Dorothy Russell Blog page

 

 

...AND THEN THERE WAS THE PARTY !!!

The Individual Workshops have come to an end, until next Spring/Summer, and we finished on a high note.

 

On Sunday 4th July all current members of my quilt groups were invited to a Pot Luck Lunch. The original idea included sunning ourselves on the terrace but the weather had other plans. Nothing daunted we had a brilliant get together with a fine, (slightly dessert biased) lunch, lots of chatter and merriment and a show and tell which filled me with huge pride at everyone's achievements. Have a look at the photos and see if you agree with me.

A Pot Luck meal is great fun as each person attending brings a foody contribution with them: this means that no one person has the responsibility of feeding a crowd and the number of people bringing food directly meets the number of people there to eat it. This strikes me as a pretty perfect system. In addition, as each person needs to make only one dish, we tend to eat very well. It's a form of temporary communal living! Thank you to everyone who dived in to do the washing up too. On the 4th we gathered at 12:30 and chatted in small groups until everyone had arrived then we settled to the serious business of eating lunch. It is always lovely to enjoy a meal with friends and this was a social gathering of lots of friends.

 

Sated, we all settled in one room for a 'show and tell' session featuring work from both the earlier twelve week sessions and the more recent Individual Workshops.

First was a round of the 'Beginners' quilts and although they were all based on the same grid and methods which build one on another throughout the twelve sessions, each person puts her own personal stamp on her quilt by the colours and patterns of her chosen fabrics and the images selected for the later blocks as well as the way each is quilted.

 

I won't say any more but will leave you to look through the photographs on the right and come to your own conclusions.

 

Following this were various pieces produced by the Intermediate Group who worked on Wholecloth at the beginning of their course then moved on to individual projects while running in parallel were their 'Round Robin' quilts where each had the same grid to work from, put together a pack of fabrics, made the initial block then handed the pack on to another member of the group who then added a block.

When each pack had been to every member of the group, the whole was returned to its originator who assembled the quilt made of all her collegues' blocks, layered, quilted and finished it and was the proud owner of a very special piece of work which contains lovely memories of all the people she has worked with.

 

I have persuaded Elaine, who has finished her wholecloth bed quilt, to enter it into both the Great Northern Quilt Show in Harrogate and the Scottish Quilt Championships. I'd love to get everyone to put work into some of the national shows, so watch out! I also have plans to hold an exhibition on Anglesey of all our work so we need to get everything finished.

 

 

We finally moved on to looking at work from the Individual Workshop series which were all one day workshops covering a variety of topics. The Magic Bowls were fun and make lovely presents - they are easier to make than they appear and the results were lovely. Next came the Magic tile which always gives dramatic results and the quilt tops shown had everyone entranced - I suspect there were group members who wished they had joined that class.

 

 

There were similar comments about Silk Painting; it was an intense workshop and much enjoyed by all, with beautiful results and Elizabeth had her work framed which further enhanced it.

 

Machine Quilting is always a bit of a challenge and makes a very full day but everyone worked really well and produced lovely work as well as acquiring a very worthwhile skill.

 

 

 

 

Debbie has continued working on her piece and has added some very interesting stitch patterns.

 

 

 

 

The Accurate Curved Piecing workshop is also very much about developing a transferable skill and contrasts strikingly both in working method and outcome with Free Cut Curves With Prairie Points which offers a much freer way of working and produces a very contemporary look. Each piece is again very individual and striking and I think Daphne has found a great way of working which really suits her while I suspect that Debbie will be next on my list for entering work into exhibitions - you have been warned Debbie... (and you aren't alone!)

Crumbs, now I'm making it sound like a threat, it isn't but I suspect that without a little push, most people think that exhibiting work is something other people do and don't have enough self belief to take the plunge.

 

The final Individual Workshop was a contemporary interpretation of Reverse Applique which is spontaneous, challenging, fun and produces wonderful results. A lot of people in the group framed their work and this always makes each mounted piece a little more special. Again, these small pieces make great, very individual gifts and Rachel, who missed our party because she was at a wedding, took hers as a present for the bride and groom. It was also lovely to have Linda Paris from Shrewsbury at the Reverse Applique Workshop: she came up for the day with her husband, who spent his time on Anglesey playing golf: she settled in and became one of the gang. (Linda long arm quilts tops for people who can't keep up with the quilting themselves or want to rush on to the next idea: she had been to Llandygai before as a speaker at a local quilt group meeting.)

 

As a finale Julie, a guest staying at our holiday cottage and doing private workshops with me, and Freya, my daughter, showed some of the work they have been doing. Although Freya had made a quilt top when she was much younger this was her first attempt at quilting and she has done very well. Julie, in addition to work done with me, brought a lovely colour wash quilt she made for her daughter some years ago for her 18th birthday. It was much admired and had a story all of its own.

At the end of our Show and Tell I felt it was time to put the kettle on for a well earned drink but there were other plans afoot. The beautiful sewing box made by Dawn and presented to me by her on behalf of her group left me very tearful and as Jean put it "Dawn's the first person who's ever managed to stop you talking!" Ok, Jean, I probably misquoted you but don't sue because you're quite right! I was so touched. Earlier in the evening the Intermediate Group gave me a lovely coral necklace which I have worn every day since and a few weeks ago the Evening Beginners gave me an Amazon Gift Voucher with which I bought two (and a bit ) books, textile related of course! I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank to you all.

It was lovely to see everyone who came to our Pot Luck Lunch and to everyone who couldn't make it, there'll be others. It has been a great privilege teaching you all. Although I haven't mentioned everyone by name, I want to tell you how proud I am of what you have all achieved: you are very special people and I look forward to seeing you again in September when the twelve week sessions start again. Have a lovely break. love, Dorothy

 

Dorothy Russell

 

 

My vist to the Copperfield Sale

A short video of the March Copperfield Sale at Valley on Anglesey where Quilters come from far and wide in the quest of buying quilt fabrics. This video is also on You Tube.

 

Dorothy Russell May 2010.

 

Contemporary Quilt Group - Journal Quilts

This year, for the first time, I committed to joining others in the Contemporary Quilt Group - part of the Quilters' Guild of the British Isles - making Journal Quilts; one small quilt a month. This year the stated size is 7 inches wide and 10 inches high. I decided to use my own emotions as the inspiration for each quilt, basing each piece on the way I feel on the day I begin working on it.

 

The first four images were posted, as required, on the Group's Yahoo site by 30th April and I have already completed May's offering.

 

These little quilts are fun to make and can be experimental as there's not a huge commitment of time given to each one. It is, never the less, a good idea not to leave each piece to the end of its month or I'd have to work on twelve ways to depict 'stress'!

 

So far there has been some variety in my emotional state, thus the first one, January, represents a day on which 'I Woke Up Angry', for no known reason: in fact it was this which gave me the whole emotion based approach to my 2010 Journal Quilt series.

 

February's piece is entitled 'Today was a Good Day' which says it all and the colours and shapes represent a very positive and mellow mood.

 

March brought 'Cheerful', a complex little silk painting enhanced with machine quilting beading and one green 'blob', also decorated with beads, denoting the fact that, in this kind of mood, even when things don't go according to plan, it's ok.

 

For April's quilt I took a selection of small offcuts from one of the workshops I'm currently teaching and arranged them on fine calico. I machine quilted the layers together then used fabric crayons to colour the background. The quilt is called 'Loving my Workshops' and I really am. I love teaching and I've got a wonderful group of students.

 

All of my journal quilts will have top and bottom layers fringed all round and the wadding will be visible at the edges. I have coloured the edges of some of the quilts so far but do not wish to be restricted to applying colour where I don't feel it helps to portray the emotion I'm working with.

 

I'll add the rest of the months in groups of four as I submit them to the Contemporary Quilt Yahoo group site.

Dot Russell 5th May 2010

 

Silk Painting Workshop

These images are from the Silk Painting Workshop held on Sunday 25th April 2010 at Talgai Hall, Llandygai nr Bangor; one of the Individual Workshops I am teaching at present. The day was great fun as you can see, but there was often silence in the room because of the level of concentration and lunch was a brief break as everyone wanted to get to the next stage. You can judge the results for yourself.

Scroll down through the images.

 

The white lines left by the gutta (resist) are a gift to quilters and I look forward to seeing how these paintings look layered and quilted. I gather further silk paintings are already being planned - once you find out how fascinating the results of silk painting are, it's hard to resist doing another and another and another. You get the picture!

The next twelve session Beginner and Intermediate Courses start again in early September.

 

Dot Russell 27th April 2010

 

Liberty of London Quilt Competition

Liberty of London have set a competition for quilters but it's going to be tough going for anyone who takes it on. They want a 'most exquisite, most intricate, most amazing quilt' made using Liberty fabrics, no bigger than 180cm square - that's about 6 feet square - and all to be finished and a photograph emailed to them by 30th April 2010. I suppose it's possible but eating and sleeping might have to go out of the window!

I have to mention that their fabric costs £19.95/metre plus post and packing if you aren't in London. In case you're keen, I'd better mention that the prize is £500.00 for the winner to spend at Liberty. Get stitching?!

Well, look on the bright side, they didn't set a minimum size, did they!

 

Dot Russell 29th March 2010

 

Quilts 1700-2010 Exhibition at the V&A. My visit to the Press Preview

 

Quilts 1700-2010 at the V&A, curated by Sue Prichard, will be open from 20th March to 4th July 2010 and, having been to the press preview, I can recommend that anyone with an interest in quilts, take a trip to the museum to see the work assembled: some comes from the V&A's own collection, other pieces are borrowed from sources such as Beamish in County Durham, St Fagans museum in South Wales. However, the quilt which has travelled furthest is the Rajah Quilt, made by women travelling as convicts to Van Diemen's Land, now known as Tasmania.

 

The most stunning work, for me, is wholecloth or work whose intrinsic beauty relies on the images created by stitch alone. It is the hardest to photograph and is therefore under represented in publicity for the exhibition but is a must to see.

There are very early cot quilts, late 19th and early 20th century North Country and Welsh quilts in this catagory and the most stunning 18th century unwaddeded bed quilt with beautiful, delicate, finely stitched designs covering it entirely: a stunning piece of work.

Very evident in all publicity are the colourful, pictorial quilts of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, celebrating victories, the 'great and the good', as well as personal occassions. They are very photogenic.

The work of male quilters is also represented in tailors' and soldiers' quilts, mention of Joseph Hedley (Old Joe the Quilter) 19th century tailor and quilt maker from the NE of England and information on current Fine Cell work by guests of Her Majesty at Wandsworth. The 'make do and mend' policy born of scarcity and poverty is also not forgotten.

Representing the present; although I'd debate how much they relate to what is happening in the quilting world as I understand it; are pieces by such luminaries as Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry; selected as much for the 'pulling power' of their names as the validity of their contribution to 'quilts'. I hope they 'pull' in a mass of viewers who would not otherwise contemplate visiting a quilt exhibition. Far more recognisable to me were works by Sara Impey and Pauline Burbidge.

Wandering through the two rooms dedicated to this, the first exhibition of quilts mounted by the V&A, is a special experience, a direct insight into threehundred years of patchwork and quilting in Britain, and I would suggest you find the time, the trainfare and the entry fee to take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience all this exhibition has to offer.

 

Dot Russell 19th March 2010

 

First day of the Copperfield Sale

Daf and I didn't turn up the minute the doors opened but we weren't far behind the earliest birds. It was, as ever, a lively meeting of the quilt 'clans' as they gathered for this annual ceremony - no cabers tossed but bolts of fabric flying everywhere, as Mary's team efficiently measured, cut, folded and priced metre after metre. Queues formed in the orderly fashion expected of quilters and people helped each other find 'just the right design/colour' (thank you Carol!). It was like being among friends - actually, come to think about it, I really was among friends!

Finally, exhausted by shopping, we could flop onto a welcoming sofa with a cuppa supplied by the lovely Twiggy and nibble guiltily on a biscuit. Amazingly this was enough to revive some sufficiently to go looking for that last little bargain. Three more days to go then Mary and her team can close the door and collapse quietly on those same sofas and be glad that next week will be a little quieter.

 

Dot Russell 3rd March 2010

 

Preview at the V&A 'Quilts 1700 - 2010' Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum

I have been invited to a preview of the much publicised Quilt Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 'Quilts 1700 - 2010'. I'm really looking forward to seeing how they portray the history of British quilts. The work has been selected from the V&A's own collection and pieces range from spectacular bed hangings and a silk coverlet from the 1700s to contemporary textile related work by some well known artists. As they seem to be selecting people such as Tracey Emins, normally recognised as coming to textiles from a fine art background, I wonder if they have looked any deeper and discovered some of the superb work created by artists who come to fine art from a textiles background.

The Quilt Exhibition will be open to the public from 20th March to 4th July 2010 in Room 39 and the North Court in the V&A.

It's great that we'll have access to part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection which is not usually on show and it's really good for quilting/quilters that the V&A are giving us and our work such widespread publicity in this Quilt Exhibition. Get your tickets booked!

 

Dot Russell 25th Febuary 2010

 

Cwilt Cymru and Moelfre Quilters

I enjoyed my day demonstrating at Quiltfest. Y Caban, Plas Newydd, was in a delightful location set on a hillside above the centre of Llangollen and the 'Breakthrough' exhibition contained superb and thoughtful work, created in responses to the set theme, made by some of the best contemporary quilters in the UK.

The day was enhanced for me by meeting all but one of a new contemporary group - 'Cwilt Cymru' - of which I am a member. We hale from various parts of Wales and being able to get together for a 'business lunch' at The Cornmill, Llangollen was a real treat. Working alongside similar groups from Northern Ireland and Scotland we form 'Celtic Fringe' and are producing work which will be exhibited first at Festival of Quilts 2011, then touring to various venues throughout the British Isles.

Yesterday I gave a talk to a new group - 'Moelfre Quilters' - I already know/teach some of them but I'm quite sure they'll extend the same warm welcome to other speakers/new members. They have a website, so If you live in the area or are visiting, take a look at their 'calendar' and pop in to meet them.

See you next week at the 'Copperfield' sale.

 

Dot Russell 25th Febuary 2010

 

Dates are now organised for most of my Individual Workshops

Take a look at the Workshops and Courses page then if you're interested in anything, give me a call or send me an email.

Copperfield annual sale at Valley.

Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th March

It's a little later than usual this year. I'm not sure how much there'll be left by Saturday. In case you're not aware of this event, the Copperfield sale is one of the local highlights in the Anglesey quilters' year. Pop along to Four Mile Bridge, Valley for a cuppa, a biscuit, a chat with fellow quilters and lots of bargains.

 

Dot Russell Website Blog 5th Febuary 2010

 

Individual Workshops

There's still a little snow on the mountains of Snowdonia but the snow and ice we had on Anglesey is now long gone and I for one don't mind if it doesn't return until another winter comes round. We usually only have meaningful 'white stuff' about once every three years here, which suits me very well, although I love looking over at the snow capped mountains. I had to cancel one of my Beginners sessions so I've added a replacement day to the end of the course, on Thursday 18th March.

When my current courses finish, in late March, I'm going to run a series of Individual Workshops, each one running independently. Have a look at the Workshops and Courses page for more information.

The Individual Workshops are not only open to my current students but to anyone whod like to do them, so if you'd like to join any of them please let me know and if you're not sure of the ability level required, email me or ring up for a chat: it's always good to talk to new people.

 

Dot Russell Website Blog 23rd January 2010

 

Christmas Pot Luck Supper 2009

 

On the evening of 17th December 2009 we all had a lot of fun . One of the great things about a Pot Luck Supper is that everyone brings a contribution of food - main course or dessert - and, as ever, the spread was wonderful.

Before we ate, Jane Edwards, North Wales Area Rep for the Quilters' Guild of the British Isles, gave us lots of information about the workings of the Guild and the benefits of membership. She illustrated the differences between the Contemporary, Traditional and Miniature sub-groups with pieces of her own work which were eagerly examined later.

After supper we enjoyed looking at quilt tops made by members of the current Beginners group and some of the Intermediate group showed their finished pieces in a Show and Tell session.

To round off the evening I showed, and gave a talk about, some of my own work, and afterwards everyone had the opportunity to scrutinise it more closely. By the time the evening ended and we had tidied the hall, I was quite shocked to realise just how late it was - the time had literally flown by - we all had such a lovely time. I'm sure we'll have another Pot Luck Supper at the end of the Twelve Week Courses.

Many thanks to Jane for her contribution.

 

 

All the best for 2010...!

 

Dorothy 18th December 2009

 

 

Waiting List for Another Beginners Course

 

 

 

Machine Quilt Workshop Special

Monday 21st Sept. Anglesey

 

 

Would you like to join my one day Machine Quilting Workshop?

On Monday 21st I'll be in Gaerwen teaching a one day workshop on Machine Quilting - so if you feel like developing skills in this method, there are a few places left - the cost for the day (10:00 - 4:00) is £15.00 This workshop requires a sewing machine on which the feed dogs drop and you need to be competent with your machine. Ring me on 01248 716316 or 07941102185.

My New Beginners and Intermediate Quilt classes start

Thursday (10th Sept) my new Beginners Quilt Workshop Series began with Log Cabin blocks for twenty six new students. Having spoken or 'email chatted' with them it was lovely to meet everyone 'in the flesh' and get down to work. I'm sure looking at their choices of fabric, and the way they got on at the first session, we're going to be showing some lovely quilts on this website by Easter.

On Thursday 17th the Intermediate Group will start preparation for their wholecloth quilts before moving on to designing their own individual quilts - I'm really looking forward to seeing the results from both projects - watch this space!

 

Dorothy. 13th September 2009

 

Sue Belton Cup

The Great Northern Quilt Show.

Harrogate 2009.

 

 

What excitement - a brief answer-phone message from Grosvenor Exhibitions congratulated me on winning the Sue Belton Cup today. Tomorrow I'll be on the bus with friends, heading for Harrogate to see the Show and it'll be even more fun than usual. I don't know a great deal about Sue Belton except that she was a founder member of both The Quilters' Guild and Garstang Patchers and, I gather, did some work with Rebecca Collins.

I've been having a brilliant time recently talking to new quilters who are joining my Quilt Workshop Series and this is like the icing on the cake.

The quilt is based on information from the book 'The Celtic Wisdom of Trees' written by Jane Gifford, which gives fascinating facts about trees as they relate to people's birthdays - the colours, words, deities, healing properties etc associated with them. My tree is the elder, one I have always loved for it's flowers and berries in particular, so it was easy to use it as inspiration for a quilt. Some of the fabrics are dyed with berries or bark, using different mordants and black and dark green are the colours associated with elder. The leaves and flowers appear as appliqué as well as in the quilting.

 

Dorothy. 3rd September 2009

 

Festival of Quilts NEC August 2009

 

Another Festival of Quilts has come and gone. For four days the NEC at Birmingham was home to one of the biggest quilt shows in Europe and the sound bite was definitely international. It must be so easy to fly into Birmingham International, stay in one of the Centre's hotels, hop onto one of the courtesy coaches and arrive at the Hall to gaze on the array of quilts and be astounded by the skill of the winners.

 

 

This year the overall winner was a bed quilt by two sisters from America and the skills which went into its making drew fascinated groups who studied it in awe. The individual exhibitions were, as ever, full of ideas with lovely work to satisfy most tastes. I can't pick out a favourite - that would be most unfair as they all contribute their own particular values to create a whole. The demonstrations by professionals are always inspiring and then, of course there are all the stall holders, touting their wares to appreciative shoppers. Goodness knows how much money changed hands over the four days!

 

The Contemporary Quilters can be justifiably proud of the £9,700 they took in their Little Gems tombola - money which will be gratefully received by the Quilters' Guild at their headquarters at St Anthony's Hall in York.

 

I'm sure we'll all be back for more next year.

 

Dorothy. 25th August 2009

 

5th August 2009 Our Quilt Show
English Presbyterian Church, Menai Bridge.

 

Llandegai Patchers Quilt Show in Menai Bridge has now completed its second day and we're all enjoying the warm glow of complements from our visitors. The homemade cakes are getting a very positive mention along with the quilts in our Visitors' Book and we're meeting/greeting and enjoying the company of everyone who comes through the door.

 

 

For a moment I thought our furthest travelled visitors would be from somewhere in England but they have all been surpassed today by four young men from Portugal who saw the sign and paused on their round Britain tour (in original Minis) to take in our exhibition before heading east to Conwy Castle then on to Liverpool.

 

 

Some members of my Intermediate group have visited the exhibition and it has been lovely to meet a few members of my next Beginners group, as well as 'sign up' some new ladies. With three more days to go I hope to chat to several more visitors - look out for me near the lecturn where I will be sitting doing a little hand quilting or a bit of beading in front of my Beginners Workshop quilt.By the end of the week we should all be 'tired but happy' with the Show just a whispy memory - until the next time.

 

Dorothy. 5th August 2009

 

Beginners Quilt Group - Pot Luck Supper

 

Our Pot Luck Supper on Thursday 16th July was great fun. The food everyone brought made a real feast - not only can we all quilt, we can also cook to a very high standard. We had a Show and Tell, with everyone's quilts and Daf took photos of nearly every one as you can see (one or two escaped!).

 

 

The sound level was fairly high with lots of socialising (chatting). This really is a lovely group and it has been my pleasure and privileged to teach them. I'm beginning to worry that they can't be matched but I'm sure I'm being silly. Come along to my next workshop series in September and reassure me.

 

 

I was given a lovely card (which I couldn't read as I got too emotional) and a voucher for Amazon, for which a big 'thank you' to everyone. When I decide what to buy, I'll get everyone to sign it! I definitely think there should be a Pot Luck Supper at the end of every Workshop Series - that's Easter sorted then!

 

Dorothy. 19th July 2009

 

Quilt Show in Menai Bridge. August.

 

There's an Exhibition of Quilts by Llandegai Patchers at the English Presbyterian Church in Menai Bridge, Anglesey: there will be lots of pieces on show, including a couple of mine, stalls selling fabrics, and tea, coffee and homemade cakes available - a fun couple of hours for all. Entry is £1, children free and money goes to charity.

 

 

As for other exhibitions, I have entered one quilt into Festival of Quilts at the NEC, one to the Great Northern Quilt Show at Harrogate and as part of 'Cauldron' one into the Group Quilts section at FoQ. They're all finished and ready to pack and send, which is always a relief, so now I can concentrate on another piece of work which I'm currently machine quilting.

The Pot Luck Supper with my 'recently Beginner/about to be Intermediate' quilt group was great fun. The food was very good and Daf and I are still 'tidying up the leftovers'! It was lovely to be able to meet socially, relax and chat. I'm looking forward to September when not only do we get together again as the Intermediate Course but I'll also meet my new Beginners Course members for the first time.

 

Dorothy. 3rd July 2009

 

First Annual Quilt Day. 6th June 2009.

 

 

Some members of my 'Beginners' Workshop Group and I had a lovely day at Oriel (gallery) Ynys Môn today, celebrating the first Annual Quilt Day, as advocated by The Quilters' Guild of the British Isles. I must stop calling them 'beginners' because they're a long way from that now. Our quilts are at the hand-quilting stage - perfect for taking out to work on and show to 'the public'. We stitched, chatted, put the World to rights and welcomed anyone who wanted to share in the experience. Quilters love to share their (our!) obsession!

The Oriel is a wonderful facility with no entry charge and we on Anglesey are very proud of it. The work on display is of a superb standard and the new Sir Kyffin Williams Gallery attracts many visitors. I managed to make a little time to have a quick look round before leaving - the oil paintings and sketches of quarry workers by Ifor Pritchard were masterful and filled with character. As a perfect end to a wonderful day, Daphne, Abigail and I also had a hug from Rolf Harris - yes, 'the' Rolf Harris!

 

 

Quilt Workshops Anglesey.

 

 

I'm now half way through the twelve session quilting course I'm teaching to a group of new quilters and I'm enjoying it hugely. They are all lovely; they're getting on really well both with their work and with each other - and they want to carry on after this course - which is brilliant.

I hope lots of the quilts will be ready for the Llandygai Patchers' Exhibition in Menai Bridge in August this year.

I also offer patchwork/quilting lessons to guests staying at Coed y Berclas Holiday Cottage but recently I had a request to teach a lady staying elsewhere on Anglesey - I hadn't previously thought of offering quilt days to visitors other than those staying with us, but why not - so if you live on Anglesey or in North Wales or are visiting the area - wherever you're staying - and you would like to enjoy a few hours of Patchwork and Quilting tuition, beginner or improver, give me a call or send an email.

In September I will be starting another twelve session Beginners Quilting Course too - Contact me for information and to put your name down.

Dorothy

 

 

Dorothy Russell Quilt Workshops. Anglesey.