International Quilting tutor …
Coming to Melbourne in April 2018 is one of the world’s foremost pictorial quiltmakers, to teach a four-day masterclass. Join Meri Vahl at The Australasian Quilt Convention, Australia’s largest quilting event and will be held at the Royal Exhibition Building on April 5 to 8, 2018.
Above: Las Mujeres Azules de Guatemala (The Blue Ladies of Guatemala) by Meri Vahl
Meri Vahl comes from the USA and has won multiple awards for her quilts in shows around the world. Here’s her story, in her own words:
“I was born in New York in 1945, into a family of many generations of prolific artists, and from my earliest childhood art has been as important to me as breathing. In 1967, I earned a BA in Fine Art from UC Berkeley – it was certainly an interesting time to be there – and then went on to work as a graphic artist in San Francisco before moving to Santa Cruz in 1970. I began sewing clothing in college, but didn’t come to quilting until much later as I was convinced that cutting up all that fabric into little pieces, then sewing them back together again was too much work! However, in 1998, I discovered that the quilting world had branched out in exciting new directions, especially art quilts – at which point my ‘painting genes’ kicked into overdrive and I’ve never looked back.
Above: The Basket Makers of Axoum, Ethiopia
My quilting journey has taken me to many special places, and I have had the privilege of working with many fine teachers (Priscilla Bianchi, Gloria Loughman, Velda Newman, Judy Mathieson, and Laura Fogg – to name a few). Quilting has also given me the chance to teach and meet many wonderful and enthusiastic students. In 2006 and again in 2008, I travelled to Guatemala on Priscilla Bianchi’s textile tour, and was so inspired by her vibrant country and beautiful people, that I created ‘Las Mujeres Azules de Guatemala’ (The Blue Ladies of Guatemala), which won 2nd Best Innovative Quilt at the Mancuso Brother’s 2007 Best Quilts of the World show; and has been included in Lark Books 2010 publication: ‘500 Art Quilts’. My second Guatemalan quilt, ‘Flower Market at Chichicastenango, Guatemala’ was awarded ‘Best Quilt in the World’ at the Mancuso Brothers’ Best Quilts of the World 2009 show – truly an honour indeed! – and in 2010 it won ‘Best Art Quilt: People, Portraits and Figures’ at the Houston IQA Quilt show.
Above: Free Tibet
I think it’s really important to be inspired by the work and ideas of others. Collect all that luscious fabric! Read all those fabulous quilting books! Take lots of classes! Look around you! And then incorporate it all into your repertoire of techniques and create something that represents your own unique vision of the world!” Meri Vahl.
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ABOUT AQC: The complete lineup of tutors for 2018 is Rachelle Denneny (SA), Valerie S Goodwin (USA), Denise Griffiths (NSW), Julie Haddrick (SA), Willyne Hammerstein (NDL), Heather Hopkins (SA), Gloria Loughman (Vic), Deborah Louie (NSW), Karla Overland (USA), Paula Storm (NSW), Gillian Travis (UK), Meri Vahl (USA), Joanne Wearing (Qld).
To book a 4 day pass, take advantage of a Gold Pass at the Early Bird rate, book before November 30, 2018 at www.aqc.com.au
The Gold Pass includes
- Four days of class tuition
- Sample bag with products from sponsors and exhibitors
- 2018 AQC souvenir bag
- 2018 AQC souvenir pin
- Ticket to the Welcome Cocktail Party, Wednesday night April 4, 2018
- VIP preview of the Expo and AQC Quilt Show (Thursday and Friday mornings from 8.30am)
- Unlimited entry to the Expo and AQC Quilt Show
- Thursday evening lecture
- Friday evening lecture
- Ticket to the Gala Dinner, Saturday night April 7, 2018
- Continuous tea and coffee from Thursday to Sunday inclusive
- Personal snack pack on class days
- Delicious Lunch Buffet on class days
- One Pamper Zone massage session
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Fee payable: $999* early bird, before November 30, 2017.
$1,199 for bookings received after November 30, 2017.
*Booking fee of $7.50 per package applies. Check the timetable of classes at http://aqc.com.au/class-timetable-2018/