Donna Jones
It’s all systems go as Gympie Rotarians prepare to present one of South East Queensland’s largest quilting and crafting events this weekend along with the Club’s Ancient Crafts, Rare Trades Expo here in Gympie in the Pavilion and Showgrounds.
Organisers, the Rotary Club of Gympie, are thrilled that this year, the benchmark has reached a new high, with the addition of the ABC Landline “Quilt of Memories” and the debut showing of an historically significant vintage quilt, created by the members of the Gympie community in 1893.
Special exhibits also include a 100-year-old European table runner and two major works by renowned freeform artist Prudence Mapstone, one being an interactive 6m long crocheted “tunnel”.
Quilts for display have been collected from as far as the Gold Coast to Chinchilla to Bundaberg – and all the areas in between, including impressive works from our local crafters.
The task of cataloguing these contributed quilts, patchworks and art-quilts falls to quilt convenor Liz Dixon, who has spent many hours for the past two weeks spread-sheeting the details of every one.
“We have received so many outstanding quilts this year” she says, “many with a story on life in Covid times,” she said.
Concurrent with the Quilt & Craft Spectacular, the Club’s Ancient Crafts, Rare Trades Expo will surround the Pavilion, having outgrown it’s previous location.
The Bob Henshell Dairy Pavilion and horse tie-up stalls will be converted to a “marketplace”, a forum to celebrate the heritage trades and domestic craft of our past.
Over 40 demonstrating artisans will gather over Saturday and Sunday, to demonstrate, to share their passion and knowledge of their craft, to preserve the longevity of their trade and take it into the future.
It promises to be a weekend filled with non-stop demonstrations, vintage displays, artisan markets and lots of good old-fashioned camaraderie…and a tasting of some craft beer, the age-old art of brewing – another essential craft!
The event will be open from 8.30am to 5pm Saturday, 30 October and 8.30am – 3pm Sunday 31 October.
Tickets are available at the entry gate, opposite Southside store, for $8 per person per day.
For more information head to www.quiltandcraft.org or www.ancientcrafts.org.
