Helen Fujiki

Helen Fujiki visited the west coast for a series of lectures and workshops. http://www.helenfujiki.com/Fuji_Wa_Quilting/Welcome.html

I attended the presentation with the Lion's Gate Guild. When I walked into the hall, about 40 quilts lined the large hall - and that doesn't count two sets of 'manhole covers'.

The surprising part was that these quilts were all done in the last 4 years! Helen won two CQA/ACC awards at the 2008 National Juried Show. http://www.helenfujiki.com/Fuji_Wa_Quilting/Welcome.html

Helen won 'Outstanding work by a First Time Exhibitor in the NJS' for Fuji Wa

and 'Excellence in Workmanship: Machine Quilting: Honourable Mention' for New Beginnings.

Her presentation was inspiring - she has an excellent sense of design.

The workshop the next day was informative. The main technique was 'broderie perse'. We worked with images and motifs from fabrics ... with a Japanese flair. The idea was to create an interesting design and enhance it with machine quilting. We needed a second day - we barely got started. I found this a little foreign to my usual methods of working. However, I am going to continue to develop it ... time will tell ... I need a quilt for the Cherry Blossom Festival.