Avalon Quilters 2018 raffle quilt (Queen size), “Touching Stars” is a 1930’s Vintage Quilt, made from material purchased in the U.S. and hand quilting done by members using traditional quilting patterns and YLI thread. Tickets for the 2018 Raffle Quilt ($2 each or 3 for $5) may be bought at Avalon Fabrics and Craft (4/24 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach) or Cottage Quilts (Building 4, Quattro Corporate, 4 Daydream Street, Warriewood ) or at Patchwork on Pittwater (1 Mona Vale Rd, Mona Vale) – or from Avalon Quilters (Thursday in Avalon Uniting Church) or at the 2018 Exhibition of Members Work.
"Touching Stars" seems to have sparked a theme in the quilters 2018 works as many of the quilts will have lots of tiny stars. Funds raised from the 2018 Raffle Quilt will again be put towards the wonderful work being done by the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.
Pittwater Online spoke to the Avalon Quilters about some of the wonderful works you will see this year – all done by members, some Traditional and Modern takes on Quilts and Quilting.
One of these has been made into a pattern by member Marilyn and may be purchased at the 2018 Exhibition for $10, so those who are inspired may make their own version. There are a series of these that have been made by members using contemporary fabrics as well - a group co-ordinated by the pattern creator Marilyn - wonderful!:
This also forms what will be the 2019 Raffle Quilt from the 1800’s – with some reproduced 1860’s fabrics. These were sourced from Dr. Annette Gero, one of Australia's and the world’s leading quilt historians who generously sold some to the Avalon Quilters. More on Dr. Gero's most recent War and Pieced Exhibition, in New York, HERE.
The 2019 Raffle Quilt from the 1800’s – with some reproduced 1860’s fabrics - a work in progress.
This wonderful Quilt is one the Avalon Quilters call the ‘Op-Shop Shirt Quilt’. Members all had to form quilting blocks from shirts they found from Op-Shops or old shirts they had at home and all make blocks. The shirts are made of great fabrics and lend themselves to designing great block – this block, for instance had the lines in the pattern and was cut so they all came together thus.
The Quilters raffled it among themselves and Trish Bloomfield won, adding Hands and Hearts Quilting to the price as, as Trish points out, “It was made with lots of hands and hearts.”
The Op-Shop Shirt Quilt
Enlarged Detail to show Hands and Hearts Quilting
More HERE
With four line honours in six races, the Southern Wind Shipyard built SW82 Ammonite captured the victory at the New Zealand Millennium Cup on Australia Day, January 26th.
The New Zealand Millennium Cup features three days of racing in one of the most picturesque cruising destinations in the world. With courses that thread through more than 140 sub-tropical islands. beautiful scenery and challenging navigation are assured at this popular and challenging regatta.
An innovative handicap system (ISYR) ensured for spectacular racing in the Bay of Islands, with competitors finishing within minutes of each other.
Even though it was her first time competing at the NZ Millennium Cup, there was no stopping Ammonite, who was representing the Royal Nomuka Yacht Club of Tonga. The SW82’s tightly knit crew included Olympic sailors Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan in addition to her owner, Marcus Blackmore, a sailing force to be reckoned with in his own right.
Sailing strong in all of the six races that make up this three-day event, Ammonite was confirmed as the overall winner with four wins out of six races.
“There’s no better place in the world to sail,” said Ammonite’s owner Marcus Blackmore at the prize giving ceremony. “Thanks go to all the sponsors and in particular Doyle Sails New Zealand’s Mike Sanderson who helped us understand local conditions,” he continued adding that Ammonite would enjoy defending the title next year if possible.
The Royal Nomuka Yacht Club of Tonga posted "AMAZING!... Ammonite sw82 with a world class crew representing the Royal Nomuka Yacht Club won the New Zealand Millennium Cup creating history for the Club and all the crew have now officially joined the RNYC and paid their membership fees 100% going into the Vaka Sailing trust!
Thanks so much owners and Life Members Marcus and Caroline Blackmore for giving us such an amazing time here in NZ. Will post a story later, but to the crew of Olympic Gold Medallists, multiple America's Cup sailors, multiple Volvo sailors, skippers and winners including the worlds BEST navigator and some crazy inspiring sailors and beautiful Italians...WOW!! THANKS...your all an inspiration!!!"
The Royal Nomuka Yacht Club of Tonga Charter…To reintroduce the lost art and traditions of Vaka sailing to the youth (15-25) of Tonga and then the Greater Pacific thought the establishment of a “Vaka” and “Vaka Voyaging Canoe” One Design class and implementation of Vaka training programs and sailing events. To support the formation of a Tonga Sailing Federation and to introduce the INTERNATIONAL OPTIMIST dingy to Tongans 9-15 years of age using a mobile training package of five optimist yachts to share with Tongan sailors throughout the island groups.
More HERE
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