Sarah Fielke designs quilting fabric for Spotlight

Photo: courtesy Sarah Fielke

Sydney based quilter, teacher, writer and fabric designer Sarah Fielke has designed a range of quilting fabric, called On the Pond,  for Spotlight Australia that should be in stores from tomorrow, 30th January (although it seems that some have received their stocks a little early).

Spotlight's blog post about the fabric, and the quilt Sarah has designed using the range is here, at The Warped and the Weft, and Sarah's own blog post with more photos is on her blog, The Last Piece, here.

Photo: courtesy Sarah Fielke

Liberty sightings

Red Pepper Quilts, a widely appreciated Melbourne based quilter's blog, recently featured a simply beautiful quilt made from the Liberty Lifestyle - Bloomsbury Gardens range, using Robert Kaufman Pure Organic Solid in White as a perfect foil in an uncomplicated nine-patch design.  Even if you are not a particular fan of Liberty fabrics, do take a look.

At about the same time, Erica Spinks posted a link to this Liberty Craft Blog post about making a Liberty flower quilt on her Creative Dabbling Facebook page. From there, a very short surf takes you to the Liberty Blog's fabric pages, with this post introducing the new spring summer 2013 tana lawn collection. Very nice.

'Twelve by Twelve' in Sydney

Excellent news via Brenda Gael Smith - the Twelve by Twelve Colourplay collection of small art quilts will be on exhibition in Sydney in a few weeks. All 144 art quilts from this series will be on display at the ...

Stitches & Craft Show
Rosehill Gardens (Sydney)
7-10 March 2013

It's wonderful to see these quilts online and in the book, but seeing them 'in the cloth' is not to be missed.

Visit the Twelve by Twelve website for more information about the  artists and their collaborative work over five years.

The Tentmakers of Chareh El Khiamiah

You might have seen the traditional applique work done by tentmakers in Cairo, either on Jenny Bowker's blog, or increasingly at quilting exhibitions. The Tentmakers of Chareh El Khiamiah website was launched just yesterday, primarily to promote the production of a documentary on these talented and fascinating artisans.

The journey starts in a run down, noisy, dusty ancient souk, or market, in Old Islamic Cairo. It examines the recent changes which have had to be made in a street of exclusively male stitchers, textile workers, practicing a 900 year old tradition in almost the exact same manner as it was plied centuries ago.
A collection of their work is currently being shipped to the US for exhibition and sale at various American Quilt Society events throughout 2013.

The Facebook page for the film, is another way to follow its progress, and to see regular posts of photos of the street in Old Cairo, and the breathtakingly beautiful work produced there.

Some links to free quilt patterns

These fifteen links are to free online quilt patterns provided by a selection of fabric designers and manufacturers to showcase their collections:

Moda Fabrics

Mingle Color Theory is a free pattern
from the Robert Kaufman website

Robert Kaufman Fabrics
Hoffman Fabrics
Free Spirit Fabrics
Jinny Beyer Studio
P & B Textiles
Clothworks
Andover Fabrics
Riley Blake Designs
Michael Miller Fabrics
Anna Maria Horner
Lecien
Art Gallery Fabrics
Makower UK
Benartex

Of course, there are many, many more sources of free quilt patterns out there - feel free to add your favourites in a comment.

Airing of the Quilts 2013 - Berrima Patchwork

Saturday 9th February, 10am till 4pm

All details here - Berrima Patchwork

American antique quilts in Avalon

Click the image for a larger view:

Thanks Noelle, for the flyer

Leura, now, until 17th February ...

Click on the image of the flyer to enlarge:

Information about the venue is available on the Everglades website.

This page is an invitation to Yum Cha at Everglades on 10th February 2013, in conjunction with the exhibition - bookings close 4th February

Thanks Noelle, for the flyer.

Frederica Josephson coverlet up close event

Click on the image of the flyer (thank you Kate Quilts) to enlarge:

Stash and Treasure Recyclers' Market

From Stash and Treasure Recycler's Market on Facebook - not just for quilters, but if you have a stash that needs serious culling, or if you need to build up your stash, it could be for you:

We're back for 2013!

All artists, crafters, collectors, painters, mixed media artists, collectors, bookmakers, scrapbookers, doll makers, sewers, toy makers, steam punk artists, quilters, dyers, jewellers, assemblage artists, hoarders, wood turners, journalers, found object hoarders, wooden & timber artists, linen & haberdashery collectors, knitters, sculptors, felters, screen printers, weavers, beaders, bike and toy repairers, crocheters, upholsterers, wire workers, mechanics, radio collectors … if you have too much stash, this market is for you.

This is NOT a market for product or finished goods.  This market is for excess creative materials - the old, the new, the half used.  Any and all creative things that still have life in them are what this market is about!  Re-cycling and up-cycling your stash that a like-minded artist or crafter can use creatively.

Any small furniture related to your studio or work space, containers you store materials in, art and craft books and magazines are all ok!

Saturday, 16 February 2013
9.00am - 2.00pm
Marrickville Town Hall - 303 Marrickville Rd

Vendor tables = $55 for one or $95 two

To express your interest please email stashandtreasure@gmail.com and we'll send you application form with all the details you need. Applications close 1 February 2013.