Before I start on a rather picture heavy post I am delighted to say that my Quilt has returned home safely this morning! I'm impressed with how quickly it has been returned. You can imagine my excitement, tearing off the packaging to see my baby again and to look for the judge's comments! Then my dismay when I couldn't find them! Fortunately I had a flash of inspiration and found the judge's envelope underneath the address label. Phew!
Trepidation as I opened the envelope turned to a warm glow as I read the comments and found that apart from one "satisfactory" from one judge regarding the quilting (justified I thought) both judges gave either good or excellent!!!! Yay!!!! I got an 'excellent' for "Edge treatment, hangs well'. Yes! I was desperate that my quilt should hang well so I am delighted that it did. Ok, at the risk of blowing my own trumpet here are the actual comments:
Judge One: Sand and Sea are clearly the message. Love the touches of frayed to denote sea spray.
Judge Two: Your choice of fabrics and technique has brought this simple idea to life.
Happy me!
OK back to the Show.
This large traditional quilt, which is absolutely beautiful is by Cathi Smith O'Neill who I know through Kate North's blog and who I bumped into at the Show, twice! I am in awe of the amount of work in this quilt, which is called "Frugal Jane".
This is a detail of a large quilt by Louise Jessup entitled "Going Solo". I was impressed by the many embroidered seagulls.
This beautiful quilt "Letting Go" is by Nicola Kimber and recalls the tranquility of New Zealand. This quilt won a Highly Commended.
Sarah Welsby's very subtle quilt which incorporates laminated paper.
This prize-winning quilt is by Luke Daymond in the Young Quilter group. Luke won third prize for this quilt which was all his own work and incorporates a paper map.
These are the stunning Iraq Marriage blankets which have some beautiful motifs in them. You can see some close up details of them on Margaret Cooter's blog for 24 August.
This beautiful floaty quilt is by Molly Bullick and is titled "South Asian Studies". It arose from a Pojagi workshop at the 2009 FOQ.
Lastly, but very definitely not least, is the Roses From The Heart display which several people in blogland have been talking about. I have blogged about this project before but I can't find where so I shall repeat the details, which are worthy of repeat. Each bonnet carries the name of a woman convict and people have been able to include the name of someone in their family or from their home town so that the project becomes more personal.
Christina Henri is amassing 25,266 bonnets made by women all over the world to commemorate the women who were transported to Australia, usually for the pettiest of transgressions. Once assembled the bonnets will form a permanent installation. Christina still need about 6000 bonnets for this project and you can download a pattern here.
The most moving sight of the exhibition was the sea of bonnets laid out on the exhibition floor.
A moving, emotional sight to consider all these lives torn out from everything they knew and to be sent thousands of miles away.
On a lighter note, I went to see my friend in hospital yesterday and she is doing well. I was pleased to see her sitting out of bed. Today I have heard that she has had her first walk on her newly mended leg and she is understandably delighted! :-))