Armidale's Legacy House was a blaze of bright colours and startling geometric designs on the weekend, as the Quilters and Patchworkers of New England (QPNE) held their annual exhibition.
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The Quilting and Needlework Exhibition showcased the talent of local crafters; works included a magnificent lions' head; curved shells; fields of blue flowers like Delft china; and Aboriginal dot paintings.
Organiser Robyn Wood said she was "very thrilled" with the record number of visitors.
More than 300 went on Saturday, including a busload of women from Coffs Harbour who come every year. Sunday was quieter; the storm, Mrs Wood thought, probably stopped a few visitors - and drenched one journalist.
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Pride of place was the entrance quilt showing Neptune's Garden, a glowing submarine scene full of coy mermaids, buried treasure, seahorses, leaping dolphins, and placid turtles.
The picture was designed by Heather Roobol, and QPNE members worked together on the eight panels. Meredith Budd of Dragon Quilt Services quilted the work.
Also on display were lap quilts, which the QPNE will present to the RFBI Armidale Masonic Village (formerly Ken Thompson Lodge).
A quilt raffled for charity raised about $3400 for BackTrack - well up on last year, Mrs Wood said. The organisation's founder, Bernie Shakeshaft, drew the raffle on Sunday afternoon; the winner was Margaret Gunter. The QPNE will present the cheque to BackTrack soon.
Viewers' choice awards went to Libby Beasley, Ellie McDonald, Robyn Bradford, and Judy Docksey. The winners of the junior section were Rosie Oxley (first), and siblings Amelia and Oliver Belson (equal seconds), taught by their grandmother Helen Doyle.