Thank you!!
All of the Quilt NSW team were Amazing!! A show with 400 quilts is a huge undertaking but they were so organised in a friendly and efficient way. They really looked after me when all of a sudden I found myself in the spotlight, and treated me like royalty throughout the show.
I'd like to thank the judges Jane Gibson, Linda Butcher and Julie Haddrick. I couldn't do their job. I would have to give every quilt a prize.
A special highlight of the show for me was meeting Merelyn Pearce and seeing her quilts in real life. Merelyn is so lovely and her quilts are mind bogglingly amazing. If you don't know her work Google her name and you'll see images of her quilts.
And now the awesome sponsors -
Greg Alexander, the managing director of Bernina Australia was the one to hand over my winning ribbons. I thought I was going to faint and he held me up. What a great guy! He has a true interest in quilting, quilters and the quilting community. His enthusiasm is contagious. I can't wait to get to know my new super machine, the 720QE and learn everything it's capable of.
As part of my prize Bernina are also flying me to AQC in 2017. Every year I say I'm going to go but I always seem to be busy around that time and don't get there. No more excuses, next year I'll be there with bells on! (Hey Melbourne bloggers - maybe we should try to arrange a meet up?). I get to attend the Gala Dinner where the Best of Australia will be chosen from the state winners. I've heard the NSW ladies really know how to party!
Here's Bree and Karen (who also owns a shop called Sew Can I) at the Bernina stand. A fun sewing machine play ground!
Jenelle Kent of Pieces to Treasure was the main sponsor for the Mixed Techniques/Anything Goes Category.
So many treasures!!! I've heard lots of wonderful things about the Pieces to Treasure shop in MacMasters Beach. I'm looking forward to seeing it myself one day.
Another prize I received was an amazing craft bag from Yazzii. It has a thousand pockets that will have my sewing sundries organised in no time. I'll do a proper show and tell once I've filled it.
I also love the assorted Indian ribbon and braids that Yazzii sell. More yummy colour!
In fact there's an square Indian embroidered patch inside the star on the Whizz Bang! quilt that I bought from Yazzii at last years show.
Vlieseline sponsored a huge bag of their products. All sorts of fabulous goodies that will no doubt inspire some me to make some wonderful creations.
I didn't do a lot of shopping but I couldn't walk past this stall without being drawn in. Cash Palace Emporium, was full clothes and textiles with sumptuous colour, textures and patterns. I so enjoyed rummaging through and unearthing beautiful fabrics. I could have spent the day talking to these lovely ladies about textiles and India.
Upon finding out that I'd won Best in Show Elaine generously gave me this most beautiful roll of hand embroidered silk border. Thank you Elaine!! If you're in Sydney you can visit their shop in Leichhardt for not only fabrics but beautiful exotic clothing too.
All those beautiful hand stitches and the colours - exquisite!
I always stop by the Quiltmania stand and admire all their beautiful quilts and gorgeous books. I think it's wonderful they fly out from France to be at the Sydney Quilt Show.
Talking of Quiltmania - you know how much I look forward to reading Simply Moderne, the latest edition is out and about on newsstands. Now the show is over I had a quiet day yesterday reading it from cover to cover with a whole pot of cinnamon tea, a perfect way to relax after busy days.
You think I'd be sick of quilts after looking at them all week - Ha! Never!!!
Last but not least a big Thank You to all the wonderful people who stopped by to lovely things about both of my quilts or left messages on my blog and emailed me. Your kind words mean a lot to me and encourage me to keep of creating my colourful quilts.
More about Whizz Bang! in the next post.. stay tuned. :)
In the meantime you can visit the QuiltNSW website to see the gallery of winners.
38 Comments
I'm just so incredibly happy for you. It is so well deserved. Enjoy every moment of it! Can't wait to see what you make with your fancy new machine.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Diane! So happy for you I can't imagine what you will make next!
ReplyDeleteAs the others have said, this award is SO deserved! I have long been a fan and supporter of your incredible talent Rachael! The joy in your face at the announcement of the win was priceless! This will just be the start of big things for you! Has someone commissioned a book deal yet? I test your patterns for you!!!!😝
ReplyDeleteRD I was so very, very delighted by the success & recognition you & your quilts got -- and then there are all the prizes!
ReplyDeleteTears of happiness are stinging my eyes! I am so pleased & proud for you!
Hi Rachael,wow you so deserve this and i am so proud of you,well done my friend your quilt is amazing,have fun on your new machine.....
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Rachael! I too believe that this win was well-deserved! Your quilts are amazing works of (he)art! I'm so glad you're getting the recognition you and your quilts deserve. I'm so proud of you and happy for you. Way to go, girl!
ReplyDeleteBravo dear Rachael, well deserved prize XXX
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to see all the prizes you have received. You are in for a fun time. What wonderful sponsors!
ReplyDeleteAnd how great that you will be here next year! I have been lucky enough to go to the gala dinner for the announcement once before so I know you will have a great time.
Now all you have to to is wait until next year!!
As they say in my neck of the woods, "Awesome Possum". Such a spectacular quilt! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Rachel! Your quilt is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteYou are an absolute superstar. And a beautiful one too!
ReplyDeleteWow, Rachael, how fun and wonderful is this! Many congratulations for your well-deserved prizes. What a smashing quilt! best, nadia
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome post! Couldn't quit reading and rereading it ......savouring every word and beautiful colors! Your talent and enthusiasm are so inspiring . Congratulations! So well deserved! Carrolyn v in Washington state
ReplyDeletethis is so exciting! your quilts are wonderful and lovely and a level i aspire to! congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWhat a super exciting time in your life. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a Whizz-bang weekend! You, your talent, your fun and grateful spirit, and your gorgeous, innovative quilts so deserve this recognition. All the prizes are big cherries on top. Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful and very gracious post Rachael. :)
ReplyDeleteSo very pleased to hear all about your win and experiences of the show.
Oh Rachael what a fabulous post! What a few days you have had.....so beautiful! I'm so so happy for you that I just welled up...I can imagine how you must be feeling!!!! Enjoy that new machine....the Quilting World is waiting for you.....YOU GO GIRL!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat can i say after all these wonderful and well deserved comments ?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and i'm very, very happy for you.... it was a magic moment but thanks to your work and creativity, a real one !
Enjoy....
I came back to Canberra on Saturday night and I still can't get over you winning Best of Show and haven't stopped talking about it! Your prizes are amazing. Isn't Greg lovely? And all the ladies from bernina? Also that trim from Cash Palace is incredible! So happy for you!
ReplyDeleteYay!! That's fabulous news and your quilt is gorgeous. So excited for you and definitely see you in 2017 at AQC. Go girl!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thrilled for you Rachael. The prize could not have gone to a lovelier or more talented person than you. You star.
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you and hope you can show us some close ups of your amazing quilt~
ReplyDeletep.s. congratulations again on your fabulous prizes and ribbon!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a well deserved reward for all your wonderful creativity and joy. Wish I could have seen this thru my own eye. But yours was probably even better. Take a bow my dear!
ReplyDeleteGrande!!!
ReplyDeleteCiao
Super special winner
ReplyDeleteOh Wow! Congratulations on such a fantastic win! Your quilts are always so colorful and spectacular. I can't wait for you to really show us this quilt!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your beautiful quilt! The Quilt booths look fabulous too!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and well deserved!!! Your quilt is gorgeous. Enjoy all your wonderful prizes and I cant wait to see what you do next xx
ReplyDeleteHi! We were at the show as the creatory and we were so blown away by the work! Well Done! You're quilt was amazing!!
ReplyDeleteA new Bernini? And a trip to AQC? Go girl!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thrilled for you, and how fun to get a new machine as well as those ribbons! Your quilt is just beautiful--congratulations!
ReplyDeletebonjour et BRAAVO
ReplyDeletevotre quilt est magnifique, vibrant.
je suis heureuse que vous ayez gagné ce prix
belle journée
cathy
I've hardly had a moment to catch my breath since flying home from the show and I was only visiting! I can only imagine what it must to have been like to be all involved in it! I'm so happy that I got to meet you in real life! Many, many congratulations again on your beautiful quilt winning best in show. I'm also very pleased to see that someone else still uses "fair out Brussel sprout" like I do! I tried to explain it to my girls (aged 6 and nearly 5) the other day and they just looked at me weird :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful award!!! I can see why you got it though: that is one amazing quilt!! I can't even imagine how many hours you put into it! hooray for my sweet friend!!! I'm so happy for you!!! Hugs, H
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing quilt, I'm not at all surprised it won. It must be so heavy with all that folded fabric. Hopefully I can see it in person when it travels around the country next year! Congrats big time!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and what an amazingly beautiful quilt! I am new to your blog having discovered it just now through Wendy at Constant Quilter. Have subscribed and look forward to following you. Congratulations on the new Bernina too - I love mine - they are great machines.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.