Gail Lawther - by Sheila

Dierdre, our chair, opened the evening outlining upcoming events including a workshop in June with our guest speaker.

Gail then introduced herself and began her talk ‘Birds of a feather’. She began by telling us about her signature technique. Stained glass patchwork using Bondaweb, appliqué and fusible bias binding. Showing us a number of quilts illustrating the technique. As a self confessed impatient quilter, she said it was a quick, easy and very forgiving technique. Gail swears by Bondaweb and never sews around the appliqué shapes just quilting over the shapes often using the quilt as you go method.

Gail felt her book, ‘Stained Glass Patchwork Techniques’ required updating and she wanted to include quilts relating to birds. A step by step process was shown, Blue Peter style - here’s one I prepared earlier, giving a clear picture of how it was produced. The result, a beautiful dove in front of a rainbow, outlined by black bias binding to stunning effect.

Mixing the stained glass technique and crazy patchwork, Gail designed hanging bird decorations embellished with ribbons, beads, buttons and lace, things I’m sure we all have in our sewing boxes. Ideal for tombola prizes….

We were then shown a gallery of quilts. American Folk Art inspired birdhouses with Velcro birds, silhouettes of numerous birds on strippy backgrounds, flamingoes using the paper cut out technique, partying penguins with velvet dinner suits and exotic/ tropical birds made with bright batiks. A real feast for the eyes.

My favourite of the evening was the Birds of the World quilt. 16 panels, all featuring a bird and a background reflecting its habitat or native land.

Already planning projects, in my head of course, with a view to try the technique and judge whether it is quick and easy.

I wonder how many Gail Lawther inspired quilts will make an appearance at the exhibition.