Most UK quilters will know that the Festival of Quilts was held last weekend at the NEC. This is the largest quilt show in Europe and it didn’t fail to provide a stunning array of quilts again this year. I am a little biased, as this is one of my favourite weekends of the year. I’m able to meet up with old friends and colleagues as well as take time to learn new skills and get inspiration from all the fabulous quilts and displays. (I won’t mention the huge number of traders that attend with threads, notions, machines and lots, and lots of fabric!)
This time I thought I’d show you a few of my favourite quilts that were on display. The winners are always worthy and stunning to look at but, most of the time, my favourites are not necessarily winners. Sometimes, it’s the subject which grabs my attention. Sometimes, a particular technique or pattern. Sometimes the fabric choice but whichever, here are a few of my show picks.
Having said that I had lots of fav’s that didn’t win a prize, the first I’ll show you is the winner of the two person quilt award, ‘Space Oddity’ by Ester Tronchoni and Peter Hayward. This was inspired by David Bowie’s song and was simply stunning… The background shows Peter’s detailed technique of fake weaving which gives a depth of colour which captured the majesty of space and all the colours I imagine. The owl was felted by Ester. Peter and I have crossed paths previously from my magazine days so it was good to finally be able to meet him. As a result of this, he’s agreed to come teach a couple of workshops for me. If you are interested in attending and learning with a FoQ award winner, please let me know. This will be in the early spring next year and I’m hoping to host two different workshops over a weekend.
I would be remiss not to show you my students quilts which were entered in the show and it was so exciting to see both versions of Doris on display. Doris one made by Kevan Cuthbert and Doris two (Morris Doris for Boris) by Kate Ford-Freeman. Kate had changed the original appliqué block to include a design from Michele Hill’s book on William Morris appliqué which really worked.
The next quilt, Celtic Oak by Lena Pugachova, caught my eye. Probably because of the Celtic Knot work in the background. I loved the oak leaves and acorns as well which were pieced from different batiks.
Many of you know we have a Ukrainian link these days so when I saw this next quilt, I had to take a picture. ‘Hope for Ukraine’ was made by Devida Bushrod and Robyn Brown. These pixel quilts are amazing and how you can capture a portrait in fabric always surprises me.
The last one I’ll show you was from the Quilt Creations section of the competition and this one did get shortlisted. ‘Knock Knock, Who’s There?’, by Chitra Mandanna, was a beautiful doorway into a world beyond. The details included would have taken a huge amount of time and the thing that really caught my eye was the clever use of fabric to give the illusion of light from beyond the door but also with the lantern.
We can now look forward to next year and perhaps start the design process for entries? Modern, Contemporary, Traditional or Quilt Creations. Whichever design concept attracts you, think about entering. Every quilt and maker can provide that spark of inspiration. Until next time, keep quilting!