Come and sew with me in Coonamble

The state of NSW is in the grip of the worst drought on record.  Bad seasons affect not just farming families, but also the entire communities in which they live and work. 

I was born in a country town called Coonamble and spent many years living and working there. The people of Coonamble are resilient - but they have been doing it tough.  Really tough!

Sewing for Sanity - what's it all about?

The aim of the Sewing for Sanity workshops is two-fold:

1. Give people a day off from the drought and,
2. encourage people to pay a visit to the town which in turn supports local businesses.

Many of us make and create as a way to decompress the pressures of our day-to-day lives. Bringing people together to sew will help to reduce social isolation and provide the opportunity to reconnect with others in the community.

In tough financial times hobbies and creative pursuits are among the first things to be dropped from the monthly budget.  Thanks to generous grant funding provided by Coonamble-Castlereagh Landcare the workshops have been subsidised so are just $25 each.

How to get involved

There is something for everyone!

If hands-on sewing isn't your thing why not drop into the Material Girl's annual quilt show at the Outback Arts Building in Castlereagh St. 

The display will be open for two weeks, starting the Queen's Birthday long weekend (Sat 8 June).  Entry is just $3 and the funds are used for charity quilts, which in turn support the local community.

Want to sew?

I would love for you to sign up to quilt with me.  There is something on offer for all levels of experience.

Free-Wheeling Single Girl -Tuesday 18 June

Designed by Denyse Schmidt this is one of THE iconic modern quilt patterns of our time. Those large stand-alone rings are fresh, yet timeless. In this class we will be ruler-free cutting, improvisational piecing and sewing curves.   

This class is best for people with some experience in patchwork and who are comfy sewing a consistent 1/4 inch seam allowance.

 Pathways Quilt - Wed 19 June

In the Pathways Quilt class you will get to practice the basics of needle-turn applique and getting stuck into the creative possibilities of these portable little blocks. Its a great project if you are new to applique, or even if you just want to dive into your stash of fabrics.

Needle, thread, and some small squares of fabric are all you need to get started as I'm throwing in your pattern and templates.

Quick Trip  - Sat 22 June

Quick trip is a re-vamp of a quilt I taught many years ago which has a contemporary feel with its generous one-patch size.  Its a fast and furious take on the traditional Trip Around the World Quilt pattern.   

Quick trip is beginner-friendly pattern which is a great intro for folk new to patchwork, rotary cutting and strip piecing.  It is also perfect for more experienced sewists looking for a quick finish and a project to showcase larger scale prints. 

I will be providing class members with a free copy of the Quick Trip Quilt pattern.

Free trunk show and lecture

On Friday 21 June there is also a free Soup and Sauv night where I will be giving a lecture on my 20+ years as a quilter and why modern quilting has captured my imagination.  

Come along.  I will even let you touch, scrunch and snuggle under my quilts!

You can register here.

 Even though the lecture is free, you need to RSVP for catering purposes.

Get involved

It will be such a fabulous week.  It would be great if you could make it.

You can register for the lecture or any of the workshops via this form and there is more information about each class and project here