A Nana’s Quest Worldwide Community Project
A Quilt of Life Stories
One Square. One Life. One Story.
What if we could bring the world together, one life story at a time?
We’re inviting people from Australia and around the world to help create one extraordinary community quilt, where every square represents a moment, memory or story from someone’s life.
The Story Behind the Stitches
Every life has a story worth telling.
Some stories are filled with laughter, love and adventure. Others carry memories of people we’ve lost, challenges we’ve overcome, or moments that changed our lives forever.
Here at Nana’s Quest, an online marketplace celebrating handcrafted goods from artists and makers across Australia, we’ve been thinking about what would happen if we brought all those stories together.
Not in a photograph album. Not in a history book.
But in a quilt.
One enormous quilt, created by people from all walks of life, each contributing a little piece of their own story.
A piece of fabric from a grandmother’s sewing basket. An embroidered memory of a childhood home. A tribute to someone special. Or simply a moment that deserves to be remembered.
Every square will be different, because every life is different.
And when we bring those squares together, we’ll create something that belongs to a much bigger story than any one of us.
How to Take Part
Your square. Your story.
Whether you’ve been quilting for fifty years or have only just discovered sewing, we’d love you to be involved.
There’s no set pattern, no compulsory colour scheme and no particular story you have to tell. Your creativity is entirely your own, within our family-friendly project guidelines.
01. Create Your Square
Create a completely finished quilt square measuring exactly 50 cm by 50 cm.
It must include a completed top, middle batting, backing and finished border. All four sides must be securely finished, and the full 50 cm measurement includes your border.
02. Tell Your Story
Include a written story explaining the meaning behind your creation.
It can be handwritten or typed, and might represent a memory, loved one, special occasion or chapter of your life.
Your story will be safely attached to the back of your square.
03. Post It to Katanning
Once official submissions open, send your completed quilt square and story to Nana’s Quest in Katanning, Western Australia.
We’ll bring the contributions together to create one enormous community quilt.
Submissions are not open yet. We’re finalising project arrangements, construction instructions and dates. Please don’t post your square until we officially announce that we’re ready.
From Your Home to Ours
A little town with a worldwide invitation.
Nana’s Quest is based in the Katanning region of Western Australia.
Our marketplace supports Australian makers selling their handcrafted creations across Australia. But this community quilt is open to people from all around the world.
You don’t need to be a Nana’s Quest seller, make a purchase or create an online account. Everyone is welcome.
Nana’s Quest
PO Box 289
Katanning WA 6317
Australia
Participation is free. Contributors provide their own materials and cover postage. International contributors will need to comply with Australian postal and biosecurity requirements.
This postal address is provided for planning purposes only. Please wait for the official opening announcement before sending your square.
A Very Big Dream
Could we make history together?
We have a rather ambitious idea.
We’re investigating the possibility of attempting a Guinness World Records title with our community quilt.
We don’t yet know whether a record attempt will be approved, or how many people might join us. We know there would be an enormous amount of work involved.
But we’re excited to explore what might be possible when people come together.
Whether we make history or not, we’re making the quilt.
Because whether it contains a hundred squares or a hundred thousand, every single story matters.
This is not currently an approved Guinness World Records attempt. No official record, endorsement or certification is guaranteed.
Giving Back Through Creativity
Made by the community. Giving back to the community.
When the quilt is complete, our hope is to share it with the wider community through public exhibitions.
We’d love to begin with Katanning Art Gallery before exploring opportunities for the quilt to travel to other galleries. These arrangements are aspirations, not confirmed exhibition bookings.
And after its exhibition journey, we intend to auction the completed quilt to raise money for charity.
Our plan is to shortlist five eligible charities and invite the community to vote for the organisation they’d most like to support.
Nana’s Quest will not retain money raised through the charity auction. We’ll explain any necessary third-party selling expenses and the final charity arrangements before the auction.
We are currently confirming the necessary charitable collection arrangements before accepting physical contributions.
Preserving Our Stories
What if the stories could live on in a book?
Long after the quilt has been displayed and found its new home, we’d love to preserve the stories behind each square.
We’re exploring the idea of creating a book featuring the memories, experiences and handmade creations of the people who contributed.
Participation in the book will be completely optional.
Contributors will have the opportunity to give permission for their stories and artwork to be published, choose a display name or remain anonymous, or decline inclusion entirely.
Copyright in original stories and designs will remain with their creators. Separate publication permission will be requested for the book.
If the book goes ahead, 100% of its net profits will be donated to charity. Nana’s Quest will retain none of those profits.
Net profit means book sales income remaining after genuine publication and selling costs. The book is a proposed future project and is not guaranteed.
Behind the Idea
Why Nana’s Quest?
It began with something simple. I fell in love with quilting.
And somewhere along the way, I began imagining what would happen if people from around the world could share little pieces of their lives through something made by hand.
Nana’s Quest is an Australian handmade marketplace built around the belief that creativity, tradition and personal stories deserve to be celebrated.
We want to give artists and makers an accessible place to share and sell their work, with fees that remain affordable for small creators.
Our other business, Cooper Delivered, which sells eco shampoo bars and sustainable accessories, helps us keep Nana’s Quest’s marketplace fees low.
So what do we get out of this quilt?
Introducing Nana’s Quest to more people throughout Australia.
Bringing makers, craft lovers and community organisations together.
Celebrating handmade work, personal stories and the people behind them.
Yes, this project is a marketing opportunity for our marketplace, and we’re happy to be transparent about that.
But there are no participation fees. The quilt’s charity auction proceeds and the net profits from the proposed book are not income for Nana’s Quest.
We’re not asking what we can take from a community. We’re asking what we can create together.
Let’s Get Everyone Involved
Calling all shops, crafters and community groups.
This is not something we want to make alone.
We’d love local shops, quilting groups, craft clubs, schools, creative businesses and community organisations to join the journey.
Spread the Word
Display a poster, share the project with your customers, or help us invite people to participate.
Make Together
Organise a crafting session, invite your members and enjoy creating something meaningful.
Support Our Makers
Businesses are welcome to offer donated fabric, craft supplies, vouchers or small gifts for project participants.
Donated contributor supplies and gifts will be used to benefit participants, not retained as Nana’s Quest stock.
No financial contribution is required to become a community supporter.
If your business or group would like to be involved, we’d love to hear from you through our website contact page.
A Few Things You Might Wonder
Frequently asked questions.
Who can participate?
Anyone, anywhere in the world, subject to the project guidelines and applicable laws. No Nana’s Quest marketplace account is needed. Minors will need their parent or guardian to provide the necessary permission.
How big does my quilt square need to be?
Exactly 50 cm by 50 cm when fully finished, including the border and all four edges. Your square needs a top, batting, backing and completed border, securely quilted together.
Can I choose my own design?
Absolutely. There is no compulsory pattern, theme or colour scheme. However, sexual content, drug-related imagery, profanity, hate speech and graphic violence are not permitted in the artwork or publicly displayed writing.
Do I need to include a written story?
Yes. Every contribution must include a written memory, life experience or personal story explaining the square. This will be kept with your contribution and safely attached to its back.
Do I have to pay or register?
There is no participation fee and no requirement to register for the project or create a marketplace account. You supply your own materials and postage. An information and permissions slip will be required when you post your square.
Can I send my square now?
Not yet. We’re finalising construction, charity and submission arrangements. Please wait until we announce the official opening date.
Will my story be published in the book?
Only with your permission. Book inclusion is entirely optional, and declining will not prevent participation in the quilt.
What happens to the finished quilt?
We intend to explore public exhibition opportunities before arranging a charity auction. The community will be invited to vote from five eligible charities. These arrangements are still being finalised.
Is this an official world record attempt?
Not at this stage. We’re investigating the possibility, but the quilt will go ahead whether a record attempt is approved or not.
For more detailed information, please read our separate participation terms.
Be Part of the Beginning
Follow the Quilt’s Journey.
Somewhere in the world, there’s a person with a story that deserves to be remembered.
Perhaps that person is you.
We’re still preparing the project, and we’d love to keep you informed as everything comes together.
Join our optional email updates to hear when submissions open, follow the quilt’s progress and discover more from Nana’s Quest.
You don’t need to sign up to make a quilt square. Email updates are optional.
Please read the participation information before sending a square. No physical contributions are being accepted yet.