Denise Labadie – Meet the Artist

Denise Labadie’s art quilts feature either Celtic megalithic stones and monoliths – think Stonehenge – or monastic ruins and passageways.  They are known for their moodiness, emotion and surprisingly true-to-life realism. Each piece is created using appliqué and strip piecing and Denise’s unique hand-painted fabrics. Denise has won multiple awards at Quilt National (USA), and she’s had major exhibitions in the US and worldwide.

Join Denise as she shares her work inspired by her love of Ireland.

Denise Labadie: https://labadiefiberart.com/

Quilt by Denise Labadie
Quilt by Denise Labadie
Quilt by Denise Labadie
Quilt by Denise Labadie

Denise Labadie

“I use a wide variety of colours, fabrics, threads, and yarns in my work, and then construct the actual quilt the same way as a stone mason builds a wall – individually sizing and cutting out, piecing, and appliquéing each stone, one by one, working from the bottom up – each stone a foundation for the others that it supports or neighbours. In contrast to the realism of the stones, my skies and landscapes – which are central to the context of place and the timelessness of these sacred sites – are far more abstract. I hand paint almost all my fabric (from which – as described above – I then individually cut out each stone).

The realistic colour and texture of my stones is achieved by using multiple layers of sun-reactive transparent Seta color paints, plus various resists, in combination with (while wet) the aggressive folding, twisting, wrapping, bunching or pleating of the fabric, and (while drying) the application of sand, different types of salt crystals, sugar, dirt, and the like – basically, doing or using most anything that can influence or cause differential paint absorption, diffusion, blending, patterning, or mottling. Resulting fabrics can be remarkable.

I then use selective combinations of multiple appliqué techniques (reverse, turned edge, and raw edge), insetting, free-form strip piecing, couching, and “thread shadowing” (similar to thread painting) – plus an occasional very localised dab of paint – to achieve my trademark quilt top textures, lighting, depth of field, and shadowing and perspective. Throughout, full attention is given to proper craftsmanship, “sweating the details”, and technique precision.“ – Denise Labadie.

Quilt by Denise Labadie
Quilt by Denise Labadie

Filmed at the Festival of Quilts 2023.

For a more inspiration, please browse the ‘Meet the Artist’ collection on my YouTube Channel.

Joe Cunningham – Meet the Artist

Joe Cunningham has been a professional quilter for 44 years and has written a dozen books, many magazine articles, museum catalogue essays and papers on the subject of quilts. He has lectured at museums, universities and for quilt guilds and conferences internationally. 

Join Joe as he shares his work inspired by his love of traditional quilts.

Joe Cunningham: https://www.joecunninghamquilts.com/ 

Quilt by Joe Cunningham.
Quilt by Joe Cunningham.

“After many years spent studying, copying and imitating 19th century quilts and quilt styles, I made the decision to create my own style. While these quilts seem to be foreign to the common ideas of the tradition, it was my studies of the tradition that showed me how to create freely and in my own abstract language”. His quilts can be found in major museums in the US and in many private collections.

Quilt by Joe Cunningham.
Quilt by Joe Cunningham.

Filmed at the Festival of Quilts 2023

For a more inspiration, please browse the ‘Meet the Artist’ collection on my YouTube Channel.

Beryl Dean Award for Hand Embroidery

I’m delighted to share that ‘Good Grub‘ had been awarded ‘Winner of the Beryl Dean Award for Hand Embroidery’ in the Embroiderers’ Guild 2024 Members’ Challenge ‘Opposites Attract’.

Good Grub, awarded the Beryl Dean Award for Hand Embroidery
Good Grub, awarded the Beryl Dean Award for Hand Embroidery

An ‘Opposites Attract’ E-Book is available on the Guild website, featuring all the pieces in the challenge. Below are a few extracts from the book.

Embroiderers Guild Book - Opposites Attract Members' Challenge
Embroiderers Guild Book – Opposites Attract Members’ Challenge
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild Book - Opposites Attract Members' Challenge. Beryl Dean award fro hand embroidery
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild Book – Opposites Attract Members’ Challenge
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild Book - Opposites Attract Members' Challenge. Beryl Dean award fro hand embroidery
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild Book – Opposites Attract Members’ Challenge

Thank you to the Embroiderers’ Guild from producing such a brilliant and inspiring challnge. Congratulations to the all winners and participants.

All the pieces taking part in the challenge will be on display at the Knitting and Stitching Shows 2024.

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