Coreopsis Wins Viewer's Choice

I'm so happy and proud, that my Coreopsis quilt won Viewer's choice at the Australian Quilt Convention challenge.  Thank you to all that voted for it, you make all that hard work worthwhile, knowing it is appreciated and admired.

Australian Quilt Convention Challenge 2013

The Australian Quilt Convention Challenge 2013 has the theme "Free".  My interpretation was the lovely Coreopsis flowers that grow wild where they aren't supposed to.  They are my favourite flowers, and I really loved making this piece.

You can see all the entries here.  For those of you going to the AQC in Melbourne, I hope you have a great time!

Here's a close up shot for you.  It is dye-painted, dyed, appliqued (just pinned down), free motion embroidered and quilted (first project done on the Sweet Sixteen).  A bit of fabric paint was used as well.  Bees wings are synthetic fabrics.   The background is one whole piece of fabric, dyed twice and bleached once.

What I'm up to

I'm currently working on some little projects for workshops.  They are based on some of my bird quilts/textiles that I have done, and they are lots of fun.  Here's the first one.

 First, I paint the bird, then I applique it down with it's environment:



 Then stitch it all together!

In progress is a Major Mitchell cockatoo, Rainbow Bee-eater and Crimson Rosella.  I'll show you those when they are done.

Sota13

Finally, after years of thinking about making a piece for Sota (State of the Art Quilt) exhibition, I have done a piece and entered it this year.  The juror saw fit to include my piece (thank's Lisa!) and today I thought I would share it with you all.  It's called Wood Sorrel, and well, pretty obvious from that title what it is!  I found it growing in my large, neglected garden, and despite it being an introduced species turned feral, couldn't help but find it delicate beauty attractive.  Some of my textile friends described the piece as "gentle", and I rather like that description.

If you want to know more about Sota, check out the Queensland Quilters Art Quilts Blog which shows where and when the quilts will be on display.

Teaching Dates

Good Morning all,
I have updated my teaching schedule for the first half of this year, so if you are looking at doing a workshop with me, then check it out.

New Machine

I got my new sewing machine today, isn't she a beauty! Ohh, I'm so looking forward to making lots of quilts next year.  It took a day of cleaning, rearranging and sorting to make room, but worth it for a christmas present like that.  Watch this space and see what happens... 

I would like to wish all of my blog followers, students and quilting friends a very happy Christmas and New Year!

Judges Commendation

How lovely, my entry into the NSW Quilters Guild Challenge , Pearl, has received a Judges Commendation!