Awards

South West Quilters have various Challenges and Competitions throughout the year such as:

The Audrey Dean Award

The award of a silver thimble is given each Spring Meeting with AGM in the name of Audrey Dean, for a first quilt made during the previous 2 years. The quilter needs to enter her quilt for this award when completing the proforma for attendance at the meeting. Alternatively the member can send the quilt with another member. The judging, for the thimble, will be done by all the members present. The quilt will need to have a 3” hanging sleeve stitched on to the back. Stands will be provided to hang the quilts. Please encourage new quilters to enter this category.

Winners of the Audrey Dean Award

Audrey Dean Award 2012 was won by Jane Richardson

Rhubarb DelightAGM Meeting 2011
The Audrey Dean award for first quilt was won by Jan Cumbes for her quilt ‘Rhubarb Delight’.

AGM Meeting 2010
The winning quilt for the Audrey Dean award is by Jenny Brewer and is picture here to the right.

AGM Meeting 2008
Maggie Marlow won the Audrey Dean award in 2008 for her quilt (pictured).

AGM Meeting 2007
Winner of the Audrey Dean award for 2007 given at the AGM, was Wendy Gosney a Taw Valley Quilter, for her beautifully executed and understated quilt, which was much admired.

AGM Meeting 2006
For new members first quilt and the recipient of the silver thimble chosen by ‘visitors choice’ – was Denise Powell (a pupil of Kathleen Hughes of Sidmouth) with her sampler quilt (see photo to right).

 

 

 

 

 

SWQ Traditional Quilt Award

This award is given annually at the Malvern Quilt Show, Quilts UK. The choice for the best Traditional Quilt is made by independent judges . South West Quilters then gives a silver platter engraved with the winner's name (returned yearly) and a voucher for fabric for £50.

2012 Winner

My introduction to the world of Patchwork came with a visit to the very first Malvern show in 1989 when I was amazed by the work on show, which was so different from anything I'd seen before.

At this first show I met Jackie Taylor who advertised 'Make a Quilt in a Weekend', and as I was working fulltime this seemed like a great idea. Needless to say, I didn't complete the quilt in the weekend, but was introduced to the luxury of spending time away, with like minded people where I could develop my interest in fabric work.

Ever since that first quilt show I have tried to make some entries for Malvern, as without entries, there wouldn't be a show. In the early days a Judges Mark Sheet was returned with each exhibit and it was useful to learn what the judges regarded as a good standard, and how my piece could be improved.

The first time my work was recognised was in 2005, when I received a Judges rosette of Merit for a bed quilt I'd made in gold and raspberry colours for my youngest nephew Richard, as his wedding present. This was based on a hanging designed by Sally Ablett, which I extended to the required size of 95" square.

I hope to start a new main project on a 'Jackie' weekend, then work on the piecing over the next twelve months so hopefully I have an entry for Malvern. I arrived for a Jackie weekend in 2008, thinking I would to have an easier time, just working on a hanging created by Jinny Beyer, but Jackie reminded me that I usually made LARGE pieces, so 'Flight of the Snow Geese' was created. I was fortunate enough to receive the SW Quilters award in 2010 for this piece, which was shown on the cover of your autumn magazine, issue 108.

My next patchwork weekend was booked, but I hadn't any idea what to make until on a visit to Midsomer Quilting, my local patchwork shop, a beautiful turquoise batik fabric caught my eye. It was so lovely that I wanted to use it as a focal point on a piece, so decided that an Irish Chain would allow this, so the planning for 'When I'm 65' began. Having visited a cousin in Bath, I decided to make a quilt for her bedroom. As her room isn't very large the design needed to be delicate so I chose to make the Irish Chain with 1" finished squares, which suits me as I enjoy small piecing.

I prefer my quilting to reflect the patchwork design, so having pieced the top I quilted across in each direction through the turquoise centre squares. This was relatively easy, as I didn't have to feed the quilt through the machine throat to change direction. The second quilting row was more difficult as I stitched through the centre of the burgundy squares, so had to change direction every 7", especially difficult when our cat insists on examining every quilt! The beautiful batik also needed to be quilted, so I experimented and using a triple stitch carefully stitched a four petal shape.

What a delight to have a call from Vicky @ Grosvenor exhibitions to say that I'd won the award for Traditional Patchwork. My cousin had no idea I was making the quilt for her, and as it was her 65th birthday in April, I felt 'When I'm 65' was an appropriate name for the piece. The quilt has now been delivered and is installed on her bed, and Helen is thrilled to bits with it. I was delighted to hear her say she now really enjoys going into her bedroom as it is no longer a plain and colourless place.
Many thanks Barbara Webber

2011 Winner

"To Quilt or Not to Quilt" by Jane Rogalski won the 2010 SWQ Traditional Quilt Award.

Read more about Jane's story here.

2010 Winner

'Flight of the Snow Geese' by Barbara Webber won the 2010 SWQ Traditional Quilt Award.

Read more about Barbara's story here.

2009 Winner

'Circling the Stars' was the 2009 winning quilt for the SWQ trophy. The quilt was created by Rosemary Archer and the trophy was presented at Quilts UK, Malvern.

Read about Rosemary's 20 year involvement in quilting here.

2008 Winner

The winning quilt for the SWQ trophy at Quilts UK Malvern - entitled "the Heirloom Quilt" by Pauline Ineson - "This quilt incorporates over 30 sewing machine techniques. Silk, satin, linen and calico plus embellishments have been used. The design inspiration is from Venetian architecture."

Click here to read Pauline's letter about her winning quilt.

2007 Winner

Winner of the South West Quilters award for Traditional Quilt at Quilts UK (Malvern) 2007 was Frances Meredith of Chepstow Monmouthshire with ‘Butterflies on the Move’. Made on the move travelling USA, Holland, France, England and Wales, but mainly Chepstow. In memory of Di Gunn, Bristol.

2006 Winner

LETTER FROM THE WINNER OF THE SWQ TRADITIONAL QUILT AWARD 2006

Dear Elaine,

What a lovely surprise I had when your letter arrived the other day, and what a treat to have a voucher to spend on even more fabrics. I’d like to thank you all at South West Quilters for your generosity, rarely are such awards made. I have won this award previously in 1997 with Liberty Bear, a cot quilt made out of Liberty fabrics, which now hangs on my grandson’s nursery wall.

I started quilting following a visit to a sampler quilt exhibition 14 years ago, I was instantly hooked. I have turned my hand to many crafts that I’m sure most of you have also done, but now patchwork and quilting has taken over my life. From a farmers wife who stayed at home and did what farmers wives do, I am now off on my travels to all sorts of places. It has opened a whole new world to me and given me so many new friends.

I have attempted many aspects of patchwork including the contemporary but prefer the traditional. I have no desire to reproduce replicas of old quilts, preferring to make them my own by giving them a slight modern twist. My ambition is always to make a better quilt next time, which of course doesn’t always happen. I have been to Houston three times and admire the quality of the quilts; I strive to achieve this quality.

East Meets West was the result of a challenge. On my last visit to Houston my sister had asked me to choose a pack of Primrose Gradation Fabrics for her, I liked this pack called Brazilian Gems so much I bought one for myself as did my friend Doris. On the long journey home I decided we needed a challenge to use them, we decided on a quilt made with any one of the blocks from the log cabin family. Sensibly Doris and my sister Anwen made small quilts but I don’t do small and ended up with this double sized quilt. I also included two Ikat fabrics that my son and daughter in law had brought home from Thailand which didn’t seem to want to go with any other fabrics I had; hence the name East Meet West. The blocks were foundation pieced over squared paper, which dictated the size. The dark side is colour controlled but for the light side I just dipped into my stash.

I invariably hand quilt larger quilts, which gives me great satisfaction. I don’t care how long it takes as long as it looks good at the end. Quilting in the ditch would have been the easiest option for this quilt but I would have found it very boring. After a visit to the American Museum in Bath to see an exhibition comparing Welsh and American quilts I decided to use Welsh Quilting patterns. This did take a bit of doing as the seams were thick in places and I had to do a bit of stab stitching. From afar you can’t see the quilting but it adds interest when viewed close up. Surprisingly due to the light, the quilting shows up beautifully on the bed in my spare room.

I was persuaded to teach several years ago, I thought that these ladies would have had enough tuition after a couple of years but 10 years on the majority of the three regular classes I have still come-I can’t get rid of them!

I have been fortunate enough over the years to win several awards with my quilts here in the UK and abroad. I enjoy the challenge of competing as it makes me try harder to improve my work.

Gwenfai Rees Griffiths

Trader's Award

Held at the Spring Quilt Festival in Exeter in conjunction with our main Exhibition, this is a chance for the Trader’s to enter a quilt.

2012

Sidmouth Patchers and Quilters arranged a trip to Pauline's Patchwork in Poundsbury by coach on Thursday 24 May and Christine Badger took the opportunity to join them to deliver the plaque that Pauline's Patchwork shop had won at Westpoint for her Trader's Quilt challenge voted for by members of the public attending the show for their quilt ‘a Womans Life’.

Chairman's Challenge

Each year the Chairman announces the theme for the Challenge for the following Spring Quilt Festival.

For 2014 the Challenge is THIRTY. Our Magazine is 30 years old. The quilt could, for example, have 30 fabrics or 30 images, 30 blocks or patterns, or even the number 30 itself.

2013: As The Saying Goes…

Pictures coming soon.

2009: From Starvation to Liberation

to recognise the 100th anniversary of the imprisonment of the women of the Suffragette movement.

Won by Linda Baldrey (see image of quilt to right). For further information view the article 'Spring Quilt Festival 2009'

"Welcome to the Westcountry" at the Spring Quilt Festival Exeter - March 2008

Winner of the challenge was Marlene Chaffey with "Are we there yet Dad?"

...and some other entrants...

Christmas Challenge

At our Christmas Meeting in November, a Challenge is set by the previous year’s Winner.
For 30th November 2013 the Challenge is ‘White Christmas’

2012 'Angels, Angels all around'

1st Jeanette Orr

2nd Kathy Osborne

3rd Pat Edwards

Judges' choice: Jean Bartlett

2011 Advent Calendar

1st Pam Smith

2nd Barbara Janssen

3rd Sandy Marsh

Judges choice Glenda Simmons

2010 A Winter Song

1stThe Christmas challenge of a winter song was won by Wendy Gosney.

2nd2nd was Christine Coles

3rd3rd was Denise Pearcey.

2009 Winter Wonderland

Won by Glenda Symons with her lovely quilt ‘Winter Song’

Second place was by Wendy Baker

Third by Ann Turner

2008 A Christmas Tree

The Christmas 2008 Challenge (theme ‘A Christmas Tree’) was won by Linda Baldrey:

2nd Jean Bartlett

3rd Alma Williams

2007 Carol

The Challenge was to illustrate the following lines from a Christmas carol:
‘star of silver sweep across the skies, show where Jesus in a manger lies’

1st - Jennifer Grierson

2nd - Pauline Lilley

3rd - Glenda Symons

2006 Christmas Stockings

In first position was Kathleen Hughes, who will now set and judge next year’s challenge.

 

 

 

In both second and third position was Jean Stetson! They were all lovely stockings and gave a festive air to the meeting.

 

Summer Day Challenge

During our Summer Meeting in July, a Challenge is set by the previous year’s Winner.

2011 - Rainbow

1st - Maggie Howell: Over the Rainbow

2nd - Wendy Gosney

3rd - Tracey Driver

Junior Stitchers Monster competition

The Monster Competition run in conjunction with the Quilters Guild has been a huge success with 70 entries. Needless to say it was very difficult choosing the top three entries in each age category but with the help of Jo Colwill at Cowslip and Brenda Bonner, Chairperson for the Guild in our area the decisions were made. Jo has kindly given the prizes of WH Smith vouchers for the winners. There were so many good entries that special prizes will also be awarded as well as viewers choice.


Photographs : 11 and under and 12 and over Winners