Stonestead Outdoor Quilt Festival

The day was just right yesterday for an outdoor quilt show, fine and warm with a little breeze to keep the heat from being too overpowering. Two of us arrived bright and early to find the grounds abuzz with happy quilters. Our gold coin donation was going to Te Omanga Hospice to help out with their very important work. The quilts were hung up on “clothes lines” amongst the lovely old trees on the property.

Some of the many beautiful quilts hanging in the garden

There were 62 quilts on show, with everything from a beautiful Baltimore, sampler quilts, log cabins and hexagons. We were just in time to see the Best in Show certificate pinned on the Baltimore. What a wonderful thrill for the quilt maker.

Best in Show

There were several that incorporated the ever popular stitchery blocks into the quilts and these are always interesting to have a really close look at. I am always excited to see quilts showcasing the New Zealand flora and fauna fabrics that are available. A first time quilt maker had her hexagon quilt “Kiwiana” on show, and “Wakahuia Boxes” was another lovely New Zealand inspired quilt. Brown kiwis, our national bird, were appliquéd in a very realistic kiwi feather fabric all over “The Enclave”

New Zealand inspired quilts, Kiwiana and The Enclave

Also was on show was the Table Runner Challenge. The challenge fabrics were green, blue and purple. There were 17 entries with all sorts of variations using these fabrics.

Some of the table runner in the challenge

After we had looked over all the quilts and decided on which to chose for Viewers Choice, it was time for a nice cup of tea, a hot scone, and a sit down at the Tea House. Kevin was hard at work making scones to keep up with the demand. We could chose from cheese, sultana or date scones, and a variety of speciality teas, all beautifully served.

Hard at work in the kitchen

We had a lovely time at the outdoor quilt show. The organisation was great with plenty of helpers in their colourful aprons ready to answer questions or point us in the right direction. I was so inspired by all these wonderful quilts that I just had to get stitching when I returned home.