1-hour Zoom Talk | FRI Sept 12: Tales from Birmingham UK with Patricia Belyea. THIS TALK IS A FUNDRAISER FOR PAC NW QUILT & FIBER ARTS MUSEUM. For a $14 ticket +click here
By Patricia Belyea
BIRMINGHAM, UK The Festival of Quilts, Europe’s largest patchwork show, celebrates quilting in all its compelling forms — from inspiring exhibitions and expert-led workshops to engaging talks and aisles of tempting vendor booths.
This year, I joined the fray as a tutor — that’s the UK’s fancy word for a teacher — giving two talks and leading a one-day workshop. In my free time, I was out on the show floor appreciating all the amazing quilts.
The quilt competitions covered a wide range of categories. Below are the quilts that took top honors:
EXCELLENCE IN HAND QUILTING WINNER
The Gathering by Antonia Hering
CONTEMPORARY QUILTS WINNER
Open to interpretation by Vendulka Battais
GROUP QUILTS WINNER
Rust Collective by Beartown Patchworkers and Quilters, designed by Ruth Axson
MINIATURE QUILTS WINNER
Festival de Estrellas by Kimiko Frydl
MODERN QUILTS WINNER
Orbit by Olesa Bitsch
NOVICE QUILTS WINNER
Hand Stitched Shibori by Therese Williams
PICTORIAL QUILTS WINNER
She Matters by Sue de Vanny
SUSTAINABLE QUILTS WINNER
‘Snot a Lab Coat Anymore by Janel Vavrenyuk
TRADITIONAL QUILTS WINNER
Parterre by Sonia Higgs, designed by Shelly Kelly
ART QUILTS WINNER
Morning Fog by Sarah Lykins Entsminger
TWO PERSON QUILTS WINNER
Two Halves Make Us Whole by Claire Wallace and Telene Jeffrey
BEST OF SHOW WINNER
Twisted by Simone Steuxner
A quilt that won everyone’s hearts was specially crafted by the Ukrainian Quilters Association. The mural-sized work depicted the folklore hero Cossage Mamay — a symbol of the unbreakable spirit of Ukraine — as portrayed in a painting by artist Orest Skop.
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria import vintage Japanese textiles, host in-person and online creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
