Coonamble has always been a very talented area when it comes to art and craft.

This is a little story on one particular group amongst the many patch workers of the district.

Seven years ago, a friendship patchwork group started under the careful guidance of Carey Golledge (Honeysuckle Cottage at Quambone), and Wendy Wild a very talented local patch worker. There were 8 in the original group from the Quambone, Gulargambone and Coonamble districts. Included in this group was Annie Downs from “Hatched and Patched”

The members meet monthly, each taking it in turn to be the hostess and provide lunch. (Back in the beginning, patchwork days were invariably wet days, making it a challenge to travel the countryside. Husbands usually promoted the day, welcoming the chance to fill rain gauges. How quickly times changed!!)

The Friendship quilt evolves over time. Each member starts their own quilt, establishing their colour preference and style. The quilts are then handed around to each member of the group with everyone adding their own ideas but maintaining the established style and colour. The quilts remain a mystery to their owners, until they are completed.

This group has continued on, members have changed over the years, but the result is still the same - good company, good food, good conversation and a quilt at the end.  Our men folk still remain quite puzzled and can’t grasp the concept of cutting up good fabric into little pieces, then sewing it back together again. We each learn new techniques, work with different colours and have a great day out.

Each year we create a charity quilt. This quilt is donated to a local community organization to be raffled. This gives us the opportunity to give to others.

Our current members are Gillian McKenzie, Pam Goldsmith, Bev Davidson, Lyn Green, Lorraine Lewis, Kylie Parry, Valda Butler, Tracey Jung and Amanda Colwell.