The inaugural Quilts For Orphans Festival of Quilts concluded Sunday 18th November.
The extra hands to pack up were welcome and clever negotiation meant that the bulk supply of product
for the Draught Horse Festival was stored at Mont De Lancey ready for the weekend of 24th and 25th
November. The Festival itself took many months of planning and on 8th November the set up commenced.
Challenge Quilts adorned the walls and centre panels,whilst the side benches were stacked with
Quilts of all sizes. An explosion of colour and pattern.
Karina Noblett, chairman of C W A Yarra Valley Group opened the event. As a newcomer to Australia
some years ago, she found the network of women in CWAwelcoming and appreciated the friendship
and community involvement as a member.
She commended our group on providing similar social network opportunities, the quality and variety of
our display and the focus of our work providing hope and comfort to those in need. Many hands have
touched these quilts in the making process but one pair of hands has touched them all. We took the
opportunity to thank Yvonne, who is our sole quilter. Thank you Yvonne. We couldn’t do it
without you.
Lunch in Monty’s followed with plenty of lively chatter amongst the group. Guests to the exhibition
were invited to vote for their favorite quilt from the Challenge display the winner of viewers choice
will receive a voucher to spend at Ozquilts.
We enjoyed Devonshire tea in Monty’s and later in the Heritage room Janet O’Dell spoke about
her collection of vintage quiltsdisplaying a random collection from the 60’s and 70’s. We were
delighted to haveladies from Lorne visit with us. They have gifted us quilts in the past and we look
forward to continued association with them. The afternoon ran smoothly,and Janet presented a slide
show of Australian quilts from settlement to recent times, pointing out material and pattern changes .
The show and tell session drew 'oohs and ahhs' as we admired tiny piecing, intricate patterns and
poignant personal stories of the quilts. Afternoon tea in Monty’s concluded the afternoon.
The exhibition continued daily under the supervision of our dedicated helpers, the craft table doing
a brisk sale and our 'for sale' quilts also were snapped up.
The machinery shed meeting room was the venue for Makers Marathon on Friday. Our thanks to Lewis
and the boys. We welcomed 3 new faces and a total of 9 ladies hit the machines and stitched for the
day, stopping briefly for lunch. Preparation by Christine and Jenny, with buckets of colour coded strips
prepared and a design plan, meant that with a coordinated effort a quilt top took shape during the
morning and a second design attempted in the afternoon. Everyone had fun and we all agreed that it
was a productive process, that would be worth repeating through the year.
We concluded on Sunday with a Thanksgiving Service in the Chapel with the pews bedecked in Quilts.
For each one unique person, part of our group, the local andinterstate individuals and groups who know
and support our work,for the worldwide community we serve ... we give thanks. As we journey through
life’s ups and downs , dealing with issues around health, relationships, work, we seek His presence ,
guidance and comfort, and working alongside others, an understanding and compassion for their story
too. We confess our shortcomings in dealing with the bumpy prickly bits in ourselves and others and
submit to His guidance and correction to restore us. We anticipate new opportunity to serve Him in
serving others, and to be a pleasant fragrance in the community.
My sincere thanks to the Exhibition Committee and those who went the extra mile to launch the
Festival. For the daily helpers, the quilt makers, the event coordinators, Lewis and the machinery boys
for sharing their space, the Mont De Lancey team for exhibition space and front desk support for
sales, Sheryl and Jono in Monty’s tea room, the groups who made special excursions to visit us, I thank
you all.
Annette.
Many thanks to Peter Stokes for his amazing collage of pictures ... showcasing our Festival. Very much
appreciated :)
Susan
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