Australian Quilt Convention Challenge 2026 – Finalist

This years Challenge was Connections.

How do we connect with each other?

Nurture – the invisible familial bond and relationship between parent and child, providing love and a sense of belonging. 

Physical contact – the feeling of belonging created through physical touch

Eye contact – the sense of awareness and knowing when you connect through eye contact with another being.

The Orangutan and humans share 97 % DNA, definitely a strong genetic connection. Their behaviour and intelligence often reflect remarkably human, like traits.

Inspired by an image created by Keld-Bach Photograpy.

The piece was coloured with Inktense Pencils on cream cotton, then outline quilted with black thread. The background was quilted in a light grey. All done on my Bernina Q20.

It was selected as a finalist and will be shown at various Stitches and Craft shows across Australia during 2026. The finished piece measures 90cm square.

A hand pieced and machine quilted UFO.

Eight years ago a friend gifted a selection of fat quarters for my birthday. I wanted to incorporate them all in one quilt, so I started a hand sewing project. I had a pack of eppiflex templates, the designer pack where you made your own hexagons by combining the shapes. This became my back up, hand project which was pulled out of the cupboard when I needed some hand sewing at sit and sew sessions. I must admit I lost interest many times and it sat hidden for long periods.

The finished size was determined by how many hexagons I could make from the fat quarters.

Here is the finished quilt and after such a long time it feels like a great accomplishment, plus it will always remind me of the dear friend who gifted the fabrics. Hence it is called ‘Friendship’.

‘Friendship’

Finally Finished ‘ Birds of a Feather’.

After all the procrastinating as to how I was going to incorporate the antique lace, made by my Great Aunty many years ago, the quilt is finished.

I hand appliquéd it onto the blue fabric before quilting in a cream thread along the heavier sections of the lace pattern. Really happy with how it looks, with slight ‘puffiness’ being created in the design. I then outline quilted in navy blue along the edges and added a band of circles all around the outside.

I feel the lace adds another dimension to the pattern and enhances the appliqué work. Very pleased with the finished quilt.