Quilts at the Library 2019
For the month of June, the Atrium of Swiss Cottage Library and the Swiss Cottage Gallery were buzzing with excitement as they hosted the London Quilters’ biennial exhibition of quilts and textile art.
When visitors came up the stairs to the Atrium from the main entrance they were greeted by Jane Steward’s beautiful double bed quilt in gorgeous purple batik fabrics.
The huge variety of colours and designs of the quilts hanging in the Atrium was a feast for the eyes!
Particularly popular were Helen Krizka’s hand-pieced ‘Fair Isle’ and Martha Crouch’s ‘Gustav’s Universe’. You can see pictures of these and all the quilts on display by following this link: Quilts at the Library 2019
In the perspex panels by the staircase, our topical display commemorated the moon landings fifty years ago with the theme of Space – the thirteen mini-quilts featured everything from dandelion clocks, to black holes, to fishing on the moon! You can see them with this link: Space Quilts 2019
As in previous years, the centrepiece inside the Gallery was a large quilt being raffled for charity. This time the charity was Family Action which supports young carers in Camden and Islington. The Turning Triangles quilt was constructed from colourful blue and green triangle blocks made by at least 50 members of London Quilters to a design created by Sarah Hibbert. The quilt was pieced by Sarah, Rachel Tyndall and Lucy Poloniecka and quilted by Lucy. Left over triangle blocks were made into cushions which were sold in aid of the same charity. The raffle, together with the sale of cushions, donated fabric and other items for Family Action, raised over £2000.
Particularly popular were Helen Krizka’s hand-pieced ‘Fair Isle’ and Martha Crouch’s ‘Gustav’s Universe’. You can see pictures of these and all the quilts on display by following this link: Quilts at the Library 2019
In the perspex panels by the staircase, our topical display commemorated the moon landings fifty years ago with the theme of Space – the thirteen mini-quilts featured everything from dandelion clocks, to black holes, to fishing on the moon! You can see them with this link: Space Quilts 2019
As in previous years, the centrepiece inside the Gallery was a large quilt being raffled for charity. This time the charity was Family Action which supports young carers in Camden and Islington. The Turning Triangles quilt was constructed from colourful blue and green triangle blocks made by at least 50 members of London Quilters to a design created by Sarah Hibbert. The quilt was pieced by Sarah, Rachel Tyndall and Lucy Poloniecka and quilted by Lucy. Left over triangle blocks were made into cushions which were sold in aid of the same charity. The raffle, together with the sale of cushions, donated fabric and other items for Family Action, raised over £2000.
The draw for the Charity Raffle in aid of Family Action took place on Friday 28 June at 2.30 pm in the Swiss Cottage Gallery. The winning ticket was drawn by a visitor to the exhibition unconnected to either London Quilters or Family Action. The holder of the winning ticket number 01080 was Mrs Friedel Hollis who loves the quilt and is delighted with her win.
The Gallery was filled to bursting with wall hangings ranging from a traditional Irish chain to portraits of Frida Kahlo to industrial piping and space debris and everything in between. All were much admired and studied in great detail by the visitors to the exhibition who were frankly incredulous at the how such very different art works could all be described as quilts!
Also in the Gallery there were hundreds of lovely gifts and cards made by LQ members. Not many visitors were allowed to escape empty handed…
Once again there were three brilliant Saturdays of drop-in workshops in the Gallery which were very much enjoyed by young and old alike. So nice to see so many people learning to stitch and so many LQ members prepared to give up their time to show them how. The images are posted with the kind permission of parents and children.
Also in the Gallery there were hundreds of lovely gifts and cards made by LQ members. Not many visitors were allowed to escape empty handed…
Once again there were three brilliant Saturdays of drop-in workshops in the Gallery which were very much enjoyed by young and old alike. So nice to see so many people learning to stitch and so many LQ members prepared to give up their time to show them how. The images are posted with the kind permission of parents and children.
We had more than 1600 visitors to the exhibition, many of them leaving lovely comments in the visitor book. Visitors were also asked to vote for their favourite quilt. The clear winner was ‘Woven Indigo by Sarah Hibbert. Beautifully subtle and immaculately made.
We had more than 1600 visitors to the exhibition, many of them leaving lovely comments in the visitor book. Visitors were also asked to vote for their favourite quilt. The clear winner was ‘Woven Indigo by Sarah Hibbert. Beautifully subtle and immaculately made.
Second place went to Lucy Poloniecka for her pentaptych (five panels) ‘Feathers on the Water’, a detail of which is shown here.
Jane Steward’s ‘Laurelle’s Quilt’ was third with Helen Krizka and Martha Crouch taking fourth and fifth places.
The Exhibition Committee wants to thank everyone who made Quilts at the Library 2019 such a success. All that work by makers, stewards, workshop leaders, and everyone else who contributed behind the scenes was certainly worthwhile.
And very many thanks to the London Borough of Camden for allowing us to show our work again at such a brilliant and iconic venue. lovecamden.org/swiss-cottage-gallery
Lucy Poloniecka
The Exhibition Committee wants to thank everyone who made Quilts at the Library 2019 such a success. All that work by makers, stewards, workshop leaders, and everyone else who contributed behind the scenes was certainly worthwhile.
And very many thanks to the London Borough of Camden for allowing us to show our work again at such a brilliant and iconic venue. lovecamden.org/swiss-cottage-gallery
Lucy Poloniecka