"Quilter's Profiles"

1. Yvonne Skodt:

• Yvonne Skodt Designs

2. Yvonne Strack:

• Passing on the Tradition
• Collection of Yvonne's Quilts

3. Adriana Gismondi

• An afternoon with Adriana
• View her Best of Show quilt

Passing on the tradition... Yvonne Strack

Since taking up quilting just 12 years ago, Yvonne Strack has become a most accomplished quilter. Taking to the the craft like a "duck to water", she has quickly developed a reputation as one of Western Australia's "finest" quilters. She is now a regular entrant and "award winner" in the annual QuiltWest Exhibition.

While Yvonne was already a proficient dress-maker, after having her 2 children, she became interested in taking up "patchwork". A friend from her local church offered to teach her. Like many quilters, Yvonne began with a sampler quilt. This enabled her to learn the basic techniques and then choose a method or combination of methods she most preferred.

Yvonne's attention to detail and quest for perfection, enabled her to make quick progress. While she originally followed a pattern and enjoyed machine piecing, she now prefers to "design her own quilts" and use hand applique. She has made many pieces using the "button-hole" technique but her favorite method being needle-turn applique.

The distinctive style that Yvonne has developed, incorporates strikingly vivid colors along with a variety of "embellishments" to create a unique and stunning result. Her quilts are simply breath-taking. They catch your eye and leave you mesmerised by her attention to detail. Yvonne admits that quilting gives her an outlet to express her "wild-side" with the use of such rich and intense colors

While Yvonne quilts by night, weekends and any "spare" minute she has, her days are also spent with needle in hand, teaching in the Home Economics Department at Carine Senior High School. With the introduction of more specialised senior school curricula, Yvonne made application to offer Fabrics Design and Technology as a TEE subject.

Her submission was successful, giving the students the "opportunity" to acquire these unique skills. The units of study falls within the design and technology learning area. The skills covered over the 2 year course include: basic sewing skills, advanced sewing skills, design, technology and fashion, and methods of embellishing and decorating fabric.

2005 was the first year Carine SHS offered this course of study and the early results were incredibly positive. A select group of 18 chose to study these units. A major component of the course included a "fashion parade", where students modelled their completed garments. One student entered the WA Apex Teenage Fashion Awards, achieving first place in the "Day Wear" category.

Other students have undertaken to make their own ball gowns for their senior ball, early in 2006. The students' peers observed these outcomes, "enticing" an incredible 36 students to apply to enter the program in 2006, which has meant that 2 classes must be run in order to cater for the demand.

This is a real credit to Yvonne. Her inspirational talent, along with her "encouragement and enthusiasm" should be well appreciated by those fortunate enough to be part of such an enterprising initiative. Congratulations, Yvonne!

Here is a selection of Yvonne's most recent quilts.

Rainbow Glass I and II Wallhangings
(Rainbow Glass I - Award Winning Quilt)

 

Kaleidoscopic Fantasy

 

Coral Reef
(Award Winning Quilt)

 
Peacock and Parrots
(Award Winning Quilt)

 

Fancy Fans
(Award Winning Quilt)

An Afternoon With… Adriana Gismondi

By her own admission, Adriana Gismondi is -- addicted to patchwork! However, her passion would never have been, had "fate" not played a very big part.

Back in September of 1992, Adriana was preparing for a visit by her beloved sister, Eleonora, who would be travelling to Perth for a 3-week holiday in December. At the time, patchwork was not a well-known craft in Italy, but Eleonora had heard about it and asked Adriana if she would enrol her in a class while she was visiting.

Adriana made some enquiries, only to find that her nearby patchwork store would be "closed" at that time. Not wanting to disappoint her sister, Adriana decided to take a class herself. Then, she could teach Eleonora when she arrived.

Adriana purchased all the necessary equipment and fabric for her sister, and diligently learnt the basic skills to pass on. When Eleonora arrived from Italy, Adriana was so "excited" about teaching her what she had learned. However, when Adriana told her what had happened, Eleonora explained that she had taken up Cross Stitch and was -- no longer interested in learning patchwork.

So -- what does one do when they have all the required equipment and a pile of fabric? Many would have put it right to the back of a cupboard, never to be seen again. Not Adriana! She decided to - take another class - just to use up the fabric she had purchased, of course! And the rest, as they say... is "history."

Many of us have marvelled over the exquisite creations Adriana presents each year at the Quilt West exhibition in Perth, as well as other interstate guild exhibitions. In the 13 short years Adriana has been quilting, six times she has been awarded with the best of show honour. Following Adriana’s most recent “best of show” award, she agreed to share an afternoon with me and tell her quilting story.

When I arrived at Adriana’s home, I was greeted by her warm, smile and the very fragrant aroma’s, wafting from her kitchen. True to her Italian culture, "food and family" are most important. Each Sunday 10 or more friends and family members meet at Adriana and Angelo’s home to share a special meal that Adriana has prepared. Always something different, I’m told (sounds a lot like her quilting, doesn’t it?).

Like most quilters, Adriana has an "extensive" stash that is added to quite regularly. She is a big fat-quarter fan and her fabrics are carefully sorted into colour groups on the shelves in her sewing room. She is fortunate to have a lovely big upstairs room with...

... lots of windows that allow plenty of light, and give it a decided studio feel. With her next project already in progress – "a gift" for a family member, as most of her quilts are - the pattern, fabric and various embellishments that have been carefully selected, are displayed and at the ready.

Unlike many quilters, Adriana has a disciplined approach to her projects and only ever works on "one at a time." Always finishing each quilt before beginning the next. I was surprised to hear that she does not have the countless UFO’s that frustrate so many quilters. (Oh, to be like that! What a lot of stress that would relieve!)

She does, however, admit to just "one" unfinished project that hangs in strips, pinned to her wall – a quilt for her son, using fabric he purchased for Adriana in Darwin. This has been "on the go" for a couple of years – quite good really! (I have some UFO’s that go back so many years, I’m too embarrassed to mention, just how long ago they were started.)

While Adriana works only on the one project, usually completing just one quilt each year, her mind is forever a quiver with "ideas" for future quilts. Her next 4 quilts are already clearly planned - in order of making. She believes this is where her addiction is most evident. She may see a photo, greeting card, picture or situation and immediately a "seed" is planted and the ideas start to flow.

All her ideas are well documented and despite the endless gizmos and gadgets available in the quilting world, the one thing Adriana would not be without is her pencil and graph paper. So, with ideas aplenty, pen a paper in hand, Adriana often frequents her local library, and the "awe inspiration creations" quickly evolve.

Her most recent quilt, “A Quilter’s Encyclopedia: Sea Creatures”, was awarded -- 1st place in the Professional – Non Traditional Category at the Perth Quilt West Exhibition. Additionally, the quilt also earned Adriana the coveted judges award for “Best of Show.”

She’d had the idea for this quilt for many years now and when her husband, Angleo suggested it was his turn for a quilt -- this was the "breath-taking result."

The other love in Adriana’s life is "cats". She has 3 very cuddly pets, although 2 have been adopted from family members who can no longer have them. Adriana has demonstrated this love of cats in her work and some of you will remember the amazing quilt with the black cat walking through the archway, into the colourwash garden.

Adorning the wall of Adriana’s dining room is another cat quilt, with beautiful appliqué blocks -- all depicting cats in various scenes. She also has yet another cat quilt in store, but I think that one is still a couple of years away!

Next year, Adriana will celebrate her 30th year in Australia. When she and her husband arrived in Perth back in 1976, she had 3 very young children and could not speak a word of English. As she said -- she must have been "crazy!"

Crazy maybe -- courageous definitely! Yet this was only the first step on the path to her true "destiny." And so, for a lady who never would have dreamed -- let alone chosen -- to take up patchwork as a pastime, she has achieved remarkable results and the quilting world is so much brighter for Adriana Gismondi's creative contributions.

Thank you -- Adriana!

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