Archive for the ‘Design’ Category

Some years ago an exhibition of Amish quilts was put on display at the Victorian Art Gallery. It was viewed by the gallery as a stop gap between major exhibitions. I found it was an astonishingly beautiful and intimate view of a lifestyle that is foreign to me. Since then I have taken every opportunity to view quilts on exhibition whenever I can manage it.

I feel strongly that quilts are pieces of art and should be acknowledged as such. Technically there are hand sewn, machine sewn and many are a combination of both. There are those that are drafted by hand and those that are drafted by CAD software.

But to create a successful quilt there needs to be a combination of creativity, design, colour, technique and skill. The best thing of all about quilts is the fact that they have a purpose. It’s rarely design for the sake of it - quilts serve a practical purpose and are made to provide warmth or to be worn.

Right now I like to look, perhaps one day I’ll have a go at making one. Recently I went to a craft and quilt fair, spent nearly a whole day there and I took some pictures to show you something of what it is that attracts me.

This first, ia a prizewinner, no surprise really, it is a glorious piece of work of which I captured only a small part of a quilt called “Run for your life” by an Jill Hessing.Detail of turtles and heron from Run For Your Life Quilt by Jill Hessing.

My record keeping was a bit scrappy, but I think this next one is by Pat Stevenson called Sally’s Secret. It’s based on a traditional pattern called “Baby Blocks”. I love the use of colour in this geometric design.
Sally’s Secret by Pat Stevenson.

The next is a wholecloth piece, i.e. made from one piece of fabric and then quilted. It is a computerised design that was created on a longarm quilter rather than on a domestic machine like the previous two. Called “Feathered Roses” by Eileen Donnelly.
Detail of the computerised “Feathered Roses” a quilt by Eileen Donnelly.

The next is the centre panel of a freehand quilt by Clare Fairless, the name of which I’m afraid is illegible in my notes.

Centre panel quilting by Clare Fairless of castle enclosed by dragon.

I’ve also added another detail which would have been much better if I had not blurred the shot.
Detail of quilting by Clare Fairless.

This next is from “Morris Gothic in Gold” by Judi Liebmann and is mainly appliqued.
Detail from Morris Gothic in Gold by Judi Liebmann.

This is sadly another not so sharp picture of the whole quilt. It impressed me for many reasons, it took my breath away and made me forget how tired I was after so many hours spent wandering around.
Morris Gothic in Gold by Judi Liebmann.

This next is the last one for tonight, I’ll put up some more in my next post. This last one is quite a lovely design and if my notes are right is called “Woman Attacks Sewing Machine With Axe” by Cindy Cudmore. In the quiltmakers remarks she says. “Made from a Sara Nephew pattern. I bought a book and two rullers to make this quilt. They are not likely to be used again.”
Woman Attacks Sewing Machine With Axe by Cindy Cudmore.

Until the next post, logging off, Jools