I am Mari Strydom living in Bultfontein, a small rural town in the heart of South Africa. I started to teach in my local community – teaching young women to quilt. My teaching quickly gained momentum, and soon I was teaching all over the Free State. Nowadays I am teaching different areas of expertise all over South Africa, various small Quilt Festivals and at the National Quilt Festivals.
I am obsessed with quilting. I love spending time in my studio “playing” with fabrics, threads and designs. The colours and textures inspire my creative energies and make me happy.
I am blessed with a talent for quilting and teaching. Quilting came into my life when I needed it most. The humbling experience – getting chemo - taught me that life is short and what effect creating something can have on you. I want to pass this on so that it can change other peoples lives as well. There is nothing that I would rather do! This is my true passion and joy.
To all my fellow fabric lovers: I am blessed by your presence in my life.
| NAME: | Mari Strydom |
| RESIDENCE: | Bultfontein, Free State, South Africa |
| OCCUPATION: | Quilt artist, teacher and judge |
| GUILD: | Sandveld Country Quilters' Group |
| ACCREDITATION: | SAQG Member SAQG Teacher's accreditation
SAQG National Judge
|
She has been in Education for 20 years being a Science facilitator for teachers in the Free State. She left education in 1999 and started her second job – Quilting in 2000 and teaching in 2004. Since then she has been teaching at guild, regional and national level.
She entered numerous quilt competitions since 2001 - locally, nationally and abroad - and is an award winning quilt artist.
In 2005 she opened her own quilt shop, Lappiesland, which broadened her horizon even further till she sold the shop in 2016 to allow her more time for teaching and judging.
2001: Bloemfontein Regional Show
2002: Bloemfontein Regional Show
2003: 9th European patchwork-Meeting Val d’Argent, France
2003: Bloemfontein Regional Show
2004: Bultfontein Quilt Exhibition
2005: Bloemfontein Regional Show
2006: Bloemfontein Regional Show
2006: Bultfontein Quilt Exhibition
2007: Pacific Quilt Festival, Santa Clara, California
2007: Quilt Exhibition Bultfontein
2007: Rosestad Mini Quilt Festival
2008: My Place – A travelling Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition (Australia, New Zealand and South Africa)
2008: Bloemfontein Regional Show
2009: Bultfontein Quilt Exhibition
2010: Bloemfontein Regional Show
2011: Bloemfontein Regional Show
2011: Quilt Exhibition Bultfontein
2014: Bultfontein Quilt Exhibition
2013-2015: 8th National travelling Exhibition, South Africa
2018: Bultfontein Quilt Exhibition
2019: Quilt Art Retreat New Bathesda
2020: Quilt Art Retreat New Bateshda
2021-2022: Transformational Textile Art Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum
2022: Quilt Art Retreat New Bateshda
2022: Oliewenhuis Art Museum Bloemfontein
2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011: Bloemfontein Regional Show –Best of Show awards
2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011: Bloemfontein Regional show – Special awards
2007: Pacific Quilt Festival, Santa Clara California
2010: Bloemfontein Regional Show – Best Machine Work
2004, 2007, 2009 & 2011: Quilt Exhibition Bultfontein – Viewers choices
2006: National Quilt Festival Port Elizabeth – Highly commended in Innovative castegory
2007: Rosestad Mini Quilt festival – Best Machine Workmanship
2010: Oranje Quilters’ Guild 21 Year Challenge - Winner
2011: Bernina Challenge – Top 10 Winner
2012: Quilter of the Year – Oranje Quilters’ Guild
2014: SAQG Nominee Pro Dedicate Award
2014: SAQG Teachers Accreditation
2016: SAQG Guild Judge Accreditation
2018: SAQG National Judge Accreditation
2019: Sandveld Challenge - Winner
2019: Sandveld Challenge - Best machine workmanship
2019: Sandveeld Challenge - Viewers Choice
2002: Cape Town - Exhibited
2006: Port Elizabeth – Exhibited
2010: Stellenbosch - Taught
2013: Bloemfontein - Exhibited & Taught
2015: Kwa-Zulu Natal - Taught
2017: Port Elizabeth- Taught
2019: Johannesburg - Exhibited, Taught and Judged
2022: Stellenbosch - Exhibit & Taught
Mari Strydom is a full time quilt artist and teacher whose work reflects her passion for colour and texture. A teacher and scientist by degree and outgoing by nature she excels in teaching. She started teaching in 2004 and has been teaching ever since for the past 14 years.