Sandown part 2

 I had been going to end with this one, but blogger is somewhat like kicking a dead whale along a beach today and I would rather be at the race track so I will live with the pictures in whatever order blogger feels like. This is Greek Fossils with it's awards. It took first in large wall hanging and the Fran Jones longarming award. It's the first time I've managed to win this since Fran died, so I am thrilled to have it again. I think Mandy Parks will forgive me for breaking her winning streak.

 This is "The Pleasure Domes of Xanadu". It belongs to one of my students from Thursday night, Jane. It is a quilt she had made to use up leftovers from another quilt, and I only happened to see it when she had a mass quilting of tops. I was lucky enough to quilt several tops for her but this one I felt was a bit special. It was also a bit of a pain in the backside. I have no idea how Linzi Upton copes with using so much of this wriggly gold fabric. It's a nightmare and the only way to control it in the quilt was to stitch in the ditch on both sides. If you know me, you know that is just not something I do but well if the quilt demands it who am I to argue. The quilt has very clever use of fabric and was a joy to quilt. I am thrilled she agreed to share it with everyone at the show.

 Next we have "100 Proof". This is the quilt Tet made to test my books instructions. It's not only his first bed quilt, but his first quilt in general. Not bad after not using a sewing machine for a quarter of a century. I thought it would be good to have a clear picture up of this as I think it is the most requested modification of my quilt. Tet thought the half square triangles would be quicker for the outer border than the celtic knots I suggested. He was probably wrong, but the outer border is really striking and hopefully those who want to copy it will not be able to work it out.

Lastly  (by bloggers choice remember) is "Vanessa's Rhapsody". I don't think the photo really does justice to this and I might have to have a chat with Vanessa about getting a picture of the back. The thing that makes this quilt for me is the quilting, which isn't showing as well as I would like. This was a real step out of her comfort zone, and at times quite a fight. We both learned a lot from this quilt. Never ever try to put bits of a rhapsody quilt together when you are already having bad day. Sewing the curves is fine when relaxed, when you aren't it's really hard. Vanessa also wasn't sure about machine quilting when she started but has finished the quilt off with freehand feathers in the four background corners. This is a very special quilt it seems to have inspired not only Vanessa but other members of the group and it was great to see it in a show, if not as visible and well lit as I would have liked.

I'm trying very hard to encourage more of my students to enter next year. We had a great day on Sunday and I would love to share that feeling with more people. Maybe next year you could have a go? There is a special extra category at Sandown next year. "In the pink" all the entry fees from that category will go to Breast Cancer Care. What more excuse do you need to have a go. You can support charity, get a ticket to the show and get the thrill of seeing your work hung all in one go. The entry forms are available from here. The one you need for "In the pink" is "National Quilt Championships 2012". See you at Sandown next year.