Fine Art Quilt Masters

I love visiting The Festival of Quilts at Birmingham NEC. Its a chance to network, shop for new fabric, admire the techniques of traditional quilt makers and to see what perhaps more innovative  ways people have chosen to interpret the quilt form in the section for Fine Art Quilt Masters, which is sponsored by Vlieseline and for which the prize is £5,000.

The deadline for entering is 5th May and I know there may be some of you who may be unaware of this and wish to enter. Here is a little bit about it and a link to where you can find more info HERE. The pictures at the bottom of the blog are by previous prize winners.

Fine Art Quilt Masters is a juried competition that is open to all. Judged by a panel of leading figures drawn from the art and quilting worlds, the work selected for the exhibition will be presented in a distinct gallery within The Festival of Quilts 2017. The aim is to celebrate those quilts that transcend craft and demand equal billing with work shown in an art gallery.

All textile techniques may be employed, from simple quilting or patchwork to fabric printing, embroidery and creative mixed-media. Judges will be looking for a full-resolved composition and powerful artistic impression. Abstract and figurative pieces are equally welcome.

Susie Koren

Brigitte Kopp Gebare

Ruth Singer

Sketchbook page

Thinking about the Contemporary Ceramics selling exhibition and Open Studios this weekend (29/30 April) at Hearth at Horsley made me go and look for an old sketchbook I did years ago. Those were the days when I went to places like the Bowes Museum and painted tea cups. Where did I find the time! Maybe some more pics from this sketchbook later..,

Studio Shuffle

It is a long time since I blogged. I am very busy at the moment teaching all over the place and have just come back from teaching four classes at the lovely Cowslip Workshops in Cornwall.
I have been spending today shuffling round the work on the walls in my studio, setting up little displays for people to look at at the weekend as it is our Spring Open Studios event at The Hearth. Please come and say hello if you can. Here are some glimpses of little areas of my studio and the info about the event which this Spring focuses particularly on contemporary ceramics.

The Red Lady

Just got the urge to do this appliqué after seeing a detail of a lady on an old USA appliqué quilt. Always love using turkey red so any excuse. .in the background is a red wool skirt with black embroidery detail I have sourced recently. Don't know what it will be used for ! 

Studio to rent

My old studio in the attic at The Hearth will soon be available as Ellie is leaving us to work back in her home studio. Here is the advert. Please pass on link to anyone in the north east of England who you think might be interested. We are a very special little community!

STUDIO AVAILABLE TO RENT! Very occasionally, a studio becomes available at The Hearth, and we are now accepting applications from artists and makers to rent the Attic West studio which will be available from 1st June. This studio would suit a local artist who is looking for a creative space in which to work and display their work for sale to the public. Benefits include sharing a building with the ever-popular Hearth Café which is open 7 days a week and draws in visitors, two Open Studios events per year, and the opportunity to show your work in the café and hall. More information can be found on the website at http://www.thehearth.co.uk/wb/pages/studio-available.php
Visits can be arranged by emailing office@thehearth.co.uk. Closing date for applications is Tuesday the 18th April 2017.

fabric page

Have started making a new wallet book and here is the middle page spread. Much brighter than I usually work but am enjoying that pink and black! I will reveal more as I work through the book.
I am running a course on making wallet books at The Hearth in May and there are still places left on the course if you are interested. Details HERE

Spring

We arrived in Kraków with buds on the trees and two days of warm sunshine has made them spring in to life with sharp bright greens everywhere. I was going to embroider dark flowers on this collage but the green leaves on the trees in "the planty" just got to me.

Home now and Spring has arrived even in the north of England.

Kraków

Spending the weekend in sunny Kraków, researching folk costume and Polish traditional crafts.