AQC 2013

I spent a lovely three and a half days at the Australasian Quilt Convention last week.   AQC is on every year in Melbourne and once again it was situated in the beautiful Royal Exhibition Building. Apart from the classes, quilts and shops, I love being able to catch up with so many other quilters from around Australia. Everyone who participated in classes got a lovely roomy tote bag full of goodies from the many sponsors and shops at the show.

For the first time in years I decided to do a couple of classes with some visiting American tutors, Judy Coates- Perez and Susan Brubaker Knapp. I know them both from their numerous articles in Quilting Arts magazine and they were both running classes about painting on fabric. I have dabbled in painting on fabric myself but it was fun to spend two days painting and getting a few hints on how to improve. Here are a couple of their quilts that they had on show to show you their beautiful work. They were both lovely teachers and many of my friends were in the classes with me so we had a very enjoyable time.

Judy Coates Perez Quilt

Susan Brubaker Knapp Quilt

Another of my friends was doing a four day pictorial applique class with David Taylor.  David was also guest speaker on Thursday night and he was very amusing. David's quilts have won many awards and we were lucky that he had two of them on display.

David Taylor- Cock of the Walk

David Taylor-Maynard

David Taylor-Maynard detail

Every year AQC have a quilt challenge and this year's topic was Free. Helen Godden won this year with her beautiful quilt of horses.

Helen Godden Quilt

The quilting was quite amazing and here is a close-up of it.

Helen Godden's beautiful quilting

The second prize went to another amazing quilt by Gillian Shearer.

Gillian Shearer

Every year the Best of Australia quilt is announced at the Saturday night dinner. The Best of Show from each state is eligible to win and this year it was won by South Australian quilter Rachelle Denneny. Her quilt is a beautiful cream whole-cloth quilt and here is a detail shot of the quilting.

Rachelle Denneny Quilt

The Rajah Award is given to an Australian quilter who has given above and beyond in quilting and its promotion and this year the very worthy winner was Jenny Bowker. I was lucky enough to be Jenny's quilt angel (helper) in her Saturday class and she is a very knowledgeable and generous teacher.

Jenny Bowker's Quilt honouring Margaret Rolfe

I did do some shopping as well and bought a bit of this and that.

Stencils and paint

Lace, dye and beads

 

Batik Fabric

The quilt convention is over for another year and if you didn't make it this year, don't worry it will be on again next year, no doubt bigger and better than ever.

Bye for now,
Linda