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.

Holiday Quilting

My friend Rivka, who has commissioned me to make quite a few quilts now, delivered her Liberty Quilt back to me, after having had it professionally quilted. The final binding was added and after many months, was ready to live on her bed. We made this quilt together, cutting, ironing and stitching. This one took ages to put together and in the end I had to scrap together every last square inch of fabric to complete the last few blocks.

It's queen size, but looks like a single from the photo. I didn't get a chance to photograph the binding which was mainly charcoal and really defined the border.

Next, Rivka pulled out of her bag a whole stack of blocks that she had made in a fit of creativity and then stopped. As per her usual style, nothing was measured, pinned or uniform. As free spirited as she is herself!

A few hours later, we had everything cut to a slightly more regular fit, many more blocks made and the horizontal sashings attached. 

The aim of this quilt was that it was going to be used for her TV watching evenings. It is so long, it can totally wrap around you for snuggling up on cold winter evenings.

 It is so bright and happy.

Getting all inspired to do my own stitching I added another border to the Denyse Schmidt medallion.

Can't decide whether I should do any more.

Making a Medallion using Flea Market Fancy

I've been playing with these blocks for ages and really not liking them very much but now that I am on school holidays, I have had a bit more time to think and play. The Flea Market Fancy quilt blocks have been joint together to be the centre of a medallion quilt.

A couple of borders were added

 Flying ducks were prepared

Added,

With another border too.

I'm liking the look of this a whole lot more now and the next few rows of blocks are nearly ready to join.

I just love holidays!

Quilts in the Barn

The Annual Quilts in the Barn exhibition was on this weekend. This is the first time I have made the trip to visit this show and after a long drive to the outskirts of Melbourne I arrived.

This year's theme was chintz.

Not my usual fare, however, this was something special.

Gorgeous fabrics, intricate stitching and lots of medallion quilts.

The photos really don't do justice to the richness and skills of the quilts on show.

I will be making this an annual event in my calendar from now on.