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.

 

 

 

Jacaranda City Quilters of Grafton Challenge

The Jacaranda City Quilters of Grafton invite entries for their Exhibition Challenge, with the theme of A Song Title.

There are four categories for the Challenge:
Section A - A4 size (21cm x 30cm)
Section B - maximum size one metre
Section C - over one metre
Section D - Youth (age 16 and under. The quilt may be any size.)

Each entry may be quilting category Q (quilted by the owner) or P (professionally quilted).

Entries may also be made to Section E - these quilts are for exhibit only and do not have to be related to a song title.

Entry forms are available from Marian Brown, phone 02 6644 9434 or Anne Carter, phone 02 6643 1353 or email Jacs9@mail.com Entries close May 1.

The exhibition will be at the Grafton Community Centre, 59 Duke Street, Grafton on June 17 and 18 (10am-5pm) and 19 (10am-4pm). Admission is $5 for adults, no charge for children under 16.

Quilt Show at the Cathedral, Goulburn: 12 & 13 March 2011

“Quilt Show at the Cathedral” at St Saviours Cathedral Hall – Burke St, Goulburn on Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 March from 10am-4pm in conjunction with Goulburn ’s “Rose Festival”.

Entry is a gold coin donation which goes to Anglicare’s Emergency Accommodation in Goulburn.  For more information, contact Julie on 0404 106601

12 March Quilt Study Group meeting

The Quilt Study Group of NSW is a Guild sub-committee, which exists to promote interest and research into quilting, particularly in Australia. Members are committed to the study of quilts past and present with this study encompassing the social and historical context in which the quilts were made as well as designs, techniques and materials used in both vintage and contemporary quilts.

The first meeting for 2011 will be held on 12 March, when Lynn Hewitt will share her collection and knowledge of Japanese textiles and tell of the influence contemporary Japanese cottons have had on her quilts and clothing. Lynn has made many visits to Japan, enhancing her collection of Japanese textiles each trip. Bring your antique Japanese textiles for show and tell and, of course, those wonderful quilts made with Japanese quiting fabrics.

Venue: The Ambassador Room, Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood.
Time: 2.00 – 4.30 pm.

This is a free event for Guild members. Non-Guild members are also welcome ($15.00 per visit).

Eastwood Patchwork Quilters Exhibition: 11-13 March 2011

EASTWOOD PATCHWORK QUILTERS
2011 QUILT EXHIBITION
Friday March 11 – Sunday March 13
10am – 4.30pm
Historic Brush Farm House, Lawson St Eastwood

Stunning quilts: Cafe: Craft stall: Quilt shops

Raffle quilt supporting Achieve Australia

No admission charge

Reminder: Quilt Show Entries Close on 11 March

If you just looked at the calendar and are shocked to discover that it is 2 March already, never fear! there is still time for you to submit your entry for the Sydney Quilt Show 2011.  The closing date is Friday, 11 March. If you've misplaced your February newsletter, here are the forms that you can download:

• 2011 Quilt Show Entry Form (156KB PDF)
• 2011 Quilt Show Volunteer Form (94 KB PDF)
• Guild Membership Application Form (  196KB PDF)

Please direct any queries to the Exhibition Secretary, Deborah Laurie. (If you experience difficulties downloading the entry form, try the Alternative Entry Form 570 KB PDF. )

Casterton Kelpie Association Quilting Challenge 2011

The Casterton Kelpie Association Quilting Challenge in 2011 is to make a quilt no bigger than one metre square on the theme 'A little bit country'. Entries based on traditional or art/textile styles are welcome.

The closing date for entries is 20 May 2011. For further details, contact Anne James.