Quilts of Australia

At the recent Pacific International Quilt Festival, we saw a beautiful display of quilts from Australia, a country of many talented quilt artists !  We hope you enjoy some of the highlights of this exhibit!

Self Portrait with Machine, 38 x 38, by Ronda Hazell

Ronda explains, "This is one version of myself, in my happy place with my favorite sewing machine. I am disupted and interrupted from my activity momentarily. The background is a Drunkard's Path [pattern] in a combination of commercial fabrics, hand dyed after quilting with applique as the main design."

We love the look of contentment and productivity on Ronda's face ! She reminds us that every day is a good day to quilt. Her original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Teatime in Wonderland, 33 x 55,  by Jessica Dobson

Blue ribbon winner for Best of Country in the World Quilt Exhibition, Jessica notes, "I love the characters out of the movie "Alice in Wonderland", and I thought it would be fun to create a quilt with them. The background has been created with fabric dyes. The characters are all raw edge fabric collage. Lace has been added to sleeves and the binding. "

What a great expression on the face of the giant White Rabbit, one of the memorable characters in classic children's literature ! Jessica's original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, free-motion embroidered, and sewing machine quilted.

Dragon Magic, 36 x 36, by Silke Steuxner

Silke writes, "Dragon Magic is a quilt that encourages tearing down the borders of rigid beliefs that things only exist which are visible to the naked eye. Let's build bridges that open and allow us entry into a magical world where fairies and dragons exist. Be brave and curious like the little fairy that builds a bridge by approaching the majestic dragon on the wings of a dragonfly."

Silke's lovely work has such an enchanted, fanciful touch to it ! Her original design is machine appliqued and longarm machine quilted.

Night Moves 36 x 36, by Sue de Vanny

Sue notes that the subject for her quilt  is the Tasmanian Masked Owl. It was first discovered in Tasmania, which is an isolated island state off Australia's south coast. Sue says, "I've depicted him coming in and ready to pick up its prey to feed its family."

Sue continues, " [This quilt has a ] pieced and painted background with the owl and tree trunk appliqued and thread sketched, then quilting and beading added."
We love these intricate embellishments which give such an expressive, soulful look to the owl's face.

Deceptive Markings, 65" x 53", by Sue de Vanny

Sue de Vanny says that the center of Deceptive Markings is a preprinted panel from Reece Scannell of trees and statues, done in symmetry.  "I saw an elephant head [within] the image.  Piecing the base and then appliqueing the ears, tusks, and trunk created the distortion to give more roundness."

The elephant's eyes were thread sketched to make them realistic.  Sue used metallic threads to quilt around the trees, and added tulle for value and depth on ears. This very creative piece is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

Best of the Pacific International Quilt Festival 2019 (day 1)

Held annually in Santa Clara, California, the Pacific International Quilt Festival is the largest quilt show on the west coast. It features a wonderful variety of beautiful quilts! Here are some of the highlights of the festival. Let us know which ones are your favorites!

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For Such A Time As This, 68 x 70, by Kathy Wylie, Canada

Top prize winner, the Best of Show award, Kathy says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven...[In this quilt], time is portrayed by clock numbers, monthly birth flowers and birthstones, leaves changing color with the seasons, moon phases, and the shapes of an hourglass and infinity."

In this close-up, you can see the pretty pale yellow daffodils, the birth flower for the month of March. Kathy's stunning original design is hand-stitched with turned-edge applique and domestic machine quilting.

Family Reunion, 81 x 81, by Barbara McCraw, Texas

Top award winner, Best of World, for the World of Beauty quilt exhibition, Barbara explains, "I designed my quilt after spending several years studying on Ancestry.com. I found my maternal great-grandparents and soon after that, I woke with the vision of the completed design, with them featured in the center." Barbara has produced a breathtaking quilt, well deserving of the Best of World award.

This block is labeled, "In memory of my Ancestors", as they are seen working in the cotton fields. Barbara's original design is hand-appliqued, machine pieced, and sewing machine quilted.

Here are Barbara's maternal grandparents, wed in 1904. They are lovingly encircled by a Baltimore-album style wreath, adorned with three-dimensional flowers and embellished with delicate beads.

Barbara adds, "When [this center block] was done, I decided to design 12 blocks encircling the center, representing my life, my loves, and my dear family. It took nearly 3 years to complete."  Barbara has published a book that tells the story of this momentous work: My Family Reunion Quilt : A Sentimental Journey in Applique.

We Three I'iwi, 60 x 48, by Phyllis Cullen, Hawaii

Phyllis notes, "It is my pleasure to present four of my favorite techniques to create this tribute to one of Hawaii's native birds." For her vibrantly hued original design, Phyllis won the blue ribbon for Best Use of Color in the Innovative Quilts category.

Phyllis continues, " [The techniques here are] free fabric collaged birds, painted branches, sun printed background, machine appliqued, and free motion quilted on the longarm. There is no greater pleasure than painting with fabric and thread."

Trip Around the World II, 38 x 39, by Inger Blood, California

Blue-ribbon winner of the Janome Best Sewing Machine Workmanship Award in the Wall Quilts, category, Inger remarks, "This quilt was inspired by an antique quilt from the early 1900s. Dupioni Silk was used to create the center pattern. Borders were quilted using ruler to extend the center design into the borders. "

These tiny little pieces in the center of the quilt, are less than one-half inch square! Inger machine- pieced them with amazing accuracy. For the border pattern, Inger adds, "Design created with the ruler work was filled with free motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine."

Cat Groove, 44 x 55, by Sue de Vanny, Australia

Second place winner in the Modern Quilts category, Sue writes, "The inspiration for Cat Groove is from my own drawings, 'Art Deco/Retro'. Improvident pieced design inspired by artist Wassily Kandinsky, feline salt and pepper shakers of the 60's/70's, and the music 'Something for Cat' from the Breakfast At Tiffany's soundtrack."

Here's the happy face of a most content kitty! Sue's fun, whimsical original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

Highlights of the Pacific International Quilt Festival ! Day 4

The Pacific International Quilt Festival (PIQF) is the biggest quilt show on the West Coast of the US. We had a great time at the 25th annual show in Santa Clara, California. There were nearly 1000 quilts on display from around the globe. Here is Part 4 of our highlights of the show!

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Beginning True, 36 x 36", by Sue de Vanny (Australia)

Sue notes, " In the harsh Australian outback, driving cattle under the sweltering sun....., they can't do it without man's best friend...a dog. It's official name is Australian Cattle Dog, commonly known as Australian Heeler, or Blue Heeler. This dog has been working Australian farms for generations. The breed developed in the 1840's from a Blue Smooth High Collie crossed with a native dingo."

Detail, Beginning True by Sue de Vanny

Sue continues about her original design, "As a dog lover, [I find] this is a perfect subject in its link with true Australian beginnings." We love the intricate way that Sue has constructed the sweet face of this dog, with its large, soulful eyes. Sue's fascinating work is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

The King of the Barnyard Meets The Big Apple, 72 x 72", by Joanne MacNevin (Massachusetts, U.S.A.)

Honorable Mention winner in the Traditional Quilts category, Joanne says, "The male peacock - such a beautiful and amazing bird ! And doesn't it seem that he himself is completely and totally convinced of his own magnificence - willing, almost compelled to display it to anyone, anything, anywhere? ..Surely New York City has never seen his like. Let's see how the "Big Apple" (New York) receives the "King of the Barnyard!"

Detail, The King of the Barnyard

Joanne's lovely original design is machine pieced and sewing machine quilted.  We really admire all the many hours of work that obviously went into the piecing and quilting of this dazzling work.

Le Chat de Mondrian, 59 x 64", by Connie Kincius Griner (North Carolina, U.S.A.)

Connie explains, "This quilt is a fantasy in the form of a cartoon. In it, I imagine the artist, Piet Mondrian, living in an attic room in Paris. His signature palette of primary colors brings life to his drab surroundings. Even his cat and mouse are transformed by his artistic genius. "

Detail, Le Chat de Mondrian

Connie's beautiful workmanship creates these very clean, geometric lines and edges which are so necessary to the depiction of this contemporary kitty. Her original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Effervescent Textiles, 67 x 66", by Kathryn Sandner (California, U.S.A.)

Circles in a variety of patterns cover the surface of this Effervescent quilt. Kathryn says, "The premiere edition of Simply Moderne showcased a quilt by RachaelDaisy on the cover. Her [Bubbles] quilt inspired this piece."

Each circle was turned under and machine appliqued (giving an appearance of depth to the layers of circles), and longarm machine quilted.

Necktie Century Archeology, 99 x 80", by Cathy Perlmutter

Cathyl Perlmutter says, "This quilt incorporates 68 neckties, from 1950 to today. I arranged them chronologically, as if an archaeologist were digging them up. The earliest, a tie along the bottom, features a bathing-suit clad pinup girl. Above come the 1960s (paisley galore), the yuppy 70s, and so on. In the lower left are neckties related to love, sex, and childbirth – including a Viagra tie. This quilt encapsulates fashion trends and ideas of masculine interests and sexuality!" The ties shown below feature neon Volkswagens, a golf course, a Monopoly game, and young Elvis clutching a hound dog.

You can see more details of the ties and construction at Cathy Perlmutter's blog. Necktie Century Archeology was hand appliqued, hand quilted, and embellished with 100+ vintage buttons.

Not Forgotten, 80 x 78", by Janet Fogg (Oregon, USA)

Winner of a Judge's Choice award, Janet Fogg says, "Exactly twenty-five years ago I attended my first quilt show and was astounded by the beautiful work. Inspired to create quilts of my own, I couldn’t decide whether to focus on traditional or innovative designs. So, from the very beginning, I combined the two genres in my designs. Today, I present you with Not Forgotten, a well loved character juxtaposed somewhat transparently against a cliff of traditional baby blocks." beside the sea."

Not Forgotten was machine pieced, hand appliqued, and longarm quilted. The beautiful hand dyes are by Jeanette Viviano.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.