ASGLA ALBION "DOWN UNDER" - The Bird and Butterfly Window

Window Quilt Project for the Chapel at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia

The history of this quilt window installed in the Chapel at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane,
is intertwined with the history of ASGLA Albion "DOWN UNDER."

In 1995 Jo Flynn led a class in making a Dragonfly Tiffany Lampshade. It occurred to Jan Barnard that these people might like to become members of ASGLA. She canvassed widely in Australia and due to her efforts a fairly large group joined ASGLA in June, 1996. One of those new members was Bob Tesch, who had previously made a Tiffany Floral Border after having completed a flat panel lampshade class.

As a group project over the next two years, members made butterfly and parrot quilt squares to designs produced by Jo. At Jan’s suggestion it was agreed to build them into a window to be installed in the Chapel at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane. The window construction was undertaken by Bob and the installation was carried out by Albion Glass of which company Jan is a part owner.

The hospital Chaplains were so thrilled with the window that they commissioned Albion Glass to produce and install a lampshade in the Chapel. In consultation with Jan they chose a design and the glass to complement
the ambience of the Chapel. It was constructed by Bob.

ASGLA ALBION "DOWN UNDER" and Albion Glass have made an ongoing commitment to sponsoring more windows for the Chapel. In the year 2000 a further two quilt windows with a floral theme were installed.
Currently, a window designed on a theme suggested by the Sunday School song "If I Were a Butterfly" is under construction. Photos of these windows are also planned for the website.

Then it will be time to decide on a theme and design the next window. There is enough window space to keep us busy for a few years yet.

The group is grateful to "Motherhen" Carol Conti for her assistance, encouragement and forbearance.