First Impressions

Guild Guest Speaker:  Susan Denton “Contemporary Design” 19 Mar 1988

Sadly I can’t remember this event – my mind is a total blank.  However, I mention it to remind myself of the powerhouse effect that Susan Denton and Barbara Macey had on me in those early days.  Their work was exciting, thoughtful and professionally constructed.  It also sent out clear messages that textile art could be far more than simple reproductions of traditional works – if that’s what you wanted to do.

My signed copy so I must have been there!

I had a lot of exploring to do in the quilting world and I wasn’t sure I had even thought about developing “personal style”.  I was caught up in learning techniques and perfecting my stitching.  As one does! 

The internet makes it just so easy to study other artists work.   Links to Susan Denton’s work appear as listed: (I've just discovered that none of the links below are active anymore. I suppose it's now 2021 not 2012! Google may be as ever helpful in finding more about Susan Denton and Barbara Macey.  It was after all, the beginning of the modern quilting world in Australia.) 

• News article: Susan Denton’s work
• Art quilt: Susan Denton's membership so you can get an idea of her current work (Susan is no longer with this group)
• Exhibition photos courtesy of shiny: (blog post no longer available)

Not forgetting Barbara Macey, whose clean lines and precise stitching has fascinated me for years.  Barbara perfected a "quilt-as-you-go technique that she manages with confidence and extreme precision.  Wonderful!

If you are interested in discussion on developing your own artistic style, then creative journey offers some interesting links too.  Let it be a start, a New Year’s resolution to find out more about your own contribution to the quilting world.  Start a journal and thoroughly explore each aspect of discussion; don’t be put off by some of the fancy journals you see about today – just making notes can be enough.  Visit a gallery and jot down your thoughts on a couple of artists pieces.  Compare it to your own work.  A bit of reflection never hurt anyone! 

A further Comment: 2023.  Susan Denton and Barbara Macey's amazing talent and approach to the modern quilt genre were certainly well ahead of their time.  Now some 35 years on, given we support both traditional and modern quilt guilds and a huge appreciation for textile art, we should be thankful for their pioneering spirit, leadership and encouragement in growing this textile art form.     

Stella's Legacy

Stella’s Quilt: 1988

My MIL had asked me to make her a machine cover in apricots and browns.  Her machine was set up on a desk in her bedroom at her unit in Bayswater.  I made the machine cover between Feb and March 88 using a very sweet “Swallows in the Window” pattern. (I have no idea what the source of this pattern was - no internet or googling then!) I gave this to her, along with two hand quilted cushions, for her birthday in 1988.  The blocks were handmade; the machine cover machined together to make it a little robust.  

Not the best of photos but it was a rather nice block
Collection: Home# 007 Sewing Machine Cover

This gave me the idea to make a matching sampler quilt for her bed.  I had been teaching beginner’s patchwork at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House and did a few blocks along with each class as demonstration pieces. I can see a few Jinny Beyer pieces in this quilt so my taste in fabrics (and colour palettes) was perhaps starting to become a little more sophisticated?   I set the blocks on point and then finished off the quilt with some basic hand quilting – just to get it done in time for Christmas 1988.  Hand pieced and hand quilted between March & December 88.

Stella's Quilt on the line at her unit

We are told she was found wrapped in this quilt when she passed away in 2010.  I am fortunate to have this quilt in my possession now.  It is a wonderful reminder of her.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 152 x 195cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1988
Pieced & Basted: Blocks by hand; borders machined 1988
Quilted: Hand 1988
Quilt Type: Gift
Quilt Finished: 1988
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home# 008 Stella's Quilt
Pattern Name: Sampler set on point
Pattern Source: Ruby McKim & Ginny Beyer
Fabrics Purchased: 1987/88
Fabric Design: Ginny Beyer & Mixed Prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

The colours are much more appealing in this digital shot

Lessons Learned:
This was a serious amount of work to “give away” even if it was for my MIL.  I discovered that making quilts for money was never going to be for me; too much time and effort with insufficient recompense to make a “living” out of crafting.  I’m just not that motivated.  Knowing this has also allowed me over the years, to say a firm no to offers and suggestions that I might really like to finish someone’s family heirloom (sitting in bits in a box under their house). Life’s too short!  Find yourself a little bolt hole, set up the machine (or what-ever) and make a date in your diary (and keep it!) for some stitching. It’s very Zen….

Support a Guild

Guild Exhibition 21-25 Jan 1988

The year of 1988 began with a bang.  The Geelong Quilters Guild had organised an exhibition of members work and we all happily participated.  This was a very active and friendly group and we all got so much more out of it than just stitching. 

Just as a reminder, I exhibited my Christmas Sampler, the Little Boys Breeches and my snazzy strip pieced Jacket. (See descriptions in previous posts.)

I still have the catalogue from the exhibition!

It didn’t matter whether we worked in a traditional style or followed our own creative leanings.  Our achievements were celebrated and classes or workshops offered regularly to tempt the most fastidious needleworker, textile artist or quilter.  I’ve described my time on the Bellarine Peninsular as one of “serious influences” and for a beginner, it was exciting though demanding.  We learned from the best tutors who encouraged creativity yet inspired us to improve technical skills.  We had Barbara Macey, Deborah Brearley and Fiona Gavens, to name a few, all come to share their skills and expertise with us.  How lucky were we!  I think I realised even then, that textiles were part of me and best expressed my “place” in the world.

(Just for the record, the year noted after the quilt title in my post headings is the year finished.   I am trying to list my quilts and creations in the year and order that I made them.  Difficult, particularly in 1987, as my record keeping skills then were not quite what they have grown to become! I now sign each quilt, add its title and list the month and year I finished it.  If it’s been a long time in the making then I might also add the year I started it - just to horrify myself more than anything.) 

Neighbourhood Event

Clays Choice: 1988  (Started: 1987)

This is the best photo I have of the quilt from 1988

Hand pieced and quilted, this was a Raffle Quilt for the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House. 

We started work in March 1987.  Blocks were made and donated by the Swan Bay Quilters.  It finished as a Double Bed size (eight blocks wide by ten blocks long) in autumn tones – design and colours chosen by Sue Longmore.  Completely hand crafted.

And I'd clipped this from our local newspaper at Raffle time

This quilt raised $1700.00 for the QNH in 1988 - an amazing sum.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 183 x 152cm (I'm guessing)
Block Size: 12” 
Cut in: Mar 1987
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1987
Quilted: Hand 1987-88
Quilt Type: Group for Raffle
Quilt Finished: Mar 1988
Exhibited:  Various venues to raise money
Collection: with Prize Winner
Pattern Name: Clays Choice
Pattern Source: Ruby McKim p93 (10" block)
Fabrics Purchased: 1986/87
Fabric Design: Small prints& plains
Fabric Style: Homespun
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
We felt so pleased to give something back to the neighbourhood house. The house concept was perfect for busy mums to get some “me” time and for the community to get together for learning, socialising, contributing and just having fun.

Lessons in Patience

Karen’s Quilt: 1988  (Started: 1987)

The trouble with using solids is apparent now!

This is the original applique sampler from an early class with Sue Longmore in needle turn applique.  I had taken an advanced applique class at the Neighbourhood House in 1987 and learned how to applique: 

• Starflowers
• Double Hearts
• Wreath of Roses
• Great Grandmother’s Rose

Hanging on the clothes line 1987

This quilt was hand appliqued, hand pieced and hand quilted.  Colours I chose to work in were primarily greens and apricots. At this time fabric range was limited, although we had a few shops open up on the Bellarine Peninsular/Geelong area to service a growing and active group of quilters. I gave this quilt to Karen as a house warming gift.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 45 x 45cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1987
Pieced & Basted: Hand 1987
Quilted: Hand 1988
Quilt Type: Sue Longmore Workshop
Quilt Finished: 1988
Exhibited: 
Collection: Gift
Pattern Name: See List
Pattern Source: Class provided
Fabrics Purchased: 1986/87
Fabric Design: Prints & plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
I was taking every class I possibly could either at the Geelong Quilters Guild or at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House. Sue was a fantastic teacher and the class ladies always friendly. It was a supportive learning environment and I had the time to get “carried away” with my sewing. So I did!

Christmas Spirit

Christmas Tree: 1987

My fascination with speedy Seminole piecing knew no limits now and I completed many projects during & for classes at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House.  It must have been getting close to Christmas because I later put together a rather large Christmas Tablecloth (which is still hiding in my linen closet somewhere) to use up all the leftovers from two Christmas tree hangings.  Stash control at such an early stage...whoa!!

Memories

After piecing, I decorated these trees with lots (for me) of beads & sequins. So much for not enjoying embroidery.  One wallhanging was given away to St Aloysius School as a raffle prize in 1987.  It was won by Rose Nicholson.  The other was only recently donated (2008?) to the Dangar Island “Kindy Kids” who decorate our Ferry Shed for annual Christmas celebrations.  So I am not sure where it is now.  

(It seems so appropriate to have this post up at this time of year & good reason to celebrate 26 years of fiddling around with quilts! ) 

I found a photo after all!  This is my seminole tablecoth

 

Seminole Moment

Seminole Samplers: 1987

Seminole Sampler 1987

1987 was the year of Seminole production.  It began with a workshop run by one of the Fort Queenscliff Quilters (I think) and as a result we produced a sampler wall hanging with horizontal bands of Seminole strips, great for developing machinist skills!  I also had a thing for Amish designs and was into exploring patterns made with bright, solid colours. 

Most of the patterns I used were taken from a handy little supermarket publication, "Quilting and Patchwork" by Southern Cross Decorative Craft Magazines.  It was inspiring, colourful and had over 40 different quilt patterns to browse through. 

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 63x 108cm
Block Size: Various Seminole Strips
Cut in: 1987
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1987
Quilted: Not Quilted
Quilt Type: Fort Queenscliff Quilters Workshop
Quilt Finished: 1987
Exhibited:  Geelong Quilters Guild 1988
Collection: Home# 006
Pattern Name: Seminole Sampler
Pattern Source: Southern Cross Magazines
Fabrics Purchased: 1987
Fabric Design: Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: None
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
This was a great way to improve machinist skills, produce a quick quilt or wall hanging and was a fun sewing day with friends.