Stobo Journal Quilt

This is an extra journal quilt which isn't made for either the Contemporary Quilt Group or the Sketchbook Challenge. Instead it will become part of a challenge within the Thistle Quilters group. Inspired by my 52 Journals project from 2012 the members of Thistle will be making a weekly journal quilt  where every member is allocated a week. The challenge was issued at our last meeting and we drew lots to see who would do which week. As luck would have it I drew the week that started with the 19th October. Our meeting was on the 19th itself and in the afternoon John and I went to Stobo Japanese water garden as you can read here.

I took that as my inspiration for the journal quilt (A4 size) and used one of the photographs I took on that day.

The rest of the surface is covered by couched yarns and appliqued pieces of previously strip pieced batik fabrics all in the colours of autumn. You can see it in detail above. The applique was done by hand. I sewed on buttons to the pieced strips.

Handstitching was also added and of course quite a lot of beads and bugles. These have almost become my trademark!

And talking about the 52 Journals project there is good news. All the journals will be exhibited next year in the Tweeddale Museum and Gallery to coincide with the Peebles Arts Festival. The show will start on the 22nd August 2014 and end sometime in October. We still have to arrange the end date but of course I will keep you informed here and let you know all the details as soon as they are finalized. It will be a selling exhibition so will be the last chance to see all the journals together.