Quilters called on to get creative

THE LIONS Club of Quilters Victoria are seeking people interested creating the comforters to join their challenge.

The club is asking for handmade quilts that are 40 centimetres squared and reflect natural, man-made, cultural or historical aspects of the maker’s community.

All completed quilts will become part of a permanent historical collection and exhibited at the Lions Clubs International Convention 2024 in Melbourne and at Pour L’Amour du Fil 2025 in Nantes, France.

“We originally wanted it to correlate with the International Lions Convention to be held in Melbourne next June which is going to bring 20,000 to 30,000 people to Melbourne,” said Lions Club of Quilters Victoria secretary Ruth Nunn.

“They’ll then go to a big quilt festival over in France and then come back and become part of our collection.”

Submitted quilts will go through an extensive preservation process and be kept in a controlled environment to ensure they will withstand time.

“We want quilts from all around the world along with ones from Australia,” said Ms Nunn.

“The theme is bringing the world together and it is to reflect your country culturally, historically, naturally or man-made aspects like the Sydney Opera House.”

Australian museums generally only house a few quilts, and they are not always on display.

The club has already received a few entries from America and Canada but is looking for more local submissions.

“We want to preserve Australia’s history of quilting,” said Ms Nunn. “You don’t see quilts very often and they come out maybe every 10 of 15 years.

“If you had a friend come over and visit Australia there’s nowhere you can take them to see Australian quilts.”

Ms Nunn said she hopes the challenge can give Australian quilters more recognition.

“We don’t really celebrate Australian quilters,” she said. “Some of our internationally renowned quilters are better known overseas than what they are in Australia.

“We celebrate our sports stars but our artists we’re a little bit negligent on.”

To find out more about the quilting challenge visit lcqv.com.au.