Tables and sewing machines set up in the yoga shala

It was a week of liquid focus and fascination, flowing easily from day to day. Each morning the quilters climbed the stairs to the yoga shala where their sewing machines and tables were set up, commanding the most beautiful view of any quilting workshop. There they stayed until George beat the lali for lunch – and sometimes they’d still stay on, piecing together their pictures, stitching a line, ironing a corner, whilst their skill and creativity flowed into their quilts.

The colours were the blues and greens of the ocean and the oranges and reds of sunsets which were laid out before us every evening.

The sounds of the day were muted: the amiable murmur of quiet chat, the occasional exclamation of irritation when a mistake was discovered, the calm instruction of Gloria putting it right or demonstrating a technique.

Gloria and Ann

These were not to be traditional quilts: Gloria teaches landscape art in which the quilter creates a wonderful fabric artwork. Gloria’s own quilts are masterpieces of the genre. The inspiration for the week lay outside right before their eyes.

The quilts on display

And at the end of the week there were some glorious quilts displayed: Glenyce’s dying sun sinking behind the stark trees, Petal’s fiery sunset lighting up the palm trees, Andy’s view across the bay to the distinctive peak of an extinct volcano, and Ann’s palm tree swaying over a fading sunset.

In between there was time for exploration and swimming and snorkeling. Most memorable of all was taking Ann snorkeling: this a woman who was taking swimming lessons for the first time in her life back in Australia, and had the courage to don a life jacket, strap on a mask and snorkel, and come out into the ocean to enjoy the underwater world. I gave her a guiding hand as we floated over the corals and at the end she sat on the beach and gasped: “Brilliant!” She had been just that.

Ann after snorkelling

This one’s all about pictures – an unfolding scrapbook of how to make a quilted landscape picture.

Gloria Loughman, the teacher, is an immensely talented quilter who teaches all over the world and creates stunning landscapes herself. This week she was guiding her class as they sat up on the deck of the Villa and looked out over what she said was the best view she had ever had in a workshop. Most of the quilters had brought along photos of the landscape they wanted to create as a quilt, although one person, Caz, chose the view in front of her. I’ve included that in my panorama. Hope you enjoy the story!

Caz’s Quilt…

Caz's first layout of the view from her balcony at Daku

The actual view

Caz stitching the landscape

Almost finished...

The final quilt of Daku with backing

Jenny’s Quilt…

Jenny's quilt - laying out the main elements

Stitching up the background

The trees are put in place...

Painting in some water features

The finished quilt