By Peter Douglas
DON’T be a wet blanket and miss out on the anticipated quilt fair at Macclesfield on the weekend of 12-13 November.
Not only could you pick up a one-of-a-kind quilt, your purchase will be helping orphans around the globe.
The fair is a major fund-raiser for Quilts for Orphans, a self-funded group of enthusiastic quilters who have united for a worthy cause.
Member Susan Hamilton said the funds raised would go towards batting for the quilts.
“We are completely self-funded and rely on donations, and our annual fair generates cashflow to purchase the batting used in the middle of our quilts.
“We often receive donations of fabric and materials, but the batting can be quite expensive.”
The festival will feature plenty of Christmas gift ideas, such as table-runners, secondhand quilt magazines, and all types of craftwork and cross-stitches.
Morning and afternoon tea will be available, with cakes and slices also on offer.
“There will be quilts from cot size to king and queen size,” Ms Hamilton said.
“They are a reasonable price, given they are one-of-a-kind, custom-made quilts.”
Over the past seven years, the group has created and despatched more than 2000 quilts for children in need.
Ms Hamilton said there were about 20 in the group presently, mostly from around the Yarra Ranges region, who attended various working bees and group events each month.
They started in 2007 out of a house and started donating to Christian outreach houses in India.
The soon discovered there was a huge demand for their quilts.
They now donate to countries including China, Zambia, Uganda, Thailand and more.
Entry to the fair is $5, with refreshments available.
The fair will operate from 10am to 4pm both days, with off-street parking available.
The Quilt Festival is located at the ‘quilt-barn’ at 345 Macclesfield Road, Monbulk.
