Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Learning New Skills

How exciting when quilters gather to learn a new skill - felting! My good friends Janine Ibbini, Karin Jackson and I decided to let our creativity out of the box for a great day of fun and inspiration with Caroline Lindsay (far right). I found it a nice change to be a student for the day, rather than the teacher!

Caroline is a fabulous textile artist from England who taught us all the ins and outs of creating felt with little water and embellishments. I think the best part was the fulling (beating your design on the table to mesh all the fibers and embellishments together). Definitely good for building up your upper arms and releasing all your tensions. She shared many of her tips and techniques with us.

I thought it was wonderful all the lace, beads, fabrics and other textiles that could be incorporated into the design. It's all so tactile!

After a morning of fun and play, we three girls went home with 3 pieces of felting and filled with inspiration to do more. Now it's time for us to embellish the felt pieces with stitching and other embellishments and if we like, frame them.


Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show










In February, the second Dubai International Quilt Show's theme "Imagination" brought in quilts from many parts of the world, as well as workshops taught by renowned teachers such as Ricky Tims, Bonnie McCaffery, Sharon Pederson, and Janine Ibbini. The Dhow Palace Hotel was host to women from around the world who enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine, while doing what they love best...Quilting!


RickyTims' class was the highlight of the show for me, as I spent the rest of my time vending and being MC for a fantastic night of celebration at the Gala Dinner. Fabulous quilts won fabulous prizes. Everyone made new friends, caught up with old friends, and went home richer in knowledge and understanding and with passion to start new projects, using new skills learned.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

Cheryl Olsson's "Lorraine's Rhapsody" quilt winner of Traditional Appliqued Bed-Size Quilts quilted by hand or by machine as well as Best of Show Winner!



Bonnie Davidson's "Fans and Flowers, winner of Pieced or Appliqued Wall Quilts.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

Mala Ramakrishnan's quilt "Quilting Frenzy" winner of Whole Cloth Quilts made by hand or by machine.














Layla Aghashahi's quilt "Dancing Lights" winner of the Art Quilt Category.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

Nora Al Qahtani's quilt "What If?" Winner of Traditional Pieced Bed-Size Quilts, quilted by hand or by machine.






Patricia Watkins' quilt "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" Winner of Traditional Pieced Bed-Size Quilts quilted by another person.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

Claudia Sidwai's Flames and Waves - Viewer's Choice