Quilts from Canaan

I'm Here!

After a long and tiresome journey, I have arrived at the Open European Quilt Championship venue in Koningshof, Veldhoven.

The hotel is lovely, the surrounding scenery beautiful. The show and vendor booths are being set up, and I had a sneak preview. It is not a large show, by American standards. But there are some 150 quilts in the main exhibition, and several solo exhibitions, with approximately 20 pieces each. The quilts are beautiful and well made.

I was sorry to see that the quilts are hung in 2 rows, with the top row very high up. It is impossible to see the details of the quilts hanging at the top. Moreover, as we were walking around we saw the judges making their rounds and scoring the quilts. I am sceptical as to the ability of a judge to properly evaluate a quilt at such viewing angle and distance.

The show opens tomorrow, and since there is free Internet access at the hotel, I will try to report every day.

All Packed and Ready to Go

That's it. It's 1 a.m., my suitcase is packed and I am ready to leave for Holland. It's Independence day in Israel, and we had a party at our house. The last guests left half an hour ago. Being so busy with the party, I didn't have too much time to think about the trip, and suddenly it's here! I'm going!

I decided not to take my laptop with me - I really need it to be a vacation, so my next post will be when I come back, 8 days from now.

King Solomon's Magical Carpet

I have made this quilt for the Open European Quilt Championship that will be held this weekend in Veldhoven, Holland. The competition theme is Magic, and at first I was quite stumped for ideas.

While researching the subject of Magic in Judaism, I stumbled across a legend that Queen of Sheba gave King Solomon a gift of a magical carpet. Having special sentiments for King Solomon, the idea of recreating his magical carpet had instant appeal.

 

I took unlimited artistic license with the initial idea. The main freedom was moving the carpet in time to the 18th - 19th century. The carpet design is a mix of images from Islam and Judaism. It incorporates the "Mihrab" - an arch typical of Muslim prayer rugs; the tree of life that can be found in both cultures; pomegranates; a peacock; and the boteh motif which stands for a leaf or a water drop.

This carpet is my prayer for the greatest magic of all - the miracle of peace in our troubled lands. I am sure that King Solomon would have joined me in this prayer.

The quilt is a mix of hand and machine techniques - piecing and applique, broderie perse, embroidery and beading.

Getting Started

My name is Shulamit and I am a quilter.

Sounds like Alcoholics Anonymous, doesn't it? But then, there is something about quilting that makes the comparison rather appropriate...

Quilt art can be very diverse, starting from the traditional quilts, through the very clean, modern style, to the mixed media pieces that incorporate collage, embroidery and painting. I am fascinated by all quilt styles and can be equally awed by a modern piece or a traditional one. I do make a differentiation between what I enjoy seeing and the kind of art I want to be making. I believe that my art should express my cultural heritage, encompassing Judaism, the Bible, the art of the Holy Land and of the Middle East.

This blog will be about quilting projects, books, ideas, techniques, and anything else quilt-related. I hope you enjoy reading it.