An Introduction To Keepsake Quilts.
Keepsake quilts are emerging as a popular type of quilt in many different areas of the world but are probably more popular in North America than perhaps they are in Europe. This article, especially written for "My Quilt Patch", may serve as an introduction to this style of quilting for those less familiar with it. Click the image to view the article.
Bente Vold Klausen was one of this year's featured textile artists at the UK's premier quilt show, The Festival of Quilts, held at the National Exhibition Centre. Bente, who lives near Oslo in Norway, has been teaching and exhibiting all across the world for over 30 years and is founder and editor of Scandanavia's longest established quilting magazine. Her work is highly original. She likes to be both playful and experimental in her work and believes that "Everywhere around you are colour and forms that can be used as inspiration for creative work-it's all about looking". In the attached presentation Bente gives us a 'peek behind the scenes' of her creative process and goes step by step through the creation of "Vanity", one of the pieces exhibited at the NEC. You can see the rest of the exhibition in the MQP photo gallery and get more information about her work and her teaching from her website (details in the presentation). Just click the image to view.
Here is a fascinating article by renowned textile artist Janet Bolton in which she illuminates her way of working to create her unique quilted textiles pictures. Here Janet will tell you how she employs her own memories, experiences and imagination in creating her charming, minimalist, compositions. Janet’s work is much sought after by collectors of contemporary folk art and her classes and workshops are always in great demand. Click the image to view the article.
Here is a super Free Block Pattern from textile artist Pat Archibald entitled Celtic Tree, where she shows you how to use her own technique of using iron-on foils to create a shiny metallic motif on the block. - Click on the image for full instructions for creating this colourful design.
Read the Profile of Quilt and Textile Artist C June Barnes. - June has been working with textiles since December 1991. Her journey started with traditional patchwork and quilting and has travelled through various related disciplines to her present-day innovative Quilt Art work. Click on the image to view the full profile.
Take a look at this Pink Ribbon Block designed by Lesley Brankin. This is an adaptable and simple to construct pieced quilt block made from whole and half triangle squares. By combining several blocks together many different patterns can be created. Use them to make quilts or cushions for a special friend, community project, raffle items etc. - Makes either a 5" or 10" block (finished size), each consisting of 25 individual square units. Click on the image for the full instructions.
Come on a virtual Visit To Cowslip Workshops to discover a hidden gem of a patchwork and quilting resource tucked away in the heart of England's Cornish countryside. Read this article to get a glimpse of what is on offer at this delightful venue, where Jo Colwill caters for every need of the creative needleworker. Click the image to view.
Here is a beautiful mixed media project for you to do, incorporating delicate fabric painting together with free machine embroidery. This design by Tracy Curtis called "Thistle Project" is suitable for a number of different applications. It could be used as a framed picture, a cushion cover or part of a design for a quilt. Click on the image for complete instructions to make this project including a tracing template of the thistle design.
"The Story of a Paintbox Quilt" by Greta Fitchett..."Whilst walking along a street in Aldburgh, Sufolk, I came across a scene that suddenly set me on the way to creating a series of quilts that I named 'Paintbox'." - Click the image to read all about Greta's fascinating, colourful and inspirational quiltmaking style.
Dilys Fronks has been quilting for over 25 years and has developed several original & distinctive techniques, which have been the subject of successful quilting books. She is an accomplished Teacher, Speaker and Author and lives in North Wales where she is sometimes referred to locally as "Dilys The Quilt", after a quaint local tradition of calling people after their trade or craft, a label Dilys says she "wears with pride". Dilys has generously made available one of her imaginative techniques that you can try out for yourself, entitled "A Template Free Method of Hand Applique Using a Jacobean Motif" - Just click the image to try it out.
Katharine Guerrier is well known in the quilting world and her work had been featured in numerous magazines, both British and American. She is a regular contributor to UK quilt exhibitions and in 2007 she was an invited exhibitor at 'The Festival of Quilts' NEC, Birmingham. Here, in an extract from her book "Patchwork Postcards and Pinboard Quilts", she will tell you about learning to manage composition with shapes and colours on a miniature scale of 6.5" x 4.5". How, using piecing techniques, you can create miniature 'Art Quilts'. Just click the image to get started on Katharine's warm up project.
If the combination of a quilting shop, a patchwork workshop and high quality on-site holiday accommodation sounds to you like a marriage made in heaven then you should be sure to read this article about Villavin Crafts which is run by Jo Hendy and her family in picturesque North Devon. If you have ever thought about treating yourself to a patchwork and quilting themed country holiday then a "Quilting Retreat" at Villavin might be just what you are looking for. Click on the image to find out all about it.
Read this thought provoking article by textile artist Cas Holmes as she shows how her techniques of working with paper and fabric take you "Beyond The Quilt". The 'environment' and 'recycling' are recurrent themes in Cas's work, which is also strongly influenced by nature and the land. She uses mixed media to translate her creative ideas into vibrant and colourful art works. Click on the image to access the full article.
Angela Madden has been an inventive, original and prolific contributor to the UK patchwork and quilting scene for many years. She has written 9 needlework books which are well known for their clear, comprehensive and simple instructions on subjects including Celtic design; geometric, floral & perspective patchwork; and realistic applique representations of photographs. She is an internationally acclaimed teacher and writer and her quilts have won numerous awards. Angela has kindly made available this exquisite 'Celtic Star' pattern for MQP members to try out. Click the image for full instructions.
Let Patricia McLaughlin take you on her own personal patchwork and quilting journey from struggling beginner to award winning quilt artist, where she poses (and answers) the question asked by many novice quilters of "Where to Begin?". If you are just starting out on your own patchwork and quilting journey this article is a "must read"! Click the image to begin.
Why not let Annette Morgan show you how to add some real sparkle to your quilting? In this article she walks you through one of her techniques, in an extract from her book "Glitzy Quilts". Here you will learn just how she cleverly makes use of all sorts of materials for Beadmaking, which she then uses to add sparkle and interest to her quilting designs. Just click the image to find out all about it.
Natasha Pederson is a talented quilt and textile artist who has a passion for colour and is a self confessed "textile fanatic". She works a great deal with silk and satin and hand-dyes much of her own material. She also uses both Applique and Embroidery to further enhance her quilts. In this article entitled "Designing for Embroidery" she talks about her fascination for using embroidery for embellishing quilts and gives some tips and techniques for how to design pleasing freehand embroidery in order to beautify your own quilts. Click the image to read the article.
Carole Sedgely of Butterfly Quilters runs a Longarm Quilting Service that services patchworkers from across the UK and is herself a keen patchwork and quilting enthusiast. Carole is making this lovely quilt pattern that she designed available free to MQP members. The design came about as a result of her experimentation with "how to cut and twist machined nine-piece blocks". She has experimented with different blocks, colour ways and cutting them up and has now created this quilt which she has called "Five By Five" to share with you here. Click on the image for step-by-step instructions (complete with pictures) for making this colourful and interesting quilt.
Make a virtual visit to the 20th Anniversary Show of "Quilts UK - Malvern", in Worcestershire, England. This show has been a favourite with UK quilters for years and features dozens of colourful and inspiring quilts from both the UK and overseas. MQP's roving reporter takes you on a short tour of the exhibits in the Three Counties Showground to see some of the superb quilts that won awards at the show. Click the image to view this report.
That's all for now folks, but we will be adding new material over time so please make sure to check regularly for new featured contributions on the site. We will also be adding additional fun features including quizzes and competitions and, as the membership builds, we will be making use of the advanced capabilities of the site to host online quilting workshops and other interesting features.
"Happy Quilting" from the 'My Quilt Patch' team.
