Published Date:
09 September 2009
QUILTS are warm and snug but they can be colourful and artistic as well – as demonstrated by two Woodhall Spa youngsters who swept the floor at an international quilting competition.
Ethan Smith, six, and his sister Amy, seven, of Alverston Avenue, impressed the judges at the International Festival of Quilts held at the Birmingham NEC.
Amy, who has been quilting enthusiastically for two years, designed a kimono-style quilt, befitting with the competition's theme: "Pearls of the Orient".
Her design was highly commended and Ethan managed to scoop the first prize, in the section for five to eight year olds, with his first ever quilt inspired by a friend's pond and garden.
They both spent six months making their quilts to display at the festival alongside other young crafters from across the UK and countries such as Germany, Belgium and Iceland.
While Ethan is a recent quilting enthusiast, Amy has been stitching since she was five and even made the quilt on her own bed.
Her mother, Beth, who has been quilting since after Amy was born, said: "Amy was hailed as one of the youngest quilters in Britain, even featuring in a national magazine.
"She has grown up watching me make quilts and wall-hangings and as with most children who see their parents pursuing a hobby, whether gardening or sport or baking, she wanted to join in and do a quilt of her own."
After she decided to enter Amy into the quilting competition, Ethan jumped on the band wagon too, not wanting to be left out.
She said: "We were all amazed when we got to the NEC and found Ethan's quilt on the winner's wall. Amy's quilt was highly commended' too, so it was a great day for both of them."
Ethan's winning quilt has now gone on tour and will be displayed at Alexandra Palace in London, RDS Dublin and the International Centre in Harrogate.
Beth's husband Andrew is the local vicar of the Woodhall Spa group of parishes and there is always a queue for the sewing machine in the vicarage where they live.
She remembers originally trying to discourage Amy from quilting at the age of five because she felt it would be too difficult. Similarly with Ethan, she felt he would lose interest after a while.
"He is a typical boy who just wants to run outside to play football all the time. But they have both proved me wrong, she said.
"I think children should be encouraged in all creative arts, and quilting is just a form of art with fabric."
The talented twosome have already started planning for next year's festival which has a theme: Cityscapes.
"They are both thinking of lots of ideas already," added Beth.
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Last Updated:
09 September 2009 2:55 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Horncastle