There is such a vibrant quilt hanging in Winchester House this month, just bursting with colour – and sunflowers. Composed of pieced blocks, machine embroidered blocks, and bright yellow sunflowers, the quilt sings of happy summer days. This is the work of Heather Easton, who kindly loaned her quilt to brighten Winchester House, and raise a smile from Cancer Society volunteers and patients alike.
“Sunflowers”, by Heather Easton
Details of machine work
Jenny Benton
There was certainly a lot happening at our October Club Night. Notices were read, and our President Lynn thanked all the members for helping out at the recent Quilt Fest. Not only members, but several husbands too, we heard. The lucky raffle winners of the evening were Luchelle and Gill.
Two visitors from Rotary came and told us about their charity house project, where they design, build and auction a house with the proceeds going to a chosen charity. Town and Country Quilters wished to donate one of our charity quilts to the home, made with blocks donated by club members. The Rotary executive chose one from our (small) selection of finished quilts, and this was presented at club night.
Quilt presented for use in the Rotary Charity House project
Jo Dixey was our speaker for the evening, and was certainly an entertaining young woman. She told us that she doesn’t buy new clothes any more, but likes to rework what she finds in Op Shops. She passed around a grey coat with patchwork bands. This started off as a man’s suit jacket, and she slashed and inserted bands of patchwork fabric. Unfortunately, my photos of this coat were fuzzy and unclear, but take my word for it, Jo had made a very exclusive garment indeed.
Jo told us about her early years, growing up in the UK, with a sketch book always close to hand. She started her formal training as an 18 year old apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework for 3 years, and then embarked on a City and Guilds course. Then she moved to New Zealand, and works in her chosen field, teaching needlework and working on commissions. Let your creativity happen, she told us.
Jo also discovered patchwork, and likes to work on both crafts. Interestingly, although she often haunts Op Shops for clothing, she always uses new fabric for patchwork, and Kaffe Fasset’s lines are a real favourite. Curved piecing and needle turn applique feature heavily in her quilts, as do human forms and faces.
Jo’s house quilt, made from leftover pieces
Jo Dixey had judged the Spring Challenge and winners were called up to accept their prizes. Avon Haigh won the Novice Category with her whimsical mouse quilt. This was also voted Viewers Choice by club members at our club night.
Avon’s mouse quilt
Wendy Tunley’s Daffodil quilt was certainly the essence of Spring, and won the Intermediate class.
Wendy’s Daffodils
And Cheryl Chambers took the prize in the Advanced class, with her pretty pastel interpretation on Spring.
By Cheryl Chambers
The quilts entered in Quilt Fest were not judged, but all attendees at the show (about 450 we were told) were asked to pick one for Viewers Choice. These prizes were also presented at Club Night. Winner of Viewers Choice at the quilt show was Other People’s Dreams, by Griet Lombard, and Sandra Collins took Second Place. Both worthy winners, in my book.
First in Viewers Choice, Other People’s Dreams, by Griet Lombard.
Runner Up Viewer’s Choice, Floriason Rouge, by Sandra Collins
A very busy club night indeed. After a quick cuppa, and chatting to other members, it was time for me to head back home.
Jenny Benton
The quilts were hung, the vendors were set up, the tea ladies were ready, and the doors were flung open – our quilt show was ready for visitors. Friendly faces were at the front desk to take the entrance fee, and hand out the Viewer’s Choice voting slip.
Welcome to the Show
Lots of delightful quilts lay through the doors.
There were challenge quilts to check out, vendors to visit, and the T&C $ bags of goodies to look at too.
$5 Sales Table
But what about the quilts? So many – all different styles, colours, and designs. Here are just a few which caught my eye.
We will hear more about the show at Clubnight next Wednesday 12th October. Wonder which quilt won Viewer’s Choice? See you there!
Jenny Benton
It’s a fact of life that visits to the doctor increase as we get a little older, and particularly during winter. During a recent visit, and a trip to the pharmacy, I spotted a quilt hanging at the Health Centre. I couldn’t pass that by without whipping out my camera, (I always have it in my hand-bag) and taking a snap. And surprise, surprise, there was a Town and Country Quilters logo on the back.
Hanging in the Health Centre
So who made this? All was revealed on the label. The “Tuesday Morning Girls” made and donated this wall-hanging, gifting it to the Health Centre in May 2010.
Label on the back.
So come on, put your hands up. Just who are these Tuesday Morning Girls?
Jenny Benton
About a dozen happy quilters gathered together at the Red Cross Rooms on Saturday morning for Allcomers Day. I was happy to be there too, and took my sewing machine along and one of my many UFOs to work on. Due to health reasons I hadn’t been to many club activities lately, so it was something I was looking forward to.
Most ladies were working on their sewing machines, a couple of quilts got pinned out, and there was a little bit of hand stitching going on too. Barbara was hand stitching a pretty little mug rug, just the right size to place your morning tea, she said. And Debi showed me her paper pieced blocks she was starting, one was a pretty cup cake, and the other was a big black spider!
Wendy has joined a little group of club members all busy hand stitching their own version of the fabulous La Passacaglia quilt. This is surely a labour of love, and Wendy said that planning the fabrics and colours is so much fun. These quilts take a lot of time and dedication, and we look forward to seeing the finished products some time in the future.
Wendy busy hand stitching
Kath was sitting at a table in a lovely sunny spot and showed me her sampler blocks. Made of of red, black and white fabrics, they looked lovely indeed.
Kath’s sampler blocks
Janneke makes many quilts for Ronald McDonald House, and was pinning up her latest one, ready for machine quilting. Some little one is sure to love this.
Janneke’s charity quilt
I decided to take myself off home after lunch, as the energy levels were starting to flag a little. With several hours more stitching time, the ladies would have had a lot to show for their day out. It was lovely to catch up with everyone again, and thanks for your company.
Jenny Benton
Have you been to see the “Textiles from Around the World” exhibition at Te Takere? Our local library is currently showing some of Judy Turner’s treasures collected over many years of travels, starting when she travelled to Beijing with the British Foreign Office in the 1960s.
Added to over the years, she collected textiles as she travelled through Asia, India, and Africa. She is particularly interested in the cultural role the textiles play in their country of origin. The beautiful dyed, printed, woven and embroidered textiles have deep significance to their owners and are thought to convey protection or good fortune.
I particularly liked this piece of colourful embroidered birds, worked on black and white striped cotton, and used in clothing.
Embroidery over striped fabric from Guatemala
The Marsh Arab red rug made in Southern Iraq glowed with colour. This traditional rug was woven by men and embroidered by women.
Marsh Arab rug from Iraq
The Toran at the top of the next photo is hung over the doorway on special occasions to bring good luck and prosperity. The embroidered cloth underneath is known as a Dharaniyo is designed to hang in front of a pile of folded quilts and household items to make the room tidy. Wouldn’t all quilters worldwide want one of these beauties? Both items made in Kutch, north west India.
Toran and Dharaniyo from India
From Nigeria came the Status Robe, assembled from many narrow strips joined both horizontally and vertically to make the garment. Both the weaving and the elaborate embroidery are the work of men. The robe sits atop another beautiful textile piece.
Nigerian Status robe
Of course, there is a lot more to see than is shown here. Do pop along to the library and see these treasures for yourself. Judy Turner points out that in many communities art is not a picture on the wall, but a beautiful, intricately made textile. These are appreciated for the skills of the maker, and the meaning behind the patterns, and are handed down over the generations.
Jenny Benton
