I hadn’t realised that the quilts with the ‘Joy’ labels and in the category ‘For the Joy of Sharing’ were quilts that simply want to be seen and not judged. What a great way for quilters to share their quilts, without the constraints around quilting style, or any other rules, apart from not being no more than 3 metres in any direction.
But don’t be fooled, these quilts were just as detailed and eye catching as any of the other quilts in the show.
A RAINBOW OF HEXIES, COLETTE DUNNING
These two had plenty of colour, and look more closely at the one above and you’ll spot plenty of English Paper Piecing (EPP) hexagon flowers, and flowers galore in the many sized squares below.
MY SISTER’S GARDEN, CLAIRE BAXTER
I liked the connecting hearts in this one, as well as the colour fade throughout the design.
ALL THE LOVE, K CARPENTER
FLOWER POWER, MELISSA ATCHISON
The fabrics in the Flower Power quilt above call to me, and the more I look at this one I alternate between seeing flowers and crosses, and I love how you can work out how it’s constructed.
These curve studies though are night and day, or rather day and night - aren’t they great?
CURVE STUDY, KAT MOLESWORTH
I’m in two minds about this one, it’s clever and there’s a lot of work in this but I’m not sure it’s a quilt I’d want myself.
DECONSTRUCTED TOILE, KARIN LISHER BRIDEN
Unlike this one, I love it’s bright sunny disposition - and I love the pattern too.
BARBICAN ON A SUNNY DAY, CATHERINE HUNTER
It’s the Happenstance pattern which I’m planning to replicate when I get around to my Jeans and pyjamas quilt. I know mine will look different to this, but I’m hoping that it will (eventually) look as good as this one.
If you enjoyed this post from my visit to the Festival of Quilts 2025 then please do check out my other posts from the show. Even though my mind was blown by the sheer volume of quilts on display, I’m pretty sure I’ll be going again!