South West Quilters - November 2012

The South West Quilters recently held their Christmas meeting at Exeter Raceourse and the challenge this year, set by Pam Smith who won last year’s challenge, was "Angels", inspired by the book Angels, Angels All Around by Bob Hartman.

As you can imagine, I was amazed to be awarded first prize for my quilt Angels, which you can see here in all its glory:

There were between 25 to 30 entries in the South West Quilters' Challenge. My quilt was made from dupion silks and remnants from silk dresses that I had made for various people while living in Australia ( I am a squirrel and never throw anything away!). I liked the idea of lots of sparkle - after all, it is Christmas - so added couched silver thread around all of the blocks then threw in some stars and other bits of embellishment on the appliqued angels. All made on my trusty Bernina 1230 sewing machine with some stars embroidered using my Janome 10,000. I had originally decided to have only two angels but somehow the other four spread their wings and joined in. I made it over a period of two to three months on and off. I was surprised, and of course thrilled, to win first prize.

 

The annual  SWQ Christmas party and get together with two speakers (morning and afternoon) takes place at Exeter Racecourse Centre every year and is always - despite the atrocious weather this year - well attended, with 200 or so packing the hall, everyone contributing food which makes for a superb lunch. It's topped off by the wonderful Christmas cake provided every year by the great Dorrie Shorthouse, liberally doused with calvados and tasting truly amazing. A great day out and not to be missed.

Details from the six angels:

Exam Wizard

I have been a dressmaker for many years, but it's been a while since I made any clothes for anyone. So when my son Graham recently asked me (at very short notice I may add) to rustle up a wizard's outfit for a training conference, I wasn't initially sure if I could rise to the challenge - but I think the results show I can still pull the rabbit out of the hat when required!

Posing by the fortune-telling tent - Mystic Maria and the Exam Wizard

Detail from the wizard's cloak - I knew my O level maths would come in useful one day.

Wizard and friend relaxing at home

Exhibited at Birmingham, 2012

I was very pleased to have a quilt called Springwatch exhibited at the 2012 Festival of Quilts in Birmingham NEC this year.

Malvern Quilts in Fabrications magazine

I'm chuffed to have two of my quilts from the Malvern 2012 show featured in the latest copy of Fabrications: Quilting for You (June/July 2012) - get your copy now!

On page 10 you can find Simple Curves - inspired by the work of Caryl Bryer Fallert, this one was awarded the Crafty Ribbons Award for Miniature Quilt.

On page 13, you can find Les Dancers, winner of the Creative Grids Award for Humour.

Parkhouse Patchwork Group Show, June 2012

For those of you who were unable to make it to the exhibition by the Parkhouse Patchwork Group in Bude this weekend, here are a few of my personal highlights.

A number of quilts were entered for the 2012 Challenge:

I was thrilled to win first prize for this one:



For anyone who felt they were missing out not watching the boats go down the Thames, I also had a patriotic cushion cover on display:

and I also had a chance to display quilts made for my brother and his family (see It's a family affair below for more on those):



The Malvern Quilt Show, May 2012

These gorgeous Can Can Girls below have won me first prize at the Malvern Quilt show this year 2012. I just love the 'joie de vivre ' that emanates from it. I was so thrilled to win first prize in the Humour section.

As submitted...

and with rosette!

This Caryl Bryer Fallert design below has just won me another first prize for a miniature at the Malvern Quilt Show 2012.  I had to figure out a way to put it together as she does hers with freezer paper and glue and invisible thread. I devised my own method with 1/4 inch seam allowances,and some foundation piecing. I was totally amazed to win.

As submitted...

and with rosette!

And here I am, picking up some silverware!

Twisted Log Cabin

My most recent enterprise is this Twisted Log Cabin quilt ,which started as a workshop with Jan Hassard. I embroidered feathers onto the backgound with black and free motion embroidered feathers onto the rest of the quilt.

We Are Sailing

This small quilt was made for the We Are Sailing competition for Region 4 of the Quilter's Guild,  back in March 2012. It will be touring around this summer with all the other entries and will be shown  in Tiverton on May 17th and at the Dorset Quilters' day on June 2nd. Further venues will be the Sea Ilfracombe festival on September 1st and at Creative Stitches at Westpoint from September 27-30.

It's a family affair

I've photographed a few quilts made for members of my family - I'd like to share them with you here:

The quilt above is one I made for my brother Derek and his wife Pauline for Christmas 2005, when we returned to England from Australia.  It is a classic Log Cabin design in colours to suit their decor. I really enjoyed making this as I loved the colours.


Detail:

My nephew Ian and his wife Sarah were married in 2004 and the quilt below was made for their wedding present. It is a Bethlehem Star, the first one I had ever tackled . I was quite pleased with the result.

Since this is a family affair , here is the quilt I made for Karen's 50th birthday.  Full of colour, from Batic fabrics.  I loved  it and I know she did!

Parkhouse Patchwork Group

I hope you'll be able to come along to an exhibition in Bude of the beautiful work the Parkhouse Patchwork group. Large quilts, wall hangings, bags, cushions and lots more textiles items showing the many and varied skills of the group members.

Homemade refreshments, sales tables, stalls and demonstrations will also be available.

There will be a raffle of large double bed sized quilt, made in silk fabric, for Macmillan Cancer Support. Entry: £1.50

The Parkhouse Centre, Ergue-Gaberic Way, Bude, Cornwall EX23 8LD.

Dates and opening times:
Thursday 31 May, Friday 1 June and Saturday 2 June, 2012.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m (4 p.m. Saturday)

The Quilter by Malcolm Orr

Don't miss the February/March 2012 issue of Fabrications magazine - it has an article by my husband Malcolm, which he describes thus: "I have written this as a little light relief, a piece of harmless satire, which has been fashioned out of respect for the subject, not to deride it! Possibly it will resonate with many quilters and their partners..."

You'll have to buy the magazine because I'm sure you won't be able to to read it in the picture above.

Malcolm's also been busy plugging his new book, Home Thoughts On Abroad. Make sure you get hold of your copy!

Two Christmas quilts

Here are a couple of quilts made especially for Christmas time.

The first is A Partridge in a Pear Tree:

                                                                 
And this second one is called Oh Christmas Tree

                                                                   

Some more of my quilts

Now I've sorted out my gallery, I thought I'd exhibit a few more quilts I have made over the past few years.

This Tea Time quilt from my kitchen is an original that I created for Janome and it was featured in their magazine since it used Janome embroidery software.

The wall hanging below, Feather Study, is the result of another Marlene Chaffey workshop and taken from a design by Caryl Bryer Fallert, who I met when I visted her studio in Paducah in 2010.

This quilt below hangs in my hallway and is called Falling Colours, the result of a workshop with Jan Hassard.  Jan is a very thorough teacher and huge fun to work with . I highly recommend any of her workshops and or talks.

A day out at Marlene Chaffey's studio/workshop

The quilt below is the result of a great day out in a delightful farm setting near Exeter in Devon. Highly recommended!

Corner detail of the above quilt:

Judy Niemeyer's design

This design below is one by Judy Niemeyer. I had carried the picture around for years and finally made up the pattern myself.  I was quite pleased with the result.

 

Corner detail:

Penny's got a brand new bag (Christmas 2011)

Here's a bag I made with fabric bought at The Festival of Quilts, Birmingham 2011. Couldn't go past it, I made for Penny (cat lover) for Christmas 2011.