Needlework treasures

 Some of our members have shared family needlework treasures recently.

This very sweet little doll’s quilt was made for Susan’s
mother when she was a child in the 1920s, perhaps by her
 mother or grandmother. It now fragile, and a little faded,
but much treasured by Susan.

It is pieced and embroidered, all stitched by hand.

Hilary’s mother made this needle point tote during
 the 1960/70s

Every bit of the surface is covered in different
stitches and colours

Hilary has had it for several years, and has
decided it needs to be used.

Julie has practised many crafts, included doll making. She
 made the doll itself and its clothes. The face is hand
painted, the hair is strands of mohair.
 It stands about 6 inches high.

Other needlework …

 It’s not all quilts, it’s not even all sewing …

Roslyn’s silk scarf was made from a pattern bought from 

Wabi Sabi - she finds that that the mix of colours 

in the, print means that goes with everything.

One week Chris had some interesting knitting with her,
 and the next she wearing her beautiful ombré shawl
against the bitter cold.

Chris’s husband Colin made her a yarn bowl, and 

quickly had orders from several ofher friends.

Janice talked Marilyn into knitting this wonderfully
complex looking pattern …

… but she said it is much easier once the edge is done!

Victoria is an adventurous stitcher, and is currently
learning smocking  on a dress for her baby granddaughter.
We think she has the hang of it.

Made by Fairholme quilters

With a full calendar of quilt shows returning this year, we will not run out of inspiration for our own quilt making any time soon ….

Denise has made a dolly’s quilt from her 1930’s
prints, for her little granddaughter …

… with a very bright patchwork-y backing.

There were five in the bed … made by Robin

Elaine W had started this one some time ago,
and it became a pandemic finish …

… with outline hand quilting around the appliqué shapes …

… and a beautifully complimentary backing.

Janet’s second ‘Colour Me’ quilt (designed by
Emily Herrick) is for her teacher daughter to hang
in the reading corner of  her Year 3 classroom.

 

Listen, read, view

Australia Wide Eight

The online gallery of the latest Australia Wide exhibition of art quilts from OzQuilt Network: 

https://www.ozquiltnetwork.org.au/exhibitions/australia-wide/aw8/

The history of fabric is interwoven with the story of humanity, from the sackcloth shirts that tore open the skin of pious medieval saints to cotton’s connections to colonisation and the Industrial Revolution. Rhiannon Davies spoke to Victoria Finlay to unravel these complex stories. 

Victoria Finlay is the author of Fabric: The Hidden History of the Material World (Profile Books, 2021

• https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/history-extra-podcast/id256580326

Inspired by the Middle East, created in Canberra and on display in Wagga: the art of Jenny Bowker

What he wanted to add to the exhibition was a large, hand-made quilt. A piece of art like no other and as it fitted like a glove with the exhibition’s theme, it was in. The feared conflict of interest? The quilt, Jerusalem, Old City Map, was made by his mother, acclaimed Canberra textile artist, teacher, blogger and world traveller Jenny Bowker AO …. Sally Hopman, Riotact, 27 May 2022

Over time, we realise certain friendships are rare – and very, very precious

My oldest friend sent me a gift for my birthday. It looked like a rug, folded and rolled and tied with a muted green ribbon. When I undid the ribbon and rolled out the material, I saw that it was a handmade patchwork quilt … Melissa Coburn, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 May 2022

More recent community finishes

Some of these quilts are bed sized, and are amongst those sent to the Northern Rivers.

Made by Dawn, quilted by Laura

Made by Sue C

Reverse of Sue C’s quilt

Made by Nerida

A glimpse of the pieced reverse of Nerida’s quilt,
this fabric donated by Hilary

Made by Helen

Reverse of Helen’s quilt

Flood donation

Much as we love a quilt stack photo, we’re sorry that so many people in the north of the state have sustained and continue to suffer the losses of housing, possessions and liveliehoods from the floods that led us to put this one together. While  the Northern Rivers region is generally warm, winter nights can get very cold, dropping to single figure temperatures, and some families are living in very basic conditions (think tents, houses with the lining removed to eliminate mould), so it was good to be able to offer a little comfort. Other quilt groups are doing the same.

We sent seven quilts from our community collection to Lismore last week,, in response to an appeal from a local quilt group. Australia Post delivered them within 24 hours, and they have been distributed to families in a small regional term ravaged by floods, who chose the ones they most liked. 

The June Dyson Coverlet - made by Nerida

We were lucky to have an opportunity during some recent fine weather, to get up close and personal with Nerida’s captivating version of the June Dyson Coverlet, designed by Emma de Stefano (Treehouse Textiles) in honour of her beloved grandmother. It is hand pieced and hand quilted. 

Photos by Sue Crowe and Nerida Williams 

All of Nerida’s fabrics work together beautifully, but she is
particularly fond of the gum blossom print in one of the outer
borders, bought from the Braidwood Quilt Shop

Of course the backing fabric is also lovely
and compliments the front.

What we’re working on …

Winter is good quilting weather and it’s come a little early this year - perhaps we’ll make even more quilts than usual, and no doubt a few knits as well. 

Daphne is making modern graphic foundation pieced blocks

Pat is making a Crooked Courthouse Steps quilt

Jill is making more large hexagons in warm colours
including some new Liberty prints

Val is working on a scrappy quilt …

… with an interesting border print

Dana is making great progress on her mostly Liberty
 ‘Trip Around the World’

Rae’s beautiful vibrant embroideries on black backgrounds
are  blocks for a quilt designed by Wendy Williams.

Julie has made excellent progress on her ‘Ribbon Dance’ quilt