A whale of a quilt!

A playful whale, made by Elaine G, has a lot to see,
but she says she’s never making another clamshell!

Machine embroidery magic.

And on the back …!

Slow-stitching workshop

We held our AGM last weekend, along with a much appreciated slow stitching workshop led by Christine. Our thanks to the outgoing committee for their time and work volunteering, especially in a show year. Welcome to the incoming committee, and thank you for stepping up for 2026-2027.

Workshop leader Christine and the outgoing
Executive, Susan, Sharron, and Chris.

During the AGM we conferred Life Membership on Roslyn in
recognition of her many years of service to Fairholme Quilters.

Absorbed in slow stitching, under Christine’s expert guidance.

Work in progress:

New community quilts

So many little pieces, so many seams to match, such a
great result, Janet - but we know you like a
Bonnie Hunter design!

The backing Art GalleryFabric print was a bargain
community stash acquisition from an online destash.
Janet quilted it on her long-arm machine.

Nerida’s legendary fabric collection has been put to great use
for her version of ‘Mirabella’ designed by
Margaret Sampson George.

Val’s latest contribution to our community quilts collection
  is part of her plan to reduce her fabric stash, which
is also a legendary collection. She says she has a way to go!
 It’s a fabulous mix of prints of different scale.

The multi-coloured striped sashing is such a good choice 
to tie the many colours together.

September events

 

Timeless Textiles Gallery

90 Hunter Street Newcastle 2300

Open 10 - 4 Wednesday - Saturday

10 - 2 Sunday

Closed public holidays

Gallery 76

76 Queen Street, Concord West 2138

Open 9 - 4 Monday - Friday; 10 - 2 Saturday and Sunday

Closed public holidays

Doorknobs - a textile journey 

Exhibition dates: 25 September - 20 October 2026

The Design Divas are 12 contemporary textile artists who met while studying at the Embroiderers' Guild NSW in 2019. United by a love of stitching and creating, they continue to share their artistic journey together. They now invite you to turn the doorknob, step inside, and discover the worlds they have found by visiting their exhibition at Gallery76, the heart of Sydney's textile community.

Recent show and tell

 

A winter coastal retreat with Wendy Williams was the perfect 

time and place for Amanda to make her woolen blanket bag. 

with embroidered camellia appliqué.

The precious out-of-print Anna Maria Horner lining is her
popular ‘Social Climber’, first released in 2008.
So much goodness!

Sharron was at the same retreat as Amanda, and is also
working on woolen appliqued bag.

 More appliqué on the reverse.

Chris knitted a warm asymmetric scarf for her daughter
who has moved to snow-country.

Carol is up cycling a long term favourite knit top
with hand embroidery.

The JulyNorth Shore Craft Group exhibition and sale
was an opportunity for Noelle to buy her scarf and
bag both handmade by Trudy Billingsley.

In the news

Handmade quilts weave culture into Forster NAIDOC Week baby celebration

On Worimi Country in northern  New South Wales, a baby's tiny hand clutches a handmade patchwork quilt, eyes captivated by its striking  red, black and yellow patterns. The quilt is one of many gifted to families during a NAIDOC Week baby celebration at Forster's Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Service. The annual event brings together Indigenous mothers and local elders to celebrate babies born over the past year, strengthen community connections and honour each child's cultural heritage … ABC Mid North Coast, Emma Siossian and Wiriya Sati. 11 July 2026

Liberty embraces sewing boom with craft classes as it expands fabrics section

Liberty has more than doubled the size of its fabrics department as it prepares to embrace the social media interest in sewing by hosting crafting classes this autumn … This autumn, Liberty will also be expanding its haberdashery area, where it will be providing workshops for crafters. “More and more department stores have moved away from [haberdashery and fabric] but we want to celebrate and elevate the customer experience,” King said.

The rising popularity of crafts such as quilt making and crochet has been partly driven by social media demonstration videos on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, as well as crafting TV programmes such as The Great British Sewing Bee … The Guardian, 27 July 2026

Recent community finishes

A recent generous donation to our community collection
for a children’s support service. Amanda combined curved
elements from some classes in an original layout, a saturated
palette and animal prints, all designed to appeal to a child.

Beautiful blue batiks in several shapes are an absolute
winner, made by Janice. Quilted by Laura.

Hilary paired the large donated tree-of-life panel with the wide 
print border donated by a friend to produce this handsome 
quilt, generously quilted by Janet. It is finished with a black 
and white striped binding. Quilted by Janet.

Julie has made several versions of the ‘Zoo Dwellers’ pattern
by Andy Knowlton. This one highlights the happy
sunflower print donated by Hilary. Quilted by Laura.

Another ‘Zoo Dwellers’ community quilt made by Julie
features soft floral prints. Quilted by Laura

Fairholme members’ recent finishes

 

A large stash of animal prints prompted Amanda to make a
quilt for her grandchildren 

And more and more animals on the back!

Summer school was way back in January, but Miriam has
finished her Rachel Porter designed zip pouch well before the
next event! This side is appliquéd.

The reverse is elongated hexagons.

Marilyn’s grown-up book bag protects her book as it
bounces around in her large tote.

Laura made a quick quilt for a an old school friend
she will meet up with on a trip.

The patches are are a mix of Japanese prints.

She incorporated a subtly quilted message in the border for the
friend who is navigating a difficult time …

… and a nod to his fondness for cats.

A stack of May Gibbs gumnut prints, and her favourite
Zoo Dwellers pattern allowed Julie to make this baby
quilt, quilted by Sue Olma.

It is for a friend to gift to a newly arrived couple expecting
their first child with no family in the country - a lovely gesture.