At the conclusion of our Online 7923-04 Patchwork and Quilting Diploma Course, students who have satisfied all the syllabus requirements are awarded a certificate by the awarding body, City & Guilds of London. We would like to offer our congratulations too!
BJ Reed
BJ chose 'Horses' as the theme for her Research for Design unit for Diploma. Her final quilt, 'Horse Power - Don't Fence Me In has already won one ribbon! The quilt is made in sections and features 3D 'gate' sections on the lower part. The gates open to reveal gorgeous embroidered pictures related to the theme.
Above: Experimenting with foundation piecing.
Right: One of the many photographs that BJ took and collected during the course.
Below: a close up of the quilt showing one of the 'gates'.
Right: Part of the designwork for the quilt. BJ used her computer skills to produce a detailed mock up in colour before proceeding in fabric.

Above: Some of BJ's sampling for the quilt.
Right: A close up detail showing the quilting which was inspired by the tooled motifs on leather cowboy boots.
Left and below: BJ's 3D container which was a box to hold a set of small quilts.
Above: the small quilts were each connected to the next and can also be displayed hanging from the main box. One has transparent sections allowing the viewer to see right through.

Above: Work in progress.
Right: the quilts folded into a different arrangement for storage.

Left: A side view showing the shallow depth of the container.

Right: During the course BJ was also inspired by other aspects of the natural world. the peeling bark of this tree was one avenue she pursued.
Left: This quilt developed from research into the bark. Prints from real leaves were worked on fabric and appliqued to the surface. The rest of the quilt is pieced and machine quilted.
Above: After experimenting with horse shapes, she stenciled this motif on fabric using Shiva Paintstiks.
Above: BJ's miniature quilt is worked on a suede-like fabric. During the course she worked extensively with leather learning how to tool, print and colour it. On this small piece, sashing strips were added with thin leather. Metal studs complete the piece.

 

Left: Designwork and notes.

Right: Spring Watch. This quilt uses discharge fabrics, metal shim and lots of machine quilting.

Left: Exploring ideas with composition using paper collage. the painted papers make all the difference!

 

Right: Just one of many of BJ's leather work samples.

 
Above: Inspired by Franz Marc, these samples and small quilt use visual layering of colour through transfer printing.
Above and right: Observational sketches from early in the course.
Left: BJ followed through many experiments and samples to completed quilts. this one uses image transfer amongst other techniques.
Right: Continuing a floral theme this quilt uses rusted fabric.
Above: Playing with the idea of tessellations on the computer and boldly with print. If you have enjoyed seeing BJs Diploma exhibition why not take a look at her work from other courses? 7822-10, 7922-03 BJ also has her own website at http://piecemaking.com
© Linda Kemshall 2006