Wonderful Viewers’ Choice Awards from the 2014 Annual Exhibition

Hello again

I hope you’re having a good week. This is a quick post to share some photos from the Viewers’ Choice Awards at the Exhibition.

Stitching Love & Hope Creative Challenge – Viewers’ Choice

The Viewers’ Choice for the Stitching Love and Hope Creative Challenge was won by this lovely and evocative postcard of a field of poppies by Monica Andrew….

It really brought back memories of seeing fields of Flanders poppies in France.

Here’s a delighted Monica receiving her prize from our President Fran Novitski…

Congratulations Monica!

General Exhibition – Viewers’ Choice Award

The Viewers’ Choice in the General Exhibition was the stunning Japanese Embroidery Bouquet from the Heart of Japan stitched by Irene Burton which was blogged here

and here’s Irene with Fran Novitski and Sarah Kimmorley (our awesome and super calm Exhibition organiser) receiving her prize

Congratulations Irene!

Given that we’ve previously featured Irene’s winning entry in a blog post I thought we’d share another exquisite entry from her – a Marie Antoinette doll.

Irene’s Marie Antoinette Doll

This doll has to be seen in real life to appreciate the extraordinary detail and flair of this costume, hat, hair, shoes, bling etc…

and here’s the back…

Irene also showed us the layers under the outer dress…

Layer 1

Layer 2

and here’s what Irene has to say about making this doll…

“Everything is crocheted -the pantaloons, the underskirt, the dress and the hat. The satin bodice is
not part of the costume. I made it so that she wasn’t photographed topless in her pantaloons and underskirt! The pattern is a reproduction of a 1775 French Court Dress, designed in miniature by Sandra Peach of Paradise Dolls. Sandra even includes instructions for the hairstyle. It took many, many months for me to find all the embellishments – on the internet, at craft shows and op shops, and from friends’ stashes. As you can imagine, there is more to the costume than just crochet. You need to be hairdresser, jewellery maker, dressmaker, embroiderer and improviser. I have already started crocheting the next Crochet Collector Costume by Sandra Peach. I think her designs are top class.”

I don’t know about you but I’m in awe of Irene’s level of talent and I can’t wait to see the next costumed doll she produces!

Don’t forget if you want to enlarge the photos of the doll just click on them and then click on the zoom icon that comes up

Bye for now!

Carmen