Houston Success

The International Quilt Association has announced the winners of the 2007 World of Beauty exhibition and has put up this splendid gallery of prize winners. Successful Guild members include:

• Mariya Waters - The Founders Award ($7500)
  
• Margaret McDonald & Susan Campbell - Judges Choice
  
• Jocelyne Leath - Art Painted Surface - Second Prize
  
• Helen Godden - Group Quilt - First Prize
  
• Linda Steele - Mixed Technique - First Prize & Traditional Applique - Second Prize

Congratulations to our talented Guild members.

Guild Member Success @ Houston

As noted in earlier posts on 15 August and 15 October, several Guild members have been selected as finalists at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Even if you can't be there in person, you can view a webcast of the glorious quilts and celebrations from Thursday 1 November (Houston time).

2 November Friday Showcase: The Material Girls

Christine Kontratenko, Denise Sargo, Marilyn Lowder, Kerry Sterns and Sandra Lyons are members of the award winning quilting collaborative - The Materials Girls. The Material Girls are presenting the Friday Showcase, this Friday 2 November 2007 (10am at the Guild office). Join us for the final showcase for 2007!

Warrang Forseeing Sydney Cover by The Material Girls
1st Prize, Group/Collaborative Category
Sydney Quilt Show 2006

The Cat Did It by The Material Girls
4th Prize, Group/Collaborative Category
Sydney Quilt Show 2007

Position STILL Vacant: Template Editor

I am delighted to report that most committee positions were filled at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday. However, we are still looking for a new person to take on the important communications role of Template Editor. The duties of the Template Editor include:

• receive, organise, edit and layout copy for the quarterly newsletter - The Template;
• gather information and write articles; take photos for use in The Template;
• liaise with contributors and proofreaders;
• liaise with the Guild's publicity officer, who provides advertising information and files;
• liaise with and check colour proofs from the printer;
• liaise with the Office Manager re printing, packing and distribution;
• provide content for the Guild website and blog;
• attend Guild and committee meetings; and
• promotion of the Guild's activities and services through The Template.

The position involves the following skills and resources:

• working with Microsoft publisher and photo editing software (both can be learned and are not difficult to master);
• access to e-mail and the internet - preferably broadband as some files are large - home would be better than work unless you have an understanding employer;
• the Guild provides a laptop computer with software; and
• an eye for design (as most quilters have!) and logical organisation of information.

The Template has undergone a revamp and redesign over the past year and the handover to the new editor includes useful files, documents and training as needed. There is about a month between the closing date for copy and sending of files to the printer, so you would have four busier months in the year. Preparation of the December issue is well advanced and many people have offered to assist by preparing articles and reporting on Guild activities.

This is a really way positive way in which you can contribute to the Guild's progress. Our newsletter remains a valuable communication to members and record of events. If you're interested and would like more information, please contact me - President Lorraine.

A Little Housekeeping

As a general housekeeping and spam reduction measure, the "enquiries" and "admin" Guild e-mail addresses are being phased out and have been consolidated into a NEW office e-mail address as shown below. Please update your records accordingly:

As a further attempt to reduce junk e-mails, this e-mail listing has not been hotlinked. Please type the relevant e-mail address onto your computer.

The Office Manager also highlights the following matters:

• Guild office e-mails are checked regularly but not every day. If a matter requires urgent attention or a fast response, it is preferable for you to telephone the office on (02) 9283 3737;


• email may be answered by different people during the course of a week. It would help our office volunteers if you could give a little more information about who your contact is and the subject of the email; and


• if requesting forms or information please include a postal address, as not all the forms are available to the office volunteers as attachments for email. (You might also first check the "Forms to Download" section in the side bar of this blog.)

Looking Forward, Looking Back Prize Winners

Congratulations to Amanda Daly, Helen Godden and Janine Dixon who were awarded the first three prizes in the Guild's 25th anniversary theme challenge - Looking Forward, Looking Back. You can view all of the imaginative entries in the challenge gallery on the Guild's website or by clicking on this slideshow.


The challenge theme for 2008 is Coast and Country. Focus either theme element or both!

Winning Flair

Congratulations to Guild member, Clare Fairless who has been awarded:

• First place Wholecloth - at the Innovations 2007 Quilt Show in the United States for Snickle Dippinlips; and
• Second place, Best of Country (Australia) at the World Quilt Competition 2007 for her quilt Tintaglia- see the prize winners gallery

Snickle Dippinlips
Clare Fairless

Looking Forward, Looking Back @ the AGM

There were 37 entries in the Guild's 25th Anniversary Theme Challenge - Looking Forward, Looking Back. All the challenge quilts will be on display at the Annual General Meeting at Burwood RSL this Saturday, 20 October 2007. Come along and put your vote in for the Viewer's Choice!

While you're at it, you might like to join the committee in GOING PINK for October and wear something pink to the AGM.

Houston Update

Further to the 15 August post about International Quilt Association Houston finalists, there is more exciting news. Guild member, Helen Godden from Canberra and Annette M Hendricks from Chicago IL USA, Gail E Thomas from Vernon BC Canada have combined their strengths and passion for colour, design and textiles to create an award winning Tri-Nation Collaborative quilt.

The THREE SISTERS will be world premiered during the Winner’s Circle Celebration at the International Quilt Festival 2007 at Houston (30 October to 4 November). Congratulations Helen!

Artist Trading Cards with Erica Spinks

Erica Spinks will be demonstrating how to make Artist Trading Cards at 11am at the Burwood meeting on Saturday, 20 October 2007:

Citrus Fling
Erica Spinks

Block of the Quarter: December 2007

The last Block of the Quarter for 2007 is simple and classic and will make a fresh summer quilt. All the instructions for this 6 1/2in Puss in the Corner block are in the current issue of The Template newsletter but here is a colour image to help you choose your blue and cream fabrics:

Please note that the Block of the Quarter will be drawn at the Burwood meeting on 1 December 2007 rather than the October meeting. You can participate in the Block of the Quarter by bring your TWO blocks along to Burwood or posting them into the Guild office by no later than Tuesday, 24 November 2007.

Do Your Christmas Shopping Early!

It's not too late to purchase your copy of a 2008 calendar featuring stunning quilts from the Guild's 25th Anniversary challenge. You can purchase them from the Guild office or using the Calendar Order Form. The calendars are $15 each (plus credit card fee and postage & handling if applicable). Orders of 10 or more calendars in Australia are post-free!

Northbridge Quilters Exhibition:11-13 October

Northbridge Quilters are staging an exhibition this weekend at:

Uniting Church Hall
Gunyah Street, Northbridge
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm
Entry $5
11-13 October

French Quilts Presentation: 6 October @ 1.30pm

The Sydney Quilt Study Group has arranged for Brigitte Giblin to give a presentation of some old French quilts and her own quilts this Saturday. Brigitte will talk about how English, French and Australian quilts have influenced her quilt designs. The SQSG will also have 4 French quilts and a jupon ( wedding skirt) from their committee members' collections on hand for viewing. There will be a raffle, afternoon tea and non-members are welcome.

VENUE: 1.30pm @ Quiltsmith shop at 75 Nelson Street, Annandale. The shop is situated between Parramatta Road and Booth Street - get off the 470 bus to Lilyfield at the corner of Nelson Street and Booth Street or take a bus along Parramatta Road and get off at Nelson Street. ($5 entry fee - SQSG members attend free.)

For further information Contact Liz Bonner at (02) 9692 8853 or lizbonner@ozemail.com.au

5 October Friday Showcase: Lynn Hewitt.

Guild accredited teacher, and former President, Lynn Hewitt is the presenter of Friday Showcase, this Friday 5 October 2007 (10am at the Guild office). Lynn is also teaching her Winding Ways workshop on 18 November 2007. Click here for the workshop booking form.

Gum Leaves by Lynn Hewitt
85 x 67 cm

Going Pink

As you can see, as part of an international initiative to support breast cancer awareness, the Guild blog is Going Pink for October. One in eleven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 75 (and men get breast cancer too). Early detection significantly improves survival rates so it's important to be aware of detection methods such as:

• self examination;
  
• medical examination; and
  
• screening mammography - this is done on an asymptomatic basis (no sign of changes) free of charge for women who are 40 years of age and above at Breast Screen Australia on 13 20 50.

This October, the Guild encourages you to educate yourself about the multiple issues related to breast cancer, then take that newfound knowledge and tell someone else what you’ve learned.