Stitches in time

AN Emerald grandmother with a love of embroidery has won this year’s H.B. Thomas Memorial Trophy.
It was just the second time Heather Blackburn had entered a piece in a competition – but her quilt caught the judges’ eyes in the Pakenham Show pavilion.
Her talent was evident in the piece, a double-bed quilt with distinct blue embroidery.
Ms Blackburn said she was thrilled, but surprised, to take out the coveted award.
“I’m shocked to have the best piece in the pavilion,” she said.
“I did it totally myself, it took me a year to make.”
Ms Blackburn takes classes at Boronia Sewing Centre after discovering her love of embroidery four years ago.
“I used to do sewing when I was younger but I was an accountant so I didn’t have much time,” she laughed.
Ms Blackburn entered her first competition last year. The quilt with pinks, fairies and little animals on it just missed out on third place in the Australia-wide competition.
She is now working on another quilt, of single bed size in apricot colours.