Esther's Occassional Quote for the Day

Who know's what will happen during your morning coffee?

Expect the unexpected!

PADUCAH QUILT SHOW WINNERS ANNOUNCED

BEST OF SHOW

Renaissance Revival, Mariya Waters, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Congratulations to Mariya!

For those of you lucky enough to have seen this quilt up close, you'll know just how much work and dedication has gone into this magnificent quilt. You can read all about it here on Mariya's website: http://www.mariyawaters.com/index.html

I'm doubly lucky as I know Mariya personally and it's so nice to know someone who has taken out this prestigious award...congratulations to all the quilters who received at award at this years show.

See full winners list here: http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/paducah/2009/contests/quilt_winners.php

As for me?...oh well, there's always next year...and frankly, I'm just happy to have hung at such a prestigious show

Quilt Festival Spring 2009...Nightshade

Nightshade

Spring Quilt Festival 2009 - What a great idea. We all have a favourite quilt, and here is mine so far - Nightshade.

Made in 2007, Nightshade is entirely stencilled from my own original line drawings. This quilt is my favourite because it taught me to appreciate cool tones (I'm an earthy hue person usually) and it expanded what I thought could be done with the stencilling technique in quilting. And I'm still learning...

Stencilling is actually a traditional quilting technique, it was practiced by the earliest quilters...yet it seems that it's also somewhat forgotten noawadays - or looked upon as a 'new take' for quilting. With Nightshade I wanted to honor this history and create something entirely original without looking too modern.

A lot of people regard stencilling as a fast track to making quilts - but actually it's a true labor of love and I can assure you that a stencil quilt takes me as long as an applique quilt does. The pleasure lies in having total control over your design (it's printing your own fabrics!) and the cost is also comparable to purchasing quilting fabrics. Stencilling is something you do when you want to have a totally hands on creation.

I thoroughly enjoy stencilling and I'm not finished in this technique yet, but for me, Nightshade was a turning in point in my quilting journey.

Interested in hearing about other Quilter's favourite quilts and the stories behind them? Visit the Spring 2009 Festival here and browse through for an afternoon of great reading and inspiration. Thank you Amy for coming up with this, it's a fabulous idea! : http://parkcitygirl.blogspot.com/2009/04/quilt-festival-spring-2009.html

Yes, it's BOM time again

Red Delicious Delight is launched!

...and is it just me or are the months going by faster?

Baking is my Inspiration

When I should be getting ready for some Easter baking, I've been getting stuck into some Easter sketching instead...

Inspiration strikes at funny times.

Sometimes in my household, I'm accused of having selective hearing and today I think I've self diagnosed a serious case of selective inspiration, as I'd rather be sketching Easter applique designs than getting my Easter shopping done!

I have a feeling that this will end in a long queue at Coles tomorrow....

Not eggs-actly a stash buster

Where are the months flying? It's nearly Easter which means it's nearly half way through the year. In many ways I feel like I've done a lot...however I also feel like I havent done anything!

I'm afraid that I came across 80cms of the rose print fabric above....and I just had to have it, as my green egg really didn't zing with any print I had in the stash at all. Well, nearly didn't - because I'd already decided to go with a black background (from my stash)...but fell in love with this print....Oh well.... I am going to be using it all up right away, so it's not like I'm 'adding' to my stash or anything like that...AND I am supporting my local patchwork store!

Esther's Easter Block

Easter is nearly upon us, and every year I love to come up with a new table design, and usually end up sewing a few things too. This year, I designed a block that would be suitable for several designs and the only problem now is….I don’t know which one to make!

So I’ve decided to share this original block and invite all you talented quilters out there to let your imagination run wild….what will you make with this design? A table runner? A 3D egg? A felted egg gift bag? I’m still undecided myself...what I do know is that it lends itself to appliqué, stenciling, embroidery…..it’s all open to interpretation. So why not get sewing for Easter right now?

After Easter I will post all images of created pieces on this blog as an ‘ Easter Parade’ of creativity, so don't be shy, share your talent!

JOIN IN: download my free Easter Block via Scribd.com

SHARE YOUR WORK: forward images of finished pics to my email and I will post them here after Easter, in a ‘Parade’ of talent.