The image of a quilt

conjures feelings of warmth

and comfort.

As a handmade item they are
lovingly made, given, and... received.

The material cost of their making is rarely considered by the maker or the lucky recipient - it is the generosity of time and the spirit of giving that better denotes its value. For those not lucky enough to have been blessed by the gift of a quilt the questions generally asked are; How long does it take to make?... And what is it worth?….

As a designer I have noticed that often the best results come from projects that have both clear parameters and tight restrictions. Participants in this project have been asked to make functional quilts, and other textile pieces, with predominantly salvaged and donated fabrics.  Design was limited to three quilt genres – Log Cabin, Horizontal Strippies and Quilt-As-You-Go Strippies. Participants, often working together, were frequently pushed far from their comfort zone – using both unfamiliar fabrics and techniques. My focus in leading this project was on increasing skills in both technique and design.

The result of our work together, mathematically, is 83 quilts made by 45 participants in the space of 15 months. I prefer the results to be read a little differently. Personally, the best part of this project has been the passing on of knowledge that will reverberate down the line, and the empowerment of both it’s giving and receiving. It has also been about problem solving – learning to question the norm, not taking the easy way out, and continually searching for creative solutions. We have built a very supportive community – both in the creating of strong works and in making personal connections. Even though the maths is impressive, perhaps we have gained even more than we have given?

Please take time to explore our online Galleries and take a trip to The Moores Building where you will see our quilts beautifully supported by other functional textile pieces.

We hope you will then understand the true value of these works.

JAN MULLEN