Janet Steadman’s busy hands have once again sewn up her place in the finals of the Pacific Northwest Quiltfest.
The Langley quilt artist had two pieces accepted to the finals, where she will compete with 290 other quilts and wearable art entries from five northwestern states and the four western provinces of Canada.
This is the third time Steadman has been accepted as a finalist at the biennial Quiltfest.
Steadman’s newest quilts are entitled “Coast to Coast” and “High Rise” and may win her a prize in any of the 11 categories. Prizes include cash from a pot of $40,000 or a fancy sewing machine that is the envy of quiltmakers everywhere.
Four years ago, Steadman won best-in-show for her quilt “It’s About Time,” and at the last event two years ago, she took first place for her quilt called “Road Signs” and walked away with a state-of-the-art Janome sewing machine.
Steadman began quilting 24 years ago and hasn’t stopped since.
She said she always creates original designs which lead to a two-to-three-year series. She is currently well into her “flying geese” series which features playful quilts with a variety of colors and different patterns of wing-cornered rectangles.
“The series just happen as the ideas just keep coming,” Steadman said.
Not only does she enjoy the process of sitting down to the sewing machine, but she dyes her own fabrics, as well.
“I love every bit of the process, the whole thing; even the part of having them on display,” the artist said.
The Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1992 to encourage and reward quiltmakers of the Pacific Northwest region by producing this popular regional event every two years.
“We are extremely pleased with the very high standard of the quilts being created throughout our region in both traditional and innovative designs,” said organization president Sharyn Cole.
The Pacific Northwest Quiltfest will be held Friday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 10 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle, with 291 entries being displayed from the 587 that were submitted.
The Quiltfest is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10.
For information, call 425-558-1983 or visit the Web site at www.apnq.org.
You can also visit Steadman’s Web site at www2.whidbey.net/jandon to see what she’s up to with her latest series of quilts.
