St Helens quilter Barbara Mellor had two quilts accepted as finalists in the 2019 Art Quilt Australia competition.

One of her quilts, By Wagga Design, was awarded the Expressions in Wool Quilt Prize for 2019.

It was an acquisitive award of $3000.

Mellor said her piece was a contemporary take on the traditional wagga, or swag, which was made from old clothes and tailoring samples during the Great Depression.

"My quilt was made from garments purchased at the op shop, blankets and fabric from a friend, and wool fabrics from my own stash," she said.

"The backing is a patchwork of calico, ticking, flour bags, and reproduction fabric."

The quilt was created through piecing, hand stitching, and machine stitching.

Art Quilt Australia is a biennial juried exhibition open to textile artists in Australia and New Zealand and Oz Quilt Network members around the world.

It is held at Geelong's National Wool Museum from September 6 until December 15.

Later, the exhibition will tour to the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum at Lilydale, Victoria from February 8 to May 16, 2020.

By Wagga Design will now become part of the permanent collection of the National Wool Museum in Geelong.

Other quilt artists recognised included a highly commended for Alison Withers' work Change for Earth and Anna Brown's Patterns 8: Honour the Past, and an award of excellence for Neroli Henderson's Whitewash.

Mellor took up quilting after retiring, and became heavily involved in the Tasmanian Quilting Guild.

She started traditional quilting, but over the years transitioned into art quilting after wanting to get more creative with her work.

In 2018, she was a finalist in the Bay of Fires Art Prize with her quilt Mathinna - between two worlds, abandoned, broken.

For more information, visit barbaramellor.com.