QUILT ENCOUNTER

QUILT ENCOUNTER 2024

5^th to 10^th September 2024

at the Stamford Grand Hotel, Glenelg in Adelaide
For further information – please contact by email either:
Kerryn –at  Kerryn Brand or Margaret – at Margaret Sampson

Quilt Encounter Committee

The 31st annual Quilt Encounter was again held at the Stamford Grand Hotel in Glenelg from the 10^th to the 15^th September. This is such a great location for our annual retreat with the spaces in the Conference area, the accommodation, accessibility to the Jetty Rd precinct and so close to the beach and jetty for our daily walks!  Plus, the fabulous staff at the Grand are always available to help us out, every step of the way!

This year we had about 160 people in total – including participants, tutors and committee. The interstate contingent made up 42% of our participants and we had 32 “first-timers” to this nationally renowned quilting retreat.

Our tutors play such an important role for successful Quilt Encounters: our line-up this year was fabulous and we were able to present the program as listed in our brochure.

We were delighted to welcome Irene Blanck (VIC), Jill Christian (SA), Judy Coates-Perez (USA), Rachael Daisy (VIC), Rachelle Denneny (SA), Jacky Eyre (SA), Jemima Flendt (WA), Pam Holland (SA), Christina Kazis and assistant Bernadette Spears (SA), Deborah Louie (NSW) and Mandy Murray (QLD). Their workshops provided a great mixture of various genres of quilting and were all very successful: we’ll be looking forward to some amazing “show & tell” at Quilt Encounter again next year!

The shops that joined us for our 31st Anniversary year both provided beautiful displays with plenty of choice for participants to purchase for their classes or to add to their “stash”! Huge thanks to Barb (and assistant Pat) from Jack ’N’ Jayde’s (Rostrevor) and Carol & Liz from Strath Sewing & Quilting (Strathalbyn) – we hope you ladies enjoyed your time at the Grand too and know that your sponsorship and support is an integral part of QE and was greatly appreciated by everyone attending.

Christina from Melann’s once again was able to provide the Bernina hire machines for the interstate participants who are unable to bring their own.  This support is also a big part of successful Quilt Encounters – especially appreciated by our interstate ladies.

Bernina Australia are also major sponsors of Quilt Encounter and have been an important part of our event for the entire 31 years. This year we had the pleasure of hosting Glyn Singleton, Managing Director of Bernina Australia, from Sydney at the Grand Hotel. Glyn joined us for our event dinner on Wednesday evening, where we enjoyed a delicious meal in the Grand Promenade Restaurant. Our Major Prizes and the Raffle quilt draw also take place at this time. Glyn also spent some time visiting classes and catching up with our tutors too. It was great that he was able to be in Adelaide at this time, to attend and see how this renowned Australian retreat “works”!  Sincere thanks to Bernina Australia – they have been very loyal supporters of Quilt Encounter!  Click here to enjoy Kerryn’s video chat with Bernina Australia Managing Director, Glyn Singleton.

There are so many generous sponsors – they were all identified and thanked too for their continued support as many delighted ladies were the recipients of these prizes. Every participant receives an event “Goody Bag” and once again these were filled with various goods and discount vouchers etc. – always a nice surprise to see what is contained within this lovely bag! Quilt Encounter is known and appreciated by us all for the amazing sponsorship and support provided each year.

This year our charity fundraising was focused on the Riverland regions of Sth Australia – after some difficult times for so many businesses, families and properties due to the flooding of the River Murray in the past 12 months. Ski For Life is an organisation that runs a water-skiing event annually from Murray Bridge to Renmark to support Mental Health in these regions. They also work closely with a suicide support group in these areas too – local volunteers working in their local communities providing a valuable service in times of need. The Grand Hotel provide support to our fundraising efforts as well by providing a “High Tea for 6”, which we raffle to add to our Raffle Quilt proceeds. Almost $2,000 was raised to donate to this great South Aussie organisation.  The beautiful raffle quilt, Wheels of Life, was won by Sue Vernari.  It was made by the Quilt Encounter Committee and quilted by Chris Mimidas.

Cindy and Jane introduced a new game at morning and afternoon tea time with “Ring Toss” – we had reindeer “horns” for anyone who was brave enough to wear them! The challenge was then to toss the plastic rings onto the horns – some were successful and scored a few nice little prizes along the way. The photos tell the story – and the fun!!

Kirsten, our Conference Organiser, at the Stamford Grand, provided great support as we worked through the planning again this year. We tried a different plan for the lunch with a “buffet style” menu and this worked well – we have received lots of positive feedback and with a little more “fine-tuning” this should work well for the future too. Huge thanks to Kirsten and all the amazing staff at the Stamford Grand Hotel – they do an enormous amount to ensure that Quilt Encounter runs smoothly – all very professional and attentive to our needs. It was again this year a “live-in” event and works very well in this way – having day participants creates considerable additional work for this volunteer committee. It is a very special time for the comradery and fun that we all share and enjoy –from the late-night sewing times, coffee/tea and food, plus learning some new techniques from great tutors and enjoying the wonderful location of the Stamford Grand Hotel in Glenelg.

Enjoy the collage of just some of the fun photos taken throughout Quilt Encounter 2023:

Click here to check out the slideshow of the winners of the many raffles drawn throughout Quilt Encounter.

We look forward to seeing lots of you return for the fun again in 2024 – the dates will be the 15th to the 20th September.

The Quilt Encounter Committee.

Download the full 2023 Quilt Encounter Report here.
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Thank you to our valued 2023 sponsors.
Click here to download a full list of Quilt Encounter Sponsors.

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Lessa Siegele Scholarship for Quilt Encounter

In 2012 the Quilt Encounter Committee established the Lessa Siegele Scholarship. The recipient of the scholarship will receive a 3-day package to Quilt Encounter (including 3 nights’ accommodation), plus $100 spending money to assist with the purchase of their chosen class requirements.

The Lessa Siegele Scholarship is named to honour and acknowledge the significant contribution Lessa made in establishing and convening this now iconic event, for 20 years from 1992 to 2012. Lessa continues to contribute to the success of Quilt Encounter, supporting the current committee with her vast knowledge and experience.

The recipient of this award will be a quilter, who due to special circumstances would not otherwise be able to participate in this event. It may be someone who has given significant volunteer time to their community, is a carer for an elderly relative or someone with a disability, perhaps a person who has experienced tough medical issues. Many of us may know someone who would be deserving of this award. The nominee and/or the recipient of this Scholarship may choose to remain anonymous; this decision will be honoured by SA Quilters. The inaugural scholarship was presented in 2013 and continues to recognise quilters who fit this criteria.

Nominations can be made by a third party or by the applicant. The recipient will be included in the mailing list to receive the Quilt Encounter brochure. Nominations to be received by 31^st March each year.

With the support of SA Quilters Leadership Team, we are pleased to be able to continue with this Scholarship as a tribute to Lessa and provide the means for a fellow quilter to join us at this nationally recognised event.

It is not a requirement that either the nominator or the recipient be a member of SA Quilters.

Download the Lessa Siegele Scholarship information here.

Download the Lessa Siegele Scholarship Nomination Form here, complete and forward to Kerryn Brand by email at Quilt Encounter Convenor

Kerryn Brand

Quilt Encounter Convenor

The 30 annual Quilt Encounter was held at the Stamford Grand Hotel in Glenelg from the 18th to the 24th September. This special anniversary year included an extra day of classes and saw record numbers for our annual retreat here in Adelaide. We had 225 people in total – including participants, tutors and committee. Finally, after the difficult restrictions of Covid in the past couple of years, we were able to welcome back our regulars from all around the country. Approximately 40% of our participants were from interstate and our total numbers included 39 “first-timers” to this nationally renowned quilting retreat.

Our tutors play such an important role for successful Quilt Encounters and our line up this year was fabulous – with all interstate borders open, we were able to present the program as listed in our brochure.

We were delighted to welcome Jen Kingwell (Vic), Deborah Louie (NSW) and Michelle Marvig (NSW) – after 2 years of cancellations for them, along with Gloria Loughman (Vic), Jane McDonald (NSW) and Kathryn Trippett (NSW). Our South Australian tutors were Gina Burgess, Jill Christian, Rachelle Denneny, Julie Haddrick, Pam Holland, Heather Hopkins, Faye Packham, Anna Rackham and Lessa Siegele. Their workshops were all very successful, with extra numbers and some crowded classrooms, we are very grateful for their commitment to the participants to achieve such great results.

There were two Lessa Siegele Scholarship winners again this year, who both thoroughly enjoyed their QE experience. We had Michael Barton from Adelaide and Lesley Bray from Clare – both contribute enormously in their own communities and to our fellow quilters as well. The companionship of like-minded sewers and their stay at the Stamford Grand Hotel for some “me” time was a well-deserved reward and very much appreciated – their smiles said it all!

The shops that joined us for our 30th Anniversary year both provided beautiful displays with plenty of choice for participants to purchase for their classes or to add to their “stash”! Huge thanks to Penny from Pennylane Quilts (Victor Harbor) and Lyn from Riverlea Cottage Quilts (Hyde Park) – your sponsorship and support is an integral part QE and was greatly appreciated by everyone attending.

Christina from Melann’s has taken on the large task of providing the Bernina hire machines for the interstate participants who are unable to bring their own. We welcome Christina to our Quilt Encounter event team and to the Bernina family.

Otto from Otto & Pennys Sewing Centre also supported our event again (despite the retirement plan!) supplying a Bernina loan machine for Deborah Louie to use for demonstrating in her classroom. Thanks so much Otto.

Bernina Australia also provided additional support this year to recognize our special anniversary year. We were able to include the Bernina Logo on the beautiful “goody bags” that we have made each year, along with their regular contribution which helps with our interstate tutors’ airfare costs. Sincere thanks to Bernina Australia – they have been loyal sponsors of Quilt Encounter for the entire 30 years!

There are so many generous sponsors – they were all identified and thanked too for their continued support as many delighted ladies were the recipients of these prizes. Quilt Encounter is known and appreciated by us all for the amazing sponsorship and support provided each year.

This year our charity fundraising was directed to the Breast Care Support Group on Eyre Peninsula. With nearly $3,000 raised to purchase some additional equipment to share across this large area of our state – we know that will be very much appreciated. We gave participants the opportunity of participating in a challenge to acknowledge our Anniversary – pay a $5.00 entry fee and to decorate a bra, to support our worthy cause. The entries were varied and amazing – certainly getting lots of attention from our participants and the Hotel staff alike!

Kimberley, our Conference Organiser, at the Stamford Grand, provided great support as we worked through the planning and changes with additional numbers and special celebrations that were arranged this year. Huge thanks to Kimberley and all the amazing staff at the Stamford Grand Hotel – they do an enormous amount to ensure that Quilt Encounter runs smoothly – all very professional and attentive to our needs.

Next year Quilt Encounter will return to a 5-day event with Opening Night on Sunday and 5 days of workshops – participant numbers will also be back to normal in order that we do not over-crowd the classrooms. It shall also remain as a “live-in” event next year too – having day participants creates considerable additional work for this volunteer committee. It is a very special time for the comradery and fun that we all share and enjoy – learning some new techniques from great tutors and enjoying the Stamford Grand Hotel and the Jetty Road experience, all on the beachfront!

Download the full 2022 Quilt Encounter Report here.

Please enjoy this slideshow of photos from Quilt Encounter 2022 – QE2022