JUNE/ JULY NEWSLETTER, 2021
17 weeks to go!
Hello all!
Try as I might not to be so verbose, this is yet another loooong letter…. because I am so excited by the calibre of the markets that will be at this year’s event, presenting a veritable treasure trove: a feast of wonderful handmade artisan wares; a delightful collection of all sorts of fabrics and accessories; a crafters’ haven of materials, unusual and quirky embellishments – look through the pictures below, and start making your list!
But first: this year’s quilt entry forms are now updated and ready!
Quilt Entry Forms Available Now
This year’s Quilt & Craft Spectacular Quilt Entry Forms are available now, and attached below. They can also be downloaded from the website www.quiltandcraft.org/how-to-enter/We are still confirming drop-off/ pick-up locations for Brisbane and Gold Coast quilters, will let you know ASAP!
Click here to download QUILT ENTRY FORMS 2021
A short but important story….
The other day, I received an email from one of our patrons. With her permission, I quote her story:
“I came from Brisbane to the last one (Gympie Rotary Quilt & Craft Spectacular 2018) and there is a story to go with it. My mother accompanied me on that day. Breastscreen Qld was there. As a consequence, my mother, who at the time was 83, decided to have a mammogram and one month later, a mastectomy. So we are forever thankful for the Gympie Quilt Spectacular as the cancer would not have been found so early. I will be there this year along with many of my Brisbane quilting friends. We have been to Melbourne and Sydney and your Quilt show is every bit as spectacular.”
Please, please take the time to talk to the Breastscreen girls at the event.
The Markets
All of the traders listed below will be at the Quilt & Craft Spectacular 2021! While some of the products shown below may not be exactly the same, this is an indication of what will be on offer:
Gympie Patchwork Factory – with a remarkable range of quality 100% cotton fabrics, as well as batting and every sewing necessity you could possibly need, this is one of the largest stockists of patchwork fabrics, quilting and sewing supplies in the Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast Region. Shop: 2 Ray St, Gympie Qld 4570, W: www.gympie-patchwork.business.site P: 0408 441 922
Patchwork on Pallas – With the largest range of machine embroidery products, sewing machines, hand embroidery & books and a wonderland of treasures ranging from sewing and quilting machines to fabrics, patterns, books, kits, buttons and bows, Patchwork on Pallas is a place to which you can escape, be inspired and motivated to be creative. Loads of show specials on everything from machines to fabrics and patterns to be had, along with their top best selling accessories and tools! See MACHINES below for more details on Patchwork on Pallas, Shop: 204 Pallas St, Maryborough Qld 4650, W: www.patchworkonpallas.com P: (07) 4121 2480
Patchwork Angel – A large range of current fabrics and patterns as well as beautiful yarns for crochet and knitting. Kits, patterns for clothing, bags, softies & more. Shop: 343 Mons Rod Forest Glen QLD 4556. W: www.patchworkangel.com.au P: (07) 5477 0700
Fabric Patch – the home of jelly roll heaven! – and a huge range of the latest fabrics and pre-cuts, designer patterns and craft supplies, the newest innovations and advice on how to use them. We stock a wide range of Moda pre-cut fabrics including Jelly Rolls, Layer cakes, Charm Squares, Fat Quarter Bundles, Sweet Rolls and Free Patterns. Shop: 223 Lake Cooroibah Rd, Cooroibah QLD, W: www.fabricpatch.com.au P: (07) 5442 4613
Van Cootens Howard Drapery – widely known for its extensive range of patchwork material and accessories, large range of haberdashery and more, pre-cuts, panels – be amazed! Shop: 71 Steley St, Howard Qld 4659 W: www.vancootensdrapery.com P: (07) 4129 4785
Sew Patch’n’Quilt – experts in Tuffet making, with kits and everything you need to make your own Tuffet! We have a wide range of patchwork supplies and sewing machine accessories. . Contact Terri via FB Sew Patch n Quilt, shop at www.sewpatchnquilt.com.au or call 0402711800.
House of Shabori – not only providing a Longarm Machine Quilting Service, Lianne also is crazy about quilting with colour, using as much as possible in her work. Texture is another favourite – a lot of embellishing creates the special look and feel that make her work so amazing. W: liannecooke.blogspot.com E: bbpiecemakers@gmail.com P: 0421 18 7712
Patchwork Paradise Studios – Stockists of Sue Daley Designs, Judy Niemeyer, Quiltworx Foundation Paper Piecing and many more – check out the great patterns and kits available! FB: PatchworkParadiseStudio, or contact by email info@patchworkparadise.com.au P: 0427 696 472
Patchwork on Pallas – Offering a wonderland of treasures ranging from fabrics, patterns, books, kits, buttons and bows, Patchwork on Pallas will also be demonstrating machine sewing, embroidery and quilting, with Cath Quinlan from Pfaff /HUsqvarna and Handi quilter on-site to answer questions and do demos. Leanne will be doing Accuquilt demonstrations. Shop: 204 Pallas St, Maryborough Qld 4650, W: www.patchworkonpallas.com P: (07) 4121 2480
Knot Just Knitting – TBC – beautiful yarns of all descriptions – thick, thin, textured, hairy, fluffy, glittery or fringed, Knot Just Knitting offers unusual and hard-to-find yarns that don’t normally get into Australian stores. Visit www.knotjustknitting.com – the home of Prudence Mapstone’s freeform fibre art.
Close to My Heart – offers a wide range of products for every papercrafting project, with papers, inks, embellishments, and project kits in coordinating colors and designs for cardmaking, scrapbooking, papercraft & papercrafting products – meet hosts Debbie Davis and Diane Noffke at the “Close to my Heart” stall!
Kaalund Yarns – a boutique mini fibre mill, specialising in truly beautiful and unique yarns, with a range of products incorporating either milled or hand finishing techniques to add layers of colours and textures. Our products are unique in nature, designed and produced in house by us for you to create. www.kaalundyarns.com.au
Olive Avenue – these ultra-creative girls break the mold, “no rules” is the rule with a riotous mixing of batik, English Paper Piecing, boro; slow stitching; chiku-chiku and Kogin stitching – using a glorious playpen of coloured threads, beads, pom poms, ribbons, sparkles, textures, fibres and quirky fun things – lots of demos, mini workshops and original kits to make your own montage fabrics and embellishments – the sky’s the limit! www.oliveavenue.com.au
World of Lace – manufacturers and suppliers of an expansive range of ribbons and laces, smocking lace and patterns along with upholstery fabrics; pioneers the concept of knitting with lace which will be demonstrated throughout the event. E: joyceneedham@icloud.com
Daisy Chain Scrapbooks – offer Fabscraps, Graphic45, Couture, Kaisercrast, Cocoavanilla and Creations, kits, adhesives, stickers, stamps… heaps for the scrapbooking enthusiast! www.daisychainscrapbooks.com
Colourstreams – A truly beautiful and unique range of hand-dyed silk and embroidery threads and silk ribbons, specialty threads and fabrics that provide a diversity of materials for collage work, hand stitching, crazy quilting, mixed media work, ribbon embroidery, and felting. www.colourstreams.com.au
String Harvest – Whether you’re interested in weaving, basketry, knitting and crochet, or work in any medium of fibre art, String Harvest provides premium materials, including fair trade and ethically sourced raffia, jute and hemp alongside rare, obsolete designer Italian yarns and luxury Japanese fibres – a collection of the rare and hard to find, limited edition novelty yarns, a discerning selection of local and internationally sourced staple supplies. www.stringharvest.com.au
Blockopedia – Unique hand block printing and the revival of traditional textile skills… the girls at Blockopedia experiment with different types of textiles to block print, with an ethos to use as many recycled textiles possible. Vintage grain sacks, linens, and rustic textiles – wooden printing blocks, block printed cotton fabric, new and vintage linens, block printed cushions and more.
Foxy Felting– expertly spun range of wools and yarns, straight from the sheep and alpaca, handcrafted into art pieces that have been spun, dyed, felted, woven, knitted and/or crocheted. Meet the maker, watch as she spins her magic at the event.
Robyn’s Needlecraft – Robyn designs hand-embroidery patterns, and produces quilts as well as a variety of small stitchery projects as patterns and in a kit form. A regular attendee of quilt and craft shows around Australia, including the major Craft & Quilt Fairs in capital cities, her exclusive work is always highly praised by her many customers.
Queensland Combined Machine Knitters Association – electric and hand machine knitting is alive and well! Amazing things can be created – check it out at the event!
Diane’s Needlework – offering beautiful handmade and embellished candle wicking creations, an age-old form of embroidery, featuring traditional cream on cream, and exquisite lavender work!
Donna Marie’s Bears – handmade, handstitched, hand stuffed – glorious Donna Marie bears and fae dolls of all shapes and sizes! www.facebook.com/donnamariesbearsandcrafts/
Oska & Willow – Luxurious artisan soaps and other bath and body products. It’s in the carefully plant-based oils and luscious butters that are skilfully combined, along with a signature style of design to produce not only beautiful looking products but a range that is truly luxurious and beneficial to the skin.
Just Molly – exquisitely handcrafted, French-inspired Rag Dolls, fabrics & trims, old linen & lace, tote bags from vintage fabrics. Also, a collection of assorted fabrics & sewing paraphernalia.
Dawn Johnston Handcrafts – a range of beautiful traditional handmade goods, perfect for Christmas! Visit me!
Busy Crafters – quality handmade quilts, gifts, pin cushions and toys – Sue is the master of the handcrafted.
Urban Earth Pottery – unique handbuilt pottery pieces reminiscent of ancient times but functional for today’s lifestyle – serving dishes, platters, bowls and delightful decor
RR Creations – using a natural eco-dyeing method, felt textile and mixed media artist Rhonda Rettke produces the most stunning silk scarves and notebooks with local flowers, leaves and plants
Creative-Lee Creations – Specialises in handmade ergonomic and wand crochet hooks. All made out of Australian and overseas exotic timbers. Because they aren’t mass produced, each one is unique. Comfortable to use and and great for people with arthritis or hand problems. Custom orders are also welcome – I make to please.
Ancient Crafts, Rare Trades Expo Markets – many of the makers at Gympie Rotary’s Ancient Crafts, Rare Trades Expo, which runs alongside the Quilt & Craft Spectacular, will be offering their handmade wares. The range will include: lots of wood – toys, hand-carved, pens, bowls, “comfort birds” and more: a range of whittled animals; beautifully crafted tactile spoons; mixed fibre woven baskets; all manner of tin utensils, from our tinsmith; raku, sagger and smoke-fired ceramic pots; a range of crafted silver and gem wares; individually hand-forged glass beads, some with silver and powder inclusions; leather mugs, jacks and water bottles….
Young Living Essential Oils – from the very best seeds, hand-picked to ensure quality, Young Living’s Essential Oils deliver nature’s most potent and purest essential oils – home and personal care products, infused with pleasant, spicy aromas, offer a powerful natural alternative to harmful chemicals. Gina offers DIY classes and MYO (make your own) classes at her stall. Contact Gina at E: synergyoflife1@bigpond.com, P: 0408 743 713, W: yldist.com/ginamoore FB: https://www.facebook.com/GinaMooreSynergy
Breastscreen Qld – have a chat to the girls, and find out more and, more importantly, how you can safeguard yourself
Diana’s Handcrafts – Little Haven Palliative Care – tirelessly working year-round, the team offer a huge collection of sewn, crocheted and knitted delights – all for the benefit of Little Haven Palliative Care.
Robin’s Roses – this industrious group has been supplying the Royal Children’s Hospital (now Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital) in Brisbane with an average of 300 quilts a year and also an average of 100 quilts a year to the Gympie Hospital Chemotherapy Ward, providing love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children and adults who are seriously ill, traumatised or otherwise in need.
Gympie CWA – these talented ladies not only work tirelessly and selflessly in supporting, befriending and caring for others, they design, create and handcraft beautiful wares – come and see them at their stall and take part in their Make’n’Take workshops. Details posted in the lead-up to the event. www.facebook.com/Gympieqcwa/
Inspirational Story – The Urchins
Don’t you wish you could have walked through these giant crocheted sea urchins? This interactive installation of three lacy urchins was created for Singapore’s 2017 iLight Marina Bay Festival. Hand-crafting the delicate shells took a team of 50 artisans nearly 3 months to complete, constructed of twisted double-braided polyester chords. They floated around Singapore’s Marina Bay area for the 3-week duration of the festival. Each urchin was 17 metres tall, weighed 100kg, and each was suspended so that it organically moved when touched by the wind or visitors, who were invited to handle the polyester cords and panels.
“Seeing hovering and glowing lacy objects against majestic skyscrapers and dark water would make them (visitors) pause and gaze. This momentary pause of life’s mundane routine offered an opportunity to find the poetry around us.”
Bus Groups
Please let us know if you are getting a group together, we can add you to the list, keep you in the loop and liaise about fast-tracking your group’s event entry. There’s plenty of room for buses to park, but it would be handy to have a rough idea of numbers of buses to expect. And here’s a tip: Sundays are traditionally less busy than Saturdays….
Previous newsletters (2021):
February Newlsetter – www.quiltandcraft.org/newsletter-february-2021/
March Newlsetter – www.quiltandcraft.org/newsletter-march-2021/
April/May Newlsetter – www.quiltandcraft.org/newsletter-april-may-2021/
June Update – www.quiltandcraft.org/update-june-2021/
Three co-events, all for one ticket price of $8 per person per day:
1. Gympie Rotary’s Quilt & Craft Spectacular, October 30 – 31,2021, in the Pavilion Gympie www.quiltandcraft.org
2. Gympie Rotary’s “Ancient Crafts, Rare Trades” Expo, October 30 – 31, 2021, beside the Pavilion in the Showgrounds, Gympie www.ancientcrafts.org
3. Craft Beer Open Door, presented by Gympie Rotary Club, October 30 – 31, 2021, in the Pavilion Gympie – sponsored by Classic Queensland Homes, Gympie www.quiltandcraft.org/craft-beer-open-door/
With thanks to our sponsors:
