Cleo by Ngaire

While I was teaching juniors, often one of the art activities was to create a simple face usually using black paper. When your topic came up Mary I thought maybe I can go back to those days and create a face myself. So here is my go at that art activity to join all the other portrait quilts. Ngaire

African Queen by Anna

Thought I would try some reverse appliqué for this image. Very tricky cutting out all those little bits!!

Good to catch up at the symposium in Taupo, Mary.

Enjoy your quilts, love Anna

"To Margie from Asha" stitched by Margie

Having researched the drawing of faces and all the 'correct' proportions I chose instead, with Asha's permission, to copy this portrait of me from her book Margie's monster birthday in which a one eyed monster eats my birthday cake.  Being not much over 5' I do love my new long legs!

Machine appliqued with hand quilting and embroidery. The fabric on the face puckered up so I was able to iron out the wrinkles [no botox!] and give myself a nose.

Here is the original and a cushion cover I made for the artist:

        

Lynn - Once I was an Infants Teacher - Now I am a Quilter

I found a papercut of a much younger me, enlarged it, traced it, fused it and machine appliqued it.
Enjoy your Portrait Gallery, Mary.

Best wishes from Lynn.

Portrait Challenge - Kay H

                                                                         Mick

Mick is our neighbour. He is a bit of a diamond in the rough, with a heart of gold and so much character. He will do anything for you, and will tackle anything. He has helped us over and over again as he has many others.  To my relief, he actually likes his "portrait".

This was a real challenge for me. Bård took the picture of Mick and manipulated it with Photoshop to make it a bit like it was done with a palette knife.  With that as a start, I first created a cotton fabric base, then I spent hours and hours burning pieces of organza in different colours with a hot nib stencil burner, then carefully placing (and re-placing, and re-re-placing) layer upon layer of the organza pieces to create the shadings I wanted. Next time I will use a face I don't know, because trying to get it to really look like Mick often conflicted with how I felt like representing the face.

These challenges are great!! I probably take them too seriously, but I learn soooo much and it takes me outside my comfort zone!

Hanging our little quilts

I've noticed the girls from New Zealand sew little rings to the back of their quilts to facilitate hanging - what a good idea!. I found some "Standard Spindle O-Rings" for taps at our local hardware store [the black ones pictured]. Another option is little white rings for Austrian Shades in the curtain making department. Margie

A Portrait of A Geisha by Kerry

I read a book many years ago and thought its title was A Portrait of a Geisha, But now checking found it is Memoirs of a Geisha. Never mind it was a fascinating read and this was a lovely quilt to make. I copied the bottom right Geisha and enlarged her on to fabric through the photocopier  to make my Central lady and then concentrated on having accurate sashing. Thank you Lynn H for the lovely fabric it was a pity to cut it up.