22 quilters participate in Community Quilt Challenge project for charity Myall Coast Port Stephens Port Stephens by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 17, 2020 Barbara Read, Clare Lewis, and Ursula Fairless display the quilts they made out of the 22 that were donated to the Community Quilt Challenge project. AWARD-winning quilt maker and designer, Mrs Clare Lewis has this year organised 22 quilters to participate in the Community Quilt Challenge project organised through Novocastrian Quilts. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au All quilters were given the same panel of fabric, donated by Kennard and Kennard Fabrics, to use as inspiration and the basis for making a quilt in a design of their choice. The resulting creations showcase the talent and skill in quilters across the region and as far north as Grafton and down to Canberra. Quilters responded to Clare’s call out through her Never Ending Quilting business and donated their time, expertise, and additional fabric, backing, and binding for the quilts to be donated to a variety of charities. Participating quilter, Mrs Ursula Fairless told News Of The Area, “This year has been disruptive for all of us and this project has given all quilters something to focus on.” “So many people have given something to the project during this difficult time.” Mrs Lewis told News Of The Area “The quilts will be divided up between a number of charities including the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, nursing homes, to support victims of domestic violence, and homeless shelters.” “Some will be used as a raffle to raise funds and others will be given directly to a person in need, for example, for someone in hospital a quilt can brighten up an otherwise terrible time.” “Participating in the Quilt Challenge makes someone who receives the quilt feel like someone cares. “It feels good to make them, but the receiving part is really important too, especially this year.” “Until you are in this situation, you won’t understand the impact it has on the receiver.” This year, quilt shows have been cancelled, Clare’s own quilting classes have been readjusted and rewritten for an online format, with projects redesigned to smaller projects when face to face classes have been held in case lock down happened again. Mrs Barbara Read said, “I love doing anything for charity.” “By doing challenges, it makes you use your brain and this challenge lifted everyone’s spirits.” Clare Lewis said, “When I did the call out in August, people were in a COVID slump, so this gave everyone something to focus on and to achieve.” By Heather SHARP
