Christmas in May at Perth's Quilt West 2014

My last post re the quilts on display at Quilt West WA at Perth's Craft & Quilt Fair at the end of May.
Members of the 2014 Quilt West Committee put together a display called "CHRISTMAS IN MAY" to inspire viewers to be creative and start making quilted 'things' for their next Christmas.
It was a fun display showing the use of quilts in the home setting at that special time of the year.

I found it absolutely delightful and I congratulate everyone involved. 

Indeed a show stopper!

Allow me to share with you.

LIKE THE DISPLAY?

The following did not win awards, but they took my fancy for one reason or other.

OWLS are IN! Everyone loves OWLS these days (or frogs) so it is no wonder that I was attracted to the whimsical OWL TABLE RUNNER made by Lana Lefroy.

Lana said "Inspired by the owl fabric, my love of circles and our very large table. To make it textural and interesting I used a variety of techniques, from facings to foundation piecing. This is an original design."

46cm x 206cm

The following quilts were ones I shared with my Students in the Curve Master Online Course currently being held, so as they could see more quilts using techniques we have been studying.

"ROAD TO THE PINK PUB" made by ELIZABETH HUMPHREYS 

illustrates "A wonky drunkard's path to the Old Pink Pub at Whim Creek which is so often hit by cyclonic winds. An original design."

123cm width x 190cm height

"DICED CIRCLES" was made by HELLEN STRATTON

Helen said "Sample quilt trying out the applique and cut circles method to create an easy drunkards path. Adaptation from method by Carolyn Swarts 'Hip Hop' in a quilting magazine."

112cm width x 140cm height

"NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T" made by BARBARA MORKEL

Barbara said "The Winding Ways quilt block created circles with the placement of lights and darks - this inspired me to make a quilt using floral scraps from previous projects. An original design."

163cm width x 186cm height

Different colourways of these curved quilts I share with my online students gives them more inspiration for their lessons.

You may join us if you wish.

CURVE MASTER ONLINE COURSE is half way through, but you may still join until mid-June only.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit to Perth over these past postings.

In a few weeks I'll be at the CRAFT & QUILT FAIR in MELBOURNE

SEE YOU THERE!  STAND A11 

plus the Nifty Notions Stand opposite

Last of Winning Quilts from Quilt West WA

I wish I had have taken more quilts for you to see from the Craft & Quilt Fair in Perth late May, so these will be the last of the winning quilts I snapped; however, my next post will show you some that didn't win a prize but took my fancy.

FIRST PRIZE in the SMALL QUILTS - PROFESSIONAL 

was awarded to JAN ROWE 

for her quilt "THERE'S A RAINBOW IN MY GARDEN"

Jan said "Rainbow Lorikeets were accidentally released into Perth's western suburbs. Now they are a threat to native parrots, competing for food. Similarly, many introduced garden flowers may become a threat to our flora if left to grow wild. An original design."

 40cm width x 100cm height

BEST USE OF COLOUR was awarded to 

JUDY CAMPBELL for her quilt "MY JOURNAL".

Judy said "Each piece of fabric represents a place or a person and the variation in quilting stitch represents a state of mind at that time. An original design."

190cm width x 190cm height

The BERNINA AMATEUR ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD 

was won by KASIA SHEGEDIN 

for her quilt "TRIANGULAR SOLUTIONS".

Kasi said "This quilt was inspired by seeing an Alex Anderson quilt. I used 28 different coloured fabrics and it was a lot of fun creating both blocks and the border. An original design."

135cm width x 146cm height

(reminds me of licorice allsorts)

In my next post, I shall include the colourful display of 

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

I hope you are enjoying, particularly, all my viewers from overseas.

More Quilt Winners from Quilt West Perth WA

Last Blog I showed you a winning quilt from Rebecca Stewart-Bartlett who won one of the prizes from Punch with Judy. I was delighted when Rebecca visited my stand to thank me. This doesn't happen often so I am always delighted when I meet a recipient of a prize I sponsor. What floored me was that Rebecca said she'd entered FIVE quilts and gave me the number of another winning quilt of hers. When I grabbed a few minutes spare, the white glove ladies kindly ushered me to where it may be. I was thrilled to think it was one I'd already taken pics of because I thought it amazing. So, well done Rebecca.

Keep in mind, I flip around the quilts snapping here and there any which take my fancy or are of interest to my Online Students, usually grabbing a few mins before opening on a Sunday. Not much time for perfect photography etc. and sometimes I miss something. Forgive me.

So, let me show you REBECCA STEWART-BARTLETT'S quilt "MORRIS HILL MANOR" which was RUNNER-UP for BEST OF SHOW plus THE BEST LONGARM MACHINE QUILTING plus FIRST PRIZE in the ALL TRADITIONAL QUILTS - PROFESSIONAL section.  Whew!

CONGRATULATIONS INDEED REBECCA

Rebecca said "This is my version of Michele Hill's pattern, Morris Garden, with permission requested from Michelle." The quilt is 160cm width x 195cm height.

SECOND PRIZE in the 

ALL TRADITIONAL QUILTS - PROFESSIONAL 

was awarded to TRACEY BARELI for her quilt "SUN & SEA", 

which also won FIRST PRIZE for 

BEST DOMESTIC MACHINE QUILTING.

Tracey said "This is a wholecloth quilt on gold sateen. Free motion quilted using Superior Threads Kimono Silk 100wt and Wonderfil variegated thread. Beads also used. An original design." 

Amazing!  Quilt measures 91cm square

This one shows Tracey's beading.

Remember, this is quilted on a domestic sewing machine!

BEST AMATEUR HAND QUILTER was awarded to 

SUE TRENAMAN for her quilt 

"KAREN & DAVID'S ANNIVERSARY QUILT"

Sue said "I had been collecting Liberty fabrics for many years and eventually got around to putting them all together. This is the result. Traditional 'in public domain' Indian Hatchet pattern."

SECOND PRIZE in the PICTORIAL QUILT OPEN section was awarded to well-known 

JOCELYNE LEATH for her quilt "RAPIDS". 

Jocelyne said "The Murray River, Dwellingup State Forest, WA after a fierce down-pour. Free machine applique and thread painting in a Technique Workshop with Jenny Bowker. An original design."

Quilt measures 64cm width x 88cm height 

PRETTY AMAZING ALL OF THEM

YET ANOTHER BLOG TO FOLLOW

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Quilt West 2014 Quilt Winners

Home from the Craft & Quilt Fair in Perth WA last week. A warm thank you to all who visited the Punch with Judy Stand and our Nifty Notions presentations. Always an absolute pleasure attending Perth and the public are so very receptive and appreciative of the huge expense we all undergo to travel westwards. For overseas readers, it is equivalent to New York to Los Angeles.

The West Australian Quilters Association (Inc.) held their QUILT WEST 2014 quilt display at the show held at the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre. They do have an excellent blog if you care to visit: http://waquilters.com/blog/

With their permission, I will share the photos I took of winners and items of interest.

BEST OF SHOW 2014

awarded to MELODIE SYMES for her quilt PERSEVERANCE 2

Melodie said "The quilt took almost 10 years to complete and has taught me many life lessons, hence its name. I can now officially declare I'm over 1" squares. From publication Calico & Chintz - Antique Quilts from The Collection of Patricia S. Smith. Inspired by quilt-maker unknown ca 1810 - 1840."

What can one say other than aptly named and an understandable declaration by Melodie re 1" squares!

CONGRATULATIONS MELODIE

Not only did her quilt win Best of Show, it also won First Prize for the best Traditional Amateur section, as well as, the prize for "Retaining the Tradition".  

"Perseverance 2" is 249cm width x 245cm height

In the PICTORIAL QUILT OPEN SECTION

FIRST PRIZE was awarded to REBECCA STEWART-BARTELL

for her quilt "THE PORG"

Rebecca said "Oil Painted Still Lifes are my favourite type of paintings. This quilt is my textile version of my favourite paintings. An original design."

Please study these close-ups.......

The PRESIDENT'S CHOICE PRIZE

was awarded to FRANCES SCHIFFERLI

for her quilt "SILENT WITNESS"

I am honoured to say the quilt won one of our two awards from Punch with Judy

The quilt/s together are 105cm width x 97cm height

What an amazing and touching story behind the quilt though, 

read on.............

Frances said "The small grave of Onslow Thomas Carmody at Hamelin Pool, witnesses to a remarkable journey made by his parents from Cossack to Shark Bay in 1884. (The existing headboard is an inaccurate copy of the original.) Bearing up after the loss of their baby, Thomas and Emily met up with Thomas' sister Ann Barnard and John at Denham. Barnard St is testimony to them and their hotel 'The Pearler's Rest' which was built on the present day site of the shell style 'Old Pearlers Restaurant'. An original design."

MORE TO COME................

Voting for the inaugural ACIA (Australian Craft Industry Awards) is open from 1st June 2104

Please visit here 
and place your vote in the People's Choice Section. 
Please do so now as there is only a short voting time allocated, closing on 25th June, 2014.

All Exhibitors at shows are automatically nominated for the Best Craft Retailer and the Best Retail Customer Service but I'm also proud to say we made the finalists for the Best Retail Product or Service. (I nominated Terial Magic Spray as I thought it was Best NEW Product)

The Winners are..........

Two weeks ago my blog was personal, being about my eldest Granddaughter, Kirsten, with her last minute sewing to attend a fancy dress party. She whipped up an outfit using my old (now hers) over 50 year old Bernina 730 Sewing Machine and then proceeded to alter her friends' purchased outfits which arrived by mail but were quite ill-fitting.  See her story here.

I offered a little competition for the two morals of the story, offering a Thread Gift Box as the prize.
Must say that many commented on the blog page but so many more emailed me with their views.

As always, judges have a difficult choice deciding, but one must. There could have been 3 or 4 outright winners, but Vireya has been chosen for her entry.

Vireya said:
One has to be something about the value of buying quality. That 50-yr-old machine was built to last. And the other is that having the skills to "do it yourself" means that you never get stuck without a costume (or with an ill-fitting one)!

Yes, the value of buying quality and sewing for yourself results in a better fit.
Vireya, please email me privately giving your mailing address so as I may post you a Wonderfil Viscose Rayon box of threads (RRP $200.00, though we sell for $114.00 as a special)  Congratulations.

I must also give mention to Vivienne, who amused me with her comment: 

Hi Judy, I read your blog about your granddaughter with interest & amusement. You asked what the 2 morals of the story would be. I wonder if the old proverb of the person who opens their mouth can prove that they are unwise, but the person who says nothing gives the impression of having wisdom? With the 2 Indian names & their meaning, it could just be apt.

Vivienne was referring to the Indian names and their meanings which Kirsten chose. 

After a search on Internet, they found some Indian names.
Inteus (has no shame), alias Bianca, on the left,
Dichal (speaks a lot), alias Kirsten, on the right.

Therefore, I would like to send Vivienne a small prize too.

I am glad you enjoyed participating, maybe we should do more of these during the year.

At last week's Creative Textile Show in Canberra, one of the exhibitors, Robyn, wore a beautiful blouse made using Chizimi Shrinking Thread. See how the lightweight fabric crinkles/shrinks by simply sewing over the cream crepe fabric.  Note the novel neck trim made with yo-yos, lace and embellishments. Robyn was selling them so guess who purchased one in beautiful tones of amethyst and cream? Looked charming on my purple blouse I wore on the Sunday; well, I thought so even though some male, who shall remain anonymous, asked me what was that thing around my neck!

Note the novel neck trim made with yo-yos, lace and embellishments. Robyn was selling them so guess who purchased one in beautiful tones of amethyst and cream? Looked charming on my purple blouse I wore on the Sunday; well, I thought so!

Hope to see many of you at the Perth Craft & Quilt Fair shortly. At the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre from 21 - 25 May. See us on Stand A07. PLUS, we have 30 min tutorial demonstrations ALL day on the Nifty Notions Stand. 
Learn about NEW products and how to use them to boost your creativity.
It's FREE! Don't miss it.

Creative Textile Show 2014 - Canberra

I am in awe with the creativity and imagination of fibre artists' displays at the Creative Textile Show being held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra at the moment.  Displays too numerous to list, but you may visit www.creativetextileshow.com.au for further details.
Our own contribution, 'where creativity and imagination meet' is introducing the Silhouette Cameo which is an electronic cutting tool with capabilities beyond belief. Click here for more information.

The show is not as busy as our normal type shows since it is a unique show for Fibre Art Mixed Media, therefore, I had a little time to wander, in between demonstrating and my daily seminar on the virtues of Terial Magic Spray. 

Baby Lock invited me to have a test drive of their 12 needle Embellishing Machine. I loved it! Definitely the easiest and smoothest embellisher I've used. 

I like the appearance of scrunched up evening fabric, so I chose that to "play" with. You could win a Baby Lock Fibrepro embellishing machine at the show - I'll be envious of some lucky person.

Of course, Baby Lock's display was far more enticing..........

The scarf was made by stitching over water soluble stabilizer (I like Rinseaway) and the lower edges were embellished with felting.  Gorgeous!

Kate Marra, who I dub "Miss Baby Lock", made a beautiful wedding dress, part of the Baby Lock display.

Kate told me it took hours and hours because she literally made the fabric; overlocked row upon row of stitching and then couched is all over. Here is her test sample. The dress is incredible.

Then I visited Bernina's stand and had to let you see the new "skin" of the Bernina 215 - the modern trend. 

Some of their display garments were well in the theme of the show being for Fibre Artists.

Yesterday, I showed some amazing knitted creations from Teresa Dair on my Facebook, but I'd like to share them again with you here as her display is absolutely mind-blowing. The neckpiece appears to be knitted copper wire, but Teresa corrected me showing me what it actually was, now I forget the name of it! When it is photographed with the flash on, it just GLOWS!

Teresa's knitting is not your usual Knit One Purl One and she is very much a unique fibre artist.

So MANY other brilliant displays here, indeed an absolute credit to all those talented artists.

Congratulations to all those who contributed - one more day of the show, so I hope you have the opportunity to see these amazing creations.