OEQC 2013

I had a blast this weekend visiting the OEQC or better known as the Open European Quilt Championships. Since this year (or was it last year) this event takes place two times a year, in May it's more expositions and selling of all things patchwork and in October the championships are held - also including lots of options for stash acquisitions :-).

There were a couple of things I didn't want to miss like Jeannet with her quilts. She's soo lovely talking to, very down to earth and sympathetic.

Jeannet has been connected to textiles in the broadest sense for all her life. She has been quilting since 2000, but before that she was already involved with spinning, weaving and puppet making. Jeannet is a ‘Cosy Quilter’ and derives the colors of her work from the countryside where she lives and works. She really enjoyes rummaging through her fabrics and matching them in different ways. In doing so she uses the Japanese principle of ‘Wabi Sabi’ which means as much as: not perfect yet still right. She usually works with existing patterns that she adapts in her own color choices. Jeannet’s main goal for her quilts is that they breath cosyness and warmth. She enjoys making tops, but quilting is not her favorite activity, therefore she has had a lot her quilts quilted by machine.

(from OEQC website)

 

 

Well done Jeannet! Can you believe she has something like 20-25 quilts and she's only been quilting for 10 years!?

Two other ladies which I admire for their gorgeous appliqué quilts are Rita Frizzera from Italy and Joop Smiths-Jansen from Holland.

Rita Frizzera was born in Trento but now lives in Genova (Italy). Since her childhood, she is interested in experimenting different decorative techniques.

 

It is only in 2003, fascinated by patchwork and quilting that she decides to take some basic classes. Soon, although she gets her inspiration in the traditional techniques, she abandons its framework, adding some personal touches that make her work original and unique. She especially likes the hand appliqué techniques. She also learned how to free hand machine quilt and by constantly practising these techniques, she acquired a real speed and accuracy in the way she works.

(OEQC website)

 

 

 

Joop Smits-Jansen started the quilt art in 1979 at the age of 57 years. Her friend Hanne Vibeke de Koning was interested in quilting and followed a course in Paris by the famous American Sophie Campbell. She shared her enthusiasm about quilting with Joop. When Sophie Campbell gave a course on invitation by Hanne Vibeke in Bilthoven, it was no longer difficult to persuade Joop. The next course by Campbell was about application, Joop found this a bit less interesting. She therefore continued with patchwork at Hanne Vibeke, Hanne was teaching for herself now. The turning point came in 1980 at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, where a Baltimore album quilt by Mary Williams from about 1846 was on display. She was immediately hooked and took a large poster of the quilt as an example in her own initial design steps in the specialty application.

 

During the long gestation time of her own Baltimorequilt and thereafter, Joop remained giving lectures and courses in the country. Together with Hanne Vibeke de Koning she gave courses for years. Later she gave courses with Karin Pieterse at different locations, also for many years.

 

Together with Coleta Grimmelt (store owner in patchwork fabrics in Utrecht) the ladies formed a quartet that also managed to organize many successful exhibitions. The last exhibition was Leusden in 1995. Here Joop’s completed Baltimorequilt was on display for the first time. From 1994 her home in Bilthoven became her regular teaching venue. A few years later Inge Wijninga joined up to now.

Joop is now 90 years old and as active as her health permits. Her home is always open to new and old students. Others are now sometimes her eyes and hands, but her quilting knowledge is unsurpassed and new generations of quilters take advantage of that.

 

* These are very special quilts originated in 1845 and stopped already in 1856. Mary Simon designed the quilts and she used mostly bright colors: red baskets with lots of flowers and birds. Many musical instruments are visable. To earn some money she sold packets, which were very popular. Baltimore quilts are quilts with stories. That’s why I have my husband and my children depicted in my quilt, their profession or their hobby. Of course there is a lot more to tell about the Baltimore, but that story would not fit on this page.
(OEQC website)

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of other quilts I admired ...

In the "Quiltersgilde" booth ... they have 13.000 members in Holland and this quilt was

specially designed by one of their members to celebrate their 30th anniversary year.

Catching Beauty by Sylvia Kaptein (the Netherlands)

it won the 2nd prize in the category Intermediate quilts

 

Autumn in Berlin by Annelies Ghyselen from Belgium

she won the Quiltmania award

(being proud of a fellow countryman here :-)

Detail

And in the category special or plain nuts :-)

 

 

 

Skin by Maryan Geluk - punch technique (for sale at 500€ per piece)

Transparant by Ineke Poort - Polyester teabags (500€ as well)

 

Of course I didn't come out empty-handed! I bought a couple of fabrics for the Love Entwined quilt by Ester Aliu but that's for my next blog post! ;-)

 

I hope you liked my tour!