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Aqua Challenge

31
Jul
2020
by Julia Arden
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2020 Colour challenge Aqua

Marie Williams - A New Norm Unfurls

<h5>Marie Williams - A New Norm Unfurls</h5><p> Following the early months of 2020 we have a new norm. It's a new day, it's a new life and I'm "unfurling good".
My own design emerging after lockdown.
Hand dyed and printed cotton.
Machine pieced, appliqued and freemotion quilted. </p>

Janice Danswan - Turtle Two

<h5>Janice Danswan - Turtle Two</h5><p> On a cruise to Fiji and Vanuatu we saw quite a few turtles. At the time I thought they would make a lovely quilt. The aqua challenge gave me the ideal opportunity. </p>

Brenda Gael Smith - Acuity#4 Clarity

<h5>Brenda Gael Smith - Acuity#4 Clarity</h5><p>Eyes are remarkable and powerful organs but there are many ways of seeing. With self-knowledge comes clarity of vision. </p>

Kerry Collins - The Nest

<h5>Kerry Collins - The Nest</h5><p>The nest is about a little baby silvereye bird who followed me around my veggie garden for 3 days before he found his wings and flew off. </p>

Kerry Glen - Gone but Never Forgotten

<h5>Kerry Glen - Gone but Never Forgotten</h5><p>This quilt was constructed with fabric that had previous purpose. A woollen jumper of my loved departed father-law, a lounge suite enjoyed for many years,Harris tweed purchased on a wonderful family holiday,along with cushion fabric off our yacht. Incidents/experiences gone but never forgotten.. </p>

Judi Schon - Lost Atolls

<h5>Judi Schon - Lost Atolls</h5><p>Making the folded fabric circles is a technique I'd been wanting to try since going to Rachaeldaisy's trunk show. This was a lovely small project to achieve that, along with some big stitching. </p>

Kathleen Burford - Aqua Freedom

<h5>Kathleen Burford - Aqua Freedom</h5><p>The Albatross is a beautiful bird who flys incredible distances, they have no boundaries, the world is their domain, their intelligence is amazing. </p>

Sonya Prchal - Kingfisher's Reflection

<h5>Sonya Prchal - Kingfisher's Reflection</h5><p> I love watching the kingfishers sitting near the creek patiently watching. The colours of the feathers inspired me to create this work. </p>

Maggie Bentley - Celestial Bodies

<h5>Maggie Bentley - Celestial Bodies</h5><p>An experiment with colour, design and texture using machine stitches and different threads. </p>

Julia Arden - Zodiac Signs

<h5>Julia Arden - Zodiac Signs</h5><p> The twelve signs of the zodiac can be subdivided into Earth, Water, Air or Fire signs. The symbols don't all represent those 4 groups in a way that is obvious (e.g. Aquarius looks like water but is an Air sign). My interest in these symbols is more historical and cultural than astrological. </p>

Valda Sutton - Flower Power

<h5>Valda Sutton - Flower Power</h5><p> A 16th Century Turkish design often used to decorate documents provided the inspiration to recreate it in Fabric and showcase the colour Aqua. </p>

Margaret McKerras - The Watercarrier

<h5>Margaret McKerras - The Watercarrier</h5><p>The design was drawn onto pfd fabric, then hand painted with seta colour paints. Both the front and backing are hand painted and I have used wool batting in the quilt sandwich. </p>

Raewyn Clark - Pretty Boy

<h5>Raewyn Clark - Pretty Boy</h5><p> Inspired by the beautiful shades of aqua in the feathers of our budgie. I feed wide birds every day and wanted to show him wild and free. I used an outline from a colouring book, painted, inked and stitched. I painted and dyed the background and backing fabrics. </p>

Shirley Sparks - Stepping Stones

<h5>Shirley Sparks - Stepping Stones</h5><p> Using repeat patterns, a little paint and a combination of hand and machine stitch to create an artistic piece. </p>

Cindy Dobbin - Flying Formation

<h5>Cindy Dobbin - Flying Formation</h5><p>This quilt was made during the national lockdown for COVID 19, 2020. A nation who flew as one during the COVID lockdown. Following Jacinda and Ashley, just a little to the left. Represented by the dragon flies we followed behind and stayed in formation. A fabric representation of this time. </p>

Helen Beaven - Lily of the Valley

<h5>Helen Beaven - Lily of the Valley</h5><p> My favourite childhood flower is Lily of the Valley. They grew prolifically in my mother's garden. For some reason she never picked them and we enjoyed their delicate flowers out in the garden.
These larger than life flowers can be enjoyed in their vase. </p>

Fyvie Murray - Summer Sailing

<h5>Fyvie Murray - Summer Sailing</h5><p>First prize, sponsored by Tulis Textiles
I associate aqua with bright summer days on the water where sea and sky melt together as shades of one colour. Inspired by op art, 1930s travel posters, and modern graphic art which plays with stripes. </p>

Sandra Holden - Social Distance

<h5>Sandra Holden - Social Distance</h5><p>I made this quilt to express the rapidity with which we travelled from a social life to lock down and social distancing, but as a society kept together </p>

Sandra Bentley - Happiness

<h5>Sandra Bentley - Happiness</h5><p>Happiness is about loving what you have and being grateful for it. </p>

Lorna Newsome - Chefchaouen

<h5>Lorna Newsome - Chefchaouen</h5><p> I was fascinated by the gorgeous building colours as I wandered the ancient lanes in the old medina of Chefchaouen Morocco last year. Traditionally, they say, the colour of the buildings symbolises the sky and heaven, and serves as a reminder to lead a spiritual life. Based on a personal photo. </p>

Barbara Freeman - My Aqua Garden

<h5>Barbara Freeman - My Aqua Garden</h5><p>Inspired by a Japanese Quilt background, I made small log cabin blocks, light to dark aqua then placed my aqua flowers against this background. I free motion stitched them onto the quilted log cabins. </p>

Chris Behersing - Pre Covid 19

<h5>Chris Behersing - Pre Covid 19</h5><p>This was finished before lock down but the circles made from leftover projects do seem to reference the pandemic; totally unplanned. I love using left overs and making something new from them and this was a chance to do hand embroidery and quilting. </p>

Janet Greeks - A Touch of Pink

<h5>Janet Greeks - A Touch of Pink</h5><p>The theme Aqua gave me the chance to layer 6 aqua fabrics. I felt that they didn't do so well together in my practice sample so added a layer of pink. It was a totally new technique to me and I really enjoyed the process and the chance to embellish the surface. </p>

Kaye Amos - Keto, goddess of the sea

<h5>Kaye Amos - Keto, goddess of the sea</h5><p>I was inspired to make this quilt after receiving a collection of fabrics from one of my Monday ladies who passed away in October last year.
the little face was in a dream I had early in lock down. Probably as a result of too much chocolate . She is machine appliqued. </p>

Annie White - Where the forest meets the sea

<h5>Annie White - Where the forest meets the sea</h5><p>A juxposition between the light aqua shades of the lapping shore contrasting with the deep aquas of the forest at daybreak appealed to me and reinforced the peaceful serentity of the dawn. </p>

Juliet Fitness - The Beauty of Aqua

<h5>Juliet Fitness - The Beauty of Aqua</h5><p> Made during Level 4 lock-down, so I had to rely on my stash of aqua fabrics and braids. The centre is a part of a piece I marbled for Aotearoa Quilters’ Natural Sites and Wonders of the World. Machine paper-foundation pieced, machine applique and machine quilted using a walking foot. </p>

Suzanne Sage - Pukaki in Winter

<h5>Suzanne Sage - Pukaki in Winter</h5><p> This quilt was derived from a photo I took out the car window last winter when driving the Tekapo-Twizel Road in the McKenzie basin. I love the colours of the lakes and the moods in winter. On this day, the clouds were low and sky reflected the colour of the lake making them blend into one. </p>

Kere Bennett - Waiting for Spring

<h5>Kere Bennett - Waiting for Spring</h5><p> I've started a trap line to get local rats and mice. And they are very excited about the baby birds I am saving to hatch out in spring. Thrush eggs are aqua blue, I remember finding them as a child. This quilt reminds me of the good things to come and helping to improve our environment. </p>

Catherine McDonald - Through My Lens

<h5>Catherine McDonald - Through My Lens</h5><p>This is based on a photo I took in the State House in Boston USA on my trip there last year. I loved the perspective looking through the archways </p>

Lynne O'Donnell - Lockdown Doodles

<h5>Lynne O'Donnell - Lockdown Doodles</h5><p> Merit Prize, sponsored by Foxs Cottage
The idea took hold when watching Karlee Porter demonstrating her Graffiti stitching. It was a great challenge to attempt during Lockdown. Free flow free motion machine stitching, each shape just following on from the previous one to fill in all the spaces. </p>

Margaret Rogerson - (0,255,255) - aqua

<h5>Margaret Rogerson - (0,255,255) - aqua</h5><p>Aqua is out of my comfort zone, so I played around with free-cut quarter circles and hand stitching, both of which I felt reasonably comfortable with. </p>

Kat Martin - White Horses

<h5>Kat Martin - White Horses</h5><p>Merit prize, sponsored by Plume Art
The churning of the sea waves creates a foam that is referred to as white horses. </p>

Julia Arden - Title Deed

<h5>Julia Arden - Title Deed</h5><p>A box of letters was singed in a catastrophic fire at Crown Warehouse in 2001. I tried to represent the effect of burnt paper, using a serendipitous fabric in my stash. The 'seal' was a treasure from a class in Italy with Maggie Grey, where we played with water soluble paper. </p>

Sandra Warner - Dot Dot Dash

<h5>Sandra Warner - Dot Dot Dash</h5><p> I wanted to do something unexpected and modern and this is my result. </p>

Camilla Watson - Aqua Door, Tuscany

<h5>Camilla Watson - Aqua Door, Tuscany</h5><p>I purchased the gorgeous squares of background fabric in Sedona, USA; carried them home to NZ where they sat waiting for just the right project; and finally they became the inspiration and perfect backdrop for the autumn Cherry Tree. Really just an excuse to go wild with colour and 3D leaf forms. </p>

Maggie Bentley - Roiling Waves

<h5>Maggie Bentley - Roiling Waves</h5><p> Enjoyed experimenting with stitches on my machine and enjoyed the challenge. I tried to get the "feeling" of movement in my waves. </p>

Anne Adams - Impossible Rectangle

<h5>Anne Adams - Impossible Rectangle</h5><p>Your eyes search for order to make sense of the world around you. Sometimes it is impossible to find !
This quilt was made from offcuts of fabrics used to make ties </p>

Maria Rohs - Memories of Symposium

<h5>Maria Rohs - Memories of Symposium</h5><p>A beautiful aqua waistcoat was made for me as Exhibitions Convenor for the Christchurch Symposium in 2017 and it inspired me to make this quilt. </p>

Barbara McFarlane - Flying High

<h5>Barbara McFarlane - Flying High</h5><p>Inspired by reading about the History of Air New Zealand </p>

Catherine Parkinson - Inner Strength

<h5>Catherine Parkinson - Inner Strength</h5><p>The peacock, which symbolises strength and courage in any circumstances, represents my journey through my sister's illness and death. Born from grief and pain I have developed an inner strength and peace through this experience I didn't think possible a year ago. Painted whole cloth quilt. </p>

Mary Metcalf - Water Jug

<h5>Mary Metcalf - Water Jug</h5><p> Fresh flowers in a jug always bring a smile, so why not aqua fantasy flowers. </p>

Sandy Briggs - Windows

<h5>Sandy Briggs - Windows</h5><p> Working with angles to achieve more of a 3D effect </p>

Heather McOnie - Tidal Flows

<h5>Heather McOnie - Tidal Flows</h5><p>Forever changing... this quilt reflects the tidal flows in the bay, creating movement and beauty. The changing light plays on the surface - creating a restful mood on a cloudy day, or sparkling images dancing in the sun. To me, this is nature at it's best, giving a sense of peace and tranquility. </p>

Theresa Vaughan - Puddles and Streams

<h5>Theresa Vaughan - Puddles and Streams</h5><p> The quilt started when I found circles form a technique class many years ago all inserted in one piece of fabric. I then set about creating something new first cutting it into pieces and reassembling it using line. </p>

Gael O'Donnell - Calling Me Back

<h5>Gael O'Donnell - Calling Me Back</h5><p>Inspired by the colours of Kathryn Furniss' paintings. </p>

Marilyn Clark - Down Under

<h5>Marilyn Clark - Down Under</h5><p> Raw edge applique with cotton fabric. Inktense pencils. Wool batting. Machine quilting and Aurifil threads. </p>

Maree Rogers - Angles Awry

<h5>Maree Rogers - Angles Awry</h5><p> Using an analogous colour combination of aqua and purple fabrics from my scrap box I have created an improv piece which I have quilted to accentuate the different angles. </p>

Anne Adams - Vintage Charm

<h5>Anne Adams - Vintage Charm</h5><p>A great opportunity to use the aqua doily I have had for a long time and also old lace and beads. </p>

Marilyn Muirhead - Gaia's Tears

<h5>Marilyn Muirhead - Gaia's Tears</h5><p> Gaia the Earth Goddess weeps. She grieves for the destruction of our ecosystem caused by man; it may never recover back to a state of ecological balance. </p>

Sonya Prchal - Peeking

<h5>Sonya Prchal - Peeking</h5><p>I took a photo of this cat peeking through the fence. The blue eyes inspired me to create this quilt. </p>

Rose-May Scott - Repeating Reflections

<h5>Rose-May Scott - Repeating Reflections</h5><p> I have developed this from a shadow cast onto the wall from the sun shining behind the brass vase on my dresser. Each piece was cut separately and glued into place onto vilene before being stitched and then quilted. </p>

Patricia Wiggins - Just Hooting

<h5>Patricia Wiggins - Just Hooting</h5><p> Just hanging around in a tree looking out at the world </p>

Charlotte Scott - Let Your Spirit Fly Free

<h5>Charlotte Scott - Let Your Spirit Fly Free</h5><p>Merit Prize, sponsored by Quiltique
Made during the Covid-19 Level 4 Lockdown, this quilt is dedicated to Anne, the first person we lost to the virus that shut down a world. </p>

Shirley Sparks - More Hexies

<h5>Shirley Sparks - More Hexies</h5><p> Experimenting with another hexagon quilt using background fabric that I have painted, stamped and screen printed. </p>

Olivia Scott - Erupting Tea

<h5>Olivia Scott - Erupting Tea</h5><p> This quilt was inspired by an aqua teapot sitting on our bench. My mum stored colourful thread tangles in it and they pop out the top. I used to love rearranging these into colours and shapes. And I like tea! </p>

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