Lions Club Donation

 The Lions Club of Quilters, Victoria is trying to raise money to buy and protect Australian Quilts for the future. 

They are having an International Challenge as a way of raising some money and spreading the word. Another thing I did before I went to Europe was to make a challenge quilt for them.

I made a Coral Reef quilt, it was relatively small, 40cm x 40 cm which is just under 16 inches square.

The Coral Reef

The Exhibition of the quilts will be travelling around the world in 2024 and 2025. The exhibition will be called Our World-Coming Together.

Here are a couple of detail photos of my little quilt.

The people involved have been working hard on the project, hopefully they will receive the support that they need.

I thought I was finished making my coral reef quilts because I am really enjoying making my improv contemporary pieced quilts but the challenge for the European Patchwork Meeting in France next year is called Ocean.

The size is quite large, 80cm wide and 120 cm long ( 31" wide x 47" high) . I have a few projects on my list do to as well as having an exhibition of my work early next year, so I will have to see if I can get one done. I suppose I could try making all the components on a bigger scale! That might be quicker and will be different too!

Bye for now,

Linda

Waverley Art Quilters

 Last week, the Waverley Art Quilters had their final meeting for the year. We showed each other our latest challenge and everyone brought a plate to share. 

One of the artists we studied this year was American Collage artist Rex Ray. He's always been a favourite of mine and I've had his book for many years.

Rex Ray Book

I was trying to do my Rex Ray inspired piece quickly before I went away to Europe. I decided to use spot fabric to sort of cheat a little and make it a quick little quilt. The photo of it is below.

 I was so disappointed, I didn't like it at all. I realised that the spot fabric was too even and perfect. There was no getting around it, I had to cut the work myself and sew around the shapes.

Here is my finished Rex Ray piece, I actually really like it. It is so different to my usual work and I love the colours.

Stepping Stones

Our final challenge for the year was Desert-scape.

I had some hand dyed fabrics left over from the class with Gloria Loughman, so I used them. 

Uluru by Linda Steele

Last week, I was guest speaker at Mornington Peninsula Patchworkers. A lady named Anne came up to me afterwards and said that she loved one of my little A3 Art Quilter quilts. It was the one from earlier this year, inspired by printmaker, Angie Lewin.

She asked if it was for sale? I was so shocked that she bought it that I asked if I could have a photo of her with the quilt.

Anne with my quilt.

Now I have had two sales in two weeks. Maybe, I'll start to mention that I sell my quilts when I do guest speaker talks.

Speaking of talks, I am the guest speaker on Saturday for the Victorian Quilters Gathering. I'd love to meet you there, if you can manage to come. Of course, it is in Victoria Australia!

I'll have to remember to wear my pearls!

Bye for now,

Linda

AQIPP 2023

 Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of judging AQIPP 2023. AQIPP stands for Australian Quilts in Public Places and it is a competition and exhibition of art quilts. The theme this year was Unfolding- Something concealed, something revealed.

The other judges were Sue de Vanny and John Timmins from Brother International.

AQIPP 2023 Judges

We enjoyed the day, looking at and discussing the quilts. The hard part was deciding on the prizes, there were so many lovely quilts and ideas for the theme.

As well as the theme, we took workmanship into consideration as it was difficult to choose between some of them.

First prize went to Jacie Malseed for her quilt, Unfolding Shibori. It was so elegant, the photo does not do it justice.

Unfolding Shibori by Jacie Malseed

Second prize went to a South Australian lady, Lynne Casson with her quilt, Zoo Motion Illusion.

Zoo Motion Illusion by Lynne Casson

Here is a detail photo of the quilt.

Zoo Motion Illusion detail

It took ages for us decide on the Best use of Colour prize, we finally chose Pond by Marina Holland.

Pond by Marina Holland

We chose two Highly Commended prizes.

Nocturne- Iron Range by Heather Bingham

Scatter by Dianne Firth

The Curators Prize went to Julie Langford for her quilt, Inside Out.

Inside Out by Julie Langford

The Opening Night was held later that day, so we enjoyed seeing the prizes given out and I did a short speech on behalf of the Judges.

Apart from 2 of the prizes who went to quilters from interstate, all the winners were there. The best part was that they were already coming to the opening, so they were not told that they had won a prize. They were all so surprised and overcome, it was lovely.

AQIPP is held at the Box Hill Town Hall, Whitehorse Road, Box Hill. Victoria.

Opening hours are 10-4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. 

The gallery is a lovely, very professional gallery and the exhibition is open until December 21st. It's well worth a visit. The gallery told us that they have more visitors to AQIPP than any other exhibition.

Bye for now,

Linda

Autumn Song Sold

 My quilt Autumn Song was on display at The Houston Quilt Festival last week. It had been selected to tour with the SAQA Global exhibition called RED.

I was enjoying seeing the various Houston posts on Facebook and saw pictures of the Red exhibition. They are not my photos so I don't think I can share them here.

I received a wonderful email during the week to say that someone had bought my quilt!

It was such a thrill and an honour that someone decided that they wanted my quilt. I also sold my quilt called Grief at Houston in 2021. I remember being thrilled then but never expected to sell another one.

Grief by Linda Steele

So, I won't see both those quilts again. They take a long time to make but I have made so many quilts over the years, I am happy to let some go.

Here is a photo of the full Autumn Song.

Autumn Song by Linda Steele

Autumn Song was one of the first fully improv quilts that I made. I am glad that somebody else liked it too.

Bye for now,

Linda