Marion Whyte has been quilting for too many years to count, and simply says she’s made “quite a few” pieces.
But sitting in the dining room of Rhonda Mursell’s Stoke home, it’s clear to see Marion undersells her skillset.
The intricate, hand-stitched detail in one of three pieces she brought along to show Waimea Weekly shows the high level of skill she has.
It’s one of the reasons she’s been invited as the guest exhibitor at the Waimea Area Quilt Show this weekend.
“We had a business in Nelson selling different crafts, pottery, clay, macrame and all sorts of stuff. Then quilting sort of came into vogue so we stocked that, too.”
Marion says her pieces often start with just a piece of material, like the old, grey woollen blanket probably from an old boarding house or Army barracks used as the base for the quilt pictured.
“I’ve been quite an itinerant, but when I get my quilts up it makes your home your home.”
Waimea quilter Rhonda says she doesn’t have the creativity of Marion and much prefers to follow a pattern.
She, along with other members of the Waimea club, will have their past two years of work on display at the show. No quilt on display has ever been shown before. Rhonda says even if quilting is not your thing, you can still get enjoyment out of the art on display.
She says anyone with an interest in sewing will “flock”, with some visiting retailers selling items that you can’t get in Nelson.
“You’ll never find two pieces the same,” Marion says.
The pair say their groups also stitch and sew for charity, former refugees, and children who have been removed from their home environment.
“If you’ve made a quilt for somebody, that’s theirs, it just adds a homely touch to wherever that person may be.”
Waimea Area Quilt Show is on Saturday and Sunday, 14 and 15 September, between 10am and 4pm at the Wakefield School hall. Entry is $3.
