DARLING HARBOUR QUILT SHOW

The best view is from the Gallery, so make sure you climb those stairs.

I spent all day Wednesday at the Show, and had a really great time.  The quilts in the Show this year are terrific.  There is a great variety of styles and the overall quality is wonderful.  Thanks to the NSW Guild for organising what is Australia's biggest quilt show.  Also thank you to everyone who exhibited, the Show is only as good as the quilter's who enter their quilts.

I awarded the Quiltsmith "Best Reproduction Quilt Inspired by an Antique Quilt"  Award to Sarah Fielke for her "Wing and a Prayer Quilt", shown above.  Sarah has taken a common mid 1800's Pennsylvania pattern, the Appliqued Eagle, and transformed it into this bright and vibrant quilt.  She referenced quite a number of antique Appliqued Eagle quilts as the source of her inspiration for the quilt, and drafted both the eagles and the quilt layout herself.  This is the perfect example of what the Award is about, looking into the past and recreating the past in a new and inspiring way. 

Here I am with Sarah in front of her quilt after the award ceremony. (Not the greatest photo of all times!)

The quilt is technically very good.  Here are two close ups so you can see the quilt, the big stitch hand quilting is perfect.

I would like to thank all the entrants into the Award, there were some beautiful quilts entered.

Also our Marj won Second Prize with her "Bullseye Quilt" in the Commercially Machine Quilted Category.  It's a beauty.

Well done Kim Bradley of Kimpossible Quilting for her custom quilting.

Marj pinning on her rosette.

So to everyone out there, I strongly recommend a visit to this year's Show.

Melinda

A Peek at the Trade Show

Well its show time at Darling Harbour this week and the buzz has started.  We are very excited as staffer Marj, has had the phone call to say she's won a prize.  We don't know what until tomorrow when the prizes are awarded.  We assume it is for her Bull Eye quilt.  I don't have a photo of it but will post it with our next blog.  So everyone going to Darling Harbour keep a lookout for it, it is a stunner.

The "Winter" Trade Show happens at Rosehill Racecourse the weekend before Darling Harbour.  I took a few pics so you can have a glimpse at the Aussie Patchwork industry at work.

Our exciting news is that I have decided to add Auriful to our thread selection in the shop.  We will be carrying the Cotton Mako 50, this is a perfect thread for all types of applique.  The stand should be with us mid to late July.

Here is Jenny from Always Quilting our Auriful wholesaler.

Hitomi and Terry from QH Textiles, they bring us Quilt Gate, Itaya Naomi and the some of our beautiful Japanese Indigo fabrics.

Here is part of team Leutenegger, Clint our rep had disappeared when I was taking photos.  Luets bring us Windham Fabrics, Blue Hill Fabrics, Robert Kaufman, Andover Fabrics, Henry Glass, Red Rooster and all our DMC threads.

Here is Shane, at the Charles Parsons stand.  This is where Alexander Henry, Lecin,  Art Gallery, South Seas and more come from. 

I could have taken more photos but I thought this gives you a taste.  Thanks to all our wholesalers who feed my fabric addiction so I can feed yours.

Don't forget the 25% off fabric SALE continues in store and on-line until the end of the month.

  WE ARE OPEN THIS SUNDAY, 26 JUNE, 10 - 3 JUST FOR THE SHOW.

I'm off to judge the "Best Reproduction Quilt" prize that Quiltsmith sponsors this afternoon.  Hope to see you at the prize giving on Wednesday.

Here are some more Civil War blocks.

Marj over achieving again.

Janet's latest.

Melinda

Elizabeth Jefferson & More Antique Quilts

We have had Anne Sommerlad and her Tuesday Elizabeth Jefferson class today.  Can you believe that a 10 year old girl made this quilt in 1811?  What a unique talent she must have been, I wonder what else she made after this one, it would be difficult to top this beautiful quilt.  Here is Anne's quilt so far.

One more border to go with 49 little applique blocks.

Here is Margy's centre which is looking beautiful.

This is Sue who was not strictly working on her centre, but was trimming stray threads from one of her custom quilting efforts! It looks pretty good. I'm sure Elizabeth will be out next month.



And the rest of the crew, Yen-Nie, Anne, Diane and Moira, all hard at work.

As promised some more beautiful antique quilts from our recent Airing.

A precious little redwork cot quilt.

Look at the cheddar in this beautifully made and quilted tree block quilt.

A more recent find, but just as beautiful.  Six lone stars in blue and white.

Look at the still vibrant colours in this divine Trip Around the World quilt.

And lastly for today, a very pretty 1930s solids applique quilt top. 

As the rain keeps falling and falling and falling, just remember it is GREAT quilting weather.  Stay dry.

L



DARLING HARBOUR SHOW SALE

Once again we have decided not to attend Darling Harbour this year.  We feel that the shop is much better showcased in the shop itself, rather than at Darling Harbour because we just cannot bring the shop there.  Given the success of the sale last year, we think you agree.

 

The only downside is we will miss seeing our regular out-of–town customers.  We know that our local customers prefer to buy in the shop rather than at Darling Harbour.  But we are the closest quilt shop to Darling Harbour.  A 15 minute bus ride or 10 minute taxi ride away.  To make sure that you include a visit to Quiltsmith, as part of your Darling Harbour experience, we will be having a 25% off fabric sale (min purchase 30cm) including all Fat Quarters. 

The sale will start on Tuesday 14 June and finish Thursday 30 June. 

(online sale will start Sunday 12 June)

WE WILL OPEN THE SHOP ON SUNDAY THE 26^TH JUNE, (the show Sunday).  BETWEEN 10 AM AND 3PM.

So we look forward to seeing you in the shop at 75 Nelson Street, Annandale.

Here is a quick catch-up with what some of the staff have been whipping up.

Pam's beautiful and elegant Leven 's Hall quilt is coming along nicely.

Marj has been playing around with her 1930's stash. 

Here are Janet's latest Civil War blocks (she's streets ahead of me).

I'm staring up a new quilt using the Grandmother's Star template set (available at Quiltsmith).  Here is the first block, let's see how I go with it.

Here are my latest Civil War blocks off the production line.



See you all here for our Show Sale.  I will be at Darling Harbour on Wednesday to award Quiltsmith's "Best Reproduction Quilt Award".  So make sure you check it out at the Show.

Melinda