The Australian Quilt Show Challenge – 2024

It is the third year this event has been organised. All the finalists are exhibited at the Australian Quilt Convention, they then travel for the year, being displayed at Craft and Quilt Shows across Australia.

There is such a variety of quilts and techniques on display, all made by very talented Australian quilt makers.

Best of Show Winners

This was the first year I participated in the event and was very excited that my quilt ‘Isabel’ was selected as one of the finalists and was awarded Runner Up in the Appliqué/Pieced Category.

Finished size: 153 cms wide X 155 cms long

This quilt was made to celebrate all the ‘Isabels’ in my family …great grandmother, grandmother, mother and myself….Lynette Isabel.

The original design is hand needle turn appliqué. The appliqué pieces are all fussy cut and outline machine free motion quilted using a cream 40 wt polyester thread. The background space is quilted in a pattern that enhances the appliqué design. I tried to quilt it so that the appliqué pops out from the background, which is heavily quilted.

Isabel

Grandchildren and School Holidays

I am fortunate to live in a small coastal community, so it is the perfect spot for the grandchildren to spend a week over the school holidays….while mum and dad have to work.
These January holidays offered a mixed bag as far as the weather…..on sunny days we did beach ‘stuff’ and on the rainy days the children discovered my sewing machines. They were very creative playing with charm squares. After lots of planning and sewing they each made a quilt top….all their own work. Grandma was then charged to do the quilting and bindings. They then spent hours experimenting on my Bernina machines, discovering all the fancy stitches and patterns they could sew with lots of different coloured threads. A great achievement for a 6 year old and 9 year old.

Very pleased with their effort

I have also been busy making a handbag for my granddaughter to take to the Taylor Swift Concert next week. I hope she likes it.

I painted with lumier paints on black fabric, then quilted with red/gold thread for the snake, before outline quilting with black rasant.

Merry Christmas Everyone

It has been a busy year that has just flown soooo fast. As we get older the years seem a lot shorter…..or is it just my imagination.

The Christmas tree is up, all the loved decorations collected over the years are out on display, presents all done and now thinking about food. We are spending Christmas at my daughters this year, so not a lot of preparation on my part but we will be back home for New Year to celebrate with friends.

I have been busy finishing off those last little details on some of my Christmas gifts. I like to make presents for some special friends and family. My 9 year old granddaughter is getting a shoulder bag based on a pattern by Yoko Saito….but with a twist…no beautiful yarn dyed fabrics but teal colours which are her favourites at the moment. Mum is getting a new set of placemats and special friends are getting a sewing station for their lounge chairs based on a pattern from Arabesque Scissors. I made one for myself as well and find it really useful.

I am also making progress on my latest appliqué project. I have been working on this for a year now and have made it to the half way point…..a queen size quilt based on Yoko Saito’s Imaginary Garden Design…..all in my favourite shades of blue yarn dyed fabrics.

I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year with people special to you.

Happy sewing everyone.

Visiting Houston 2023

I had the pleasure of visiting the Houston International Quilt Show 2023.

My quilt ‘Coming Home’ is on show and was awarded 1st Place Appliqué. It is a lovely honour to see it hanging among so many beautiful works of art. I am enjoying meeting many fellow quilters and sharing the story about my quilt. It is lovely to be able to meet the quilt makers and hear their personal stories about the inspiration and creation of their works.