ARTICLES FROM NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2006

STOKE LODGE – CITY AND GUILDS EXHIBITION

Is it really a year gone by since I last visited the Summer Exhibition of Stoke Lodge and City and Guilds?

Again I find myself here on a beautiful day, perusing even more beautiful pieces of work.

I start by looking through the pieces of the Year One Candidates, all wonderfully displayed on their boards, showing all the different skills they have learnt through the year.

You can see the Year One’s have been studying stained glass with strips, broidere purse, mola, layering and slashing, appliqué and shadow appliqué.  Tie dying is also very prevalent.  Using all different colours as and techniques – of course no one ever being the same.  All of these interpreted in so many different ways.  The colours hit you as you walk through the door.

It is quite amazing to witness that each student, although studying the same syllabus, actually producing such different pieces of art work.

Michaela Knight shows absolutely beautiful pieces of printed work.  She has used some sun printing techniques, using Sita colours on a wet material and then it has been dried out in the sun, producing all the different silhouettes onto the material.  I was quite amazed at the differing results this wonderful technique produces.

Looking at foundation piecing, Jane Steel has a beautiful study of an Iris.  She has slowly broken her original sketch down into pieces and then worked out how to build it up into a foundation piece.  She then goes on to make it up into a cushion cover.  It is quite beautiful and is all made, again, with her hand dyed fabrics.

Another foundation piece produced by Ann Hibberd is a wonderful wall hanging of The Three Kings, which is quite delightful.

Judith Herford shows a quilting sample on the wall.  This is made up of straight lines that she has used from the graph paper.  I was amazed at how you could have a 20 x 20 squares graph paper and produce so many different designs just using the lines within it.  Very effective.  Might be pinching that idea.

Moving on we then start to look at some of the Second Year Work.  Seminole Patch work and machine appliqué and other quilting techniques, Italian quilting, piping, boutis and trapunto.  Also in the Further Education Class they were looking at Fibenarche.  Some of these are fabulous.  They have gone on to make them up into large holdalls.  They look like the ideal thing to be carry around your patchwork items in.  Fantastic.

One of the pieces that grabbed me as I walked into the first room is a piece by Graciela Vergar.  It is a whole cloth quilt just in the one coloured thread, white background, grey/blue thread and it is just wonderful.  Did fall in love with that.

Next room shows the beginners class.  A lot of the students have gone on to look at different techniques and producing a different block to reflect each.  Very lovely made up into quilts.  Nice to see the basics again.  Everyone trying hard.  Some nice colour schemes.

As always, a breath of fresh air, getting the juices flowing and reminding me of techniques learnt and in need of resurrection.  I always find this show an inspirational experience and would always encourage others to take a look at new ideas and old ones revisited.

VICKI MCHUGH

COACH TRIP TO THE FESTIVAL OF QUILTS 2006

Who would believe that another year has passed since the last NEC Festival of Quilts?  

The day of our coach trip started rather wet with the usual quandary, what to wear?  Never mind the clothing just as long as the feet are comfortable!  We started out dead on time in a luxury coach and hardly any hold-ups arriving at 10.30 a.m.  It was announced that we would leave at 5 p.m. and I felt sure the time would drag.  How wrong I was.

The draw of the quilts took my eye at first and the selection and categories were astounding.  I must admit some of them were a little obscure and were stretching the term quilting a bit.  Nevertheless I am sure just as much work had gone into the.  Perhaps it’s just that I am more of a traditionalist.  The urge to touch and explore the quilts was immense, with close scrutiny as to whether they were hand or machine pieced and quilted.

After a while we wandered over the trade stalls, which included a lot of familiar and friendly faces and some new.  I was thrilled to see Lynne Edwards had a stall, answering questions and giving tips no doubt that can be found in her books.  There were the usual fabric stalls and lots of new gadgets that you feel you must have and add to your Christmas List.

Thunder and lightning could be heard overhead and I wondered if it was my conscience reminding me “Do I really need this?”  With plenty of stops for drinks and the inevitable loos, the time went all too quickly and it was time to board the coach for home.  With all the inspiration gained from the show, no doubt we will all be spurred into starting yet more projects or if you’re like me finish one of the many WIPs.

I’m sure we would all like to thank Lorna for all her hard work and effort arranging the trip, (she even managed to arrange for her second cousin to drive the coach) because without her I don’t think the trip would have gone ahead.

JANE KEENAN

GOING SOLO – AN EXHIBITION BY LOUISE GARDINER

I was busy flicking through a magazine on Reception at work, bored with sitting, staring at the switch board, waiting for the phone to ring, knowing that I will only tell them to call later when every one would be back from lunch.

But what was this!  The Evil of the Needle.  A wonderful article about a modern day embroiderer fully equipped with her Formula One Bernina.  No straight seams and precise buttonholes here – but weird and wonderful world of stitched characters and creatures.  Read on Vicki…..  But now the phone starts to ring.

Finally finishing the article between calls, I am over the moon to read Louise had an exhibition only down the road from where I work.  Guess where I was next lunch hour?  Certainly not manning Reception!

I dashed off to find The Perry Road Gallery in  Bristol and found a wonderful display of beautifully executed, bright, colourful and down right funny pieces of work.  The article I had read mentioned that Louise’s work was reminiscent of Beryl Cook’s paintings.  Being a huge fan of Beryl myself I could very much see the comparison.

Cartoon like in appearance, Louise often adds a caption to her pieces of work and portrays quirky characters and her observations of life.

I was blown away with this wonderful concept and of course got to talking to Louise.

I was pleased to note that she had done some workshops and a talk earlier in July and so, grabbing the bull by the horns, asked if she would be prepared to come along and talk to Weston Quilters.  The question now is Do You Want To Hear and See Her Work?

We are now in the process of organising next year’s programme; so let me know if you think this will be of interest.

VICKI MCHUGH