Chris Jurd- The Featured Quilter for 2016

It's time to cheer for our Featured Quilter for the 11th Annual Springwood Community Quilt Show in 2016. 

Drum roll...

It's The One and Only Chris Jurd!!!

Chris's innovative quilts featuring foundation piecing and other clever techniques have led her on a journey to international acclaim and a reputation as a very popular teacher. The 2016 Springwood Community Quilt Show will be a great opportunity to see lots of Chris's quilts up close and meet her in person.
We asked Chris a few questions so you could get to know her a little better


Hi Chris , tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a full-time quilt maker, pattern designer and teacher living in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney. I have two adult children and have just become a grandmother for the second time.

How long have you been quilting?
I’ve been quilting since my son was a baby. I started in the early 80s before rotary
cutters came to Australia. We ruled lines and cut with scissors! Seems hard to believe doesn’t it?

What enticed you to start quilting?

As a stay-at-home mum I looked on it as a way to make some money while at home with the kids. After that I was hooked. I made the obligatory sampler quilt then branched out into other designs.

What do you love about quilting?
All the beautiful fabric available and how you can use it make something so usable. I like the whole process from cutting the fabric to quilting the quilt.

Is there any part of the process that you don't like?
Not really. Piecing is the design coming together and the quilting is what enhances all your hard work.

Do you have a favourite sewing saying or motto?
I tell my students – “Finished is better than perfect”. Don’t stress too much – it’s supposed to be fun!

What model sewing machine do you use?
I have a Bernina 150 which is quite a few years old now but it's still going well and it gets quite a workout.

Do you listen to music while you sew? What is your favourite type or cd?
I usually have the radio on in the house – Triple J is my station.

What is your favourite food? 
I have a real weakness for cake or a biscuit with my cuppa. Closely followed by a glass of wine or three every evening. Seafood/Asian would be my menu choice.

Thanks Chris, I think a few of us are partial to cake and biscuits with our cuppas.

Now with Chris Jurd as the Featured Quilter the choice of raffle quilt was an easy one - Lots of Dots with its floating compass and beauty blocks. The committee members have already been collecting dotty fabrics and have the sewing day planned. We look forward to showing progress photos. 

In the meantime you can pop over to Chris's blog Patchwork Fundamentals to see what she's been up to. And if you're inspired to sew Chris's quilts her quilt patterns are available at PatchworkFun.

Our Beautiful Show Quilt

It was great to see the Anniversary Quilt in all it's glory hanging at the Sydney Quilt Show. 

Although it didn't win a prize we had lots of wonderful compliments and lovely feedback about what a beautiful quilt it is. 

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In our next post we'll be announcing the Featured Quilter for the 2016 Show so stay tuned for that!

Record results from the 10th Annual Show!

And so the 10th Annual Springwood Community Quilt Show comes to end, the banners have been packed away and white gloves washed and folded. The big job of the accounting has been done and the committee is very  pleased to announce that a record amount of $10,000 was donated to the Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service. The RFS is a volunteer organisation that play a significant role in our community not only preventing and fighting fires but also rescue services, motor car accidents and storm damage. They are the heros of the mountains!!

But that's not all, a cheque for $1,500 was also donated to Springwood High School, some of which is used for the textiles department ensuring good equipment for the next generation of sewers and quilts. The school's motto is "Press Onward" - that sounds like a quilters motto!!

This brings the total donations over the past 5 years to nearly $30,000!! Woohoo!! 
That achievement deserves a round of applause for everyone who help contribute to make the Springwood Community Quilt Show such a success -

• the helpful and much appreciated volunteers
• the quilters who share their beautiful quilts
• the generous sponsors
• all of you who attended the show and bought raffle tickets
• the stall holders with their wonderful wares
• and last but definitely not least the tireless and dedicated Quilt Show Committee!!

For those going to the Sydney Quilt Show this week look out for our raffle quilt The 10th Anniversary Quilt.  It's even better in real life with all the colourful 30's prints, clever border and beautiful quilting! If you want to you could always choose it for your viewers choice :)