The last one for 2012 ...

A little late with this, but it can serve as a final salute to 2012's Pantone Colour of the Year, Tangerine Tango.  A quilt challenge, to feature tangerine in either a mini or larger sized quilt was announced in January, 2012, and the entries were posted to a Flickr group.

The winners were duly announced and can be viewed on the a.squared.w blog.

If you like tangerine, or orange in all its shades, this is a good way to see out 2012 on a quilting note.

(And if you are not so keen on tangerine, but love hexagon, check out Ali's Festival of Hexagons from the northern summer)

Alicia Merrett, UK quilt artist

Alicia Merrett's wonderful, colourful contemporary art quilts look fabulous online - imagine how good it would be to see them 'in the cloth'.  She is well represented in exhibitions in the UK, and across Europe, so if you are travelling there, that would be something to add to your itinerary.

Her website includes extensive galleries of her early and recent work, listings for classes, workshops and exhibitions, and you will find more on her blog, appropriately named Colour and Light.

One to book mark for a few free moments over the holidays, perhaps?

Old Government House: quilts on display

Old Government House at Parramatta has three quilts on display until 3rd February, 2013: the original and replica Frederica Josephson coverlets, and the Lady Mary Fitzroy incomplete hexie top.

Details and pictures are available on the Australian Quilt Study Group's blog - click on the images for a larger view.

Quilt history seminar

Back in September, Sue C, Jill and Loraine snapped up tickets for the sell-out NSW History Week seminar at the Castle Hill Discovery Centre (a storage and display facility of the PowerHouse Museum).  The theme for History Week 2012 was 'Threads', so there were a number of events with a textile bent.

Quilt historian Karen Fail delivered the main talk of the seminar on Aunt Clara's Quilt - a prized item from the Museums quilt collection. We were able to get up very close to the quilt (no touching, of course!), in the conservation room afterwards.  You can read about the seminar content, and see pictures here, on the Australian Quilt Study Group's blog, and you can find very detailed images of Aunt Clara's Quilt on the PowerHouse Museum website (the last of the 21 images is a better photograph of the whole quilt than the first one).

You might be surprised to see how extensive the PowerHouse Museum quilt collection is - the list of links under the 'similar objects' heading on the Aunt Clara's Quilt page.

The Discovery Centre is open monthly, and stages events regularly in school holidays - a great resource on our doorstep.

Gwen Marston visiting Australia 2013

Erica Spinks at Creative Dabbling has given advance notice of Gwen Marston's visit to Australia in July 2013 - expressions of interest are open, although details are not yet available.

In Sydney, she will be at Quiltsmith and at Cottage Quiltworks.

Pantone colour of the year 2013

Are you over tangerine (Pantone's colour of the year for 2012 was tangerine tango)? Or did you love it (many of us did)?

Either way, as the year rolls around to its end, the 2013 Colour of the Year has been announced, and we will see it in fabrics everywhere (and everything else) ... it is Pantone 17 - 5641 Emerald:

"Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony."

The PANTONE name is known worldwide as the standard language for accurate color communication, from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer, across a variety of industries.Since 2000, Pantone has selected a colour of the year, that has wide influence on colour trends.

Final show-and-tell for 2012

Both our Monday morning and Tuesday evening groups have wrapped up for the year, with Christmas parties and and final 'show and tell' for the year.  Click on the images for a closer view.

Lyn's machine  quilt-as-you-go quilt, used up 'some' of her scraps.
 There was a lot of interest in how it was constructed, and a demonstration might planned for 2013 ...

The reverse of Lyn's QAYG quilt

Robyn's 'Beneath the Surface' (from our workshop with Lisa Walton earlier this year) is beautifully finished, embellished and expertly hand-quilted.

Jill's quilt top from our Power Stripping workshop with Brenda Gael Smith in November. Since it is Brenda's 'Tapestry" design it might be called 'Bush Tapestry' - but it will be quilted first.

Wrapping up Community Quilts for 2012

The last community quilts will be distributed over the next few weeks, including these two:

Made by Ros and Elaine

Put together by Dawn - the border required a little persuasion ... 

Elaine has suggested that members willing to sew for our Community Quilts program over the summer recess make 12 1/2" star blocks (any star design), from their stash, using fabrics that children will like.  Dawn has stolen a march with these two Northumberland Star blocks:

You can find a free pattern for a 12" finished - 12 1/2" unfinished - Northumberland Star block here

End-of-year challenges ... progress

It has become our custom at Fairholme to set ourselves a challenge in the last few weeks of the year, knowing that we will have a few weeks break over summer (when they can be finished off, if necessary!).

This year, the morning group made 20 more Blankets of Love - pictures will be posted when they are photographed - for donation to the program in the new year.

The evening group tackled a fabric challenge.  We each provided a fat quarter  and an instruction for what shape it should be used to create, in a brown paper bag, so that they could be drawn at random.  The challenge item was limited to a maximum of 24" square. Here is how far we had progressed by the evening of our Christmas dinner party:

Louise's challenge fabric was the light blue tone-on-tone. She paired it with rich reds and golds and included many small half-square triangles in her design. She is not sure how big it will finally be ...

Jill's challenge fabric was the red print. The circles that were stipulated emerged as representations of life  in an abstract pond.

Lynette decided to change her mind at the last minute, and deconstructed  temporarily ... the challenge fabric is the green print, from which it was suggested she might like to make circles or spirals. She has cleverly done both, and plans more ...

Pam found herself with green challenge fabric, an instruction to include a triangle or two, and a need for a quilted iPad cover.  This is the front opening ...

... the reverse ...

... and the business end, compete with stitched stylus pocket, and iPad!

Noelle took her dark print and 'wedge' requirement along to her class with Chris Jurd, and constructed  a complex beauty using foundation piecing. We know it will grow into something even more gorgeous.

Helen's light green/pink print challenge fabric is in the border and applique, but she was told to make triangles, so they are there too (and on the reverse, but the photo seems to have escaped).  The embellishment will continue ...

Elaine's challenge fabric is the light value print in her eight-pointed star, giving her the challenge diamonds she needed  ... she is auditioning pink/green/cream fabrics for the quilt's future progress, when she will have time to think and sew (she hopes!), while on long-service leave next year.

We all agreed that the combination of someone else choosing a fabric, specifying a shape and then working within a size constraint was a worthwhile and fun challenge ... mostly!

Airing of the Quilts and new fabric designs

Sydney designer Saffron Craig has posted some photos from last weekend's Airing of the Quilts in Braidwood, (southern New South Wales).

Kookaburra Morning from
Saffron Craig's new fabric range

Saffron also has released a new range of fabric - perhaps the soft cool (mostly) blues will make those of us facing high temperatures of 30s and into the 40s (C) today and tomorrow feel a little better? It's called Banksia Bloom and features some very nice graphic prints, and some gorgeous kookaburras that won't wake you up at dawn ... the fabric is 100% organic cotton

Stereotypes, politics and ... quilting!

Patchwork and politics are not commonly linked, but Generation Q has drawn attention to and participated in a robust discussion about government funding for a highly regarded quilting museum, prompted by an editorial in the regional press, based on stereotypes and politics:

 A few days ago, our creative director Megan Dougherty nosed out a newspaper editorial written by the Chattanooga Times Free Press that slammed the use of public funding for the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska.

In particular, the paper contends that federal monies are wrongly pledged to the IQSC because its focus is too narrow and it does not benefit the majority of the population. Besides, nobody but “Aunt Bee, The Waltons and Ma Ingalls” are interested in quilts anymore.  It’s just another “pork project.”

... read the full Generation Q blog post Notions: Porky Patchwork? here.

• International Quilt Study Center and Museum

Blog: For the Love of Antique Quilts

Karen Styles's For the Love of Antique Quilts is a lovely blog for those drawn to antique and reproduction quilts.  The parade of gorgeous pictures includes  beautiful quilts, events Karen attends, class samples from her Victorian business, Somerset  Patchwork and Quilting, and the wide range of vintage and reproduction fabrics she sells.

Mrs Billings' Coverlet, a very popular block-of-the-month, has its own separate tab, with photos of some variations.

2013 summer school projects have just been posted,

Lots to enjoy.

2012 Rotary Hoffman Challenge winners, Tasmania

The 2012 Rotary Hoffman Challenge was run through the Tasmanian Craft Fair staged in Deloraine from 2 - 5 November.  The 4 winning quilts can be viewed on the Tasmanian Craft Fair's website:

Marlene King took out the main quilting title for her work titled “After the Fire”.

After the Fire - Marlene King

Media release, Tasmanian Craft Fair, 2/11/2012

Other winners of the Rotary Hoffman Challenge were:Traditional: “Transit of Venus” by Diane EatonTextile Art: “Illumination” by Jacquie BoxerJunior: “Sunrise Dreams” by Emma Hodgkinson (age 13).

This is the second time the Challenge has been held in Tasmania, inviting quilters from all over the world to take the nominated Hoffman fabric to form the basis of a piece of art. Similar competitions are held annually in the US and New Zealand.

Three quilt exhibitions were a feature of the Fair, which included a wide range of crafts, from 230 artisans.
Deborah Louie was one of the 2012 guest artists - her blog post about her experience is here.

Information about the 2013 Rotary Hoffman Challenge, fabric and the entry process is available from the curator, Diane Brittlebank. The webpage also includes a gallery of the Tasmanian and New Zealand Hoffman Challenge winners for 2012.

Fabric sale: Quiltsmith, Annandale

Just in case you haven't seen their blog announcement, Quiltsmith is having a pre-Christmas fabric sale, from 18th November until Saturday 1st December.

All fabric in both the Annandale shop (75 Nelson Street) and the online store: 30% off (minimum cuts apply).

This week's show and tell

Ros did a workshop with renowned teacher Gloria Loughman - she found her a wonderful teacher.

Before tackling a larger, more complex project, Susan M practised needle turn applique on this smaller piece.

Jill's daughter Emma sewed the top of this modern baby quilt for a friend who will have a baby boy in the new year - Jill is sewing down the binding.  Christy Wang (Quilting Treasures, at Pymble) machine quilted it.

Last community quilts sewing day for 2012

Four more quilts are finished, and will be given to their new owners before the end of the year. Click on the images for a larger view.

Made by Susan from our stash of community fabric

Made by Georgie from our community stash and one or two fabrics from her own 

Also made by Georgie from her own stash

Made by Jill from community stash fabrics that her daughter says are
1970s (i.e. the dark ages) wallpaper prints.

In preparation for next year's Community Quilts collection, we cut and began sewing some new quilts, pin basted four quilts and tidied up the fabric stash - a good head start.  Now we're taking a break from this project ... a little sewing might happen, or it might not. You can check out whether it did or not, when we get back into the swing in February 2013.

V & A Quilts 1700 - 1945 coming to Brisbane in 2013

The very popular Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition Quilts 1700 - 1945, first seen in London in 2010, is scheduled to open at the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane,   15th June -22nd September 2013. Details are here on the QAGOM website

To accompany Quilts 1700–1945,  the Gallery will present an exhibition of contemporary quilts by the late leading Brisbane quilt-maker Ruth Stoneley (1940-2007), A Stitch in Time.  Admission will be free free.  

Time to plan a trip to Brisbane?

Modern Christmas quilts 2012

Modern Christmas Tree Quilts, posted here just before Christmas 2011  has been very popular with readers, and has had an increasing number of viewers over the last couple of weeks, as the holiday season rapidly approaches again.

Here are some more modern Christmas quilts that have appeared on the web since that post, perhaps in time for a quick project actually in time for Christmas this year?

Christmas in July Christmas Tree Quilt (a free pattern is supplied)

Christmas Tree Quilt (GenX Quilters)

Christmas Tree Quilt - Fat Quarterly Magazine

Christmas Tree Table Runners (A Quilting Blog)

Modern Simple Christmas Quilt (K-Ro's Secret Blog)

A Cherry Christmas Quilt (Red Pepper Quilts)

Urban Holiday (Sew Kind of Wonderful)

And these Christmas quilts were displayed in the Fairholme Quilters Exhibition 2012:

Noelle Sona's Christmas Tree Skirt 

Elaine Bright's Christmas Tree Skirt 

Miriam Jones's Christmas Quilt

Summer treat - Kay Haerland at Gosford Regional Gallery

This would be a very pleasant early summer excursion up the F3:

Kay Haerland
Foyer Gallery: 1 December to 9 January 2013

An exhibition of quilts by Central Coast textile artist Kay Haerland. Kay is internationally renowned for her beautiful and intricate work, using fabric and thread, rather than canvas and paint. Her work consists of realistic landscapes and contemporary abstract compositions. Like a painter, she uses design, colour, texture and light to make her work ‘believable’ and inspire the viewer to connect emotionally with the work.

Gosford Regional Gallery
36 Webb Street
East Gosford NSW 2260

Gallery hours: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm

Check the exhibition program for what else is showing at the same time, and maybe plan time to visit the Gosford Edogawa Commemorative Garden located next to the gallery

International Quilt Festival: a personal review in pictures

Susan Brubaker Knapp (fiber artist,quilt pattern designer and teacher) presents a personal photographic review of the 2012 International Quilt Festival (Houston) exhibitions on her blog, Blue Moon River, over the last few days. Some of her favourites were prizewinners others not, so you will see a wider range of quilts than is available on the official award winners' page.  Click to enlarge any of the photos:

• Part 1 (not many quilts but scroll down to see the collaged shoes and the quilted yurt - really!) 
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4

Quilt and Craft Show at Terrey Hills: 23 and 24 November

The graphic behind the text is of the raffle quilt at this show.
Click on the images to enlarge.

Show and tell ... English paper piecing rules!

Elaine B is hand stitching pentagons into balls for babies to play with - she has a new grandchild expected in January

Louise's EPP pentagons will be appliqued onto her wall hanging

Pam's very first ever hexagons ... careful, Pam - there may be no turning back!

Noelle is fussy cutting these little beauties - the bobbin the picture will give you an idea of their dainty size.  And note that natty tray for storing and organising them.

This impressive collection is also Noelle's - she gets them out from time to time trying to decide how to put them together - so far they haven't 'told' her how they want that to be ...

A small proportion of Helen's still-growing, but already large hexagon collection (ten years in the making so far) - but she has now decided on a layout, is planning to add in just a few more pink flowers, and will join them all up in no time at all.  

Miriam cleverly made her hexagons into a bright and beautiful purse ...

... with both sides featuring impressive fussy cutting.

Jill has never made a hexagon, and possibly never will ...  the blocks for this large disappearing 4 patch quilt (Sally at Sew Wonderful's online tutorial here) were a cooperative effort with her sister (who has made some very nice hexagon quilts), and is for their mother.  It is off to the long-arm quilter this week before it goes to live by the sea.

Power Stripping with Brenda Gael Smith

16 of us did a terrific Power Stripping workshop with Brenda Gael Smith from Serendipity Patchwork and Quilting on Saturday. Brenda has kindly blogged about it, with some progress photos here.  It was very good to see her Power Stripped quilts up close, to study the well thought out use of values, to compare the proportions of designs using different strip widths, and to discuss the quilting options for different designs and fabric choices.  While the sewing was straightforward (as is the point of Power Stripping), there was quite a bit of thinking to be done!

Here are some more photos, but be sure to check out Brenda's photos too - they are different, and show many more blocks. We achieved a great deal in the workshop - there will be more completed tops to share pretty soon, and lots of ideas for future quilts.

By Monday, Dawn had made and put together 49 blocks.completing her 4-bar basket weave top!

Fabric choices varied - this is Dawn's  Jelly Roll

Some of Margaret's beautiful batiks (a popular fabric choice for this workshop)

Noelle included some gorgeous Kaffe Fassett 

Elsa chose to work with rich reds and neutrals

Brenda's Keyhole design is behind her

Detail of Brenda's Melody 33 - made with 33 strips, cut across the width  to maximise economy

 We were also impressed with Brenda's portable/temporary design wall - a wide length of white polar fleece, with rod pockets sewn top and bottom to accommodate two dowels, that can suspended by a cord over any convenient support, such as a tack or two in the top of a door frame, a window handle, or a hook in a wall. It rolls up around the dowels for easy storage and transport (it would fit under a bed easily, or in the corner of a closet such as a broom cupboard). Our blocks stayed nicely in place without pinning, while we admired them, and took in what was working well, and what might work better!

These are Robyn's black, white and yellow blocks - lots of movement from the graphic prints

Thank you Brenda, for a great workshop, and Georgie for organising it.
Photos - thanks to Sue Crowe.