The Stitches and Craft Show

Last week I visited the Stitches and Craft Show. I didn't take too many photos. There were lots of beautiful quilts to see, mostly done in the traditional style.

There was a beautiful quilt that followed the Mystery Quilt Blocks from 2012 Quilt Mania magazines designed by Yoko Saito.

This has all been done by needle turn, however, I saw a similar one created by one of the stall holders. Hers was done using vliesofix and just having a raw edge, more my style!
After seeing all the gorgeous fabrics used in the quilts, I couldn't resist buying some fabric from the same stall. They were half price. How could I resist?

They also had a really old quilt on show from Janet O'Dell's Antique Quilt Collection. In the same area they had a whole lot of quilts that were inspired by the antique one. I loved the way they all looked in their rows. Their geometric patterns really popped out when you looked through the lens of a camera at them.

The Crazy Tea Cosy Lady - Loani Prior was at the show again.
I do have a soft spot for her craziness.

It was a fun day out.

Quilt Show 2014 and A Dresden and Liberty Quilt

Every year I think that I won't go to the Quilt Show because there is never too much that is different from the previous year but I just can't keep away! As it turned out, I was happy I went because I picked up some gorgeous Yuwa and Keiko Goke fat quarters at a very good price. They were just what I needed to breathe life into a quilt I am making.

My output in all things crafty has been on hold.

Firstly because I have been studying at uni at night and this has caused me to spend way too many hours on my laptop.

Secondly because all the extra time spent studying and typing ( I have a 5000 word essay to hand in during mid May) has given me really, really, bad RSI.

Anyway, the essay is nearly done and I was newly inspired by all the quilts I saw at the show.  My new fabric coupled with the vision I had for the quilt meant I just had to get back on my machine.

I'm really enjoying the way this quilt is developing.

As for the show, I met Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession, bought her new book, had a chat with her, and admired her new range of fabrics.

 Here are some of the quilts I saw

By Pam Holland

Sorry about the 2 ladies in the pic. It was a bit hard to get a shot without someone trying to get a better look at this masterpiece!

 By Alison Withers

 By Pricilla Bianchi

By Jenny Bowker

 By Rosalie Dace

 By Michelle Law

By Wendy Williams

 By Wendy Wiliams

 Detail of above

 Detail from quilt below

by Sue Benner

By Sonia Higgs

Hand pieced and appliqued - truly amazing work!

There were heaps more on show.

So much talent and so much time devoted to these works.

Australian Quilt Convention 2013

The 2013 Quilt Show was a treat this year with lots of wonderful quilts to catch my eye.

The Twelve by Twelve ladies were at it again with another series of gorgeous miniature quilts all themed by colour.

You can see their pieces by clicking on the link above.

There are of course 144 of them in total.

There were lots of quilts by Judy Hooworth

Lots more are on my Flickr Account

Loved this gorgeous little piece by Deborah Brearley about Margaret Olley 

There were some gobsmacking pieces with 1000's of tiny pieces.

Fabulous textural quilts were on view

 From Korea

 From Sth Africa

Miniature pieces with miniature stitches.

And even a touch of modern sashiko

I know I am being lazy and should post all the names of these incredibly talented artists but all these photos are on Flickr with their names and some of their statements and info about their pieces and mediums.

I just wanted to say it was a really good show!

And I didn't buy anything besides a coffee. 

Two Down and a Quilt Show

The Olympics are on and combined with the football I had a very TV stitch weekend.

The binding was finished for x +.

I'm so happy with this little quilt, especially now that it is finished. All the pain has gone!

The next quilt caused very little pain but I don't care for it half as much.

I backed it with some Michael Miller fabric and just used plain navy for the binding.

It's been machine quilted but I think I may do some extra quilting by hand inside the squares.

Today was the last day of the Melbourne Quilt Show.

The best thing that happened was that before we even entered some lovely ladies came up to us and gave us 2 free tickets!

It was fun to stroll through the aisles. Lots of fabric, lots of beautiful wool. I was tempted but did not succumb. 

The quilts on display were quite traditional. It was a bit exciting to see an Olga Walters designed Alice In Wonderland quilt. Unfortunately I lost the name of the quilter.

This was the first quilt class I ever took.

Mine was nowhere near as detailed and neat as this but it was really fun to see that some of the stencils I used in mine and the whole layout of the quilt was the same.

I remember a girl in the class saying that once you get into quilting you will be totally addicted. 

I didn't believe her at the time.

Of all the quilts on show, I thought this one was really clever. I think it was designed by Margaret Drayton and stitched by Anne Sushames.

The compass blocks were all different and each one had a marine icon in the centre. The background fabric was a very faded, old world map. I loved the way she made some of the blocks elongated. I have been fascinated by these types of blocks for a while and am trying to work out a way to make them using freezer paper.

Here are some other mini quilts that caught my eye.

Off to the Vegie Bar in Brunswick Street for some dinner now.

Yum, a great way to finish a fun weekend.