On Friday, 4 May 2007 the guest presenter of Friday Showcase will be Elizabeth Rose from Queanbeyan. Elizabeth won first prize in the Mixed Techniques -Anything Goes! (Amateur) category at the Sydney Quilt Show 2006 with her quilt Avantgarden:
Don't forget Friday showcase starts at 10am at the Guild office - be early to get a seat at this ever popular guild event!
Acceptance letters for the Sydney Quilt Show 2007 will be posted out to entrants at the beginning of May. We received over 370 complying entries and ALL have been accepted. If you are one of our entrants, you will need a suitable bag for carrying your quilt(s) to your Drop Off Lady. For smaller quilts, a pillow case will do the trick but, for larger quilts, you will need something more roomy. You will find a pattern for a simple quilt bag here (scroll to the bottom of the page). Don't leave it until the last minute or you may find yourself going to pieces - arrgh!
Going to Pieces by Tanya Coxsedge
Don't forget that all of the Going to Pieces challenge quilts will be on display at the Sydney Quilt Show 2007.
The "Away Meeting" in 2007 will be at the Tumbarumba Golf Club in southern New South Wales this Saturday afternoon, 14 April 2007. Reknown applique artist, Val Moore, is the guest speaker and all members are welcome to attend.
Sydney members travelling to Tumbarumba by coach will take in many attractions en route including visits with Gundagai Quilters and Adelong Quilters and an excursion to the Pioneer Women's Hut - home of the National Quilt Register.
Meanwhile, if you are heading off to the Sydney Royal Easter Show at Homebush this week, please sure to say hello to the Guild team that is demonstrating patchwork and quilting near the craft displays.
tACTile is a group of six Canberra based textile artists comprising of Jenny Bowker, Dianne Firth, Helen Gray, Beth Miller and Beth & Trevor Reid working together in partnership. Five Squared is an exhibition of art quilts that explores both the individual and collaborative opportunities of the square. Each artist has created a quilt which has then been responded to by the other four artists in the group. The exhibition continues in the foyer gallery of the Gosford Regional Art Gallery until Wednesday, 11 April 2007:
Are you looking for a highly specialised advertising print medium to promote your quilting business and associated quilting services? Each year in preparation for the largest quilt show in the southern Hemisphere, The Quilters Guild of NSW Inc, currently celebrating its 25th Year, offers exclusive advertising in its highly sought after Sydney Quilt Show catalogue.
Covering all aspects and information of the Sydney Quilt Show, this publication is certainly the way to go!
You can feature your new business, special show items or if you are a current Template supporter, add extra punch to your profile by extending your presence in the market through this special publication. New advertisers, who wish to take advantage of the 20% discount for four consecutive advertisements in the Template, can have their first advertisement diverted to the Sydney Quilt Show catalogue with the three remaining advertisements appearing in the next three issues of the Template.
Advertising rates start from $82.50 for an eighth of a page ad, with discounts for ads running over four consecutive issues - see our advertising brochure for more details.
For your ‘no-obligation’ advertising quote or any further information, contact the Guild's Publicity Officer, Alan R Tremain
Hidden Works by Gilgandra Alive!'s Wednesday Quilters and the Mini Marvels Challenge Quilts by The Quilters' Guild of NSW are on exhibition:
One of the regular features in The Template is Quilting in Cyberspace, and in issue 25/2 Rowena has found some wonderful links about tessellations. Read her full column in The Template March issue, and you'll know why she chose these. Here are the links, live, for you to click and enjoy:
As part of the process of bringing The Template to you, the printers send colour proofs of the magazine to be approved by the Template Editor (that would be me!). Volunteer proof readers have reviewed the edition before the printers see it (I always hope there won't be too much for them to catch).
The colour proofs, as you can see from the picture, have four pages to each (large) sheet, and are of course printed as is logical for the printing process - so it's lots of fun hunting out page by page to check them (now on which sheet did I see that page?). That was this afternoon's work, so the printers can go ahead tomorrow.
The cover of 25/2 is the raffle quilt, this year a wonderful medallion from the St Ives Quilters (you'll receive raffle tickets with your issue).
The other double page spread you can see is more of the "Going to Pieces" challenge quilts (can you see yours there?).
We're hoping to get the magazines posted to you very soon.
Have you ever wanted to embellish your quilts with a bead or two but didn't know how? This workshop could be just for you:
Lisa will bring a selection of reference books and quilts to inspire you.
Workshops are available only to current financial members of the Guild and you must complete and lodge a workshop booking form.
An initiative of The Australian Forum for Textile Arts, this exhibition evolved from a master class in 2002 by Korean textile artist, Chunghie Lee, for Australian textile artists. Lee shared the processes and ethos of the making of the Chogakpo pojagi, traditional patchwork Korean wrapping cloths. Presenting works by Lee and her students, Pojagi and beyond translates a Korean tradition into a contemporary Australian context.
Aspects of landscape have long informed the work of contemporary quilt artists Judy Hooworth and Pamela Fitzsimons. Changing Places investigates in intimate detail, the artists’ understanding and responses to their ‘place’ within their (new) landscape, through a collection of inspiring fibre works.
Changing Places Exhibition
Lake Macquarie Gallery
1A First Street Booragul NSW 2284
Tel: (02) 4965 8260
9 March 2007 to 15 April 2007
Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Sunday- 10am to 5pm
On Sunday, 18 March the gallery is having a Cross Cultural day which includes talks by Judy and Pamela at 11 am and an official opening at 2 pm. Judy will be giving a workshop on Sunday, 1 April and Pamela will be doing a Kantha workshop on Sunday, 25 March. (Both workshops are fully booked but you can contact the gallery to go on a waiting list.)
Walking Werakata 4
© Pamela Fitzsimons
Shift: Series two #18
© Judy Hooworth
The deadline for submission of entries for Sydney Quilt Show 2007 was Thursday, 1 March 2007. While we have received and processed a handful of late entries, no further entries will be accepted. If your entry form is still sitting on your sewing table, it really is too late!
I can promise you that there will be many wonderful quilts for you to enjoy at Darling Harbour this year. Approximately 370 entries have come into the Guild office and the next challenge for the Quilt Show sub-committee will be to work out whether and how we can display all of the quilts in the exhibition space available. As noted in the conditions of entry, a member may submit up to two entries but only one may be selected. Acceptance letters will be sent out to entrants at the beginning of May together with contact details for your "Drop Off Lady" who will help deliver your quilt for judging. Acceptance of entry doesn't automatically guarantee display but we will be making every effort to ensure that as many member quilts as possible are included in the Guild's 25th Anniversary exhibition.
This means we will need a full contingent of white glove personnel and people to sell catalogues. While entries may have closed for the Quilt Show, it is never too late for members to volunteer - complete and send in your volunteer form now!
Congratulations to Guild members Belinda Betts and Ann Visman from Orange who have each had quilts accepted as semi-finalists for further judging at the 2007 AQS Show in Paducah, Kentucky in April.
Belinda's Floral Star of 2006 was made when her husband was undergoing chemo and radiation therapy last year, and has been quilted with all her favourite feather designs:
Definitely Floored by Ann Visman was also machine quilted by Belinda. The design was inspired by a photo of a parquetry floor, and Ann's exquisite designing and patching skills have resulted in this beauty. It has radiating lines, feathers and heavy background fillers as the quilting designs.
Ann is a Guild-accredited patchwork teacher and is available for teaching anywhere in Australia. You can e-mail Ann for further information.
Maureen Martin is the guest presenter for this Friday's showcase at the Guild office at 10am.
Cost: $5.50
Ruby Garden
2nd Prize, Traditional (Amateur)
Sydney Quilt Show 2006
Quilt show entry forms are flooding in. Have you sent in your completed quilt show entry form yet?? Entries close tomorrow Thursday, 1 March 2007.
Pop your entry form into an Express Post envelope and send it NOW!
The Lioness Quilt and Craft Show is on at Nowra this weekend:
Did you know that the Guild still has CD catalogues from Quilt Show 2006 for sale? In addition to great photos of 370+ quilts on display in the member's exhibition, the CD includes images from:
The Exhibition Organiser and I have already processed almost 100 entries for the Sydney Quilt Show 2007. Thank you to all those members who got their forms in early! If you haven't gotten around to sending in your entry form [that includes me!], it's not too late - yet. Entries for the Quilt show close on Thursday, 1 March 2007 and Art to Wear entries close on 6 April 2007.
If you have mislaid the forms, you can download them from this very blog - just scroll down the side bar and look for the heading "Forms to Download". While you are at it, don't forget to send in your volunteer form. With so many quilts to enjoy, we welcome the assistance of the white glove brigade, together with catalogue and raffle ticket sellers.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries about categories or the entry form.
2007 RAFFLE QUILT:
Feather Medallion by St Ives Quilters
From Mothers to Daughters is an exhibition of historic quilts from the Annette Gero collection currently on display at:
Just a quick reminder about the Burwood meeting on Saturday (tomorrow). You can read all about the demonstrator, speaker and shop here, but don't forget:
The new arrangement of tables worked well in December and is to continue, so you can bring some handwork to do while the meeting is on.
If you have any contributions for the June Template (eg. pictures, articles, reports) the Editor will be at the meeting. Please ensure any pictures are high-quality (over 500k in size if possible) and anything over half a page is a Word or .txt (plain text) file (so it doesn't need to be retyped). You can of course also post CDs with files/pictures to the Guild office or email them to the Editor. The next Template deadline is 8 April, so this is the last Burwood meeting before that date.
We look forward to your company tomorrow.
According to our recent membership survey, Friday Showcase is one of the Guild's most popular activities. The committee is keen to extend the program to include Saturday showcases as well, so more members can attend. To make this happen, we need a couple of Guild members willing to assist by opening the office, organising refreshments and so forth. Can you help? If so, please contact me by e-mail or through the Guild office.
Members of the Quilters’ Guild of NSW Inc are invited to submit work for the selection of Art to Wear 2007, as part of the Sydney Quilt Show. The ‘Art to Wear’ is an exhibition of garments displaying superb technical skill and artistic merit, open to all members of the Guild. The concept of this exhibition is to promote both contemporary and functional Wearable Art; yet, allowing the artist to explore every available surface design and textile medium to showcase the artist's personal signature.
The entry is similar to other juried exhibitions, with selection dependent on the garment photo and the accompanying brief forming the submission. Space will be allocated for outstanding secondary or tertiary students. Those seeking selection should submit all of the following to the Art to Wear Coordinator by 6 April 2007:
Selection of Art to Wear Exhibits from 2006 by:
Helen Lancaster; Elizabeth Roberts, Kirry Toose and Pam Annesley
(Clockwise from top left)
Is it really February already!? That means it's time for the Guild's Friday Showcase program to resume. On the first Friday of the month a quilter is invited to speak about his or her quilting experiences and show their quilts. Some of the quilts are on display during the next month at the Guild office. The cost is $5.50 per person. This covers a contribution to the presenter's out-of-pocket expenses (as most presenters have to catch a cab into or park in the city laden with all their quilts!) and morning tea.
Upcoming showcases for 2007:
Jane Gibson's TO DYE FOR WORKSHOP on 29 January was a huge success with 100% enrollment and I think !00% satisfaction level was achieved during the day. Everyone dyed their hearts out! Two trays of white fat quarters became graduated shades of one colour, or multi-coloured pieces - everyone took home a renewed stash ready for all those sizzling quilt projects on the "wish list" for 2007.
Our venue, the Epping Creative Centre was just perfect for playing with dyes.
As we had more members wanting to attend than could be accomodated by our program, a waiting list is being coordinated. So do phone the office ladies and register your name (no money is required) if you are interested in attending a repeat workshop this year. The sooner we know the better your chances are to attend one of Jane Gibson's excellent workshops.
By now all members should have received their fabulous, new look Template together with forms for entering Quilt Show 2007. You can also download a PDF copy of the entry form from the side bar or the Guild's website.
I am delighted that already a handful of members have submitted their completed entry forms. With each entry have between 25 and 35 items of unique information attached to it, processing quilt show entry forms is a significant data entry task for me as Exhibition Secretary. The deadline for lodgment of entry forms is Thursday, 1 March 2007. However, it makes my job much easier if everyone doesn't leave it to the last minute!
Don't worry, this does not mean that you have to have your quilt finished by the beginning of March. The photograph that you submit with your entry form is primarily for identification purposes so we are not concerned if you still have some quilting left to do or the binding is not on yet. Needless to say, a photo of a stack of fabrics with a pattern and a dash of wishful thinking doesn't count however!
If you have an query about your category or completing your entry form, you are welcome to e-mail me. We hope that as many members as possible take up this opportunity to share their quilts and to celebrate the Guild's 25th anniversary.
Best of Show 2006
Floriade by Margo Hardie
(Photography by Bard Haerland)
The Guild seeks a a new co-ordinator for the Teacher Accreditation Subcommittee. Key tasks are:
One of the great new features of the Guild newsletter, The Template, is a consolidated calendar listing forthcoming meetings, Guild activities and other quilting events. This calendar is also available online as a 55KB pdf attachment here. Please contact the Guild Webmaster or the Template Editor if you have a quilting event that you would like to be included in the calendar.
As another service to our members, the Guild has also set up a generic workshop booking form. This form can be used for the forthcoming Creating Pattern Workshop with Sharyn Hall and other workshops scheduled for 2007. See the Workshops page on the Guild website for more details.
There's the evidence of the packing - the envelopes have a copy of The Template, information on the Sydney Quilt Show, and the all-important orange volunteer form (just look at those flying hands!) and 1000 filled envelopes, waiting for collection. The Template packing team is just one of the many volunteer subsets in the Guild who help make the Guild's work possible - thank you to everyone who helped today and to all those regulars who give their time.
One of the regular features in The Template is Quilting in Cyberspace, and with issue 25/1 we welcome Rowena, who has found some wonderful links about silks. Read her full column in The Template (posted out to you this coming week), and you'll know why she chose these: but here are the links, live, for you to click and enjoy.
Thank you, Rowena!
(Note: the internet is an ever-changing medium: we've done our best to provide and check these links, but do be aware that sites can change/vanish overnight).
The "CREATING PATTERN" workshop is about fabulous fabric, dye, print, discharge, and stitch. Our tutor Sharyn Hall from Brisbane will inspire students to apply colour and pattern to natural fabric (cotton, linen, rayon, silk) using thickened fibre reactive dyes and various textile paints with assorted printing processes. Click to enlarge images:
In addition to the Guild's workshop fee of $110, a materials fee of $25 per student is payable to the tutor to cover costs of all dyes and chemicals and the use of equipment supplied on the day. Click here for a full requirements list.
The Guild provides members the opportunity of two days in which to explore the world of colour using a contemporary medium for either traditional or non traditional impact. As well as fun, students will take home a bag of goodies for future creations.
The workshop is on Sunday/Monday 11 and 12 February at the Epping Creative Centre.
Please refer to the Workshops page on the Guild website for more details and complete and return this booking form.
The Exotica travelling suitcase exhibition is drawing to a close. Your last opportunity to view these 2004 guild challenge quilts is at:
Have you been wondering where your December Template is? It got caught up in the Great Australian Christmas shutdown, but the printers are back now, the colour proofs have been approved and it's all go. Fingers crossed it will be in the post next week!
One of the innovations in this issue is a Letters to the Editor page - it's not only a chance for your voice to be heard as a Guild member, but also every eligible entry (Guild members with an address in Australia) will go into a draw to win a 6-issue subscription to Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine.
How can you participate? Each issue a topic is set for you to write about. In this issue Lynn Hewitt has written about "The problem of UFOs". Read her piece, write your response (under 100 words) and send it to editor@quiltersguildnsw.com with "Letters to the Editor" in the subject line, and that's it! Easy as pie. We may not be able to publish all the letters we receive, but every letter we receive goes into the draw. Please make sure you include your name, surname, town/suburb and state.
The closing date for your letters about UFOs is 31 January - I'm guessing if you're reading this blog that you have email, but snail mail to the Guild offices is fine too (addressed to Template Editor, Letters to the Editor/UFOs, Quilters Guild of NSW Inc, Level 5, 276 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000).
I've started work on the next issue - today was the deadline for copy, so if you've a quilt show date for the calendar or photos to send or you want to advertise - I need the information now! Editorial content to the Editor at the address above. Advertising enquiries should be directed to the Publicity Officer: publicity@quiltersguildnsw.com.
Those of you that attended the December 2006 meeting at Burwood will be aware that former Minutes Secretary, Monica Johnstone has left Australia to take up an exciting new job in America. Monica continues to be a member and strong supporter of the guild (and, indeed, has the honour of being the first entrant for Quilt Show 2007). You can follow Monica's adventures on her new blog: Monica in Michigan
Remember, if you are a guild member and have a blog you would like to share with others, you can e-mail the Guild Webmaster to be included on the member blog listings.
To welcome in the New Year, it is my pleasure to give you a sneak peek at some of the contemporary quilts that will feature in the TripARTite exhibition by ZIGZAG (June Brown, Susan Mathews and Yvonne Voss) at Quilt Show 2007.
The Outback Sleeps; Studies of the Outback Sleeps
The Outback Awakes; Studies of the Outback Awakes; 
The Outback Lives; Studies of the Outback Lives.
All images courtesy of the quiltmaker, June Brown.
The word tripARTite means:
Is your favourite quilting business advertising in guild's newsletter, The Template? The Template reaches 1000 dedicated quilters every quarter, a worthwhile market for any quilting business, and our quilt show is the largest in Australia, with entries from members across Australia.
Advertising rates start from $82.50 (inc GST) for an eighth of a page ad, with discounts for ads running over four consecutive issues - see our advertising brochure for more details.
To advertise in The Template, contact the Publicity Officer publicity@quiltersguildnsw.comApologies to any subscriber that received multiple updates overnight. This happened because yesterday this blog was upgraded to Beta Blogger. In the process, some of the layout was also a little scrambled so you may notice some "tweaking" from time to time as I get images of those lovely Mini Marvel quilts back into the side bar.
The good news is that the new format enables "labels" to be applied to posts. This means that you can quickly find all blog entries relating to Quilt Show 2007 or Workshops and so on by clicking on the relevant label at the end of the post. Try it and see what I mean!
If the young quiltmaker (or prospective quiltmaker) in your home is at a loose end over the holidays, why not encourage them to make a quilt to enter into Sydney Quilt Show 2007?
There are some great prizes on offer including an encouragement award of Bernette 80E sewing machine generously sponsored by Bernina. What's more, there is no entry fee for guild members under 18 years of age to enter their quilts into the show.
Grinspoon by Nicolette Ahern
3rd prize - Junior Member B - Quilt Show 2006
Visit the guild website to view other winners of the Junior Member A (up to 12 years) and Junior Member B (13-18 years) categories from last year's quilt show and to download a membership application form.
Here is a selection of festive artist trading cards (3 1/2in x 2 1/2in) exchanged at the last general meeting at Burwood:
The Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize is a regional non-acquisitive competition and exhibition across the fields of visual arts, crafts and design. It is open to a work using any media made by a woman 18 years and over who is a resident of the south coast and greater Illawarra region.
This year's exhibition with the theme Reduce, recycle & renew at Meroogal includes Lisa Johnson's striking woollen quilt "Red Blankets Are Warmer" and Judith Bentley's wagga-style quilt "John's Jumpers".
Well almost...the Sydney Quilt Show 2007 will be at the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre from 27 June to 1 July 2007. The forthcoming issue of The Template includes an article setting out ways you can help make this 25th members' exhibition the best show ever. Pending the mail out of the entry form, here is a link to the categories and conditions of entry for Quilt Show 2007. These details are also set out in the attached pdf (60KB) document.
This is the beautiful Feather Medallion raffle quilt made by St Ives Quilters. The needle turn applique is just exquisite and is complemented by machine quilting by Jenny Campbell of Coastal Quilting.
Thanks for asking!
Coming soon, is the answer. If you'd like a taster of the contents of the new look Template, check The Template page on the Guild website - click here.
As the Guild's newsletter, it's packed with Guild news - and I do mean packed, it's remarkable how many activities are undertaken under the Guild's umbrella. So many people doing great work.
Around sixty 12inch (30cm) quilts were entered into the Guild's calendar quilt challenge which closed last week. What a wonderful response! The quilts utilise a wide variety of techniques and styles. Here is a very small sample of entries that are already in the public domain:
The quilts will be on display at the 25th Sydney Quilt Show in June 2007 and the calendars for 2008 will be on sale. The quilts will then become another suitcase exhibition available to groups.
By the way, Lisa Walton, Nicole Bridges, Brenda Smith, Erica Spinks and rooruu also happen to have blogs and you will find links to their blogs on the side bar. If you are a guild member and would like your blog to be added to the list, please contact the Guild Webmaster.
Today is the final Guild general meeting of the year and, as a kind of Christmas present to Guild members, we will be officially launching this Guild blog. Welcome to all new readers who are visiting for the first time!
The Committee hopes that members (and prospective members!) will find this blog a valuable resource to catch up on all the latest Guild happenings. To ensure that you don't miss out, we encourage you to electronically subscribe to blog updates by either of these methods:
Preparations for the Sydney Quilt Show 2007 and Guild's 25th anniversary are well under way. If you would like to add the QS2007 button to your blog or website, here is the html code to insert into your blog template or webpage:
<a href="http://www.quiltersguildnsw.com/"><img src="http://www.quiltersguildnsw.com/QS2007/QS2007logodatetn.JPG" alt="Sydney Quilt Show 2007" /></a>
The button should look like this:
Please contact the Guild Webmaster if you require assistance.
Teacher accreditation is a valuable service provided by the Guild. This is not a training program, but rather recognition of proven skills of present and future teachers. The Guild now offers three programs of teaching accreditation to Guild members:
The final general meeting for 2006 is at Burwood RSL (96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood), this Saturday, 2 December 2006:
11am: Demonstration by Maree Gebhardt
1pm: General meeting with guest speaker, Isobel L - Guild Treasure!
Shop: Threads & Things - a mobile patchwork and quilting supplier
Bring something yummy to share for afternoon tea. You are also encouraged to bring ONE festive themed Artist Trading Card (3 1/2" x 2 1/2") to go into a draw to swap with other participants.
New and prospective members welcome!
Don't forget that entries for the Calendar Challenge close on 30 November. There are some great entries coming forward including Raspberry Sorbet by Nic Bridges.
Bou-saada vineyard in Mittagong is hosting a textile exhibition with a rose theme until 23 December 2006. Co-ordinated by Alison Muir, the exhibition features works by 18 art quilters, including other guild members Helen Godden, Dianne Firth and Beth Miller. Click HERE for images of the beautiful quilts and more details about the exhibition.
Flaming Passion by Helen Godden
If you attended the Sydney Quilt Show in June 2006 and enjoyed the re-fabricating retrospective exhibition, then you may be interested in the forthcoming re-fabricating difference exhibition:
Braemer Gallery
Blue Mountains Art Gallery
104 Macquarie Road
Springwood NSW 2777
24 November - 17 December 2006
Gallery Hours: 10am - 4pm Fri, Sat & Sun or by appointment
Tel: 4723 5946
'Belonging' by Christa Sanders (ACT)
featured in the re-fabricating retrospective
To celebrate the guild's 25th anniversary in 2007, members are invited to make a small quilt, 12 inches square to be judged for inclusion in a calendar for 2008. Any subject and any techniques will be welcome. Send your masterpiece to the Guild office by 30 November 2006. Quilts will be on display at the 25th Sydney Quilt Show in June 2007 and the calendars for 2008 will be on sale. The quilts may then become another suitcase exhibition available to groups.
Click here for a copy of the entry form in pdf format.
There is a treat in store for Sydney quilting enthusiasts:
Amish Quilt Exhibition - One Week Only
Saturday 11 November to Sunday 19 November
10am - 4pm weekdays and 11am - 4pm weekends
North Sydney Council Chambers (upstairs)
200 Miller Street, North Sydney
Free admission
