V & A quilt exhibition Brisbane July 2013 and a sister fix

Monday the 29th July saw me fly to Brisbane being picked up by my sister and then drive to Toowoomba, where I spent a couple of days with my sister and her family. We also celebrated my nieces 23 rd birthday. On Wednesday my sister and I traveled to Brisbane to Visit, Quilts 1700-1945. The reason for traveling to Queensland was to get a sister fix and also to see the famous Rajah Quilt which is in this particular exhibition from the V& A in London.  The Rajah quilt, 1845, was the inspiration of Elizabeth Fry. Elizabeth thought that setting a task for the convict women on this long voyage, would help the women to cope. Elizabeth Fry gathered the fabrics and gave it to the  convict women who were being shipped to Van Diemen  Land on the Convict ship "Rajah". This is how the quilt got it's name. The quilt when made, was to be a gift to the wife of the  governor of Van Diemans land. After getting lost in Brisbane because some bright spark put in the wrong address in the Tomtom, we finally arrived at our destination, a hotel very close to the Queensland Art Gallery in South Brisbane, we parked the car and rushed to the gallery to make the 1.15 pm tour. We actually arrived at 12.55 pm and made the 1 pm tour, which I highly recommend, although the tour guide was very informative about the historical aspects of the quilts, she had no idea about quilting, such as windmills, tumbling blocks, six pointed stars and the type of embroidery stitches used. My sister who does not quilt was amazed at the detailed workmanship in the quilts, embroidery and curtains displayed. After our tour we purchased the patchwork platter lunch in the cafe, then went back into the exhibition for a more thorough look. No photo's were allowed to be taken, not for the want of trying..but had to suffice with some shots of our lunch and the entry to the exhibition. Also on display was a collection of quilts from Ruth Stoneley, photo's were allowed to be taken in this exhibition but no flash. Overall the exhibition is well worth a visit.

Entry to the exhibition

Patchwork platter lunch.

Ruth Stoneley collection of quilts

Reds and blacks seem to be her favourite colours, as well as crazy patchwork.

A stunning evening dress

Work by Ruth Stoneley in blacks and reds.