learn more about both of them by clicking HERE.

All I can say is THANK YOU to George and Virginia for not tossing out the strange gal in the audience....I had an absolute wonderful time.

Smiles,
Kelly