JESSE NEILL

THE COMMITTEE and members of the Gawler Quilting Circle are busy preparing for the upcoming 11th biennial Gawler Textile Art Weekend to be held this Saturday and Sunday.

This event has been held every two years since 1999 and is co-ordinated by the Gawler Quilting Circle committee. Secretary Anne Webb said the popular event “provides a forum for local women  to display and exhibit their variety of craftwork over a two-day period to an average of 900 visitors”.

“We involve any craft or sewing group within Gawler that wish to participate and we help co-ordinate their advertising, planning and exhibiting of their work,” she said.

The types of crafts on display this year are quilting and patchwork, embroidery, textile art, doll making and many handmade items.

The various displays are held at a number of venues throughout the town including the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club, Zion Lutheran Church Hall, The Community Gallery, UCare Hall, the Masonic Lodge Hall and local haberdashery shop Kornacraft.

There are raffles at some of the venues, with money raised going to local charities.

“There is also an entry fee at most of the venues and food and refreshments are available at several locations,” Ms Webb said.

“We will have a yellow brick road type of competition as well, so people can take a card to each venue to get stamped and at the end of the weekend we announce a winner.”

Ms Webb added the Gawler Quilting Circle will be holding an exhibition of over 140 quilts that have been made by its 64 members.

“We are also thrilled that this year there is a section for entries from juniors, many of whom have taken sewing classes at Kornacraft,” she said.

“The quilting exhibition will once again be held at the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club on Barnet Road and is open from 10am until 4pm on both days.

“Gawler mayor Karen Redman will also open the event on Saturday at 10am.”

The entry fee is $5 and the money made from door sales will be donated to Fred’s Van and the Northern Domestic Violence Group.