Strathdale Quilters "Parade of Quilts"

I think most of you know that I was without a computer for the past month+ as my laptop unceremoniously died after installing a Windows Update.  Well the fabby guys at the computer tech store have fixed it and thankfully resurrected all of my files.  Now the fun job of trying to catch up...

 

On Monday 6 April 2015, Mum & I went to the Strathdale Quilters "Parade of Quilts" quilt expo at St Andrew's Hall in Bendigo. The entrance fee was only $5 per person and it was money well spent.

 

Here are some photos of some of my favourites:

"Whirling Twirling" by June Danger.  June did this quilt in a class at Honeysuckle and the tutor was Margaret McDonald.  Machine pieced & machine quilted by June.

 

"Hooley Dooley Village Patch" by Jenny Simpson.  Jenny saw the quilt at an exhibition in Melbourne and was impressed and decided to do her version of it.  It took many years to complete.  From the book of patterns by Suzanne Gray.  Hand appliqued and machine pieced.  Machine quilted by Jenny.

 

"Memories of Mother and Daughter" by Kerrie Anderson.  A patient from Castlemaine gave Kerrie a box of fabric with two blocks completed which she started with her daughter prior to her daughter dying.  Kerrie added two extra fabrics to border and circles.  Hand machine pieced by Kerrie.  Machine quilted by Alison Bacon of Canterbury Quilts.

"Life is Beautiful" by Barb Krause.  Block of the month seen in a magazine.  Pattern by Hugs'n'Kisses.  Hand embroidered, machine pieced, machine quilted by Barb.

 

Close up of "Life is Beautiful" by Barb Krause.

Close up of "Life is Beautiful" by Barb Krause.

"Australian Wildflowers" by Phyllis Mills.  Phyllis saw this quilt in a magazine and fell in love with it.  A Jenny Rofe design.  Hand appliqued, machine pieced and machine quilted by Phyllis.

"Celtic Garden" by Alice Proudfoot.  This was Alice's latest challenge.  Designed by Dianne Johnston who gave her the pattern.  Hand stitched applique and machine pieced.  Quilted by MA Lewis - Long Arm Machine Quilting.

Close up of "Celtic Garden" by Alice Proudfoot

"Wind in the Whiskas" by Bev Coates.  Design and colour were the inspiration for this quilt by McKenna Ryan when Bev saw it at a trade show and she knew it was a quilt that she wanted to make.  Raw edged machine applique and machine pieced.  Custom quilted by Geoff Coates - Mulberry Lane.

"Botswana Safari" by Carol Carmody.  Carol made this quilt after a camping trip through Botswana in 2013 where she had the most amazing animal encounters.  The names on the quilt are those of the national parks she camped in.  Machine pieced, machine embroidered - designs by Petro.  Custom quilted by Wilma Ladiges of Deep Creek Quilting.

Close up of "Botswana Safari" by Carol Carmody

Close up of "Botswana Safari" by Carol Carmody

Close up of "Botswana Safari" by Carol Carmody

 

"Firebirds" by Barbara Dellar.  Centre design by Jane Spolar, Sauk Rapids, MN, USA.  Quilt layout inspired by magazine photo.  Barbara loves applique and worked the centre while on a cruise from Canada to Sydney.  Needleturn applique, machine pieced.  Hand quilted by Barbara.

 

"Licorice Allsorts" by Frances McCulloch.  Based on Suzanne Lyle's pattern, "Memories of Japan".  Frances made this for her daughter's friend, Kate, who chose her own material and colour scheme.  Machine pieced.  Machine quilted by Lee Conforti.

"Simple Things" by Barbara Gross.  This quilt is adapted from a Leanne's House design.  When Barbara saw this design she loved the combination of embroidery, applique and piecing.  She enjoyed making it and it now hangs on the wall in the guest bedroom.  Hand embroidered, hand appliqued, machine pieced.  Hand quilted by Barbara.

 

Close up of "Simple Things" by Barbara Gross.

"Birds on a Wire" by Dianne Brown.  Dianne really loves Wendy Williams' work.  She loves working with material and felt and hand sewing.  Machine and hand pieced.  Machine quilted by Stacey Rodgers.

Believe it or not this is just a small selection of the many many wonderful quilts that were part of the exhibition. 

For further information please contact Strathdale Quilters

Spotlight Quilting Expo 2014

 

"Spotlight’s Quilting Expo is this Saturday the 4th of October 2014 from 11am – 3pm. Don’t miss out on FREE demonstrations, VIP exclusive discounts, new quilting fabrics and the chance to win a sewing machine, conditions apply! Ask your store for more information."

 

On Saturday 4 October 2014 I went along to the Spotlight Quilting Expo at my local store in Bendigo.  To celebrate, Spotlight was offering 30% off all fabric (excluding pre cuts & clearance items), exclusive VIP discounts, 25% off wadding, free demos and launching some new quilting ranges in store. 

 

Anyone who spent $25 or more on quilting fabric on the day would receive a copy of "Project Patchwork 3" for free. 

 

They were also encouraging people to bring along their quilts to be displayed.  One lucky person (per store) who submitted a quilt would win an Elna "Elina 21" Sewing Machine (worth $199).  All eligible quilts had to be made of 100% Spotlight fabrics. 

 

The local store manager had asked me on Wednesday to make something for the expo.  None of my quilts are exclusively made of Spotlight fabrics as I tend to mix & match & purchase fabric from many suppliers.  The only full size quilt that I had made exclusively with Spotlight fabrics ("Autumn Hearts") was now living with my BFF Miriam down in Melbourne.  I did have a mini quilt which was 97.9% Spotlight fabrics (the backing & a small slither on the front was not Spotlight fabric) so I brought it along to be displayed although it wasn't eligible to be entered into the competition.  I did however quickly whip up another mini for the day - "Elephantasy - the elephant of stolen dreams".

 

 



Millie is holding up my "Elephantasy - the elephant of stolen dreams" mini quilt.

My "Butterfly Fantasy" quilt

Millie is demonstrating how to make a patchwork cushion using the new Star Wars fabric.  She had already made one with Hello Kitty fabric.

Millie's daughter learns how to sew with Hello Kitty flannelette.

One of the special guests from "Strath Quilters" demonstrates hand piecing.

The ladies from "Strath Quilters".

Demonstration on how to make a small sewing caddy by "Strath Quilters".

Shirley is making some quilt blocks.

The lovely Shirley.

One of the quilts on display.

More quilts on display hanging above the fabric.

More quilts on display - I'm rather fond of those two on the left ;)

Hard to see the detail in this quilt but it is camels walking along the beach at sunset - it reminded me of Cable Beach in Broome.  Not sure who made it.

A beautiful Bargello quilt on display.  This one is mounted on canvas & is not quilted.

Some more quilts on display.

More quilts on display.

The winner of the Elina Sewing machine was a lady named Rosemary who had entered a large appliqued Christmas quilt.

The winning quilt - I didn't get a very good view of it.

The winning quilt - Christmas theme with lots of applique.
I felt rude that I didn't take a better photo but as one of Jehovah's Witnesses I do not celebrate Christmas. I respect the amount of hard work that went into making this quilt though and despite the subject of the quilt, I felt that Rosemary clearly deserved the win.  As I hadn't really looked at the Christmas entries, I thought that the bright Bargello might have won as it was truly stunning!