Here is meg Cowey’s story about her 2019 submission ‘Storm Warning’…

“I particularly love the view of a storm approaching across Gage Roads while travelling along Stirling Highway. I wanted to capture the view of rain clouds and glints of sunshine.  

I had seen a technique on Pinterest where thin strips of various coloured fabrics were sewn horizontally to create a quilted landscape and then covered in net.  It gave a lovely impressionist look that I was keen to try as a seascape. At about the same time, there was a presentation at our monthly meeting of the Contemporary Quilt Group about making non-traditional edges to quilts. 
Because I had never used the technique before, I created a small piece to try out my fabric strips, their positioning and colour. This was very worthwhile as it made me realise that the fabric I’d chosen for the sky was actually much better suited as the sea. 
Eventually I created a larger art quilt called ‘Weather Warning’ that I exhibited at QuiltWest 2017. 

However, I kept my small sample piece, as I really liked the extended border of sea and rain cloud. When stitched and bound opened for entries, I included Storm Warning as my second entry. Of course, I was delighted that it was juried into the exhibition, but a little chagrined that my first choice was not selected!