2 Done and Photography Question

My 'Heartstrings' quilt is king-size and will be way too big to hold to photograph. It's crossed my little mind that I might take it to an uppity furniture store and pose it in a snazzy setting. I've noticed that some of the quilting magazines are giving credit to this and that store for their display. Probably if I called and asked what would be a convenient time, they would be agreeable. Or - lots of new homes here are being built with decks or porches about 20' off the ground. That might work. Carol Doak shows a lovely staircase on her CD. Wonder if she shares it with proud quilters? Polly

I did post on another message about the Savage porta stands. Google will bring up the same stand for many different prices. I just saw one for $105....though I did get some for my guild for $99. I suppose prices have gone up. There is a website called "quilter's husband" or something like that who carries the same stand for quite a bit more. This stand is for photography backdrops, but is just wonderful for quilts.

What I use, Joan, are curtain rings with clasps that dangle from them I get from Ikea when I'm up there. I clip the rings onto the quilt then thread the rings onto a curtain rod that I can hang on the wall or tie up to the clothes line if it's a big quilt. That way it doesn't matter if the quilt is small or large I can hang it from anywhere using the curtain rings from Ikea. Haven't seen them anywhere else in Oz.

link is to the Australian site and there's a couple of sizes but it will give you an idea. I use the rings to hang my quilts so I don't have to put rod pockets on them [not one of my most favourite tasks] and can swap the quilts around from time to time more easily as well.Wendy in NSW

I've seen those rings in lots of places, but I'd still need a place to hang them from that is at least 6 feet off the ground. No clothesline, no high deck rails, no stairs, no where to hang an oversized king size quilt. Debra in VA See my quilts at

I've been contemplating hanging a couple of tops from my house gutter with clothes pins for lack of a better way to do it. I wouldn't chance it with the weight of a finished quilt though. Debra in VA See my quilts at

I've got a free wall big enough to put those removable adhesive hooks onto. In Oz they are 3M Command brand and the ones I've used are big enough to take a curtain rod. I spray painted them gold [they were white plastic]. The free-standing frames would be ideal but then I'd have a problem where to store it so my wall does the job[and I can't afford one]. The lighting isn't the best so usually have to wait for a really sunny day and turn all the lights on :o) Outside in the natural light would be heaps better. I will have to look for somewhere to put hooks out there. Wendy in NSW

.........but, can Mr. Ester hold up a queen sized quilt for full view and detailed, spectacular photos........pretty is as pretty does ;)

Val

I have enough empty wall in the bedroom to hang most quilts if I need a more "professional" photo. Put a row of large safety pins along the top edge of the quilt, about 10" apart, so the heads are pointed down and the little ring at the end just comes to the edge of the binding. Use thumb tacks through those rings, and put them right up next to the ceiling so the holes are relatively invisible. Alternative method for more casual photos: rope in some extra husbands or tall friends, get them to stand up on chairs. Hanging off the upstairs balcony is also OK. Roberta in D

"joan8904 in Bellevue Nebraska" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

I used my rotary clothes line for my last lot of photos. Unfortunately it doesn't have a break! Weeeeeeeeeeee.

Also when they weren't wizzing round they were flapping.

I have to find another solution!

Well, maybe Joan could talk her quilt shop into buying one for their displays and then "borrow" it when she need it?

I once photographed a twin quilt from an upstairs window ..after laying the quilt on the lawn below as I had no clothesline...no one around to hold it..and wanted the outdoor lighting. It really worked out well !! Mary in VT

Well, sort of. Long story, short... I made a "pavilion" to use at SCA events. It is huge when put up (14'x 21', 7' high at the outside and about 9' at center.) And sturdy, you can actually lean on the uprights and it doesn't move at all. I use a makeshift frame using some of the poles and stuff from the pavilion frame to hold quilts for photo purposes. It works sort of. Depends partly on the wind and where I can manage to set it up.

Frame parts I use: 4 pieces of conduit each the same length (about 7'),

2 short pieces of conduit for "feet" at the bottom, 2 right angle "elbow" pieces to hold the conduit at the top, and 2 "T" joints at the bottom, to hold the uprights and the "feet" at the bottom. Essentially I make a big square shape with the feet perpendicular to the uprights.

You could probably pick up heavyweight pvc pipe and joins to do the same type of thing. To hold the quilts in place I use binder clips that I tie onto the crosspiece with ribbon. That way I can change the quilts a bit easier. The ribbon allows me to slide the clips a bit and all I have to do is clamp on the quilt. We have decided that we need something to hold the sides of the quilts steady, so will add clips on longer ribbons at the sides. Maybe with some elastic too..... will have to play with it.

If you look at my Quilts 1 album you can see the frame I am using in some of the pictures. It isn't perfect, but it does the job.

Pati, in Phx

joan8904 >

And, does anyone have a set up for holding quilts to be photographed?> I've seen some professional frames in magazines, but I'm looking for a> homemade/cheaper solution. Quilts are too big for husband's arms and> it's too windy in Nebraska to drape them over the fence!>

It occurs to me, Pati, that you could also put the top conduit through the quilt's sleeve instead of using the clamps. Or wouldn't that work? All in all, your solution looks pretty good, given a place to store 7' pieces of conduit! :)

I had a room with door near a corner, and door to walk-in closet was on adjoining wall, closet door was close to entry door. Used a length of PVC braced across the top of the two open door to hang all sorts of project for photos. Pull up the blinds [window faced south] and usually had good light to snap away.

Simple, inexpensive, and only the length of PVC to store.

G>

And, does anyone have a set up for holding quilts to be photographed?> I've seen some professional frames in magazines, but I'm looking for a> homemade/cheaper solution. Quilts are too big for husband's arms and> it's too windy in Nebraska to drape them over the fence!>

Oh, Pati, I hadn't thought of SCA gear for holding quilts! We have a cabin style tent with poles that would work wonderfully. Additionally, we have these clamps that hold tiki torches on the deck rails. I could use the clamps to hold the two tallest upright tent poles up beside the railing, mount a cross pole on top, clip the quilt to the top pole, and be in business. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Putting the top pole through the sleeve would work, if you were only doing one quilt. But that means taking the top assembly apart to do it that way. This particular set up uses fittings that are tightened with a screwdriver. Taking apart and all would be a real pain. When I have DH ready to help with taking pics, we do a bunch at a time. Need to set up another day soon, but it is just too hot to do it now.

PVC piping has some fittings that are just slip on friction hold that would be a lot easier to take off and put on for using the sleeve of the quilt. (Of course there are also all the quilts that don't have sleeves..........)

As for storing the 7' lengths of pipe, they stand up very nicely in the corner of a closet, or you can get fittings to join 2 pipes into a single length. For taking pictures that would work quite well I should think.

Pati, in Phx

Sandy wrote:

Beautiful quilts, Joan! Sure wish I lived closer to you--would love to take some of your classes! I have the same problem with photos so no suggestions. Hopefully will read something here that will help me, too.