exhibition quilts Archives

Posted on August 10, 2019 August 10, 2019

Michael James Digital Quilt Exhibition at Festival Of Quilts 2019 Part 5

Michael James Digital Quilt: When I first saw the announcement for this I was intrigued, because I have been creating digital images, digital fabrics and digital quilts for some time. In fact it was because people kept telling that my digital manipulations would make great quilts, that I, with very little sewing machine experience at all, came to be a quilter.

Karen Platt digital quilt — Karen Platt BOM quilt

I love playing with my images, and if I have a strength, it is probably that I have found a unique way of digital manipulation. Playing with photos to reveal layers. For further details see my ecourse

The first ecourse I wrote was also on this subject. It is very dear to my heart and I have created a number of smaller ecourses dedicated to digital kaleidoscope creation or blocks. The courses are taken at home, so are suitable wherever you live and all have tutor input. My latest ecourse: Digital Quilting, will be available shortly. If you are interested please use the contact form, with the name of the ecourse as the subject.

Michael James Digital Quilt was a fascinating gallery that seemed to be a gallery of two halves, the brights and the darks. I preferred the brighter quilts shown here. His pieces are beautifully machine quilted. All the images that follow are Michael James quilts and are copyright Michael James.

One more gallery to come in this series of 6 discovering the quilts at FOQ 2019. Words and images copyright Karen Platt

Posted on August 9, 2019 August 11, 2019

Quilt Exhibition Galleries at FOQ 2019 Part 4

Part 4 of my FOQ blogs concentrates on Exhibition Galleries with a bit of fascinating hand dyeing too. The Exhibition Galleries are where I always head straight after seeing the main quilts hung inside Hall 8. This year I thought the Exhibition Galleries were a real thrill. I shall cover the final one in Part 5.

Many of us are familiar with the striking work of Sandra Meech. She is one of the ladies who stirred a passion to quilt within me with her fabulous books published by Batsford. Her work is simply breathtaking when you see it. The small trio below were priced at 750 pounds each. She followed on from me, speaking in the same lecture room, so I was able to say hello and shake hands. Quilts as wall art has always interested me, something I have concentrated on in my own work.

Another must-see for me was the gallery of Eszter Bornemisza ‘You Are Here’. Such fabulous work. I loved the multi-layered effect and the shadows her work creates. Interesting work using a limited palette.

The work of Sue Hotchkis deserves contemplation. It is so fascinating and intricately detailed. Wonderful use of colour. Her work usually hangs in the Fine Art Gallery. This piece was priced at 2,200 gbp.

The hand dyed fabrics were eye-catching, hanging outside the Committed to Cloth workshop space. I must get back to hand dyeing. My ecourse Hand Dyeing is almost ready to launch. This subject is also covered in my ecourse ‘Design Your Own Quilts’

Part 5 and 6 coming shortly. Words and photos copyright Karen Platt. Artworks and quilts copyright their respective owners.

Posted on February 11, 2019 February 11, 2019

Exhibition Quilts at UK Quilt Shows

Exhibition quilts have the power to fill one with dread. Whilst visitors marvel and judges may criticise or praise, the intrepid quilter takes her skills in her hands, hopefully meets the deadline and achieves what she set out to do.

The world of exhibition quilts is one I said I never would enter. Some exhibition quilts are gobsmackingly amazing. What on earth has made me decide to enter quilts this year?

You think I have the answer? Not absolutely sure I do. I think it was a mad moment but then I have had months to think about it, so I am fooling anyone who believes that. To be honest, I found the art category at FOQ 2018 slightly underwhelming. I found myself thinking I can do this.

Of course, that is just stage one. I have the design created already. I have changed it a dozen times in my mind’s eye. I have settled on the subject, how I want it to look, down to the fine details of fabrics and threads. The problem is can I quilt it?

I have not entered the FOQ one yet, but expect to before the deadline. Before I make my final decision, I have entered another quilt show entirely. I encourage everyone to do this if they are thinking of entering FOQ. Try somewhere else first – a smaller show preferably in the previous year. Less pressure is always good.

I have entered the Miniature Quilts section of the British Stitch and Quilt Village show at Uttoxeter racecourse 12-14th April. Make a date in your diary. This one too is already designed and I know definitely how to quilt this one. Just have to make sure it does not measure more than is allowed.

I am not sharing work prior to the competitions. So I shall keep you entertained in other ways. I will still be quilting other designs. Talking of which, I have now designed the back of the Snowflake quilt. Not quite like the image, I will be using my tea dyed not rust dyed fabric. There will be snowflakes. I need to get a move on and finish this one now. The spring one is also just about designed and ready to start.

The other winter quilt is already available as a kit.