New Year show and tell (2)

 What some of us are working on now …

Robyn is a first class embroiderer. The latest of several 

embroidered cushions is worked in her favourite tones of 

turquoise. Robyn draws the circular guidelines on linen, and 

decides the stitches to embroider each round according to how 

she feels at the time. There is no pattern, but Robyn’s deep 

knowledge of the craft, and ability produce  beautiful designs. 

Unfinished, but already stunning.

Miriam’s ‘Little Women’ design is both simple and versatile`.
 Hilary has used it to marry a wide range of print
 scraps into an appealing quilt top.

Hilary grew up in England, and has a soft spot for
squirrels and other woodlanders.

Jan says her quilt is well overdue for the baby, but we think
it will be very welcome - it will keep the little one
entertained as well as warm.

Nerida is still on holidays, but we can see what 

she’s been up to on Instagram: 

Summer sewing, the Wonderland quilt. Lots of bright colours 

on woven backgrounds. I’ve left the fabric behind the appliques 

intact as per advice from Chris (Jurd, the quilt’s designer), 

a most enjoyable make, thank you. 

Elaine W’s latest quilt top combines Aboriginal print fabrics
 and black prints. She brought it to show us for quilting
suggestions - we’ll see it finished soon.

Stephanie had a collection of scrappy 1” hexagons looking
for a quilt top. She has sewn them into diamonds, and a pile
of solids in various colours is providing the backgrounds. 

Pink goes with everything.

Julie is a wiz at using scraps of every size. She found
herself with enough leftover fabric for the main 5” squares,
and found deeper tones for the corner stones, border corners
and narrow border in her stash.
The restrained palette is very soft and calm.

Very satisfying to get to the binding as Susan has on this one.

It was lovely to have Louise with us at our January sewing
day, as she is usually at work. She is hand quilting random
circles,(her method of choice) marked around various items
from her well stocked kitchen. The feature fabric in the quilt
is a delightful blue and white print. The quilt is for a baby.
Hilary has the same print, and now has some new
ideas for using it in a quilt.

Call for entries: Australian Quilt Show 2023

From IntoCraft:

Quilts completed between December 2021 and February 22, 2023 are eligible to enter this amazing exhibition opportunity which has an impressive $32,000 prize pool!

Information and entry form is online at craftevents.com.au. The exhibition will premiere at AQC on April 13 to 16, then travel to Craft and Quilt Fairs.

Quilts completed between December 2021 and February 22, 2023 are eligible to enter so plan your entry now.

 Sponsored by Expertise Events and Janome Australia.

craftevents.com.au/aqs_2023-rules/

 

 

New Year show and tell (1)

A great show and tell us always anticipated after our long summer break, and this weeks’ first meetings did not disappoint.it will take a few posts to reveal them all.

The photography session looked like fun!

Jo-Ann combined Elizabeth Hartman’s ‘Avalon’ pattern and
Brigitte Heitland’s Zen Chic fabric for a modern masterpiece.

Laura’s quilting curves are an excellent foil to the 
straight lines of the block pieces.

Jo chose a high loft batting to emphasise the quilting

Organic appliqué, to a design drawn up by a designer friend
makes an artwork from Hilary’s stash of Japanese fabric.

Dawn wasn’t sure she was up for the full sized version of this 

Christmas tree quilt, so she made a mini version.

Dawn has made a number (perhaps a dozen) quilts using
@sewmiriam’s SuperStars pattern. This is her latest one,
quilted by Laura.
She has already chosen fabrics for the next one.

Early 2023 finishes

So good to see the first finishes for 2023 appearing already! We’ll be back to regular meetings soon, so we expect to see more over the next few weeks.

Stephanie describes her Holland pouch (pattern from 

https://linktr.ee/centerstreetquilts) as ’rainy day sewing’ 

over the Christmas break.

Fabric - magenta floral from Ruby Star Society .

Steph also made a little mini pouch with the leftovers
perfect for circular knitting needle cords.

Pam was about to leave on a several weeks long tour of two 

states, and finished her daughter’s long awaited quilt the 

day before departure!

Her daughter chose the lovely fresh colour palette.

Jill actually made this quilt before the end of 2022 

all but the binding, but we’re counting it.

It is for the nine year old granddaughter of some friends,
with the fabric prints reflecting the  child’s interests that
 include maths.

It’s now on its way to South Australia for the bninth birthday.

 

Reading, listening

Looking for some quilt related holiday activities? Here are links to some  reading, and a Podcast.

Spotlight: Sue de Vanny, Mixed Media Artist

Mixed Media artist Sue de Vanny has a passion for animals, especially those that are endangered. She expresses this with whatever medium she feels best represents her message, from painting to quilting to collage to thread painting. These techniques give Sue’s work rich depth and texture that invite a closer look … Create Whimsy, November 2022

Stitch Safari Podcast: The Rajah and Changi Quilts

This episode of The Stitch Safari Podcast focuses on Quilts of Confinement - in fact, quilts made by women who were held captive - namely The Rajah Quilt, and the four Changi Quilts - including the Girl Guide Quilt … Cathy Jack Coupland, November 2022

The Quiet Activism of the Quilt

Internationally renowned artist Hollis Chatelain … channels the struggles and dreams of humanity into complex, award-winning quilts. 

… Chatelain is an artist whose ideas come to her in dreams that recur if she ignores them. She’s been having nearly monochromatic dreams for more than 20 years, most of them about social and environmental issues, which she turns into art quilts that are technically and emotionally intense … Janine Latus, Drexel University Magazine, Fall 2022

The singular Marcia Derse

When I pulled into Marcia Derse’s driveway, I thought of all the quilters who would have loved to have been in my shoes. Here I was being welcomed into the home and studio of a remarkable fabric designer … Patricia Belyes, Okan Arts, 15 December 2022

Quilt NSW Suitcase Challenge 2023

Announced by Quilt NSW, 3 January 2023:

Do you have a favourite song? Is there one that inspires you to create a challenge quilt? It's time to go through your catalogue of memories, sing some tunes and start thinking about your entry for the 2023 Suitcase Challenge. The theme is Song Title!

The conditions of entry will be released in early 2023 but for now you should know that quilts are to be the standard challenge size of 40cm x 40cm and should be made of three layers. 

Entries will close on Friday 6 October.  The quilts will be judged, and awards announced at the Annual General Meeting in November.

 

Community Quilts 2022

These are just 63 of the quilts we made during 2022 to give to community members - some in aged care, some children, Dandelion Support Network, and in response to appeals for families affected by the floods in the Northern Rivers and Hawkesbury regions of  NSW. We know there were a few more that were passed on before we could photograph them.  Our thanks to everyone who donated fabric, time and skills, those who kept the community stash in order, those who stored the finished quilts until needed, and those who made sure that the quilts got to where they were needed. The 2023 collection is already started - we’ll start to post them soon.