Quilt No.663CR - Constance Real

Connie Real started quilting in the 1950s. "She knew nothing about the craft and started from scratch." In the 1960s Connie was influenced by an article in the New Idea magazine on Mrs. Bland a Canadian woman married to an Englishman and living in Melbourne. The article promoted quilting and referred to American designs such as 'Ohio Rose', 'Triple Sunflower', 'Daddy Hex' and 'Double Wedding Ring'.
"In the 1970s interest was growing in Queensland and as people saw Connie's work they too wanted to know how to do it. Interest was also stimulated through CWA meetings and eventually in 1978 Connie began the first patchwork group in the Darling Downs when she was asked to tutor a full and enthusiastic class at the Summer school in Toowoomba. A further class was begun by Connie in her home town of Kingaroy in 1980. Due to her enthusiasm and strong direction a very strong group was established there and in the surrounding districts. These are alive and flourishing today, regularly attracting new devotees to a wonderful craft. Over the years Connie can count back to a figure of 200 women who have joined her group enjoying what she calls 'this fabulous pastime'. Connie is an original member of the Queensland Quilters Inc. which began in 1984 as an organisational guild for meetings in Brisbane, becoming the Queensland Quilters Inc. in 1988."
[Extract from notes from a friend of Constance Real, Qld, 1998]