I went to the National Patchwork Championships at Sandown Park Racecourse today. Here are some of the quilts I saw...
This one was called "Quattrecentro" and was made byBarbara and Sylvia Richards from Italy. The show guide says that "This applique quilt, our first joint project, pays homage to the Italian Renaissance. It includes profile portraits, gold embossing, haraldic motifs, using cut-back velvets, shot organza and silk. It is machine quilted."
I loved it. There was a whole section of the show devoted to 23 of their quilts.











This next one was particularly interesting to me. When we visited St Marco Cathedral in Venice in 1996 I was stunned by the beauty of the mosaic floors....which have to be seen to be believed. This quilt by Barbara Richards really captured the floors for me. When I saw it I knew it was St Marco's floor without even reading the show guide.

 

This was another one from the same group of quilts. It was called "Garden of the Spirit- Four Haiku (2004)" and it was by Barbara Richards, from Italy. She says it is "A meditative garden, essential in its elements as a Japanese Haiku poem."
This one was from the section entitled "South West Challenge 2006" and this quilt entitled "Art Deco Revisited" by Anja Townrow, was "adapted from a George Barbier watercolour".

This one was in the section called "Baltimore Beauties". The title is "Little Orchard" by Susan Campbell from Canterbury in Kent. It was her first quilt!!!! and uses designs by Elly Sienkowicz and some of her own.

These two pictures show some detail from the quilt.

This was another Baltimore Quilt....this time "Hearts and Flwers" by Sue Davis, High Whickham, Buckhinghamshire. The designs were taken from "Baltimore Bouquets" by Mimi Dietrich. It was beautifully hand appliqued and hand quilted. 

Here is a detail from it. 

This is another Baltimore entry. Called "My Sun Kissed Blue Baltimore" by Elaine Vickers of Margate, Kent. She says "Firstly I printed sixteen different panels, of my own design, using chemicals, sunshine and cardboard shapes. I used the technique as described by Dorothy Stapleton to print them. These are bordered by sixteen different blue fabrics. I used a quilt-as-you-go method to assemble it, and it is hand appliqued and hand quilted." 

And here is another. I particularly liked the sashing.  

And a detail from it !

This one is "Thanksgiving" by Liz Jones , Leominster, Herefordshire. She says "The colours and textures of my batik stash were the inspiration for this album style quilt. The fabrics were cut to enhance the character and shape of each fruit. Free machine quilting and #100 slk thread were used."

I thought it was stunning and if I'd done it I'd be VERY proud! 

This was one of the school quilts. It was called "Butterflies" and was made by the Butterfly Class, Windlesham Village Infant School, Windlesham.
The guide says "Elaborating on their class name, children painted onto fabric which they folded over, pressed down and opened to reveal butterflies! Felt bodies were added using buttonhole stitch and sequins attached for decoration to a dyed and painted background. Aged 6 to 7."
It was delightful. 

This stunner impressed the judges a lot! It was called "Devoted to You" by Hazel Ryder, Yardley, Hampshire. She says "This quilt is designed to look as if it is constructed from old quilts. A central medallion is surrounded by strippy panels and "repairs". I used hand dyed fabrics with machine and hand stitching to enhance traditional Welsh quilting patterns, reflecting their heritage through shape and colour whilst looking to the future."
My photos don't really do it justice. The hearts down the left hand side were done using a chenille technique.....very effective!
 

"My New York Beauty" by Diana Cousins from Finch Hampstead, Berkshire. She says "My quilt was inspired by the book "Radiant New York Beauties" by Valori Wells. I collected the fabrics over a number of months and supplementd them with my own hand dyes. There was no color plan. I just made the blocks in two sizes using fabrics that went together and hoped for a pleasing effect. I think it worked!"
And so do I!!!!!! 

In the Pink by Sally Holden from Sheringham in Norfolk.
Stunning! 

And here is a close up. 

"In a spin" by Annie Summerhayes, Tonbridge, Kent. She says "hepurchase of the unusual striped fabric made the Dresden Plate seem appropriate, combined with the corded and stuffed panels to make a laced quilt. The two layers developed by buttoning the top to the base which has machine pieced borders. It is hand quilted. Thanks to Sylvia Crichter for her advice and support."
 

This is called "Abacus" by Vivienne Coles from London. She says "This quilt was made for the final part f my City and Guilds Part 2. The theme is Hong Kong Waterfront - Centre of Power/Finance - hence the name "Abacus". The fabrics are hand dyed using Procion/transfer dyes. I used applique and hand and machine quilting. I used techniques described by Linda Kemsball in her book entitled "Colour Moves" which I found inspirational."
 

Called "Nostalgia", by Sally Bramold, Camberley Hampshire. 

"Venice- Water and Glass" by Greta Fitchett, Derby, Derbyshire.
Loved it!