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portrait grietje van der veen
Grietje van der Veen


I was born and raised in the Netherlands. In 1962, I moved to Switzerland. After marrying and giving birth to two children, I studied Art at the Basel University. Though being skilled in sewing and embroidery as long as I can remember, it was not before 1996 that I discovered patchwork and quilting. Since then I am hooked moving quickly from traditional to contemporary quilts. I attended courses given by Anne Fleeton, Pascale Goldenberg, Michael James, Ursula Kern, Jean Littlejohn, Emily Richardson and Charlotte Yde. From 2000 on, quilts of mine have been exhibited internationally. In 2002 I set up my quilt art studio near Basel.
From 2006 - 2010 I was board member of the Swiss Quilters’ Guild "patCHquilt".
From 2006 to 2008 I attended the 2-years’ “Quilt Judging Course”, held by the British Quilters’ Guild.
From 2007 - 2010 I was a the chief editor of the Swiss Guild’s magazine.

Solo Exhibitions:

2011
- Festival of Quilts, Birmingham (UK)

2010
- 4th International Quiltfestival Wilwerwiltz (L)
- Ziegelei Oberwil/BL (CH)

2008
- 14. Carrefour Européen du Patchwork, St. Marie-aux-Mines (Fr)
- Praxisgemeinschaft Mühlenplatz, Luzern (CH)

2007/2006/2004
- Oberwil Ziegelei

Group Exhibitions:

2010
- "Natur Pur", Hombrechtikon (CH)
- "feinstofflich", AR't Herisau, Herisau (CH)
- Open European Quilt Championship, Veldhoven (NL), Swiss patCHquilt exhibition
- "We Are Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On", Touring eshibition, Schwabenakademie Irsee (D), 16. Carrefour Européen du Patchwork, St. Marie-aux-Mines (Fr), Aarau (CH), Guben (D)
- "EXNA 4", Musée d'art et d'histoire, Neuchâtel (CH)
- "Diversity of Europe", EQA exhibition, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham (GB)
- "Wide Horizons", SAQA Europe exhibition, 16. Carrefour Européen du Patchwork, St. Marie-aux-Mines (Fr)

2009
- SAQA, “Transformations ’09, Reflections”, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham (GB); Grants Pass Museum (OR, USA); Alaska Fiber Festival (USA); Visions Art Quilt Gallery, San Diego (USA)
- Spruetzehuesli Kulturforum, Oberwil (CH)
- Swiss Quilt Festival, Solothurn (CH): Members' exhibition, Board members' exhibition
- 4. European Quilt-Triennale 2009. Touring: Heidelberg (D), Zons/Dormagen (D), St. Gallen (CH), Birmingham (GB) (2010)
- Textile News, on tour: Swiss Quilt Festival, Cape Town, ..

2008
- SAQA, “Transformations ’08, Icons and Imagery”, Birmingham (GB)
- Festival of Quilts, "The British Guild Challenge", Birmingham (GB)
- “Up in Stitches”, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY, USA

2007
- Quilt Italia, "YOURS 100%", Torino (It)
- IQA Judged Show, “Quilts: A World of Beauty”, Houston, USA
- „Fantasies florales – Composition textiles d’artistes européennes autour de broderies afghanes“, Textile Museum Wesserling, Alsace (F)
- QuiltArtLugano 2007, first Swiss Quilt Festival, Lugano (CH)
1 „ Ticino – Meeting Point in the Heart of Europe”
2 „ Precious Objects“, Windows UBS, Lugano (catalogue)
3 „ Threads Unite Women“
4 „Donne per Donne“, fabric postcards
- „Connections“, Bodensee Quilt Festival, Radolfzell (D)
- „Innovative Fabric Imagery“, International Quilt Festival Houston, (USA) (catalogue)
- “My Country”, Festival of Quilts, Birmingam (GB)
- “Threads Unite Women”, on tour through Germany and France

2006
- „Breaking Boundaries“, (SAQA), Quilt Expo X, Lyon (F)
- QuiltSea und More, Schaffhausen (CH)
- The Festival of Quilts, (Pictorial Quilts) Birmingham (GB)
- “Time Patches”, on tour, Bad Saulgau, Val d’Argent, Port Elisabeth, (catalogue)
- patCHquilt exhibition at the Creativa, Lausanne (CH)

2005
- „Color and Yarn Plays“, on tour through Germany
- „Hermann Hesse und the Magic of Colours“, Quilt Festival Höri (D)
- „Unity of Contrasts“, Kunstwerkstatt Rehalp, Zürich (CH)
- „Voyages Imaginaires“, Aniane (F) (Katalog)
- Festival of Quilts, (Innovative Quilts, Miniature Quilts) Birmingham (GB)

2004
- Two Person exhibition with Catherine Juillerat, Oberwil (CH)
- „ColorCouleurColoreKulör“, Husqvarna Viking, on tour worldwide (catalogue)
- Regional Quilt Exhibition, Museum of Fabric Printing, Mulhouse (F)
- National Patchwork- and Quilt Exhibition, Murten (CH)
- Nagoya World Quilt Festival, Swiss Representation, Nagoya, Japan

2003
- „Flowers, Leaves, Trees“, Garden Centre Hauenstein, Rafz (CH)
- „Textile Miniatures“, Kunstwerkstatt Rehalp, Zürich (CH)
- „Inspiration Japan“, Castle Höhenried and Munich (D)
- European Quilt Championship 2003, Waalre (NL)
- “Textile Architecture”, Houston, Pittsburgh, Rosemont (USA)
- patCHquilt exhibition at the Creativa, Lausanne (CH)

2002
- „Parlez-moi-d’Europe“, Magic Patch, Quilt Expo Barcelona (E)

2000
- European Quilt Championships 2000 in Waalre (NL)

Awards

2010
European Award
"The British Guild Challenge", "Summer in the City"
The Festival of Quilts, Birmingham (UK)

2007
Swiss winner
"The British Guild Challenge"

Special prize: Use of colour
Comptetition "Connections"

2005
3rd prize
Husqvarna - Competition "Color and Yarn Plays"

2002
3rd Prize
"Magic Patch"- Competition "Speak to me of Europe"