Rousillon ~ our 2016 raffle quilt

Like make quilting groups and guilds we make a quilt to raffle at each of our 2 yearly exhibitions, with proceeds going to a local community group.

Our 2016 raffle quilt is 'Rousillon' - you can read about its making and naming below.

The raffle
The raffle will be drawn at the close of our 2016 Quilt Show, on Sunday 10th April. Tickets are available from Fairholme members, at the show (8 - 9 April 2016).

They are $2 each, or 3 tickets for $5. Proceeds will go to Studio ARTES Northside.

We do not have facilities for purchasing tickets online, but you can order tickets by mailing this form with your cheque or money order to

Fairholme Quilters Inc
PO Box 942
Pennant Hills NSW 2120

or email:

fairholmequilters@gmail.com

to arrange a payment by direct deposit to our bank account, and tickets can be mailed to you, closing on Friday 2 April. Please note that ticket orders can only be accepted from within Australia.

The quilt

Work on the quilt starts more than a year in advance of show - choosing a design, fabrics, allocating tasks, coordinating a timeframe that allows for quilting, and selling of the tickets is no small task.

Unpacking the fabrics

Our 2016 quilt was started late in 2014, when two of our members, Miriam Jones and Janice Freelander agreed to work together on a design and coordination. We had been donated 2 boxes of fabric from Quilt NSW from a quilter who was no longer able to use it. When we opened the boxes, we were delighted to find a generous amount of very fine quality fabric, much of it French in origin, and some of it in long lengths. One beautiful piece of red on cream toile was set aside for the backing - no-one wanted to cut it up.

A glimpse of the toile backing

Janice and Miriam chose block designs from the 'free block patterns' section of Jinny Beyer's website, and drew up a tentative arrangement. They prepared fabric kits for members who would piece the 6" blocks (all different), and set about drafting the setting of the centre, and borders. Having decided on an on-point setting, precision was required, and delivered. Of course we all enjoyed several opportunities to help decide on a final layout.

Our group is also fortunate that one of our members, Jo-Ann Phillips, is a professional long-arm quilter who offered to quilt an edge to edge design, as her contribution to the quilt. After several months' work, the last seam was sewn, the quilting was done, and the quilt was bound - finished!

Quilting detail

During the year, in planning for the 2016 Quilt Show we had invited a local supported art studio at which several textile artists make a range of beautiful art, to be our guest exhibitors. Studio ARTES will also be the beneficiaries of our quilt raffle.

The final task was to name the quilt. Thinking about connections with France, we took advice from a friend of a friend living in the south of France and interested in textiles. We were delighted with her suggestion of naming the quilt for the village of Rousillon in the Vaucluse Department.

Janice has visited Rousillon twice, and agrees that it is indeed one of the most beautiful villages in France. Built on deposits of ochre mined for dye used in the textile industry, most of the village buildings are painted red ... a lovely coincidence with the colours of our quilt.

The village of Rousillon is in a lavender
growing region, in the Vaucluse Department

Rousillon is famous for its red-painted buildings

A beautiful Rousillon door

Red ochre deposits around Rousillon - the region is
sometimes referred to as the Grand Canyon of France.

Thanks to Janice, for your spectacular photos of Rousillon.

Thank you to Miriam, Janice and Jo-Ann for the enormous amount of work they put in to produce this beautiful quilt, and to all the Fairholme members who contributed their skills and time so willingly.