The annual East London Quilt Show is under way at the Courtenay Latimer Hall at the East London Museum, and will run until midday on Saturday November 16.
Hosted by the East Coast Quilt Guild, the show is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. This year’s theme is “pearls”.
Per guild tradition, challenge quilts were done by members in keeping with the pearl theme.
Many quilts have a story behind them, as in the case of guild member Suzi Staines’ entry which used mostly pink and yellow fabrics.
“My daughter Charmaine asked me to make her a quilt for her 50th birthday.
“She lives in the UK and I wanted to do something with a lot of colour. With the unwanted and leftover pieces of fabric, I then created this quilt which hangs in my bedroom,” Staines said.
The piece is titled Gustav Klimt, named after the Viennese painter who played a notable role in the emerging art nouveau movement of the early 1900s and was known for his innovative, vibrant pieces.
Her quilt won first place in the wall hanging category.
Staines also created a double wedding ring pattern quilt using reject blocks, titled Scattering On The Beach, which challenges and juxtopses the beach environmental problems of litter.
She said it was inspired by a walk on a Wild Coast beach.
“The quilt reflects beach textures with tiny pale pink shells among the constant presence of pebble.
“But there are also remains of mankind’s waste, old tyres lying as black scars together with coloured plastic bags,” she said.
A raffle quilt is still up for grabs for one lucky person during the show, with entries costing R5 per person.
The show opens from 9.30am to 4pm on Thursday and Friday, ending at midday on Saturday. Entrance is R5.
Those interested in joining the guild can contact the chair, Anne Attenborough, on 043748-1509.
