Deborah Louie : Deloraine Craft Fair

Just Back from Tasmania for the Deloraine Craft Fair. This wonderful event is held every year , run by hundreds of dedicated Rotary volunteers. Deloraine comes alive big time for this fair. The whole town gets involved. The organisation for this is immense and all comes together for 4 days.

Silly me just back from hot Vietnam I just bought dresses and a cardigan, I should have known better.. It was freezing.....

I was asked to have an exhibition of my current quilts and to demonstrate free motion quilting sitting on the Bernina Q20. Which I was very happy to do.

Every day there was hundreds of people watching me quilt and with lots of questions.

I just had fun doodling along on the Q20. I had forgotten how fabulous this magic machine is.

On my one day list to purchase that's for sure....

This lovely man came to watch me quilt on day one and was fascinated. He is a retired engineer and was happy to sit and chat for ages. I must have been on his mind as he came back on day 3 for more. So , I got him to have a go on the Q20 machine. Now he is a free motion quilter He loved it ...

He was wonderful company.. made my day :)

I had fun getting families on the machine. Some kids don't have a sewing machine in their home and they were fascinated. I think it is so important to introduce stitching skills to those who are not so lucky to have a quilter in their lives. I even had as young as a 2 year old on my lap quilting....

Part of this show was also for the Deloraine Textile Challenge.

This is run by Diane Brittlebank and Robyn Miller formally of Sewknit Launceston and Sponsored by Bernina Australia.

The winner of the challenge where they have to use the challenge chosen fabric in their piece was

Jacque Boxer. A wonderful quilt beautifully made and the winner of a Bernina Sewing machine. Congratulations Jacque.

Here is Diane , Robyn and Rotary Organiser Tim Biggs with Jacque with her presentation.

The fair is a wonderful opportunity for art and craft all over Australia to be showcased.

Glass blowing ( worried about the beard)

Hand made guitars

For the dearly departed.

Cocktails!!!!! which I did not partake in :( , lots of wonderful Tassie food, wine and goods.

Live entertainment of street acts and music bands of all types.

I had a visit from Lorraine Hunter a student of mine from past Tassie visits.

With a quilt I taught her , trapunto and machine applique and Lorraine entered it in the AMQA show this year and won a First prize. SENSATIONAL Lorraine . A huge congratulations to you.