http://www.funquilts.com/gallery/gallery1.html

Take a look at these quilts and the prices on them.

Wow, who are they selling to. I need to find out (lol)

Ummm... I don't know who they're selling to, but some of the ones with the overlapping circles remind me of Venn Diagrams.

So... though they are "art", maybe they belong on the wall of a math class.

Who sez you can't use what you learn in math?

Check out the quilt named Gone Native.

I ordered one of each!!!!

Me too :lol: :lol: :lol:

Apparently the decimal point doesn't work in their price list :?: Not that I don't appreciate the amount of work, I do, but I don't know anyone who would pay that much for a quilted wall hanging (but then I mostly hang out with teachers, and we all know what we earn!)

Holey mackerel! I should quit my day job! Of course you can ask any amount - getting it is a whole different thing.

they think highly of them maybe the fabric is very pricy?

:shock: Some of those were only 3 large pieces of fabric...yes the quilting was beautiful...but $5000??? worth of beautiful??? :roll:
I am not doing something right LOL :wink:

Will you get me some too?

This is eye opening...we have so under valued our work. We are a group of unappreciated artists...wonder who I talk to about selling some of my art....snicker.. giggle..grin

Ditter

it is difficult to decide how much to charge for your work, and it applies to all art forms not just quilting...my mom is an artist, (painter) she tells a story all the time about the time she took a couple paintings into a gallery to try to place them...the owner asked her how much she wanted for them, one of them she told him $500 thinking that that was a HUGE price and he would probably tell her she was dreaming...turned out, he wouldn't accept the pieces because they were so (UNDER-PRICED) he told her she should be asking a minimum of $3700 for the one in question...she was excited and said..."i would happily accept $3700 for it" he told her that since she did not believe her work was good enough for more than $500 she needed to go home, when she felt her work was up to their standards they would talk again...she never went back, but she did start making alot more money for her work...she gets after me frequently for selling too (cheap) if you really are not sure...spend the $$ to have a quilt appraised one day. i have one i have about $300 into, plus time of course..was ready to sell it for $600...had it appraised...it appraised at $3400...who woulda guessed ?

For those prices, I think I'll have mine hand quilted and real gold embroidery thread used on my hand stitched label.

Oh, and gift wrapped with gold flecked ribbon! ;)

edit... :shock: Well done to you. But I really didn't expect quilts to go for that amount!! I'm used to people not wanting to spend more than they can for a quilt in a shop, despite the amount of work and time taken for each.

FunQuilts is the website of Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr. If you have not seen their beautiful contemporary quilts, fabrics or books before, you have probably been living in a barn somewhere. :shock: Their work has been published in quilting magazines in the US, Australia and Japan. Their quilts are contemporary in design, but traditional in construction. They range in size from wall to king. Their mastery of color and design are awe inspiring and their work is worth every penny and more. Why do you make such fun of those who have carved a place and established a name for themselves in this field? They have worked hard for their success and it is well deserved.

Whoa there, no one is making fun of any quilter. I say more power to them if they can make a living being quilt artist. I'm not interested in that type of quilt so it stands to reason I don't know anything about them or their work. They are fabric artist who apparently have made a name for themselves, just not in the mainstream quilting world.

I have decided to interpret the comments made as attempts at humor. These quilts are strikingly attractive to me, sometimes the simple clean design says it all with the right fabric and color choices.. The fact that they are able to sell them for prices that allow them to make a living with their artistic talent is indeed a success to be heralded and joyful about. It elevates the craft, skill and talent of all of us that do quilting - whether we dabble at it, sew show quality quilts (and win prize money) or sew functional (utility) quilts for family and friends.

I personally am a very eclectic quilter and sewer. I admire the skill it takes to be accomplished in any facet of quilting - and I have tried most of the usual techniques (piecing, applique, pp, etc.,) for first hand experience! I even venture into Art Quilt realm since the embellishment techniques are so numerous and varied and pique my interest and creativity.

I hope we can continue to appreciate everyone's creative expression - it broadens all of our horizons and lets us be part of a greater community of needle, thread and fabric people. jmho

I wondered if the batting was spun cobwebs and sewn with gold thread, I mean real gold. They are pretty for art quilts. I am not into art quilts, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the work that every one puts in to their quilts.

I guess you could equate these quilts with an original Alex Anderson, or Kaffe Fassett...how much would you pay? It's all value in the eyes of the buyer. These people must have a wonderful reputation in the art quilt area...although I have never personally heard of them. Probably because it's not my area of interest.

Well, let's see...their patterns appear in American Patchwork and Quilting, they design fabrics for RJR Fabrics and FreeSpirit and they publish books through C&T Publishers...all VERY mainstream quilting world things to do.

They are not art quilters or fiber artists, they are contemporary quilters and designers. There is a vast difference. They design and quilt in the here and now, not two centuries ago. Their quilts go on beds of all sizes or on the wall, your choice entirely. They aim their work and their workshops at those who would prefer to design and create their own quilts rather than follow a pattern that has been done over and over again. And now you know a little more about Ringle and Kerr than you used to.

I think that the one thing that bothers me (and it is NOT the price. If I could command prices like that, and find the market, and provide the goods, then why not?) but the thing that disturbs me?

They don't list the quiltmaker. You are not purchasing a piece of fiber art by "Trish Casey-Green", you are purchasing from their website, where they refer to themselves as we/they, not Mary/Janette. We could be as easily (*and I DO NOT KNOW THIS AS FACT) a bunch of immigrant women who are paid minimum wages under the table, as two or three prolific and highly skilled artists and business women.

When 'hobby' quilters tend to price their work, they DO undercharge. I read here how (and know in person) someone says they will do or have sold such and such quilt for $50 or $100.

Now, simple math here, assume you bought everything on sale at the LQS. A quilt requires HOW much yardage? At say, $7.00, you need 3.5 yards for the back, and maybe (making life simple) 4 yards over all for the front and then batting at say, $15.
You are at $67.50 BEFORE thread.
BEFORE buying needles.
BEFORE purchasing the pattern.
BEFORE charging yourself minimum wage ($7.35) for the (15??? )
hours it takes to make.

You should never sell a quilt for UNDER $ 177.45, with that math. And that isn't really even allowing a profit, nor is it taking into account the classes you've taken to learn the skill, nor the machines, rulers and other durable accessories you require.
ETA:: Having now read through, I see that I must have missed the names of the artists. I wish there was a more prominent BIO section for them...

Part of the description on the Chorus Line Quilt: "Size is approximate. Colors and fabrics may vary, swatches are available for a $50 charge."

I think that well-made quilts are worth as much as buyers will value them at, but $50 for a swatch?

me too.

Let us know when they come in........... :lol:

None of them appeal to me. I would have to think twice (no make that 3 times) about something that costs $4000.00.

I think the quilts are price quite well, I am from NYC living in PA for 14 years. My work sells in NYC, and in places where there is alot of NY tourists. The last time I put "7" art quilts on the market, all my quilts sold in Lancaster, PA. to New Yorkers at a phenominal price. I just had an interview with someone very important and they told me I have to raise my prices.

WOW! They really think a lot of their quilts don't they? That's a bit much.

They also make 1/3 more in their paychecks, so everything is relative.

I subscribe to APQ and buy C&T books but seeing a art/modern quilt I skip on by, that's probably why I never heard of these quilters as most here have not heard of them either. Now the Best in Show at major quilt shows, we know those quilters names! That's as mainstream as you can get. LOL

WOW....where is that market? Some of the quilts I have seen here are by fair better than some of those and I am sure "we" couldn't get that kind of money.


But I have seen some of Ricky Tims quilts and they are gorgeous. They are most definitely art quilts and I am sure his work commands similar pricing. I just think his quilts are more challenging that those examples. http://www.rickytims.com/

NYC

You know, if I could sell only 1 at $5000.00 (per month), I would do okay....if I sold 2 at that price, I could live in the manner that I would like to become accustomed!

I love to see artists of any kind being able to command the prices for their work that they deserve.

This past summer I went through a gallery of more traditional quilts made by either Amish or similiar people. Some were actually commisioned. There was nothing in the store for less than $1000 no matter how small. They were beautifully handquilted. I believe it was the town of Intercourse. We had been up shopping at the semi annual sale at "Sauders". Our guild had a speaker in the last year who runs mostly a mailorder business on quilts and quilt related home items. She actually employees people to handquilt for her and then sells their work at an exorbinate price.

I love this couple. Their book "The Modern Quilt Workshop" peaked my interest in modern contemporary quilting and what is called "liberated" quilting now. It is a different process from traditional quilting, but very liberating and artistic.

Quilts are much like art in that the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'm not a huge Rembrandt fan, but I do appreciate his contributions to the world of art. I'm sure many would say that about Picasso as well.

OMG!

The quilts that win the major prizes at the major shows in Paducah and Houston get bought for 10 to 15 thousand and up.

A lot of companies will pay any where from 5 to 10 thousand for large art installations in their lobbies. 5 thousand for a nice piece of textile art isn't too much.

Comparing what most people make as quilts to large pieces of textile art is like comparing apples to oranges.

When they get a ribbon on them from a quilt show then the price really goes up.

Cookie

I went to a quilt show at the Oregon Gardens last week. Some of the quilts there were pretty pricey, but they were so beautiful, I could understand the price. These aren't that great, and with so many different sizes available, I can't help but think they are mass produced. If that is the case, then why the price?

Then I live in a barn.

And I, personally, don't care for that kind of quilt. I'd be interested in knowing how many they sell.