BEST OF SHOW - Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair 2017

Last month at the Craft & Quilt Fair returned to the Darling Harbour Convention Centre, now known as the ICC and it was a fabulous array of displays, guests, stalls, workshops, make and take its, but the Sydney Quilt Show by Quilt NSW was outstanding.  Over 400 quilts on display by members of NSW Quilt Guild. Well done everyone.

One of my very favourite quilters extraordinaire is PAM BROCKWELL and she so deservedly won the coveted prize of the BERNINA BEST OF SHOW 2017, award sponsored by Bernina Australia for her quilt STAR LINK.

Pam wandered by our stand to have a chat, prior to the big announcement, when questioned, she replied, 'yes, I won a few awards, but not sure which' and we thought how humble she was and so unassuming, since we knew/supposed whatever she entered would be stunning. She was knocked for six when the announcement was made because she had eyed off another quilt which she thought had it in the bag! (all Aussie sayings for our International readers, google such)
What a vision!  Pam explained the connection between the stars and the circles and all the quilting designs surrounding each to keep it all in perspective and inter-connecting. Such thought, such planning. She told me she wasn't happy with the grey outer edges, so went back to her stash and made hundreds and hundreds of little scallops, colour coordinated them to surround the entire quilt to set it off. Pam has such an eye for fine detail. Star Link is not a normal type theme for Pam to make and she was urged by a friend to make something more contemporary with a modern flair.

JUST LOVE IT

The Awards: Bernina Best of Show 2017

First in Combined Pieced & Applique Quilt (Professional)

Excellence in Domestic Machine Quilting Award (Professional)

Star Link - Pam said: 'Foundation paper piecing and using my stash for the stars and dots and trying to show the colours changing green, yellow green to yellow and so on around the edges of the quilt. That and the circular quilting is my link in "STAR LINK", inspired by 'Stars on Mars' by Gail Stepanek & Jun Hutchinson."

First in the Pictorial Quilt (Open) was awarded to 

HELEN GODDEN for her quilt 'VIVID'

Helen is another well-known quilter and always presents amazing pictorial quilts but this one is sure to be a favourite with anyone who has visited Sydney during any festival. 

Vivid - Helen said: 'Capturing the colour and carnival atmosphere of Sydney's Festival of Lights. Hand painted original composition, painted with Lumiere acrylic paint and glow paint on black calico. Free motion quilting on a Sweet Sixteen'. 

Second place in the Pictorial Quilt (Open) was awarded to BERNARDINE HINE for her 'DELIGHTFUL DAISIES' which also won the award for the Best Use of Dyes and Pigments.

Delightful Daisies - Bernardine said: 'I wanted to capture these daisies from a garden I visited in a painterly way, that made them look fresh and carefree in the warm sunshine.'

It also won the 

JUDGE'S AWARD

First Place in the Applique Quilt - Professional Section 

was awarded to

JANET TREEN for her quilt 'AMELIA'S FAMILY ALBUM'.

My apologies, but the quilt was so large, I couldn't stand back far enough to capture the entire size of it, so have missed the lower edge. 

The quilt also Won the Award for Retaining the Tradition: Best Traditional Quilt - Professional.

Amelia's Family Album - Janet said: 'This quilt was made for my daughter and is in the style of a Baltimore Album Quilt. Block designs are from book by Elly Sienkiewicz apart from three of them and the border which I drew myself.'

The Long Arm Machine Quilting Award - Open was awarded to 

ROBYN CUTHBERTSON for her quilt 'REFLECTIONS IN BLUE'.

Reflections in Blue - Robyn said: 'I've always been fascinated by mandala designs and thought they would make an interesting wholecloth design. This design is entirely hand guided using my A1 longarm machine and is quilted on cotton sateen using Glide Thread.' (which is available on my website)

This quilt also won 

FIRST PLACE in OTHER TECHNIQUES (Professional) 

and EXCELLENCE IN LONG ARM QUILTING AWARD (OPEN)

SECOND PLACE in PIECED QUILT - PROFESSIONAL 

was awarded to 

LYN CRUMP for her quilt LIMEBERRY TART.

LIMEBERRY TART - LYN said: 'Two years out from an '0' birthday I decided to make myself a quilt. Lime from my past, berry from the present with a drizzle of chocolate. 14,301 half inch hexagons, took almost three hours every day for 25 months to complete.'  OMG !!

There were so many other wonderful quilts, winning awards and not so lucky this year, so I give you the link to see them all HERE.

I am quite sure there will be many more wonderful quilts on display at the Craft & Quit Fair in Melbourne later this month, so do try to attend. Nothing beats seeing the quilts in person, plus there are so many other features at the shows and, of course, you may visit the PUNCH WITH JUDY stand and say hello! PLUS, behind our Stand A11 - the return of our NIFTY NOTIONS demonstrations! I know you will be happy about that.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

THE AUSTRALIAN CRAFT INDUSTRY AWARDS

are being held again this year (2016 was not held)

There are so many categories that you may nominate for so here is the link, 

BUT you only have until 10th July to do so, 

extended from the previously advertised date of 30th June.

I would appreciate you nominating Punch with Judy for any that you feel we may deserve.