Talks in Autumn / Winter 2013

If you've enjoyed the quilts on my blog, you might be interested to know that I will be busy giving a few talks about quilting later this year.

Boscatle Village Hall

The first which was to have been in Boscastle Village Hall on Wednesday, 11 September has now been postponed until a date to be announced. I hope you will be able to rearrange your diaries!



Saltash Baptist Church

The second will be for the Quilters' Guild Day at Saltash Baptist Church, Cornwall, on Saturday, 2 November at 10 a.m.

 

Tavistock Methodist Hall

The next will be with Goosey Quilters in the Methodist Hall, Tavistock, Devon, on Thursday, 7 November at 7.30 p.m.

Burton Art Gallery & Musuem, Bideford

The final one this year will be at the Burton Art Gallery & Museum, Bideford, on Wednesday, 20 November at 7.30 p.m.

There might also be one for the South West Quilters at Bridestowe Village Hall, Devon, on Saturday, 12 October but that's yet to be confirmed; pencil in the date, perhaps.

The more the merrier - I hope to be able to meet you at one of these!

South West Quilters Challenge, 2013

I entered this quilt, which originally started as a workshop with Jan Hassard, into the South West Quilters' Chairman's Challenge at Exeter in the spring of this year. The challenge was entitled 'As the Saying Goes'  and I named the quilt A Few Feathers Short of the Whole Duck!

It was amazing to me that it won first prize and is now touring the country with Grosvenor Shows. Perhaps you were able to see it at the Springfields Quilt Show which took place in Spalding on 7th and 8th of June!

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):