With great delight we can tell everyone we raised $9300 from the Springwood Community Quilt Show. The money will be split between the local Rural Fire Service, the Springwood High School Hospitality students and the P & C.
Congratulations to all the committee and volunteers who helped make this year's show such a success.
We have already started planning next year's show and after a well-earned rest will begin work on the raffle quilt, having it ready for early January 2012.
We were lucky enough to have a write up in the latest edition of Country Threads - Stitchery Special with a lovely profile of the group/committee who are involved in the show. Check it out if you can.

The blog will be in limbo for a while until we have some new info re next year's show. So get sewing on your entries for 2012!
Thanks for all your interest and we'll see you again soon.
Regards - The Show Committee

RAFFLE WINNER DRAW

Isobel Lancashire draws the winning ticket for the 2011 raffle quilt.

'Mountain Magic' has been won by Hazelbrook resident Kathy Kitchner.

2nd prize of a Bernina Machine has gone to Judy Pulham of Mona Vale. Kindly donated by The Stitching Post of Katoomba.

The Lucky Door prize winner is Anne Gordon from Penrith. Anne receives an antique sewing machine drawer full of vintage sewing notions, beautifully presented by Alexandra Callow.

Congratulations ladies, we hope you enjoy your prizes.

Thankyou everyone who purchased tickets and visited the Springwood Community Quilt Show, your support has enabled funds to be dispursed to the Rural Fire Service, the High School Textile and Hospitality department along with the P & C for future spending within the school.

Stitching will begin on the 2012 raffle quilt soon. Ideas are already being floated by committee members. Check our blog later in the year for an update.

AND THE WINNERS ARE.........

Viewers choice with the most number of votes was "Dear Jane"

pieced by Julie Clarke

It was a very close count for 2nd and 3rd place, "Lots of Dots"

made by Chris Jurd came in 2nd

with "Just for Me" made by Wendy Spring close behind for 3rd place.

Well done ladies!!
The Springwood Community Quilt Show is not a judged show, visitors are given a viewers choice slip so they can nominate the quilt that stands out for them. These are placed in a box and counted daily. These slips are pinned to the corresponding quilts so the owner of the quilt gets to read any comments after they collect their quilt at the end of the show.

Congratulations to all the entrants in this year's show. The event would not happen if we did not have your beautiful work to display. If you are a local quilter please consider entering the show next year - last weekend in April and you can be part of this exciting event.

The committee would like to thank all our hardworking volunteers who gave their time over the three days of the show. Building the stands for the quilts, hanging the quilts (150 of them),

manning the entry desk, selling raffle tickets and helping in the canteen to name just a few jobs they performed. I almost forgot the pulling down of the quilts and stands. There were so many helpers it was done in record time - thanks again!

So many wonderful and inspirational quilts again this year. I know I am already thinking what I can do for the 2012 show, aren't you?

Raffle results soon.

FABULOUS SATURDAY

Down Patchwork Lane from Penrith has a wonderful selection of modern fabrics for sale. Their display of fresh looking quilts look great hanging behind their stall. Mother and daughter team, Gail and Tamara work very well together and their enthusiasm for patchwork is evident.

Pictured are four very happy and obliging Year 11 Hospitality students. Being able to work in the Show Cafe is a wonderful opportunity and experience for the girls. The best devonshire teas in Springwood! Congratulations girls.

This group of visitors were shopping till they dropped. Home Patch from Bathurst always has interesting items for sale. Hope the stock lasts tomorrow.

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Saturday started with a drizzle of rain that soon turned to a down pour. Even bad weather won't keep a quilter from a show. Visitors were lined up before 9.00am to make a day of it, and those who attended certainly had no complaints. The show cafe is located in the foyer and the aroma of fresh coffee seemd to draw the early ones to indulge before viewing the quilts.

As the day wore on the sun came out and the crowd grew. The committee of the Springwood Community Quilt Show couldn't have been happier with todays result. The pictorial raffle quilt had to be seen in the flesh for some people to believe what Faulconbridge quilt artist, Petal Davies had done. Petal has a stall at the show and is always ready for a chat and happy to explain her techniques. Drop by and say hello.

The viewers choice of their favourite quilt on Friday turned out to be the same on Saturday. I won't spoil any surprises with a photo just yet. You will have to wait till Sunday around 3.00pm when the winner is announced. When marking your 'viewers choice award' nomination form, take time to write a comment. These slips are counted at the end of each day and all forms are given to the owners of the quilts, whether it is one nomination or one hundred. It makes interesting reading for the maker of the quilt what others think and why they voted for their quilt.

Tomorrow is the last day for the 2011 Quilt Show. Being Sunday we open at 10.00am till 4.00pm. With morning and afternoon teas, lunch and the announcement of the viewers choice awards together with the raffle quilt draw, it is a day not to be missed.

OPENING DAY

Susie Anderson, tireless committee member, welcomes Maree Gerbhardt, President of the NSW Quilters Guild. Maree said she wouldn't miss the Springwood show. The quantity and quality of the quilts is always inspiring. Well done to all the entrants.

One of the guest quilters this year is Karen Cunningham. This is a wonderful opportunity to chat in a friendly environment with her about her classes and workshops. Karen is happy to discuss any aspects of patchwork and quilting with you. Karen has brought with her a small selection of her favourite fabrics for sale.

Karen, from the Stitching Post in Katoomba has a stall full of wonderful fabrics and notions. Some are only available for the Springwood Show. Karen has brought along a couple of Bernina sewing machines which she will happily demonstrate. This is a good opportunity to ask any questions and have a go with the Bernina sewing machines.

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Thursday was a long day for all the committee members and the great volunteers. But we are not complaining!! 150 quilts were received between 10.00am & 12.00noon. By 6.00pm we were satisfied all quilts were hung to showcase them in the best way.

Today, Friday was the first day of the 2011 show. The weather has been kind to us, and the crowds today were very happy with what they saw. Stall holders were kept very busy, and over the weekend all the great stock should be purchased as must haves!

Today we were very fortunate to have the top hospitality students work their magic in the kitchen. The devonshire teas were the best. The choice of chicken or pumpkin soup along with the mixed sandwiches was more then enough to keep us satisfied.

Saturday hours are 9.00am - 5.00pm and Sunday 10.00am - 4.00pm. Grab a friend and come and spend a wonderful day at the Springwood Community Quilt Show.

FABULOUS STORES - FABULOUS FINDS

The Springwood Community Quilt Show is very fortunate to have a vast array of local traders who set aside the last weekend in April to set up their businesses around the Quilt Show. The following are the shows permanent traders along with Bygone Beautys display. In no particular order we have:

Alexandra Callow - specialising in home made goodies and craft with emphasis on vintage sewing. From Mt Victoria. Pictured above

Unique Treasures - Original patterns and kits. Fabric scrap bags, quilts and variety of bric brac. Chris Jurd t/a Patchwork Fundamentals - Blaxland. Pictured below. Anne Sommerlad Designs and Patching with Petal. Pictured below is Anne with her patterns and quilts while Petal specialises in textiles, her own patterns and fabrics.

Home Patch - Annie Downes from Bathurst.Fabric, patterns, kits, woven wool and special show gift ware. Always popular, see below. The Stitching Post- Bernina Dealer. Embroidery patterns and threads.Karen Kirk from Katoomba.

Fortunes & Fairies - Lots of bargain priced fabrics, wool felts and kits.Leanne Masters from Richmond.

Sew 'n Save - Brings all her haberdashery, clover products and Amy Butler fabrics. Sharon Slowery from Springwood.

Down Patchwork Lane - Hand dyed fabrics, unique patterns and quilting supplies.Tamara & Gail St Remy from Penrith.

Lily Vale Treasurers with a Past - Vintage linen & lace. Buttons, china, sewing related goodies. Colleen Balkema from West Hoxton.

Bygone Beautys - Display of tea pots and fine china. His theme this year is 'unique and quirky'. Maurice Cooper from Leura.

All these businesses continue to support the Springwood Community Quilt Show each year with their own specialities, along with a fantastic diverse range of patchwork and quilting goodies. There is always something for everyone. Each store owner has plenty of stock on hand throughout the event, so if you can't call in until Sunday - there will still be plenty to choose from.

When visiting the SCQS, we know you will be inspired not only by the number and variety of quilts on exhibit but the fabulous traders stalls.

Please allow time to visit and support the stalls. Call in and say hello to the owners who love to meet both new and returned customers.

Unfortunately, during 2010 three Blue Mountains patchwork stores have closed. The Patchwork Shop in Blaxland, Vintage Patch from Springwood and Ribbons & Rainbows at Blackheath. The committee of SCQS thanks all the owners from these businesses for their support leading up to and during the show over the years.

GLENBROOK BRIDGE BANNER

The Fletcher Street bridge crosses over the Great Western Highway between Glenbrook and Blaxland. This is one of the first R.T.A bridges that we were able to gain permission to hang one of many banners advertising the Community Quilt Show in Springwood. Looking at it now, you wouldn't think it is 5 metres long! (The banner that is).

Many cable ties later, committee member Vicki along with helpful nephew James let go of the banner while invaluable husband Graham, ties the final knots .

If you enlarge this photo, try and find the visitor. (A hint, look at the largest word on the banner).

Holding on tight - we'd hate to lose it now!

Many thanks to one of our new committee members, Tania, who has been responsible for the design and ordering process of our great banners. The R.T.A have very strict rules for banners before being approved. They have allotted us a two week block in certain locations. We will see how it all goes this year, and with any feed back you give us - we may be able to obtain different locations next year. So when driving around the Mountains over the next few weeks, if you see a banner advertising the Springwood Community Quilt Show, a big thank you goes to Tania.