Fairholme Quilt Show 2026 - raffle quilt

Our 2026 raffle quilt is ‘Bespoked’, a nine block version of the quilt designed by Annette Ferguson, who has generously given permission for us to use her pattern. The scrappy strips were made by several members, providing a wide variety of colours and tones. The background fabric is a Victoria Findlay Wolfe low volume print. The large blocks create an appealing contrast between the low volume background fabric, and movement in the repeating directional changes of the ‘spokes’. 

Our thanks to Carol who coordinated the production, everyone who contributed and Laura who has custom quilted it. The finished quilt measures 68 inches (172 cm) square.

The second raffle prize is a modern quilted tote bag made and donated by Jeni.

 

Raffle tickets will be available from late February from Fairholme members, and will be readily available at the Quilt Show on 16 and 17 May 2026. The raffle will be drawn at the close of the show on Sunday 17 May.

New community quilt finishes

Our community quilt stash is building up for 2026 - benefiting from our summer break, when many of us retreated from the heat, staying indoors, catching up on sewing in cool spaces.

Elaine G grew a garden of appliqued flower pots
and floral patchwork.

Jenny made two quilts from the whimsical giraffe print.

Jill gathered the left over strips and discarded pieces
from an earlier improv quilt into log cabin-ish blocks.

More summer sewing

Amanda’s daughter asked for ‘frogs and
books’ to be incorporated into her quilt …

… so each colored block has either a frog print or a book print.

Susan K made ‘Not all oceans are blue’ for a young relative.
 The pattern is from ‘The big book of scrappy quilts’ where
it's called 'Open Season'. She said ‘I liked making it and I love 
the wave pantograph expertly applied by @quiltingfinesse 
who always does such a good job. 
And apparently its new owner loves it too!

Jenny found this cheerful quilt top unfinished in her cupboard.
 After trimming to a usable size for a community quilt,
it was quilted by Laura …

… and a micro stripe binding was added
from the community stash.

Other hand made beauties

 It looks like a carrot, but it’s also a whimsical needle book, beautifully cross-stitched by Janice, using Stacy Nash’s ‘Velvet Carrot’ design:

Hilary recently took miniature basket making classes, one with weaver Kirrily Jordan at her Galston studio, the other at the Australian Design Centre:

‘Enchanted Garden’ block challenge: the finished quilts

We undertook this block challenge, devised and managed by Roslyn during 2019 in preparation for our planned 2020 Quilt Show. Of course that show was cancelled, and we held our next show in 2024, when the blocks were exhibited. 

Then Roslyn and Val undertook to make three quilts from the entries during 2025. The two lager nine block quilts were machine quilted in the ditch and sashings by Susan Mack and Elaine W, and the blocks were hand quilted by Susan Mack (who won the challenge), Jeni, Jill and Miriam. The slightly smaller 7 block quilt was machine quilted by Laura.

The three finished quilt will be exhibited st out next quilt show in May this year, as well as a new challenge, devised by Jeni.

 

Summer sewing

We started off our quilting year this week with a good round of sharing community quilts finished over the summer break. Photographed indoors because it was pelting with rain, after a four day heat wave!

Elaine cut diamonds from mostly French General fabrics.
It was easier than she expected to sew the many bias
cut seams, and she is contemplating doing it again!

Sue C used @sewmiriam’s Superstar design to make big
blocks using a generous fabric donation to the community stash.

The background fabric is a very useful small scale star print.

Quilted by Laura.

Julie makes many hexagons, and they are not all used up yet.

Quilted by Laura.

Susan K made these blocks using her Quilt Builder Card Deck, that helps with multiple sizes and placement of different tones.


Quilted by Jane @quiltingfinesse.

February events

Gallery 76

76 Queen Street, Concord West 2138

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

Closed public holidays

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

‘Echoes and Silences’ is an exhibition of work
by members of Untethered Fibre Artists
Gallery hours Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 4 pm
(02) 67725255

Fabric and Yarn Destash Market
Sydney Portugal Community Club
100 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville 2204

Sydneydestashmarket@gmail.com
Instagram: @sydneydestashmarket

Timeless Textiles Gallery
90 Hunter Street Newcastle 2300

Happy New Quilting Year!

Here’s to making quilts that comfort, warm and 

make their people happy in 2026.

Quilt made by Val Nadin 

📷 Sue Crowe