If you were at Craft Depot early this morning you would no doubt have noticed the 60 or so women who just might have been members of the Red Hat Society (they were flamboyant in purple, and their very best red hats), who were on a shopping bus trip from Newcastle ......
Gentle colour gradations in a variety of hand dyed fabrics give Janet's Leaves quilt its firey autumnal glow. The tilted setting makes the leaves dance. The quilting is subtle - free motion stitching defines veins in the leaves, with just a hint of texture, and the ribbon border adds dimension.
Can't wait to see the "garden" top!
.... as well as in series. With these quilts, they have used the same block, with different layouts and very different fabric choices. Both of the tops are enormous, so they will be taking themselves off to a long-arm quilter!
Jane's navy, red and gold is striking and regal. The asymmetric bloc placement leads the eye all over the quilt, and to that beautiful border fabric again and again. So much to look at!
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Dina gets to go to Houston from time to time to meet up with sister and fellow quilter, Cindy, to take in the festival and then they shop. These subtly elegant fabrics came from one of those excursions. Just look at that final border print! The three dimensional effect is well-realised through the more regular block placement and the thoughtful interplay of light, medium and dark-value fabrics - you almost need to reach out touch it to see how many layers there are .....
Should this quilt ever go missing, you'll know where to look for it Dina!
Bev started out with some luscious Japanese fabrics, to piece together for a quilted vest ..... but they wanted to be a quilt, and now they are!
Its was beautifully quilted by Ellie Harrison from “Stitched & Bound”, using a dragonfly motif:
Three of our bordered squares quilt tops - same pattern, very different fabrics, very individual looks. These were put together by Helen, Jill and Jane (top to bottom). More to come, and these will be back when quilted and bound.
Jill's very big, king size quilt is almost done - just the binding to sew down. Good old disappearing 9 match made the top remarkably quick to put together. Jo Phillips quilted it, using a wool heirloom batting for warmth without it being too heavy, and a Kerryn Emmerson pantograph.
Heather's little granddaughter in Canada is about to receive a quilty reminder that she has some Australian roots, when she opens her first birthday present from her Australian grandma
Jane sewed all these blocks (plus the three left over ones) from a class, then decided she didn't like them. So we have two more community quilts, very quickly put together!
Don't follow this link unless you have a little time, or you are prepared to bookmark it for when you do have time! Amy, at the Park City Girl blog has organised her second online Bloggers' Quilt Festival, for those of us unable to get to Houston ..... click here to link to the quilts entered so far (getting very close to 500 - note that there is a second longer list just below the first one. There are few familiar Australian names there. Everyone, including the Evening girls, is invited to make a Blanket of Love for our Christmas Party on Monday 7 December 2009.
Size: The quilt is to be no more than 24" x 24"
Design: Your own choice of design/colour . However NO yellow should be used.
Construction: NO wadding is required and backing should be flannel.
The group will judge the finished quilts at the Party.
This UK website gives a good overview and history of the Blankets of Love concept.
