With so much going on I clean forgot to mention going to the Duxford Quilt Show recently. A few friends commented that they felt the show was smaller than usual but it seemed much the same to me. I still wish Creative Grids had a stand as I always went to them for new 'must have' equipment.
As always there were several feature displays. 'Inspired by Hockney' by the LINQS group from Lincolnshire caught my eye. They used the work of David Hockney as their inspiration; his work, titles, subject matter, colours, etc. This quilt based on Hockey's trees really spoke to me. Made by Karen Lane this piece is called 'Three Tall Trees' and was based on a photograph taken in Woodhall woods. Lots of stitching with appliqué, fabric painting and both hand and machine work. I could only photograph a small part of this quilt.
Their website here is worth a visit with more about their inspiration....
I was also drawn to the work of Val Thomas who is a member of South West Quilters. For the last 15 years or so, Val has been interested in depicting
fantasy in her quilts . She dyes her own fabric and I really admired the intense free machine quilting done with invisible thread.
I only photgraphed two of Val's quilts which were based on fantasy castles. Procian dyes in a coffee jar combined with permanent markers
I was also quite taken with the retrospective exhibition of Christine Porter's work. Sadly one of my favourite quilts had a 'Do Not Photograph' sign so I shall just have to try to describe it.
One large square quilt entiled 'Birds of Paradise' had a design of eight stylised peacocks arranged in a circle. They were very colourful and achieved with the technique of raw edge appliqué. Not easy with such large motifs. The entire quilt was quilted in straight lines of different colours edge to edge but in every direction possible. I plan to try this out sometime!
I've recently started teaching again and must blog about this sometime. I'm teaching a lovely 12 year old girl who is able to come to my studio on a week day as she is being 'home schooled'. We've really had some fun exploring how to use a sewing machine to make notbook covers, pencil cases and bags.
Somehow, I've also ended up teaching fab group of ladies at Coleridge School on Radegund Road, Cambridge. This is a brand new class for beginners. The original teacher had to bow out and I was thrown into the 'deep end' at very short notice. More of this another time but I've really enjoyed going back to 'basics' with them. Been busy making log cabin and courthouse steps samples not to mention dozens of 'flying geese'.
Finally, I attended the auction for the new Arthur Rank Hospice appeal. All Cambridge Open Studios participants were asked to create a heart. I've blogged about making mine before now. Happy to report it sold and went to a good home. Oddly enough, I met the new owner at a Sale Day for Cambridge Quilters and she told me how much she loved it. A happy end to the project with COS artists raising close to £9000 for the appeal.
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