10th Anniversary QuiltCon

QuiltCon 2023, the annual show hosted by The Modern Quilt Guild in the US was held in Atlanta last weekend. 

QuiltCon is a juried show, attracting entries from around the world. There are many posts on social media sharing the wonderful modern quilts, and the award winners, you can also view on the MQG website here.

The spectacular Best of Show quilt was Bullseye made by Barbara Strick from California.

The Quilting Excellence award was taken out by Northern Territory quilter Simone Symonds for her quilt Sawtooth No 3: Betelguese.

New community quilts

Made by Elaine W

Made by Dawn, quilted by Laura

Made by Elaine G

Made by Elaine G

Made by Susan Mack

Made by Susan K, quilted by Quilting Finesse

Made by Susan K, quilted by Quilting Finesse

Textile exhibitions - Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

Two textile/ fibre arts exhibitions are currently showing at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery in Windsor - a lovely space, just a short walk from the Windsor shopping centre where you will find several cafes. Signatures is an Untethered Fibre Artists’ project; ‘Hearts of Absent Women’ is work by Ema Shin.

The third current exhibition ‘Wollemi’is a solo show of large drawing by Mark Dover from a residency at the Bilpin International Ground for Creative Initiatives. All three exhibitions are on until 6 April.

Note that the Gallery is closed on Tuesdays.

For more details, see: https://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/gallery

New Year show and tell (4)

We posted the finished top of Susan’s batik New York beauty back in November, and now here is the finished quilt, enhanced by Susan’s skilled machine quilting.

It was inspired by a quilt made by Gail Stepanek, and exhibited in the American Quilt Society’s exhibition in 2006.

The New York Beauty blocks are foundation paper
 pieced, and the leaves are hand-appliqued.

 

‘In Conversation’ - exhibition in 2023

An interesting concept for a modern quilt exhibition later in 2023 (dates and venues to be announced), and an opportunity to participate, from Australian quilter/textile artist/ curator Tara Glastonbury:

Join us ‘In Conversation’

I am beyond thrilled to finally tell you about the exhibition I’m planning for this year - just look at this line-up!

For ‘In Conversation’ I invited six Australian quilt artists to engage in a quilt dialog with an international quilter of their choice.

… We would love for you to join us in this conversation by entering a mini quilt on this theme for consideration. We have room for approx 20 minis so head on over to our supporter site (link below) to find out more.

Read more about the concept, the invited quilters, the open call for mini quilt entries, and ways you can support the initiative:
buymeacoffee.com/stitchandyarn/join-quilt-conversation

New Year show and tell (3): Julie’s quilts

Julie has a history of sewing for others through various charities, and has continued to do so with many quilts made for our community collection. We are surprised on the few weeks when she doesn’t have one or more quilts either finished or in the making for show and tell. She also manages to make beautiful quilts for family and friends.

Julie likes this simple block layout of three small squares
and a rectangle because it is so versatile, and accommodating
of scraps. These are her latest two for the community
collection. Quilted by Laura.

Julie’s version of Judy Newman’s design, ‘Into the Woods’,
made in rich warm tones. Quilted by Laura.

This fun design of funky little ducks is just right for 

Julie’s impressive machine appliqué skills. It’s been 

quilted by Laura, and is currently having its binding 

attached - more to post when it’s finished.

Show and tell - not quilts

It’s not all quilts, but it is all making - many of us are multi-skilled. Summer is a good time to concentrate on smaller projects.

Stephanie is on a mission to work through her yarn stash,
 and testing sock patterns.

Louise has made a small embroidered heart
for a friend going through a tough time. 

Susan K made a bilby, and is working on a ‘challenging’ bag.

Louise also made an embroidered felt pear
in a sewing day with friends.

Pat made some cushions, and came up with the ingenious
 idea of matching  the block patterns on the front and back of the one on the left to two of her quilts.

 

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.