Radstock Museum Patchwork and Quilt exhibition 2012

Today I went to see the third bi-annual Patchwork and Quilt exhibition organised by Midsomer Quilting at Radstock Museum, Somerset (near Bath).

It is a beautiful little museum, with lots of very interesting things to see, reflecting the history of the town, which used to be a mining town.  There is a Victorian classroom as well as small Victorian shops.

The quilt exhibition is mostly in the upstairs floor.  Over 200 quilts are arranged in quite limited space, but very successfully used by Chris Howell from Midsomer Quilting.  Quilts are arranged in two rows, above and below, to make use of the very high ceiling.  There are both traditional and contemporary quilts, from very big to very small quilts, and some beautiful old quilts.

It was very well attended and I know quilters come from all over the world to see it.

I contributed two quilts - the first one, Finding the Way (with my Talisman) (which is a SatNav), was very well placed next to a strinkingly beautiful and deep coloured 1836 quilt made with hexagons, Great-Grandmother's Silk Garden Quilt.  The quilt was made by Anna Maria Cradock, who was married in Hemington, two and a half miles from the Museum.  It was lent by her great-granddaughter, Sheila Walker.

The third quilt on the photograph is Blue Hawaii by Helen Grist, made with Hawaiian fabric she bought there when her husband took her to Maui for their 25th wedding anniversary.

My other contribution was Login Shakespeare, a quilt made with curved square-within-squares log cabin technique, and with the names of Shakespeare plays screen printed in the centre of each;  and a corresponding quote from each play printed on one of the logs.

These are some of my other favourite quilts; first, Pointing to Somerset by Barbara Webber - a beautiful, very small quilt - I wouldn't mind having it!  It is all made with small folded points, in rainbow colours.

Another favourite is a fabulous Celtic Knots quilt, designed and made by Chris Squires, hand appliquéd and hand quilted.

I was very impressed by this very original tumbling blocks quilt.

I can't remember who made it, and although I have the catalogue I can't easily trace it as I don't remember the name or number.  Apologies!

There was a lot to see - I will have to go again some time.  The exhibition continues until 31st May.  Check the museum website for hours of opening, which are restricted - mostly in the afternoons, 2 - 4 pm, but some days it opens for longer. It is closed on Mondays, except for Bank Holiday Mondays.  Tea room available!  http://www.radstockmuseum.co.uk/events.html