Sunday and Went worth quilters

It is rare for me to have a weekend off, but on this particular weekend, the 21st and 22nd of September, I happened to be rostered off and on Saturday my hubby and I went to the Glenbrook markets in the morning and took Xena who also enjoyed the outing as well as the gorgeous spring day. On Sunday my hubby played golf with our oldest son, so I decided to take myself off to Guilford for the day as the Wentworth Quilters had an exhibition of their quilts on show, this weekend. The exhibition was held at Linnwood House in Guildford.

 Just a short historical note about Linnwood House. In 1889 George and Susan McCredie purchased part of the Orchardleigh Estate at Guilford and set about designing and building a residence for their family. The house, named Linnwood was completed in April 1891. The McCredie's lived in Linnwood with their 8 children until 1917,( although George died in  1903 from Gastritis, he was only 43yrs old). The house Linnwood was an innovation for its time- generating its own electricity and having the first telephone in the district. A newspaper article describes Linnwood as "being one of the most perfectly domestic establishments in the southern hemispheres- a home that is just a dream of every convenience and comfort. In 1917 the property was advertised for lease, the Education department leased the 11 acres and used the property for a Boys Truant School, until 1936. The house was then converted to a girls school for state wards aged 14yrs and up. Linnwood continued to be used this way for the next few decades and by 1966 was seen as a special training school for Home Science for girls from deprived backgrounds. It was not strictly an orphanage, but used for girls who, for various reasons, could not live in their own homes. The girls were taught housekeeping, cooking and needlework as well as being schooled on site in Linnwoods own schoolrooms. By 1999 all homes on the estate was virtually empty. The friends of Linnwood formed to help preserve and protect Linnwood and it is their aim to help the heritage office with much needed restoration works on the house.

The quilt exhibition held by the Wentworth Quilters was of a very high standard and I was absolutely amazed and dazzled by the layout of the quits in different rooms as well as the great workmanship displayed in the making of these quilts. There was even special rooms for Christmas and babies, a credit to the organisers. A special thank you to Faye Young for giving me a short demonstration on hand quilting a large quilt. I also have a friend and neighbour "Viv" who happened to be one of the girls who lived and was schooled at Linnwood House. Viv also has stated that it feels like going home when she visits Linnwood.

 

 

The Banner outside Linnwood displaying the quilt exhibition

Entrance into Linnwood House

Gorgeous stained glass windows throughout the house.

 

The grand hallway, wonderful 12ft ceilings, chandeliers and cedar woodwork

Now for some quilts!            Yorkshire coverlet by Kathleen Davey

The birds, berries and basket quilt by Lynette Fitzgerald

Second time round by Annie Alberts

Pieces of the Past by Judith Smith, below a close up of the centre.

Pie quilt by Kathleen Davey

Gardenhurst by Liz Smith

The raffle quilt. Spring has Sprung, a design from Patchwork Fundamentals, drawn at 4pm Sunday, LOL I did not get a phone call, such a shame, lost again.

Spring Dahlia by Christine Parish, a close up of the centre, love the fussy cutting!

And of course some gorgeous cushions, scattered, throughout the rooms, as well as multiple handmade patchwork bags, with embroidery and patchwork designs.

Also on display was fashion from the 1800's, above a typical 3 piece wedding set.

In summary it was a great show and a credit to the organisers. A job well done.