In isolated rural communities, friendships and solidarity often underpin emotional happiness.
As such, Julie Nixon, a Gelbvieh cattle farmer in Dulacca, hopes a unique initiative she has launched will unite rural women through their passion for sewing.
She is optimistic her Patchwork in the Pasture workshops will provide a space for women to stitch beautiful quilts while forming friendships and finding solace in one another’s company.
Julie’s inspiration came from the slow and steady art of quilt making. Quilt making is a soothing process, one that allows for deep reflection, creativity and connection.
In January, over two weekends, the first patchwork workshop was held at Julie’s Henderson House B’n’B in Dulacca, where four women turned 60-degree triangles into quilts.
It was a huge success.
“The weekend was like a big sleepover with other like-minded ladies,” Julie said. “We had lots of laughs plus lots of sewing.
“Everybody brought food and alcohol and fun. It was just an old-fashioned girls’ weekend and laughter really is the best medicine.
“I think it’s coming back to that old-fashioned quality time. You need good friendships and you need to be surrounded by like-minded people. The workshop was just so good.
“And you know, they’d achieved something by the end of the weekend. They started with some scraps of material and ended up with beautiful quilts and learnt so much.
“It has always been a dream of mine to do this.”
Julie has sewn her entire life, making all the family’s clothes, but began quilting “by accident” 25 years ago when she bought a house in Injune next to a patchworker.
“She saw my massive amounts of fabric and said, ‘You’ve got to start patchworking’. And I went, ‘Never, never, never patchwork’.
“Anyway, she got me started. And, yeah. I’ve never stopped.
“And now I teach others how to do it. So, yeah, it’s funny how it turned out. She always laughs at me and says, ‘Never starting patchworking, hey?!’
“I just enjoy doing it, I like designing the quilts.”
Reflecting the fast-paced world we live in, Julie prefers to teach her students the “easy way” on a sewing machine rather than the traditional and intricate hand-sewn method.
“In my workshops, quality quilts are completed in a few days and are ready to use and wash,” she said. “I’m not a big fan of quilts that just sit on a bed.”
Julie Nixon was born in Coonabarabran, NSW and raised on a mixed farm in the middle of that state between Coolah and Binnaway.
After marrying Aderian in 1999, she moved to Queensland and now runs 100 Weetalabah Gelbvieh females across 570 hectares.
Having lived her life on the land, Julie is confident Patchwork in the Pasture workshops will fill an important void for rural women.
That through quilting, they will find a way to unify and support each other, turning a quiet tradition into a lifeline that helps them weather both personal and professional storms.
* For more information on Patchwork in the Pasture workshops, please contact Julie Nixon on: 0414 253 936.
* Julie will cater to the level of experience and area of interest such as quilt making, table runners and basic sewing.
* Henderson House B’n’B can sleep 10 and, as such, birthday party and bridal shower bookings are welcome.
