For those of you who love Miss Phryne from the ABC TV show, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and her stunning costumes you won’t want to miss this exhibition coming to Parramatta Old Government House from the first of next month for three months. How lucky we are to be able to view this exhibition so close to home.
Tickets must be bought on line and are for timed entry, walk-ins will only be admitted if there is space, here is the link
Have you been watching the Winter Olympics in Sochi? The bravery and skill of the athletes amazes me, no way would you catch me hurtling down a mountain head first on what looks like a travel ironing board!
But, I am really loving seeing patchwork everywhere through the games. On the banners, the competitor’s vests and all types of signage. 
The designs are, of course, based on a patchwork quilt. The designers, Bosco, wanted a design that would reflect the traditions of the Russian culture and reflect the ideals of the Olympic Games.
They stated “they had a wealth of choices to represent Russia’s rich diversity, but in the end we settled on something familiar, warm and welcoming: the patchwork quilt”. Patterns in the quilt pieces were taken from fabrics, ceramics, folk art painting and clothing.
Its fantastic to see quilts being used in such a high profile way, maybe it will encourage a few others to take up this traditional art form.
The official Sochi.ru website shows the patterns that were used to derive the designs, there is a sliding bar that links with images of the patterns that link to information about each pattern and photos showing the location of the patterns in the banners. Its well worth a look. Click here to be taken to the site. Then click on Look of the Games.
You may remember the previous post on Karen Nyberg, the NASA astronaut who took her patchwork into space with her. 
Karen has now issued a challenge to quilters worldwide to create a star block to celebrate the 40 year anniversary of the Houston International Quilt Festival.
To read more about Karen’s challenges trying to stitch in space, follow this link. There is a great YouTube clip of Karen talking about her difficulties completing her 9×9 block.
Happy Quilting for 2014
Quilting commences this week for 2014, so get those needles busy.
New members are welcome at any time, for more information use the contact button on this blog.
Simon Beck walks all day across the frozen lakes of Savoie, France to create beautiful quilt patterns in the snow. Each takes him about 5-9 hours to create to the finished size of three soccer fields, however sometimes snowfalls prevent him finishing his work. Simon walks on raquettes (snow shoes) to create the intricate patterns and says that his initial reason for doing so was for exercise as he can no longer run due to feet problems. Now, he more enjoys taking photographs of his creations and is considering buying a new camera! Go to mymodermmet for more great pictures and click here for a recent update
This sounds like a great project to become involved in. Come on EPQ members – make some poppies.
Excerpt from the blog 5000 Poppies:
Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate the Anzac Centenary, marking 100 years since Australia’s involvement in the First World War. And in 2015, there will be a large number of activities commemorating 100 years since the Anzac Gallipoli landing.
From its association with poppies flowering in the spring of 1915 on the battlefields of Belgium, France and Gallipoli, the poppy has become a symbol of both great loss in war and hope for those left behind
As part of the 2015 Anzac Commemoration, the 5000 Poppies project will be “planting” a field of more than 5000 poppies in Fed Square Melbourne as a stunning visual tribute to Australian servicemen and women for more than a century of service in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
We are inviting all crafters to participate in this meaningful and heartfelt project.
You are asked to hand make one or more poppies. They can be crocheted, knitted, felted or sewn from any materials. Any shade of red can be used and poppies should be no more than 15 cm in diameter. There is no entry fee and contributors are asked to provide their own materials. There is no barrier to involvement and no limit to the amount of poppies that can be submitted.
For more information about how to make the poppies and how to submit, go to the blog here
This is a brand new show added to the round of craft shows presented by Expertise Events.
A textile art show of this type has been eagerly awaited since the demise of the Brisbane Textile Art Show. The good news for us is that the venue is even closer.
Creative Textile Show, May 2-4 2014
National Convention Centre
Canberra
Click here to access the website
When it is wood of course!
This beautiful ‘quilt’ is actually a wood carving by Fraser Smith. He creates the most stunning sculptures of textile items including quilts, coats, other clothing and hats. to see a gallery of Fraser’s work on his website click here
Into Craft recently featured an interview with Fraser Smith and a link to his YouTube clips, to see both click here.
Would you like to win a new Pfaff sewing machine?
Well, here’s an easy way to do so. All you have to do is make a crafty postcard and submit it to Into Craft (click for more information) before December 6, 2013. The theme is your favourite destination.
We are very proud to be the recipients of a community grant from Australia Post through their Our Neighbourhood Community Grant programme.
Eastwood Patchwork Quilters supply little quilts to the Social Welfare Department of Sydney maternity hospitals. The quilts are offered to parents of babies who have died, to wrap their baby while they say goodbye. The group completes about 350 quilts per year which are distributed to three hospitals. The hospitals would like more and have suggested they could use twice that number, and other hospitals have requested our support.
Recently a hospital which supports Aboriginal Health in one area has requested the use of indigenous type fabrics be used in some quilts.
The financial grant will be used to purchase bulk supplies of suitable materials to expand the scope of this venture for the next twelve months. At present the group supplies some fabric which is supplemented with donations from members.
The committee anticipates preparing individual quilt kits with all materials included, ready to be distributed to members for construction of the little quilts. A small fabric label will be sewn to the reverse of the quilt noting it is a gift from Eastwood Patchwork Quilters.
Eastwood Patchwork Quilters Inc. 