Only a few days to go!!

It's only a few days until you'll see our beautiful Lots of Dots raffle quilt welcoming you to the Springwood Community Quilt Show.

There's still lots to happen but it wiil all come together like clockwork.The frames are being delivered and set up on Wednesday and then Thursday is the BIG set up day. All the quilts are dropped off in the morning then they are hung and displayed during the afternoon. It's a huge task but it always goes smoothly thanks to all of the fabulous helpers that pitch in to get the job done. The reward is seeing the hall transformed from an empty space into a wonderland of beautiful quilts

Here's a little reminder checklist for all our quilt entrants: 

Please make arrangements to have your quilt/s at the Springwood High School Hall in Grose Rd Faulconbridge

between 10.am and 12noon Thursday 21^st April.

Please check that you have a 3” wide or wider sleeve on the back of your quilt for hanging purposes. This can be sewn on or well-pinned with safety pins along the top and bottom of the sleeve.

Also make sure there is a label on your quilt with your name, the name of the quilt and a contact phone number. This may also be sewn on or pinned.

If you have any questions or queries about any of these email us at springwoodquiltshow@hotmail.com.

Catching the train to the show

The show starts next Friday and for those coming up from Sydney and beyond you'll be planning your trips. 

Here is some helpful information for anyone who is thinking of catching the train. 

The venue, Springwood High School Grose Rd Faulconbridge is situated halfway between Springwood and Faulconbridge stations. 

While you can get off at either station I would highly recommend getting off at Springwood as it is a bigger station, it's manned by staff that can answer queries and is in the heart of Springwood with lots of colourful shops and cafes in case you need to fill in time. 

To get to the taxi rank simply walk out of the station onto Macquarie Rd (the main street of Springwood) and turn left. You'll see taxis lined up a short walk on the same side of the street as the station. There are usually taxi's waiting there otherwise you can call Springwood Taxis on Ph 4751 1444. I have checked with them and have been told it wouldn't be more than $15.00 to the Springwood High School. 

For those who would like to stretch their legs the walk from Faulconbridge is a more pleasant walk and would be approximately half an hour each way to and from the show.

 If you have any suggestions or queries about getting to the show let us know in the comments or via email springwoodquiltshow@hotmail.com

Whatever your mode of transport it's going to be a great day out!! Lots of beautiful quilts, great shopping at the traders tables and delicious meals from the cafe. 

Shopping at the Show

I'm sure for a lot of us it wouldn't be a visit to a quilt show without a bit of shopping. In fact I know some people head straight for the traders tables before looking at the quilts! I can't say I blame them especially when the shopping is as good as it is at the Springwood Quilt Show.
There will be lots of wonderful pop-up shops covering all your sewing needs and things to tempt, from beautiful fabrics of all types sundries to vintage sewing ephemera and bric brac to handmade gifts.

Here's a little more about each trader.

Anne Sommerlad Designs,
Anne is a very popular teacher and quilt designer. Visit her stall to be inspired by her beautiful quilts and get patterns to make your own versions. Sharing her stall is Petal Davies a renowned textile artist and teacher. Seeing her quilts will entice you to try new techniques to create beautiful quilts.

Cherry Pie Designs
Carol's quilt designs are as sweet as her brand name. Her table will be full of hard to resist fabrics and patterns for her beautiful quilts.

Chop Chop Sew
Susana creates fun wool felt items that will brighten up your home or make perfect gifts. Plus lots of fun sewing related craft items.

Down Patchwork Lane
Gayle and Tamara are the mother and daughter team from Penrith. They sell a wide selection of fabrics, bundles, patterns and kits.

Hatched and Patched
Annie Downes stall will be full of fabulous fabrics plus patterns, books and kits for her lovely, distinctive designs.

Post Office Patchwork
Judy will have lots for you to choose from with a table full different ranges of fabric, patterns and quilting tools.

Lilyvale Treasures with a Past
Colleen has an amazing array of vintage sewing haberdashery and other goodies - buttons, ribbons, cloth applique, sewing boxes, tablecloths, doilies - the list goes on and on. You're sure to find lots of special treasures on this stall.

Sew Can I
Karen is new this year so make her feel welcome by saying hello. She'll have all sorts of gorgeous and fun fabrics and sewing accessories.

Stitching Post
Karen always has a wonderful range of fabrics, quits and projects to inspire you and everything you need for embroidery.

Unique Treasures
You'll find treasures galore on this table, lots of bric brac, vintage and rare de-stash fabrics, retro kitchen ware and all sorts of unique lovelies.

So bring a shopping bag or two and fill them with wonderful souvenirs of a fun day out at the Springwood Community Quilt Show.

Oh Sew Sweet

Oh my Goodness!!! Just look at these gorgeous pin cushions! They are truly "Oh Sew Sweet"!!

They look like a field of flowers.

or delicious cupcakes

but they are actually a handy Sewing Companion with everything you need for your hand sewing - a pretty pincushion, a thread catcher on a sturdy wooden base that holds one or two reels of thread. 

The creation of the wonderful sewing companions is a joint family effort with Anne Harris Loren and Lynn using fabrics from decades past. Each pincushion is topped with a vintage button.  Mr Harris has made the wooden bases from recycled timber and Annes daughter Loren has done all the printing on the cards and bags in a vintage style that finishes them off perfectly.

Won't it be fun to choose you're favourite from all the different fun fabric combinations. They would great gifts for sewing friends, or pair them with some hexagon papers to entice new people to sewing. 

You'll be able to find these truly special Oh Sew Sweet Sewing Companions at the Springwood Community Quilt Show.  All the proceeds from the sale of these pincushions will be going to Father Chris O'Riley's "Youth off the Streets".

These are just one of the wonderful items you'll find for sale at the show. The next post will have a list of all the other traders that will be there for all your shopping needs, after all it's always nice to get a few souvenirs from a fun day out. 

The Raffle Quilt is hanging at Down Patchwork Lane

Time is flying by and it's now less than 2 weeks until the show!! The last, but not least, stop on the raffle quilt tour is Down Patchwork Lane at shop 4/564 High St Penrith.

Gayle and Tamara are a mother and daughter team who have just celebrated their 11th Anniversary of opening Down Patchwork Lane. In those years they have built up a strong reputation for their excellent selection of fabrics, friendly service and great range of classes held everyday. 

Their shop motto is "We'll Have you in Stitches" - what a fun saying!

Just an example of the fabrics they sell are Civil War, Thimbleberries, 30's reproduction, novelty, bright modern fabrics, the ever popular Tula Pink, Hand dyes, legendary basics and cosy flannel. 

They also stock all your other sewing needs, sundries, patterns, kits, wadding etc. Just ask and they'll have you set up to sew beautiful quilts in no time.

So get on down to Down Patchwork Lane at Shop 4/564 Hight St, Penrith NSW.

Ph. (02) 4732 3469

Visit the blog: http://www.downpatchworklane.com/

Email: info@downpatchworklane.com

or follow them on Facebook:  Down Patchwork Lane

You'll also be able to say hello to Gayle and Tamara at the Springwood Community Quilt Show where they'll have a stall full of their wonderful fabrics. 

Quilters Companion

Have you seen the latest edition of Quilters Companion?

On page 116 there is a wonderful article about the Springwood Community Quilt Show, this year's featured quilter, Chris Jurd and the 2016 Raffle quilt, Lots of Dots.

A huge thank you to Quilters Companion, we really appreciate the support and recognition for the show.

This is a jam packed edition with  interesting interviews,

 lots of beautiful quilt patterns,

 photos from quilt shows

and more!!

So keep an eye out for a copy of the Quilters Companion, it's the one with the very pretty applique on the front cover, 

Fairholme Quilts 2016 Quilt Show is this weekend!

As the weather cools and autumn colour starts creeping into our gardens it just seems right to go to quilt shows. Can you believe the Springwood Community Quilt Show is less than 3 weeks away!
You don't have to wait that long to see quilts though because this coming weekend , 8-10th April, is the Fairholme Quilters Show.  There will be more than 100 beautiful quilts on display plus lots of pop up shops so you stock up on sewing supplies. Plan to make a day of it and enjoy a bite at the cafe.

The show will be held at the Thornleigh Community Centre, Phyllis Ave, Thornleigh.

The hours are 1-5pm Friday and 10-4pm Saturday and Sunday.

To keep up with the Fairholme Quilters latest news you can follow them on facebook, instagram or their blog

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Fairholme-Quilters-406036636269242

Intagram : https://www.instagram.com/fairholmequilters/

Blog: http://fairholmequilters.blogspot.com.au/