Office hours

The Guild office closes Friday 9 December for the summer break.

The office will reopen on Monday 16 January 2012.

Sewing in the Office: 28 November 10:30am-2pm

The last Sewing in the Office event for Community Quilts for 2011 is on Monday 28 November 10.30am-2pm Bring along your sewing kit and join in the fun. For further information contact Maree Gebhardt.

Braidwood Quilt Event and Airing of the Quilts: 26 November

The 17th Braidwood Quilt Event and Airing of The Quilts will feature over 500 quilts, displayed in the street and different venues in the town.

When: 26 November 2011
Where: Wallace Street, Braidwood NSW
More details: Braidwood Quilt Event

Note that although the free Airing of the Quilts is only held on Saturday, the two-day quilt competition exhibition will be on display Saturday 26 AND Sunday 27 November in the National Theatre, Wallace Street. There will be a $5 entry fee per day to this exhibition.

Bungendore Quilters also have their exhibition the same weekend in the Memorial Hall, on Molonglo Street aka the Kings Highway.

Burwood General Meeting: 26 November 2011

The next meeting will be held on Saturday 26 November at Burwood RSL. This is the final meeting for 2011. The program is as follows:

Theme - Waggas and wool quilts - bring along yours to share!

Guest Speaker - Annette Glare, who will discuss Waggas.

Feature group - Hunters Hill Quilters.

Can you help?

The Guild has had the following enquiry from the Social History and Exhibitions Curator of Fairfield City Museum and Gallery. If you can help, please contact her direct.

Good morning,
I am wondering if you are able to help me with an enquiry we have about a quilt which is currently in our collection. We do not have any information about who made the quilt or when it was donated to the Museum so I was therefore wondering if someone in your organisation had either seen the quilt before or knew someone who made this particular type of quilt. We are hoping to track down either the owner or the person who donated it to the Museum.

I have attached a picture of the quilt.

Any assistance you can provide would be much appreciated, I realise this is very much a long shot!
Kind regards,

Helen Johnson
Social History and Exhibitions Curator
Fairfield City Museum and Gallery
Cnr The Horsley Drive and Oxford St, Smithfield NSW 2164
Tel: (02) 9609 3992
Fax: (02) 9757 4357

Sydney Royal Easter Show Arts and Craft Competition

The 2012 Royal Easter Show Art and Crafts competition is now calling for entries. If you would like to enter a quilt (or any other craft) in the competition, click here to see all details of entry, timelines and an entry form

Offline entries close 30 November 2011 and online entries close 1 February 2012.

Campbelltown Quilt Show: 12 & 13 November

Campbelltown Quilt Show will be held Saturday 12 November & Sunday 13 November. Entry fee is $6.

When: Saturday 12 November & Sunday 13 November, 10am -4pm.

Where: Campbelltown Civic Hall, corner Queen and Broughton Streets, Campbelltown.

Enquiries: Denise Pritchard, phone 4655 5141.

Gerringong Quilt Show: 11-13 November

The Gerringong Quilt Show will be held 11-13 November. There will be craft for sale and tea and lunches available. Entry is $5. All proceeds go to The Children's Medical Research Institute.

When: Friday 11 November and Saturday 12 November 9am - 5pm; Sunday 13 November 9am - 4pm.

Where: Town Hall, Gerringong.

Enquiries: Dorothy

Friday Showcase 4 November: Barbara Van Vliet

Barbara Van Vliet presents Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 4 November 2011. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee).

Go Anywhere Jacket Workshop: 25 - 26 February 2012

Join Lynn Hewitt for her Go Anywhere Jacket workshop:
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February 2012 (9.30am for 10am-3pm)
Epping Creative Centre, Dence St, Epping.

This reversible jacket is based on the oldest known garment, the ‘Bog Coat’. The original was unearthed in a bog in Denmark in 1000BC. It has appeared in many countries over the centuries and is still a versatile garment. Make your jacket in colours and fabrics to enhance your wardrobe today. The jacket packs flat for travelling and provides those extra layers when the weather is cooler.

Day 1. Create the fabric for the jacket using quick piecing techniques.
Day 2. Assemble the jacket and perhaps wear it home.

Download and return a Workshop Booking Form to reserve your place.

Group Insurance

The Guild committee has successfully negotiated a new business insurance policy which will provide public liability insurance for financial Member Groups.

There is no change to the Group Membership fee ($88.00) and no change to the benefits applicable for Group membership.

The policy will give Member Groups public liability insurance for all group meetings, workshops and exhibitions. The policy also has a provision for insurance of quilts at exhibitions.

It is not compulsory for Member Groups to participate in this insurance but many groups will find this to be an inexpensive alternative to existing insurance options.

To participate in this policy a group is required to pay a capitation fee of $5.00 for each NON guild member of the group. Group members who are financial individual members of the Guild will not pay the capitation fee.

For further details please email Maree Gebhardt.

Gosford Art Prize

Works selected for the Gosford Art Prize are currently on display at Gosford Regional Gallery until 27 November. A program of artists' talks has been arranged for Saturdays at 2pm.

Congratulations to two Guild members, Kay Haerland and Jenny Munday, whose works have been accepted for the exhibition.

Other entries are presented in the Overflow Exhibiton, organised by the Central Coast Art Society and held in the Imperial Shopping Centre in Gosford from 14 - 22 October.

Purple & Yellow Guild Challenge

The 2011 Guild Challenge Purple and Yellow was exhibited for the first time at the recent Annual General meeting.  There were 61 entries and prizes were awarded as follows:

• 1^st: Purple Pachyderm – Linda Crouch, Doncaster Victoria
• 2^nd: Two Together – Margaret Wallace, Bega NSW
• 3^rd: One Eyed, one horned flying purple people eater – Amanda Daly, Kenthurst NSW
• Judges' commendation & Viewers' Choice: Aquilegia – Pam Pearce, Balgownie NSW
• Judges' commendation: Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Heather Middleton, Gymea NSW

First and second prizes were sponsored by the Guild.  Other prizes were kindly provided by Country Pickins at the Corner. The quilts form will now travel as a suitcase exhibition.  Contact the exhibition coordinator via the Guild office if you would like to share these quilts with your group or local community.

In association with Expertise Events, the Guild is arranging another challenge - Fertile Imagination - which will be featured at the 2012 Craft and Sewing Shows at Rosehill and Newcastle and the Guild meetings in March and May. This is a fabric challenge with a finished size of 50x50cm.  Forward your application form and payment to the Guild office no later than 8 December 2011. By return mail, you will receive a fat quarter of challenge fabric and an entry form. See the Guild website for more information

Fibonacci Workshop: 24 - 25 October

Hurry - only one place available!

Join Amanda Daly for her Fibonacci workshop:
Monday and Tuesday 24 and 25 October (9.30am for 10am - 3pm)
Epping Creative Centre, Dence St, Epping.

Download and return a Workshop Booking Form to reserve your place.

Amanda Daly is a very popular tutor and her technique employing the Fibonacci numbering sequence is an exciting way to look at quilt design. For those who have done previous workshops with Amanda, this will expand the technique for you and, for those new to the idea, it will give you fresh insight into design layout.

Sewing in the Office: 24 October 10:30am-2pm

The next Sewing in the Office event for Community Quilts is on Monday 24 October 10.30am-2pm Bring along your sewing kit and join in the fun. For further information contact Maree Gebhardt.

Annual General Meeting: 15 October 2011

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 15 October at Burwood RSL. In addition, the program will include:

Theme - Japanese quilts - bring along yours to share!

Demonstration - Bob James will demonstrate foundation piecing techniques.

Guest Speaker - Male members of the Guild are invited to display their quilts and give a brief talk about their quilting journeys.

Shop - Country Pickins'

And don't forget - the 2011 Guild Purple and Yellow Challenge quilts will be on display and the prize winners announced. The theme for the 2012 Challenge will also be announced.

Fibonacci Workshop: 24 - 25 October

Join Amanda Daly for her Fibonacci workshop:
Monday and Tuesday 24 and 25 October (9.30am for 10am - 3pm)
Epping Creative Centre, Dence St, Epping.

Download and return a Workshop Booking Form to reserve your place.

Hurry - only three places left!

Amanda Daly is a very popular tutor and her technique employing the Fibonacci numbering sequence is an exciting way to look at quilt design. For those who have done previous workshops with Amanda, this will expand the technique for you and, for those new to the idea, it will give you fresh insight into design layout.

Fertile Imagination Challenge

In association with Expertise Events, the Guild has arranged a special challenge - Fertile Imagination. Quilts entered in this challenge will be featured at the 2012 Craft and Sewing Shows at Rosehill and Newcastle and the Guild meetings in March and May.

This is a fabric challenge, where your quilt must be a finished size of 50x50cm.

The challenge fabric.

Conditions of entry and an application form are on the Guild website.

Forward your application form and payment to the Guild office no later than 8 December 2011. By return mail, you will receive a fat quarter of challenge fabric and an entry form.

Completed quilts and entry forms must be received in the Guild office by 20 February 2012.

Novocastrian Quilters Inc Exhibition: 8 & 9 October

The Novocastrian Quilters Inc Exhibition - Quilted Gems will be held on 8 & 9 October. It will feature members' quilts, challenge quilts, handmade goods and merchants' stalls. Entry is $5 and includes free workshops daily.

When: 9am - 4pm, Saturday 8 October and Sunday 9 October.

Where: New Lambton Community Centre, 14 Alma Road, New Lambton.

Enquiries: Novocastrian Quilters Inc

Southern Quilters Finishing School Quilt Show: 7 & 8 October

The Southern Quilters Finishing School Quilt Show opens at 9.30am on Friday 7 October. Entry is $6 and there will be more than 90 quilts on display. As well, there will be two raffle quilts, sale of work, refreshments and two local patchwork shops will have goods for sale.

When: 9.30am - 4.30pm Friday 7 October and Saturday 8 October.

Where: Gymea Baptist Church, Tea Gardens Avenue, Gymea.

Enquiries: Marilyn Lowder

Friday Showcase 7 October:

This month's Friday showcase will feature members' show and tell. Bring your quilts to the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 7 October 2011. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee).

Sewing in the Office: 26 September 10:30am-2pm

The next Sewing in the Office event for Community Quilts is on Monday 26 September 10.30am-2pm Bring along your sewing kit and join in the fun. For further information contact Maree Gebhardt.

5-6 November: Unfolding Tradition - 2011 Australian Quilt Study Symposium

The 2011 Symposium will be hosted by the Quilt Study Group Victoria at The Immigration Museum, Old Customs House, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne.

Keynote speakers include: Dr Annette Gero (quilt historian), Lynette Nilaweera (Geelong Wool Museum), Bronwyn Cosgrove (Conservator, NGV), Strathdale Quilters (1895 Heritage Signature Quilt) and Alan Tremain (To create, or recreate, is the question).

Click here to see the full program and booking form.

QSG Report: Jennifer Corkish Antique Quilt Inspiration

Jennifer Corkish is a noted quilt designer and teacher who lives in the Southern Highlands of NSW and who specialises in antique looking quilts. She spoke to us about her inspiration when designing quilts and the process she follows for reproducing antique quilts. She was accompanied by five of her students who showed us their quilts, completed and in progress, demonstrating the variety of modifications to her quilt patterns that can be made. 

Jennifer (2nd on left) with her students

Jennifer told us that she looks at quilt auction and sale websites, museum collections, magazines, books, quilts brought along to Quilt Study Group meetings, private quilt collections and old embroideries to inspire her in designing her quilt patterns. She often takes ideas from different quilts to come up with a design that is modified in class to meet each of her students’ aims, sewing preferences and fabric choices.

Here are 3 students' variations of one of her designs  – 

 

We were taken through a series of images of antique quilts, their source details, Jennifer’s designs inspired by those quilts, and then we were shown 2 to 3 examples of quilts made in her classes from her patterns. Jennifer carefully explained exactly how each pattern was created and then varied for each student. Many of her Australian quilt inspirations came from photographs in Dr. Annette Gero’s books (the Frederica Josephson quilt, the Roebuck quilt, the Sarah Evans quilt, Elizabeth Hardy’s 1840 quilt, Jessie Wilson’s 1870 Medallion with Heart quilt, Mary Tolman’s 1850s hexagon quilt), Jenny Manning’s book and Aunt Clara’s quilt from the Powerhouse Museum.  

 

Her inspirations are many -  patterns on tiles, photographs of quilts in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Beamish Collection in the UK, and antique quilts she saw at Houston in USA. Jennifer said she prefers to use ordinary materials to design her quilt patterns – graph paper, propelling pencil, compass and protractor, but she has been known to use EQ7 and Photoshop software. Her final statement was apt: “I can’t imagine living without a needle and thread. That’s why I design, colour, stitch and teach others to do the same.”

Liz Bonner.

17 September: Quilt Study Group Meeting

The Quilt Study Group of NSW is a Guild sub-committee that promotes interest and research into quilting, particularly in Australia. The next meeting will be held on 17 September, 2pm-4.30pm and will include afternoon tea.

Jennifer Corkish will talk about her inspiration when designing quilts and the process she follows for reproducing antique quilts. She will bring many of her quilts to illustrate the talk and some of her students will also be there with their quilts to show. Please bring along your own reproduction quilts for show and tell.

Venue: The Ambassador Room at Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood.

Cost: Free to Guild members; $15 to non-Guild members.

Friday Showcase 2 September: Brenda Gael Smith

Brenda Gael Smith presents Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 2 September 2011. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee).

Sewing in the Office: 22 August 10:30am-2pm

The next Sewing in the Office event for Community Quilts is on Monday 22 August 10.30am-2pm Bring along your sewing kit and join in the fun. For further information contact Maree Gebhardt.

2012 Australian Patchwork & Quilting Australasian Quilt Convention Challenge

Announcing the challenge theme for 2012 - 'What the World Needs Now'.

Is it 'Love, Sweet Love', an end to the global financial crisis or carbon tax? Quilters are called to give their answers in a textile interpretation for this thought-provoking annual challenge.

Sponsored by Expertise Events and Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine, the AQC Challenge is run in conjunction with the annual Australasian Quilting Convention. The 2012 event will be held 12 - 15 April at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, Melbourne.

Full details and entry forms are available here.

German quilt challenge

Home of Jolanta in Germany has challenged all quilters to make a quilt in traditional patchwork with the theme RED worked into it. Deadline for entries is 6 September 2012, so there's plenty of time to sew.

There will be three prizes: one for international entries, one for German entries and the Best of Show. The exhibition quilts will be on display in the Blue Salon of the Kurhaus in Bad Lauterberg, Hauz, Germany from 2-14 October 2012.

More information about the challenge can be found here.

Burwood General Meeting: 20 August 2011

The next meeting will be held on Saturday 20 August at Burwood RSL. The program is as follows:

Theme - Art quilts - bring along yours to share!

Demonstration - Julie Woods from Superior Threads (11am). Julie will be presenting information gleaned from her Superior Threads workshops in the USA, a trip which was partly funded by a Guild scholarship. She will discuss threads suitable for all projects and will have threads for sale.

Guest Speaker - Kate Chidlow from the Power House Museum will discuss the Australian Dress register.

Market Day - sell your unwanted fabric, notions, books etc $5.00 per table. Bookings essential - contact the Guild Office to make a booking.

QSG Report: Trish Bloomfield on the Joys & Pitfalls of Collecting Old Quilts

Trish Bloomfield owns over 100 old quilts and quilt tops, most of which she has bought over the internet. She came along with a sample of them to show us and illustrate her talk on how to become a more discerning buyer of old quilts. She started by showing us some quilts that were made in China and represented as being antiques that she owns and uses as everyday quilts on her bed. She said she has seen brand new US$50-60 quilts on e-bay being bid up to US$500–600 so it was very good to hear this warning.

 

Trish gave us a number of hints for trying to make sure you pay the correct price for a quilt. She believes that firstly you must research quilts by reading as many quilt history books as possible and checking various websites on the internet before you commit to buying an old quilt. She recommended http://hartcottagequilts.com/archquilts as the major site to look at for recent commercially made reproduction quilts that have been sold on e-bay as old ones. The three photos above are examples of such quilts she has bought or been given. Also, by googling the block name used in a quilt you are interested in buying, you can see if there is a suspiciously large number of them for sale.

We learnt how she cares for her quilts and quilt tops and she explained how she keeps a numbered catalogue of all the quilts she buys. She transfers this information onto old doilies which she then sews on the back of the quilts. Examples are below –

Trish showed us some of her first purchases and some wonderful examples of how her taste in quilts has changed over time. Some great purchases included a whole cloth Mennonite wedding quilt that was advertised as being cotton, but turned out to be made of silk, a rare blue Marie Webster kit quilt, a Ruby McKim state flower quilt, a 1960s cross stitch kit quilt and a bright poly cotton 1960s Seven Sisters quilt. She finished her talk by showing us her latest purchases of a French bouti petticoat bought from a Swiss antique dealer’s website and two North England whole cloth quilts.

Friday Showcase 5 August: Maree Blanchard

Maree Blanchard presents Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 5 August 2011. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee).

Sewing in the Office: 25 July 10:30am-2pm

The next Sewing in the Office event for Community Quilts is on Monday 25 July 10.30am-2pm Bring along your sewing kit and join in the fun. For further information contact Maree Gebhardt.

30 July: Quilt Study Group Meeting

The Quilt Study Group of NSW is a Guild sub-committee that promotes interest and research into quilting, particularly in Australia. The next meeting will be held on 30 July, 2pm-4.30pm and will include afternoon tea.

Trish Bloomfield will talk to us about her experiences of buying quilts, quilt tops, and fabrics on the internet and in person, both here and overseas. She will bring along a sample of her purchases to illustrate the talk. Please bring along your own examples and join us discussing how to expand your quilt collection and what to look out for.

Venue: The Ambassador Room at Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood.

Cost: Free to Guild members; $15 to non-Guild members.

Beneath the Southern Sky: Call for Entries

Here is an exciting new opportunity for textile artists to participate in a new travelling exhibition - Beneath the Southern Sky. Entries close on 25 January 2012.

QSG Report: Powerhouse Museum Quilt Documentation Project

The meeting was held to report on the progress of the help that four committee members of the Quilt Study Group (Karen Fail, Annette Gero, Sandra Lyons and Liz Bonner) have been giving the textile area of the Powerhouse Museum with research and documentation of their quilts. In late 2010, we met Christina Sumner, the Principal Curator, Design and Society, to discuss how we could help the Museum with its quilt collection. Due to staff cutbacks, there was a need to improve the documentation of the quilt collection and volunteers were needed to supplement the work of that area, as they had already done in a previous project to document the Museum’s rug collection.

Christina was delighted to accept our offer of assistance. After we discussed how to best approach the work and learnt how to fill in the form to make it easy for Christina to upload the information to the Museum’s computer system, we then chose our quilts to study and document from a file of possible contenders that Christina had selected.

Annette chose a patchwork quilt (98/48/1) made from military uniforms that was similar to one in her collection.  Karen chose a set of 3 quilts (2001/13/1) by Barbara Macey called ‘Dream Series – Once in a Lifetime”. Sandra chose a woollen machine-pieced, hand embroidered quilt (96/393/1) made by Jocelyn Campbell. And Liz Bonner initially chose an undocumented North England whole cloth quilt (A8645) made by Hannah Coulson but after discovering on the National Quilt Register that 2 other quilts made by Hannah had also been donated to the museum, decided to research and document all 3 of Hannah’s quilts.

In February 2011 we visited the Museum’s quilt storage area with Christina Sumner to view our chosen quilts and then our hard work of research and documentation started.

 Karen Fail ran the audience through the Powerhouse Museum’s online quilt collection catalogue, then showed the documentation requirements – the form used - and explained in detail the different sections we have to complete.

Annette started the quilt presentations proper by showing photos of her military quilt and the one she has researched for the Powerhouse Museum. The Powerhouse army quilt is supposed to have been made in Tasmania from war army uniforms from the British 90th Regiment of Foot c1870 by the soldiers’ wives. The connection was made because some soldiers who fought in the Crimean war were then given land grants in Tasmania in the 1860s. The quilt is hand stitched from trousers and jackets but analysis, by Annette and a military historian, suggests it was probably made in England and brought here as it is also all made by "one hand". Comparison photographs of the 2 quilts were shown and discussed.

Liz then talked about the 2 whole cloth and 1 strippy North England quilts made by Hannah Coulson (1826-1903) which were brought to Australia in 1912 by her daughter, Ruth Ritson, and which were donated to the Museum by her granddaughter, Lavinia McFadyen in the late 1980s. The town of Allendale in Northumberland, England, is famous for the design of North England whole cloth quilts and Hannah’s forebears lived in the area for generations as lead ore miners. After covering the important dates in Hannah’s life (researched from various genealogical websites) and the story of how the quilts were brought to Australia, Liz then covered the general characteristics of North England quilts and how they specifically relate to each of Hannah’s quilts. One of the quilts, A8645, was only the third quilt in the museum’s collection and is quite a spectacular example of the fine design and quilting of this type. From Lavinia’s letters that accompanied the quilt donations, it appears there are more of Hannah’s quilts in Australia, possibly in the Inverell district of northern NSW, and initial enquiries there have resulted in the discovery of one pink and white strippy. But the most important wedding quilt Hannah made for her only son, John Reed, who died in Queensland in 1918, is yet to be found.

Hannah Coulson (seated)

 

Sandra then spoke about her research on the embroidered woollen quilt, made by Jocelyn Campbell in 1990. There is a large amount of information about the quilt on the Powerhouse Museum’s website so Sandra’s work mostly involved confirming those details. We inspected the detailed photographs of the quilt with great interest and, because she was able to talk to the quilt maker, Sandra was able to add to our knowledge of the quilt itself and Jocelyn’s later quilts.

Then Karen spoke about Barbara Macey, her quilting process and her quilts. Barbara has been quilting for 40 years and was a recipient of the Rajah Award for outstanding service to the quilting community in 2010. We saw photographs of some of her major quilts and Karen spoke at length about her conversation with Barbara and her explanation of the techniques and choice of materials in her quilts.

1 July Friday Showcase: Kay Haerland

Kay Haerland presents Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 1 July 2011. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee).

Twitchers all of a Twitter! Art to Wear 2011

This year the Art to Wear exhibitors were inspired by a lorikeet palette to create
Twitchers all of a Twitter!

Sydney Quilt Show 2011 Prize Winners Gallery

Congratulations to Merelyn Pearce who was awarded Bernina Best of Show 2011 for her applique masterpiece, Preston Dreaming.  You can view Merelyn's quilt, along with images of other prize winning quilts at the 2011 Sydney Quilt Show Prize Winner's Gallery.

Preston Dreaming by Merelyn Pearce

In this final quilt,in the series of six, I have sought to  highlight the influence of Australian Aboriginal Art on the work of Margaret  Preston who strove to achieve a truly uniquely Australian artistic expression.

Super Raffle 2011: Drawn 4.00pm Sunday, 26 June

Tickets ($2 each) available from the Membership Desk at the Sydney Quilt Show (22-26 June).

First Prize: Winner’s choice of either the Elizabethan quilt made by The Foundation Committee – The Quilters Guild of the Central Coast OR Bernina 350 PE sewing machine sponsored by Bernina Australia

Second Prize: Item remaining from first prize

Third Prize: A Collectors Box of Gütermann Sewing Threads sponsored by Perivale Gütermann

Fourth Prize: A Sew-Ezi Sewing Table sponsored by Just Patchwork

Fifth Prize: A Craft Lamp sponsored by The Scissorman

Sixth Prize: 10 metres Moda Farics sponsored by PK Fabrics


Raffle quilt photo by Spy Photography

Sydney Quilt Show : 22-26 June 2011

The Quilters' Guild of NSW is proud to present its annual members' exhibition this week from 22-26 June in conjunction with the Craft & Quilt Fair at the Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour, Sydney.  This exciting event opens at 9am on Wednesday, 22 June and everyone is invited to attend the awards ceremony at the special time of 11am.

The 2011 Sydney Quilt Show will showcase:

• an exhibition of nearly 400 member quilts;
• 2010 Spot the Spots! Guild challenge quilts;
• Art to Wear -Twitchers all of a twitter -- Aussie Bird" which features a designated palette of lorikeet colours - Greens 70%, Blues 15% Yellow 5% Red 5% artist's choice5%”
• Art to Wear Guest Exhibitor - Wendy Wright;
• Best of Australia quilts (Best of Show quilts from across Australia for 2010) sponsored by Bernina;
• a selection of contemporary quilts by guest exhibitor Lisa Walton with daily floortalks at 1pm; and
• Kids Skills on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition, this year we are introducing a number of 30-minute floor talks on a variety of topics, using the quilts on display to illustrate the variety that's possible in quilt construction and design. Tours commence at the Best of Show quilt and are FREE of charge. See floor talk timetable below.

Wednesday 22 June

• 1pm - Guest exhibitor floortalk with Lisa Walton
• 2pm - Patchwork for Beginners: Lynn Hewitt

Thursday 23 June

• 11 am Art Quilts: Brenda Gael Smith
• 1pm - Guest exhibitor floortalk with Lisa Walton 
• 2pm - A Twist on Tradition:Kathy Doughty

Friday 24 June 

• 11am - Quilting:Maree Gebhardt 
• 1pm - Guest exhibitor floortalk with Lisa Walton 
• 2pm - Mixed Techniques:Amanda Daly

 Saturday 25 June

• 11am -  Kids talk: Amanda Daly
• 1pm - Guest exhibitor floortalk with Lisa Walton 
• 2pm - Traditional: Jane Gibson

Sunday 26 June

• 11am - Patchwork for Beginners:Lynn Hewitt 
• 1pm - Guest exhibitor floortalk with Lisa Walton 
• 2pm - Art Quilts:Brenda Gael Smith

Note:  The Guild office is closed during the week of the Sydney Quilt Show and will reopen at 10am on Monday 27 June 2011.

Contemporary Quilt Textiles 2012 - Press Release

We are delighted that Jennifer Sanders has agreed to curate this exhibition (formerly The New Quilt), which celebrates the 21st year of this contemporary quilt exhibition and The Quilters’ Guild of NSW’s 30th year. The exhibition will be based on the theme Regeneration.

In her acceptance of curatorship, Jennifer Sanders stated that "Regeneration gives us the opportunity to encourage and foster new forms of quilted textile art – work which draws on the traditional skills and expertise and then explores new territories of expression on the exhibition theme. I am committed to engaging the audience in the stories behind the quilts."

One of Jennifer Sanders’ proposals is the use of "individual display boxes for each work showing the artist’s sources of inspiration, photos, sketches; samples of their fabrics and techniques – any material which the artist believes will help convey to the audience the story behind the finished work." She believes that engaging the audience in the creative process and the stories behind the quilts will enhance their understanding and appreciation of the quilter's art.

This indeed will be a new and exciting approach. Jennifer Sanders continued, "The ideas we are exploring to keep in dialogue with the selected artists as the works are made should help make the Regeneration exhibition project one in which the development process yields rewards for all involved as much as does the final exhibition in 2012."

Regeneration, Contemporary Quilt Textiles 2012 will be held at Manly Art Gallery and Museum, 27 April to 4 June 2012.

Full details and an entry form are available here. Applications close 25 July 2011.

Territory Quilts 2011

Darwin Patchworkers and Quilters Inc is hosting the Territory Quilts 2011 exhibition at the Darwin Performing Arts Centre from 28 July to 1 August 2011. Enjoy the fantastic weather in Darwin at this time of the year, meet other quilters and see wonderful quilts!

Textured Treasures Workshop: 23 - 24 July

Join Lisa Walton for her Textured Treasures workshop:
Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 July 2011 (9.30am for 10-3pm)
Epping Creative Centre, Dence St, Epping.


Download and return a Workshop Booking Form to reserve your place.

Hurry - only three places left!

Join Jewel Pearce Patterson Scholarship Winner and Guild Member Lisa Walton for a two-day masterclass exploring colour, textures and embellishments. Techniques such as fabric painting, stamping, rubbing, foiling and beading will be explored and combined with your own inspirational images. Students' work from this workshop may be selected for exhibition at the Houston International Quilt Festival 2011 as part of Lisa's Scholarship Exhibition.

Art Quilt Portfolio: People and Portraits Publishing Opportunity

Lark Crafts is about start work on the 2nd book in the Art Quilt Portfolio series, which will focus on "People and Portraits."  If your work focuses on people and you are interested in being published, the Call for Consideration forms are now available on Lark's website: http://www.larkcrafts.com/submit/calls-for-submissions

The DEADLINE is 15 August 2011.

30th year logo and slogan competition

Get your thinking caps on! 2012 is the Guild's 30th year and we are planning a number of celebratory events. All members are invited to apply their creative talents to create a catchy and relevant slogan OR to design an image to be used as a 30th year logo. Or maybe you are inspired to create both!Full details and an entry form will be in the August issue of The Template, but you are encouraged to start thinking now! The closing date for entries is 28 September and the winner will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on 15 October.

And there's a prize - one year’s free Guild individual membership, free entry for up to two quilts into the 2012 Sydney Quilt Show, a five-day pass to the 2012 Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair, a ticket to the 2012 Exhibition Dinner and a free quilt valuation. What a great incentive to enter!

Bra decorating competition

Everyone is invited to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation by decorating a bra. All bras will be displayed in the foyer of the Glen Street Theatre during the Breast Wishes season in September 2011.

The maker of the winning entry will receive an Estee Lauder gift pack and two tickets to see this uplifting musical, Breast Wishes. So join the fun and celebrate breasts (and those who support them!).

There will be a silent auction of the decorated bras during the show's season, with all proceeds going the the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Enquiries: Anne Looby, by phone 0418 476 191 or email.

Friday Showcase reminder

Due to the preparations for the Sydney Quilt Show, there will not be a Friday Showcase in June. Join us at the next Friday Showcase on 1 July to see Kay Haerland's fabulous quilts.

Sewing in the Office: 23 May 10:30am-2pm

The next Sewing in the Office event for Community Quilts is on Monday 23 May 10.30am-2pm Bring along your sewing kit and join in the fun. For further information contact Maree Gebhardt.

Quilting: from little things...

Congratulations to Guild member Sarah Fielke whose new book Quilting: from little things... has recently been published by Murdoch Books.

The book includes instructions for twenty quilts - ten pairs of small quilts and large quilts. Each pair showcases a different technique, so that by making a small quilt first you can become comfortable with the technique before committing to making a large quilt. Congratulations Sarah!

Rajah quilt on display in Canberra

The Rajah Quilt, sewn by convict women as they sailed from England to Tasmania in 1841, is currently on display at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. It is part of the exhibition Not Just Ned - a true history of the Irish in Australia. Infrequently displayed, the Rajah Quilt is one of Australia's most important textiles.

The exhibition continues until 31 July. For more information, phone the National Museum of Australia on 1800 026 132.

Regeneration: Contemporary Quilt Textiles 2012

Manly Art Gallery and Museum 27 April - 4 June 2012

A collaboration between The Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc. and Manly Art Gallery and Museum

The New Quilt exhibition has been hosted by Manly Art Gallery and Museum in collaboration with the Guild for the past twenty years. For the twenty first year, it was agreed that a new vision for the exhibition be achieved. To this end, a decision was made to have a curated, themed exhibition with specific, visual selection criteria as the basis of being accepted into the exhibition. This is a move away from the past and it is hoped that it will offer opportunities for all textile artists to enter a quilt.

Selection criteria

1. All quilts must be proposed new work.
2. A 100 - 150 word statement, outlining the artist's response to the theme, "Regeneration".
3. Details of the design progression and colours, including sketches and drawings.
4. Up to five (5) images of previous works.
5. Materials to be used.
6. Dimensions of the work.

To submit an entry
Download the Regeneration: Contemporary Quilt Textiles 2012 Entry Form (159KB PDF)
A non-refundable entry fee of $45.00 must accompany your entry, which covers up to two (2) quilts.
Completed and signed entry forms, including the six (6) requirements.
The closing date for entries is 25 July 2011.

Selection

Selection will be made on the basis or originality and innovative use of media. The curator's decision will be final and no discussion or correspondence will be entered into. Entrants whose work has been accepted will be notified by mail/email and informed of delivery instructions.

For more information, please contact:

• Guild representative Cathy Jack Coupland: regeneration@quiltersguildnsw.com or
• Curator/Programs Coordinator Sarah Johnson: artgallery@manly.nsw.gov.au

Burwood General Meeting: 21 May 2011

The next general meeting will be held on Saturday 21 May at Burwood RSL. The program is as follows:

• Theme - Hexagon quilts - bring along yours to share!
• Demonstration - Jennifer Corkish - Hexagons (11am)
• Guest Speaker - Jennifer Corkish
• Shop - Quiltsmith from Annandale
  
• Feature group - Epping Quilters

Updated Guild Library Catalogue Listings

The Guild Librarian, Rhonda Taylor, has undertaken a comprehensive stocktake to bring you these updated catalogue listings:

• Guild Library Catalogue (by Author) (134KB PDF)
• Guild Library Catalogue (by Title) (93KB PDF) 

These listings include scores of new additions to the library including:

• A Quilter’s Holiday by Jennifer Chiaverini
• Contemporary Dyecraft by Melanie Brummer 
• Hand-Appliqued Quilts, Whimsical Designs and Simple Techniques by T.B. Phillips 
• New York Beauty Simplified by L.J. Hahn 
• Quilts Made Modern by W. Ringle & B. Kerr 
• Redwork from the Workbasket by R.K. Brent
• Twelve by Twelve:The International Art Quilt Challenge by Brenda Gael Smith & others
• William Morris in Applique by Michelle Hill

You can download the complete list of  New Library Additions. 

7 May: Quilt Study Group meeting

The Quilt Study Group of NSW is a Guild sub-committee that promotes interest and research into quilting, particularly in Australia. The next meeting will be held on 7 May, 2-4pm and will include afternoon tea.

This meeting will include reports from Annette Gero, Karen Fail, Sandra Lyons and Liz Bonner on their project documenting quilts at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

Venue: The Ambassador Room at Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood.

Cost: Free to Guild members; $15 to non-Guild members.

6 May Friday Showcase: Judy Day

Judy Day presents Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 6 May 2011. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee).

Guild Scholarship

The Guild awards an annual scholarship to provide the opportunity for Guild members to develop their skills and expertise. Multiple awards may be given, up to a total combined value of $5,000 per annum and a maximum of $3000 per project.

Applications for 2012 close on 26 August and successful applicants will be announced at the Guild Annual General Meeting in September 2011. For more information, visit the Guild website.

Country Tutor Workshop Program

The Country Tutor Workshop Program was established for the benefit of country and regional members of the Guild. The program aims to provide access to instruction and ideas to enhance and develop the quilting skills of those members who cannot easily attend the city workshops and showcases.

At the time of application the applicant, ie the group, must have been a Guild member for at least one full year. It is preferable that any workshop participants outside the group are also members but this is not mandatory. After receiving funding for a workshop the group may not apply again for 2 years.

Applications for 2012 close on 31 August 2011. For more details and an application form, visit the Guild website.

Updated membership information

Membership of the Guild is open to anyone with an interest in patchwork and quilting. Beginners, professional quilters and those that simply admire the craft are equally welcome. By joining the Guild, you obtain access to all membership entitlements for your membership level as set out in detail on the Membership Categories page.

As from 1 July 2011, a joining fee of $15 will apply to all new memberships and lapsed memberships that are not paid by 30 September.

All membership fees are due 1 July each year and cover the financial year 1 July to 30 June. Download a Membership Application Form. For more information, visit the Guild's website.

Quilters' Country Luncheon

Braidwood Quilters Inc will be holding their Quilters' Country Luncheon on Wednesday 4 May. The guest speaker will be Dr Annette Gero.

Venue: The National Theatre, Wallace Street, Braidwood.
Time: 10am.
Fee: $25
Bookings are essential by email.

Springwood Community Quilt Show 29 April - 1 May

The sixth annual Springwood Community Quilt Show will be held from Friday 29 April until Sunday 1 May at Springwood High School Hall, off Grose Road at Faulconbridge. There is easy access off the Great Western Highway - turn right at the lights and sign for the Norman Lindsay Gallery.

The 2011 raffle quilt: Mountain Magic
Photograph used with permission.

Local Faulconbridge quilt artist, Petal Davies, has designed a unique pictorial wall hanging as this year's raffle quilt, which depicts the famous Three Sisters at Katoomba.

The show will include displays by two local quilters, Karen Cunningham and Isobel Lancashire. Nine sewing-related businesses will also be trading at the show, so be prepared for some excellent shopping opportunities.

Show hours: Friday 29 and Saturday 30 April 9am-5pm, Sunday 1 May 10am-4pm.
Entry: $5.
Enquiries: Phone Robynne on 02 4758 8869, view the show blog or email the organisers.

Roslyn Moules receives the Lut-Da Award

Congratulations to Roslyn Moules who was presented with the the Lut-Da Award at the Australasian Quilt Convention last week. The Award goes to a quilter who has made an outstanding contribution to their local or quilting community via the medium of quilting.

For many years, Roslyn has led the Guild's Community Quilts project, in which members meet to sew quilts for people in the community. Each year over a hundred quilts are given to community organisations. Roslyn's commitment to Community Quilts as project co-ordinator has been recognised by this Award.

Congratulations Roslyn!

Kay Haerland wins Australian National Quilt Award

Congratulations to Kay Haerland, whose quilt Under the Canopy won the Australian National Quilt Award, sponsored by Bernina.

Kay Haerland, Under the Canopy, 119 x 154 cm

The Award is presented to the maker of the quilt that is judged the best from the Best of Show quilts from the annual state guild shows around the country and was presented at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne last week. Kay's quilt won Best of Show at the 2010 Sydney Quilt Show.

Congratulations Kay!

18-20 April: the Guild at the Royal Easter Show

Visiting the Royal Easter Show in Sydney? Look out for quilt making demonstrations by members of the Guild on 18, 19 and 20 April, 9.30am-5.30pm.

Berry Quilt and Craft Show

The Gala Opening night of the Berry Quilt and Craft Show will be held on Friday 29 April 2011, between 7.30pm and 10pm.

The Quilt and Craft Show will display 150 quilts and there will be stalls and a cafe.

The show will be open on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May 2011 at the School of Arts, Alexandra Street, Berry (on the NSW South Coast). Opening hours are 9.30am- 4pm.

There is a $5 entry fee for adults and free entry for children. All welcome!

Guild Contact Update

This is a friendly reminder that the current e-mail address for the Guild office is:

office@quiltersguildnsw.com

Please update your address book accordingly.  (The Guild recently changed ISPs and e-mails sent to previous e-mail addresses will NOT be redirected.)  Contact e-mails for the Management Committee are set out below:

Friday Showcase reminder

Due to the Away meeting being held in Tamworth from 1-3 April, there will not be a Friday Showcase in April. Join us at the next Friday Showcase on 6 May to see Judy Day's stunning quilts.

Sewing in the Office: 28 March 10:30am-2pm

The next Sewing in the Office event for Community Quilts is on Monday 28 March 10.30am-2pm. Bring along your sewing kit and join in the fun. For further information contact Maree Gebhardt.

QSG Report: Japanese Textiles-Then and Now

Our guest speaker was Lynn Hewitt who is a past President & long time member of the Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc. Lynn has been visiting Japan since 2002, when she and Jane Gibson were invited by the city of Nagoya to represent Sydney and the Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc at the International Quilt Fair. Since that first visit Lynn has been back 5 times, including twice as the tour leader for quilting tours. Apart from her own visits, Lynn's original interest began through her daughter, who learned Japanese and went there on a school exchange - thus beginning a series of return visits firstly by school children and then followed later by adults, a number of whom have become good friends with Lynn and her husband Ted.

 Lynn began her talk with a PowerPoint presentation showing a map of Japan to highlight the various areas where textiles are produced. As she progressed through the talk, Lynn described the different textile types and their production. She also explained the origin of the Kamon crest which we are so used to seeing in quilts today and how Sashiko was used to patch and mend garments. (A fireman’s outfit was made of many layers stitched together and when needed was doused with water to protect him from the fires). 

After discussing design elements of Japanese textiles and how, for instance, different plants symbolise the different seasons ( Spring - plum and cherry blossom, Summer- iris & a flowing stream, Autumn-chrysanthemum and Winter - bamboo leaves), Lynn went on to tell us about Yuzen dyeing. She explained how it is done, how it can take up to 4 months for the design to be transferred, and the different elements painted - hence the high price to be paid for many of the beautiful Kimonos we see (that is unless you are lucky to get to a second hand market or a quilt show, where a number of people from the audience later told us they has picked them up for a song).  Lynn then spoke about how the indigo dye was produced and how some cloths are dyed up to 150 times to get the pattern and colour desired. She showed us examples of the different Shibori dyeing techniques as well as some images of amazing quilts made using indigo fabrics

After her very informative talk Lynn showed many examples of the textiles she had described earlier. She then went on to show some of the quilts she has made using her Japanese fabric. Some of it was most unusual, one piece purported to be woven banana leaf, but she couldn’t actually confirm this as her Japanese didn't stretch that far. But it was an interesting piece to see!

 Following Lynn’s talk and her showcase there was a great ‘Show and Tell’ from the audience ranging from amazing fabrics picked up in the backstreets, kimono and yukata garments, and of course lovely quilts made from Japanese fabrics.