"Simply overwhelming" and "utterly amazing" have been the sort of comments from people at exhibitions held by the Golden Bay Patchwork and Quilters Guild at the Collingwood Memorial Hall in recent years.

What has become an annual event in the town is again happening this Labour Weekend, with some 60 quilts representing the best combined work from more than 30 Golden Bay quilters and textile artists being hung out in all their splendour and variety.

Forget it being confined to beds, the art of quilting has truly transitioned to the wall. Showcased at the exhibition will be Motueka Quilting Connections' small challenge quilts - A View Through a Window, along with Moana Lees' The Romance of Birds.

There will also be on display creations of local Golden Bay sewing class students, along with working displays and sewing demonstrations.

"Thousands of dollars have been raised for local volunteer groups from the sale of tickets for the quilt that the group makes annually," says local quilter Liza Eastman.

"With no fabric shops close by, members often rely on second-hand shops like local Hospice and Trash Palace, re-cycling fabrics from them into our work and supporting their causes as well."

This year it's a king-size black, white and red quilt, titled At the Crossroads, which will be raffled off to raise funds for the Golden Bay Community Vehicle Trust, otherwise known as Wrinklies Express. More than 20 guild members donating countless hours worked on the quilt.

Other group quilts can now be found hanging in the Takaka Anglican church, TDC Takaka Service Centre, Museum and Information Centre.

Ms Eastman said the group welcomes "closet quilters" to pop in to their daytime meetings, held the first Thursday and third Wednesday of every month in the Senior Citizen Hall, Takaka.

"We really encourage people to come in with old family quilts and show them off to us. And we welcome people looking for help or just want to share knowledge and techniques."

Quilting Exhibition 9.30am until 6pm - today and tomorrow; Monday 9.30am until 4pm. Collingwood Memorial Hall. Gold coin entry.

- © Fairfax NZ News