My excellent adventure!

I've just come home from teaching at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne. This was the venue - the Royal Exhibition Centre in Carlton Gardens. What a magnificent building. It is built in a cross layout and there were four of these wings coming out under the central dome. This was my view every morning walking the 5 minutes to "work".

And this was my office once inside. 10 classrooms were along the galleries on either side above the vendors and the quilt show and this was the view from the delegates lunch area each day.

Typical classroom set-up with classes ranging from 10-20 students. I had 18 over 2 days then 13 for the next two days - a lot of students I can tell you. Hi to Maureen and Pam who both love machine work SOOOO much.

There were spinning wheels everywhere over the four days with lots of different combos making for stunning results. 

Mercedes in the purple top on the far right was one lucky girl - she was in the lucky seat at the Gala Dinner on Saturday night and won a Bernina sewing machine! I think she now has four.

At the Gala Dinner I was honoured to be invited to join the NSW Quilt Guild table - "the table of knowledge"-  right up the front in the middle of all the action. What a great bunch of girls. We had a ball and danced our socks off til the band stopped around midnight. What they thought of these old quilters dancing with all and sundry we'll never know but we sure had a good time.

Here's my wonderful room-mate Kay on the left getting up-close and personal with Lois.

Kay was so kind and welcoming to me and we had a great time over the five days - she's such a lovely person with  a wicked sense of humour.

NSW quilters scooped the pool in the awards ceremony - on the left  is Judy Hooworth winner of the Rajah Award which is presented to a quilter who has made an outstanding contribution as an individual to quilting in Australia. Then we have Gary from Expertise Events the organisers of the Convention next to my dear friend Isobel Lancashire who received the Lut-Da Award which rewards a quilter who has used their quilting skills and knowledge to selflessly contribute to others in their local environment or quilting community.

Finally there is Merelyn Pearce who won The National Quilt Award which is presented to the maker of the quilt that is judged the best from the 'Best of Show Quilts' from the annual state guild shows around the country in the previous 12 months for her Preston Dreaming.

 

AND there was a special guest at the dinner! I'm sure it was really him and boy can he dance!

I had such a good time in Melbourne tho it was full on every day. Now it's back to reality and the countdown to the Springwood Quilt Show. But before that starts next week I'm off to Nowra for 2 days at Jukejema Quilting Barn - see you soon!

Remember the previous post? There were triplets in that tummy - isn't she clever!