Houston quilts

If you are in Houston right now, at the Quilt Festival, you're very lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful quilts and great quilters! I am here at home enjoying the coverage of the event via the internet. I have 2 quilts in the Hands All Around exhibit, Shake the Tree, detail above and Flood #1- River Rising, below.

Congratulations to all the prize winners, the quilts look amazing!
www.quilts.com has details of winning quilts.

Hands all Around

Very happy that my 2 entries to Hands all Around have been accepted for the international touring exhibition which will premier in Houston in October and then travel to the other IQA shows. Above Flood #1- river rising and below Shake the Tree.

Second first for the week

I entered 2 quilts in the Hands All Round international exhibition this year, for the first time. One was selected and one rejected. In the Moonlight, above was selected to be part of the exhibition which premiers in Houston at the International Quilt Festival 2013.

The quilt that was rejected isn't a bad quilt, it just didn't fit into this exhibition, so I'll enter it into something else. Don't be dejected if you are not selected, try again and have confidence in yourself. If you are n Sydney for the quilt show In the Moonlight will be there as my Judge's quilt. Gee that's another first, judging in Sydney!

Caught my eye in Houston #2

Congratulations to Lisa Walton, the Jewel Pearce Patterson Scholarship for Quilting Teachers on her exhibit. I loved seeing this work, 'Gaudi Star' in person, it really glowed.

'Blackbird' by Sally Westcott was also part of the exhibit.

Maria Elkins with 'Windblown' winner of the Fairfield Master Award for Contemporary Artistry.

'The Monumental Way' by Karlyn Bue Lohrenz stopped me dead in my tracks, as only 3 days before I had been standing under this arch, named Delicate Arch in the Arches National Park, Utah.

Caught my eye in Houston

There were many, many stunning quilts that caught my eye in Houston. This is a very small, personal selection from exhibits where photography was allowed.

'Radiance' by Susan Stewart was awarded the Pfaff Master Award for Machine Artistry. I don't think the photos can show the skill & precision in the placement of the digital embroidery over the pieced diamonds & the lacy edge.

'Dixie Dingo Dreaming' by Susan Carlson won the 'What's Good for You' contest.

'The Summer Sun II' by Reiko Naganuma, in which woven pieces are intergrated into the pieced design.

I always love Betty Busby's work & seeing it in person is a thrill. This is from the 'What's Good for You' contest- 'La Puz', a prize winner.

Festival is over for another year

I have been absent from my blog because there is just so much to see & do at Festival. Like this Texas boot, Festival seems to be bigger & better each time I visit. This was only the third time I have experienced it.

Francie, what goes on in Hosuton stays in Houston, so sorry, but I can't give you the spoon secret!

It was a delight to meet quilters from many countries & thank you to everyone who joined me for my floor talks. The future of quilting is in good hands- 6 year old Quinley, a stitcher, declared that 'Blue Cottonwood', the quilt behind us, was her favourite. If you'd like to see the full exhibition Destination Texas, it is on my website in the portfolio section.

This is a view of the front entry section before opening at 10am & the sign below summed it up!

Houston fun

Judy Perez is the 'expert' at balancing a spoon & shared her tips with me.

I'm concentrating hard! Houston fun continues.

Quilt Festival Preview night

Bob is buckling under the weight of the Festival bags filled with books! He was told he is the CEO- 'Carry Everything Out'. Preview night was fun- great to catch up with friends, old & new & meet more quilters. I'm very happy with how my exhibit has been hung.

L-R Holly, Betty, Marlene, Eileen & me.

I'll be at Destination Texas from 3-5pm today [Thursday in the USA] The quilts on display in the World of Beauty, IQA members show are fantastic. Looking forward to browsing the booths too.

Thanks for all the comments on our travels. More of that to come over the coming weeks- I'm not done yet!

Destination Texas exhibition

My exhibition Destination Texas has been up for Quilt Market in Houston & continues to be on display for Quilt Festival Nov 2-6. I will be there for Festival so hope you can come & say G'day on Wednesday Preview night from 5pm-10pm, Thursday 10am-7pm [Friday I'm away on the Texas Quilt Museum tour]  Saturday 10am-7pm or Sunday 10am- 5pm. I will be giving a short floor talk at the exhibit, about the work, in the afternoons at 3pm.

Packing & posting

I have been packing my Destination Texas exhibition quilts & matted pieces for posting. Luckily I had a lot of bubble wrap for wrapping the edges of the mats. Then a box to fit was fashioned from an existing box & voila! ready to post.

Roundel

I finished Roundel with binding using a silk/cotton blend that has a lovely sheen to pick up the metallic

paint in the print. Now to pack the quilts & post to Houston. Five weeks & counting down to take-off for Pacific International Quilt Festival - so many things to do!! 'Breathe' I tell myself.

Horrific footage of the flooding on east coast USA- our hearts go out to all effected by Irene.