When the Rainbow Stash Buster challenge wrapped up behind the scenes, we knew the real magic would be seeing the two-colour 8″ squares come alive in real space. What better way than to bring the collection to life in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane — offering everyone a chance to experience the colour wash, texture, and individuality of each maker’s journey.
In this post, we celebrate how the exhibition has travelled, how the works were curated and displayed, and what visitors experienced along the way.
From Online Challenge to Physical Exhibition
Earlier this year, participants created monthly textile art squares using colour prompts. The end result: a stunning array of mini-quilts that reflect each maker’s personality and creative voice. (You can read more about the challenge itself in our original announcement.)
Addicted 2 Fabric – 2 Sew Textiles
But seeing them together in a gallery elevates the impact — rather than isolated on a screen, the pieces become a chorus of colour, an immersion in contrast, harmony and surprise.
Exhibition Venues & Dates
- Melbourne — AQC (Australian Quilting Convention)
The first stop, in April 2025, where the quilts were displayed in a sweeping colour gradient. Many visitors paused in front of the walls, comparing transitions and noticing connections across different artists.
Addicted 2 Fabric – 2 Sew Textiles - Sydney
After Melbourne, the exhibition travelled to Sydney, where local quilters and art lovers had the opportunity to view it close up. The tighter gallery spaces meant more intimate viewing — people leaned in to see threads, textures, stitches. - Brisbane
Our hometown stop, where participants from Queensland came out in force. Many makers stood beside their works, chatting with visitors about techniques, colour choices, and process.
Display & Curation Highlights
- Colourwash Effect
One of the curatorial decisions was to arrange the works in a spectrum — colours flowing from red to violet — so visitors see transitions across rows and columns. - Lighting & Spacing
Each piece was given breathing room. Soft, even lighting ensured shadows didn’t compete, and viewers could appreciate fabric texture, thread detail, and subtle variances in colour. - Artist Statements & Labels
Every work was paired with a short artist statement or prompt response (where makers shared their monthly inspirations). This gives context and personality behind the stitches. - Close-up Corners
In each venue, a small “zoomed detail” panel showcased close-ups of thread texture or small motifs. These encouraged people to step forward and really look.
Audience Reactions & Memorable Moments
The display was a riot of colour and creativity — visitors walked along the walls in awe, soaking in the sheer impact of seeing so many works hung together in a rainbow sweep. People had fun tracing the series from each maker, spotting how their chosen colours shifted across the months, and delighting in the clever ways some incorporated the optional word prompts.
Laughter and exclamations of “oh look at this one!” and “I love how they used that word!” were heard throughout the exhibition spaces. It became a treasure hunt of sorts — finding favourite squares, recognising styles, and discovering the personal voice of each participant stitched into their work.
And perhaps the best part? Many of the makers themselves visited the exhibitions. We captured wonderful moments of them proudly pointing to their squares — living proof of the joy, pride, and sense of community this challenge has sparked. (See the images below to see the smiling faces beside their artworks!)
What It Means for Our Community
This exhibition tour did more than show off finished pieces — it:
- Bridged the digital-art-maker divide
People who followed the challenge online could now see in person the work behind each square. - Inspired new makers
Visitors who saw the quilts asked, “How can I join next year?” It plants seeds for future participants. - Forged connections
Makers, viewers, quilters and curious folks came together over shared love of colour, fabric and stitch. - Validated the mini-art form
The success shows that small works, when well curated, hold as much emotional impact as larger quilts.
What’s Next?
- After Brisbane, we hope to bring the exhibition to other cities or craft guilds.
- We have published a book with gallery-style images and a downloadable PDF version too. (Rainbow Stash Buster Book).
- Meanwhile, the new Rainbow Stash Hero Challenge is underway — for anyone who joined or is curious, this is your next creative playground.
