Kapiti Coast Quilters Exhibition

Oh goody, a quilt show, and I had been really looking forward to going to this.  I travelled up SH1 to Waikanae – about an hour’s drive away, to meet up with my friend Shirley.  Shirley is a quilter too, and it is always so much nicer to attend a show with a quilting buddy at your side as you look at all the quilts on display.  Just in the door and after paying our $3 admission were the ladies with the raffles.  There was a raffle quilt and several interesting baskets full of goodies.  Wonder if I will be lucky enough to win one of these wonderful raffles?

The raffle table

There were several vendors with stalls and Diana from Kapiti Coast Bernina was demonstrating “Slice Fabrique”, a digital fabric cutter.  This interesting little machine cuts selected appliqué shapes and alphabet letters at the touch of a button, and cards are available to purchase for extra shapes, such as the Christmas Collection.  This could be a very handy tool for those who do a lot of appliqué.

Diana demonstrating the appliqué cutter

The hall looked so colourful with all the quilts hung on the display frames.  We wandered slowly along, taking in all the details. I loved this stitchery quilt by Sandra White, titled “Snowman Collection”.  It won a ribbon for Best Quilt for Children.

  “Snowman Collection”, by Sandra White

What could be more “Kiwi” than these  long legged pukeko native birds?  “Playful Pukekos” was made by Barbara Parker for her first grand-child.  This is a counting quilt and the panels say “One pukeko, two pukekos, three pukekos” and so on, ending with “and more”.

“Playful Pukekos” by Barbara Parker

“Eastern Dreaming”, by Robin Goring, was a beautiful bed quilt with a Japanese flavour, with motifs stitched in the black alternate blocks.  This quilt won an award for Innovative/Traditional with a Twist. 

“Eastern Dreaming” by Robin Goring

The alternate blocks all had different designs stitched in gold thread 

And here is my friend Shirley with her entry “Supernova”.  Didn’t she do a good job?  This spectacular design is an “exploding star” and Shirley has quilted stars in the borders.

Shirley with “Supernova”.

Black and white is always a winning combination, and Valerie Cameron made this very striking quilt “A Touch of Red”.  The arcs give this quilt a lot of movement.

“A Touch of Red”, by Valerie Cameron

There was a whole lot of little ladies displayed together.  “Tea Cup Friends” were made by members of the Kapiti Coast Quilters at a recent workshop.

  Lots of Tea Cup Friends on display

We decided to stop for a cuppa at the cafe tucked away in the corner of the hall.  This was being run as a fund raiser for the Paraparaumu College Cricket Club for their school trip to Australia.  Boys from the team were helping out serving the food and drinks, and no doubt the Mums provided all the delicious food.   We enjoyed a light lunch of home-made pumpkin soup, followed by a piece of some of that delicious baking each.  After that we were feeling fortified and ready for more quilts, and had spotted a Baltimore variation from the cafe, so went to check it out.  Judith McDonald won Best Appliquéd Quilt with her entry, “William and Me”, using William Morris fabrics, and was beautifully hand quilted.

“William and Me”, by Judith McDonald

Shirley and I were both taken with this simple little Charity Quilt, made by the club for the Hospital.  As we looked at it we both commented that it would be an ideal pattern to use up some of those never ending scraps that we all seem to have so many of.  Made up of nine patch blocks teamed with half square triangles, it would be reasonably quick to assemble.

Hospital Charity Quilt made by club members

The Club Challenge was to make something reflecting “Kapiti – our Coast”.  First prize went to “Moody Blues”, showing a stylized tui flying past Kapiti Island – sorry but I didn’t take note of the maker.  A quilt showing  Happy Feet the Emperor Penguin was part of the challenge, as he was found sick and lost on nearby Peka Peka Beach.

The challenge quilts

Best in Show was a wonderful quilt by Eleanor Barker.  Called “Historic Buildings of the South Island”, the inspiration came from photos of these lovely old buildings taken during a trip down south.  Each building was then translated into an intricate appliqué with the details heavily embroidered.  Close inspection revealed all sorts of details, from the embroidered fence and bicycle, and lots of embroidered trees and flowers.   We can just imagine the time taken to make this hand appliquéd, hand embroidered, and hand quilted masterpiece.

Best of Show by Eleanor Barker

Close-up photo showing embroidered lavender hedge, trees and flowers

There were so many lovely quilts, wall-hangings and miniatures on show but I could only share a few of my favourites with you.  Shirley and I had a lovely time checking them all out, and catching up with other quilters who we knew.  Now, wonder if I could just manage to win one of those wonderful raffle prizes?  That would really make my day!