Merry Christmas 2023

 As I look back on the year, I realise that it has been busy. I have had lots of fun and successes as well as catching the flu and Covid.

I thought my concert going days were over but I went to see Ed Sheeran and Paul McCartney.

Ed Sheeran

Paul McCartney

My European Holiday was the major event as I went to Zurich, France, Germany and Denmark for the first time which included the wonderful European Patchwork Meeting and the Rhine River Cruise.

Morning Tea in France

I also stayed at Create in Harcourt for a friends 70th birthday in April.

I got 2 quilts accepted into the Australian Quilt Show and Life Goes On won Best Abstract Quilt and Best machine Quilting.

Life Goes On

My Sailing quilt won 2nd prize in the Innovative/Contemporary section at Victorian Quilters Showcase.

Sailing

I won the top prize in the Ozquilt Network's Art Quilt Australia 2023 with Moroccan Magic. That was completely unexpected, it was something that I never thought I could win.

Moroccan Magic

I was accepted into Golden Textures with Citrus Zing. I am smiling in this photo but I have just recovered from the flu and was lucky to have been well enough to go.

Citrus Zing

I sold two quilts, an Art Quilt when I was guest speaker at Mornington Peninsula and Autumn Song at Houston International Festival.

Autumn Song

I also Judged AQIPP (Australian Quilts in Public Places)

AQIPP judges 2023

I thought it was my last year as Convenor of Victorian Quilters Showcase but the person who came forward to take over my job resigned a couple of months later. So it looks as if I still have that job, I'll have to do a lot of delegating because I also became President of the Ozquilt Network.

 Ozquilt Network is Australia's premier Art Quilt group and we have members in New Zealand and overseas as well as Australians. 

I have an exhibition in February and March next year of my Coral Reef quilts, so I'll enjoy the break of the Christmas holidays before I am back into being busy again.

Merry Christmas everyone and thank you to those who read my blog and take the time to comment.

Bye for now,

See you next year!

Linda

Create Whimsy and Good News

 I did an interview with Lynn Woll for her online website Create Whimsy. I think that she did a lovely job compiling all the different styles of work that I have created over the years.

Here is a link to the article about Linda Steele. 

I also have some more good news. I made an improv quilt for the Quilt Con fabric challenge using the required six Artisan Solids.

Fabric Challenge

I have never participated in a fabric challenge before but I loved those fabrics that reminded me of an under the sea type of quilt.

I didn't expect my quilt to be accepted because it was more improv than modern but I wanted to make it anyway.

Well, I received an email saying that my quilt was accepted and I have posted it off to Quilt Con. I think Quilt Con will be held in February. Unfortunately, I won't be able to be there and see it hanging.

Here is a photo that I took when I first started it.

Here is a detail of the finished quilt as I am not sure if you are allowed to post photos of the entire quilt.

Ocean Dance 2 detail

It's the first time that I have been in Quilt Con!

Bye for now,

Linda

SAQA Art Quilt Quarterly

 My quilt called Autumn Song which recently sold at the Houston International Quilt Show was featured in the SAQA publication called Art Quilt Quarterly, issue 33.

Art Quilt Quarterly issue 33

There are 40 quilts in the RED exhibition so it was an honour to be featured.

Here is a better photo of my quilt.

Autumn Song by Linda Steele

I have recently found out that the RED exhibition is coming to Australia next year and so I will be able to see my quilt at the Australasian Quilt Convention (AQC) again before it goes to its new owner.

Speaking of exhibitions, I went to see the Archibald Prize exhibition at the Mornington Gallery recently. It is Australia's premier portrait prize and the amazing thing is that a textile piece won first prize! What a massive step for textiles. Julia Gutman won with her work called Head in the sky, feet on the ground. There was no controversy about her winning either. There was trouble a few years ago when a charcoal drawing won and people complained that charcoal wasn't painting. Times have changed!

It was quite wide and there were a lot of people looking at it so I had to take the photo on a angle.

Head in the sky, feet on the ground by Julia Gutman

Here are a couple of detail photos.

Bye for now,

Linda