QC 2010 Part 4 - for you Applique lovers...

Photos of the National Juried Show winners are now up on the CQA/ACC website; go here to see them. You can click on each one for a larger view. Unfortunately the photos are not that large and it is impossible to see the detail in these amazing works of art. Those of you who are CQA members will of course get the NJS catalogue with full color photos of all NJS entries, in the Autumn newsletter in early September, but one really has to see these shows in person to appreciate the quilts - photos, even large ones just don't do them justice. That's why everyone should start making plans now to attend Quilt Canada 2012 in Halifax. Even if you go to simply view the Shows without participating in the Conference... you won't regret the trip. Halifax is a very easy drive for us now, with divided highway the entire way. It is an opportunity not to be missed, to view and study work of this calibre.

The NJS Viewers Choice, Ruffled Feathers by Roxanne Nelson, (also the winner of first place in the Representational Wallquilt category, for a total of $3,500.00 in prize money) was truly amazing. You would swear that you could pat those "real looking feathers". All prize winners were very worthy of their awards, and there were many others that I would have pinned a ribbon on, as well. Truly, all entries in this Show are winners...

One three dimensional entry was disqualified from possible awards because it was on a "frame" of sorts, (this is against NJS "rules") but it was getting a lot of attention from the viewers. Picture a pop-up book type of quilt- it was 5 layers deep, mounted in a 12 - 15" thick(?) frame, which was covered in pieced and quilted blocks. The scene was a small girl walking into a wood, with a cottage type house in the background. The foreground "layers" included much foliage, tree branches, flowers, etc. If you stuck your head "into" the quilt, all pieces were backed with traditional blocks as well.. it was amazing. The maker, from Quebec, worked on it for 2 years. Unfortunately, as I've explained before, no photography is allowed in the NJS so I could not take a photo... Too bad, as it was one of the most amazing pieces I have seen anywhere...

The photos on this post today are from the Joy of Applique Show. The Wild Rose Stitchers of Cochrane AB are a chapter of The Applique Society and were proud to curate the first all-Canadian TAS exhibit at QC2010. The exhibit included pieces with many varying techniques of applique, both hand and machine, on works traditional and contemporary. I am not a hand applique person, and doubt very much that I ever will be, but I certainly admired the highly skilled workmanship that was displayed in this show. The hand quilting was incredible, the applique was perfect, the three dimensional work was exceptional......

From the top are: Reminiscence by Dawn Hunt with Grace Whiting, Wildflowers by Betty Bailey, Alberta: Moments and Memories by Jennifer Hill, with several closeups for your enjoyment, and lastly Kootenay Star by Dawn Fox Cooper, again with several closeups for the detail.... This is a small taste of The Joy of Applique Show. Hope you enjoyed it!

Piece (or maybe today I should say Applique!)

Linda

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." ~ Franaz