Pixie Post

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Quilt Symposium Manawatu

I went to the thriving metropolis of Palmerston North and lost myself among people and things textile. It was very, very good. The exhibition was superb, ranging, as it has to, from traditional to high art. It seemed to me the judges had used a fairly conservative eye in jurying quilts into the show, but then, it's a difficult job, and I don't envy them. My quilts looked pretty good hanging in some fine company. This quilt won best of show. The sky seems to be painted, and is beautifully quilted, the hills and sea are pieced. There was lots of discussion about this award, but generally people agree it is a beautiful quilt. What do you think?

Across the Bay II by Chris Kenna, Wellington

It was a very busy 5 days. I did a class with Sue Dennis. It was a great 2 days. There's something special about Queenslanders, they always make me laugh. I'll show you what I made when it's photographed. I like it a lot! I also did a class with Susan Carlson. Not so good results (yet) so I'm not showing you. I'll do some more work on it in future though, because it's going to be great. Susan was a lovely tutor, the work the class produced was really wonderful. There were lizards and fish and flowers and a house. She teaches fabric collage, and I'm making a rose. You must check out her pink rhino and her Polkadodo on her website here. I volunteered one day, and ended up helping out in Bonnie McCaffery's portrait painting class. She's a very classy lady, very professional, and I was impressed with her use of a video camera and data projector so everyone could see what she was doing. Bonnie's website has video and audio podcasts, well worth a look.

The next Symposium is in Wellington in 2009. That's something to look forward to.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

How lucky you are to have taken a class by Susan Carlson. I loved seeing her quilts of the Polka Dodo and the Pink Rhino in magazines. Can't wait to see what you've been working on. And I liked the award winning quilt ... beautiful colors, so tranquil.

Shirley Goodwin said...

Sorry we didn't get to meet Pixie, but you must come to the KQ dinner next time - we never see each other just walking around - too many people, too busy!

African Kelli said...

I think without a doubt that is a beautiful quilt! I took a photo very similar in LA last summer.

kirsten said...

What a sneaky little Pixie you are! How did we both spend a week at Symposium and not meet??? I did see your quilt, though - Gorgeous!