The Wrap

Welcome to Issue 2 for 2009 - and both Nora and I are most appreciative of your continued support during what must be our "annus horribillus".  Not the least of which has been  the incompatibility of the latest Internet Explorer version with the publication of iQuilt. If you are like me and absolutely non-technical in the IT genre, I can only describe it as making the magazine look like it's a dog’s breakfast!  Nora and I have agreed that the only way iQuilt can move forward is to recreate the site in 2010 where the magazine component will become an element of the overall site.  The site will be open for everyone and anyone to contribute or sell projects, patterns, articles. Like you, both Nora and I are disappointed (to say the least) at the prospect of further delays. We're keen to get this and the other episodes that have impacted on our lives this year behind us. I am personally looking forward to ridding myself of compression stockings and 40 degree days, and hoping that 2010 will be a funeral-free year. 

We have six great projects for you including a quilt created in a pastel colourwash with hand-dyed fabrics by Maxine O’Toole. The quilt is comprised of small squares split by a ¾” strips of complimentary fabric and set on point. 

Robyn Christoffel shares another of her fantastic creations, a stunning evening bag “Pansy Garden” where you get to “get down and dirty with it” painting vliesofix and generally having a lot of fun.

The next square in our Sampler quilt revisited is a crazy patchwork square with a very cute spider sitting in a web of silver. Several velvet and other exotic fabrics are introduced to create the sumptuous feel and texture of crazy patchwork in the Judith Baker Montano style.

Nora has finished her journal quilt. She captures the remaining months in this Issue.

Develop your free motion machine quilting skills with "Meanderings", our Quilted Journal Cover project. These skills could be incorporated into a range of different projects – different types of quilts, book covers, boxes, or even a jacket!

We catch up with Sue Dennis who has been to New York , and curated the State of the Art Quilt 09 at the Boonah Regional Art gallery from 21 August to 4 October.  Entries for State of the Art Quilt 2010 have closed and the 25 quilts will be revealed at the Australian Quilt Fair in Melbroune early 2010.

Dianne Finnegan talks to us about her  experience as an “Artist in Residence” for the latter half of 2008 in Sydney – share Dianne’s quiltmaking adventure in a building with a rather intriguing history. 

We've also reviewed Dr Annette Gero's superb book "The Fabric of Society" - Australian Quilt Heritage from Convict Times to 1960. This labour of love is a great read, enlightening educative. The text and pictures are supported by co-author Kim McLeans patterns for 29 of the book's quilts.  It didn't take long - there's a challenge in progress  through Victorian Quilters to re-create one of the quilts in "The Fabric of Society" - we'll give you details of how to enter.

We really look forward to staying in touch over the coming months and subsequent issues - and cannot express our appreciation for your continued support enough. Til next time, happy upgrade and happy sewing. We hope that you and yours will have a wonderful 2010 - doing the important things in life.

Alison