March 2009 Newsletter Out Now!

The March 2009 issue of the Guild newsletter has been posted out. Check your copy for a range of articles and the updated Guild events calendar.

Don't forget to call the office to book your place in the presentation by Vikki Pignatelli at Epping Creative Centre, 2pm Saturday 2 May 2009: 10 Attributes that make a Good Quilter Better’.

Australian Machine Quilters Exhibition

The Australian Machine Quilters Exhibition is an exciting new exhibition run by Victorian Quilters and open to ALL machine quilters (domestic and long-arm), with judging predominantly focused on the quilting.

Entries are due on the 1st of June. You do not have to be a member of Victorian Quilters to enter. Entry forms and information can be downloaded HERE.

Social Meeting at Campbelltown: 15 March

The first Sunday social meeting for 2009 is this Sunday, 15 March.

The venue is Campbelltown Arts Centre. All members, and friends and interested persons, welcome. Gallery opens at 10.00am , Show and tell at 11.30, Café for lunch or bring your own, Guest Speaker, 1.00pm, Afternoon Tea provided, meeting closes at 3.00 pm, Gallery closes at 4.00pm. Wheelchair access, Sculpture Garden, Art Gallery, Japanese Garden.

Reminder: Sydney Quilt Show 2009 Entries

This is a quick reminder that entries for the Sydney Quilt Show 2009 close this Friday, 13 March. Here are the relevant forms:

• membership form
• entry form
• volunteer form

Entry forms CANNOT be submitted by fax or e-mail.

6 March Friday Showcase: Chris Jurd

Chris Jurd presents the next Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 6 March 2009. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee)

2009 Raffle Quilt made by Chris Jurd
for the Springwood High School Community Quilt Show
Friday April 24th to Sunday April 26th
Springwood High School Hall, Grose Rd Faulconbridge

Exciting Member News from AQC

The Australasian Quilt Convention for 2009 has now closed. Congratulations to Guild member, Merelyn Pearce who was awarded the Australian National Quilt Award, sponsored by Bernina, for her 2008 Sydney Quilt Show Sydney Quilt Show quilt Wheelflower Medallion. If you missed seeing this quilt last year, you will have another opportunity to view it as part of the Best of Australia exhibition that will tour with Craft and Quilt Fairs throughout 2009.

Congratulations also to Guild members, Denise Sargo and Jocleyne Leath who were awarded first place and runner-up respectively in the inaugural AP&Q AQC Challenge. Their stunning fantasy-themed quilts, together with more than twenty five other finalists will be on display at the Sydney Quilt Show 2009. Not to be missed!

Fresh & Salt by Alison Muir: 27 February - 9 March

"Fresh and Salt" by Alison Muir
27 February - 9 March 2009
Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Messages in Stitched Textiles by Guild member Alison Muir designed to raise awareness of fresh and salt water in the Sydney Basin

Quilt Show 2009 Button

Entries for the Sydney Quilt Show 2009 close on Friday, 13 March and the show itself runs from 10-14 June. Please assist in promoting the show by adding the QS2009 button to your blog or website. Here is the html code:

<a href="http://www.quiltersguildnsw.com/"><img src="http://www.quiltersguildnsw.com/quiltshowbutton.jpg" alt="Sydney Quilt Show" /></a>

If you have a Blogspot blog, go to Dashboard>Layout>Page Elements>Add Page Element. Choose "HTML/Javascript" as your page element, click "Add to Blog", cut and paste the code and click "Save Changes". On the "Add & Arrange" page elements page, you can drag and drop the button at the desired place in your side bar. The button should look like this.

Please contact the Guild Webmaster if you require assistance.

PS: If you downloaded the code for the previous quilt show buttons, you will see that it has been automatically updated to display the 2009 button - no further action required!

Market Day @ Burwood: 21 Febuary

The next Guild meeting at Burwood is this Saturday, 21 February 2009:

11am - 1pm Market Day
1pm, General Meeting
Burwood RSL
96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood

Join us for a busy market day followed by a presentation of antique quilts and stories by collector Trish Bloomfield.


Image courtesy of Australian Patchwork & Quilting

Sydney Quilt Show 2009 - Call for Entries & Volunteers

Entry forms for the Sydney Quilt Show 2009 will be posted out to Guild members shortly. In the meantime, you can download the entry form (200KB PDF)to view the categories and conditions of entry.

THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE RETURN OF COMPLETED ENTRY FORMS IS: FRIDAY 13 March 2009 This closing date will be strictly applied!

Any queries about the entry form should be directed to the Exhibition Secretary.

The Sydney Quilt Show is an exhibition of members' quilts. If you wish to exhibit in this year's show, it is not too late. Just complete a membership form and return it with your subscription payment at the same time as you send in your quilt show entry form.

It is expected that all quilt show entrants will donate some time to help out at the show. Even if you have not entered a quilt, please consider submitting a volunteer form. The quilt show is a significant undertaking and a strong pool of volunteers will ensure that the team is fresh and enthusiastic to carry out important tasks such as catalogue and raffle ticket sales and white glove floor monitoring duties.

Every volunteer will receive a specially minted Quilt Show 2009 badge and we have a special Sydney Quilt Show Volunteers Prize (value $350 product) sponsored by Cotton On Creations. You will be given one entry into this draw for every 2 hours duty you volunteer.

6 February Friday Showcase: Jennifer Ramsay

Jennifer Ramsay presents the next Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 6 February 2008. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee)

"Fasset"-ating Circles
Sydney Quilt Show 2008
Jennifer's own design, using colourful Kaffe Fassett materials in the circles and borders. The design is based on ideas presented in 'Circle Play' by Reynola Pakusich. Quilt is machine pieced and quilted.

Updated Information about Vikki Pignatelli Visit

This blog post contains updated information about the forthcoming visit by American quiltmaker, lecturer and teacher, Vikki Pignatelli. If you wish to attend the lecture and/or the morning workshop (including if you have previously submitted an expression of interest), please complete this booking form and return it to the office with your payment to reserve your place. Please get your friends together and support this initiative. We can’t do it without your support!

American quiltmaker, lecturer and teacher, is coming to Australia with the support of the Barbara Meredith International Tutor Trust in April and May 2009.

Vikki has developed a simple layering technique that is a blend of piecing and appliqué. She is the author of two books featuring this technique, “Quilting Curves” and “Quilting by Improvisation”. (Further information on www.vikkipignatelli.com)

LECTURE: ‘10 ATTRIBUTES THAT MAKE A GOOD QUILTER BETTER’

LECTURE DATE: Saturday, 2nd May, 2009.
VENUE: Epping Creative Leisure Centre, Dence Park, Stanley Road, Epping.
TIME: 1.30pm for 2.00pm. The lecture is for one hour.
A question and answer session and showing of quilts are included.
AFTERNOON TEA: Light refreshments will be provided but any donations will be appreciated.
ENTRY FEE: Prepaid $10.00. At the door $15.00

WORKSHOP:
Subject to pre-bookings, there is one workshop available [are two workshops available, but only one will be booked, the one that registers the most interest.

• ‘Crazy about Curves’, making curves fun to do, without the hassle of measuring seam allowances. OR
  
• ‘Scrap the Pattern-Improvisational Curves’, an impromptu approach to piecing curves, offering total freedom in quilt making.

WORKSHOP DATE: Saturday, 2nd May, 2009
VENUE: As above
TIME: 9.15 am set up time for 9.30 am to 12.30.pm
CATERING: Bring your own lunch, if staying for the lecture. Light refreshments available for morning tea. There are no facilities handy to the venue.
WORKSHOP FEES: $55.00

A requirement list will be sent once the numbers (16) are sufficient to book the tutor. (Update: As at 6 February there are 10 bookings - the class size is capped at 20 students.) No refunds will be made after confirmation of booking the tutor has been made. You will have to find a replacement or there may be a waiting list at the office from which you can organise one.

What Tickles Your Fancy

What Tickles Your Fancy is the theme for the 2009 Guild challenge. The challenge is open to Guild members only and entry is free. Quilts may be made using any technique or material. However, they should conform to the definition of a quilt, i.e. three layers. You can obtain a copy of the entry form from the guild office or download it here (75KB).

The quilts are displayed at the Guild's end of year general meeting at Burwood on 21 November and the winners and Viewers' Choice are announced. Afterwaards, the quilts become a touring suitcase exhibition travelling all over Australia for up to two years. They are returned to the makers at the end of the tour.

NB: The new travelling suitcase has different dimensions so the new quilt size for the 2009 challenge is 40cms x 60cms (16 x24 inches) - portrait or landscape with hanging sleeve. Entries close on 25 September 2009.

2009 Meeting Calendar

Pull out your calendar and mark the following Guild meeting events for 2009:

Burwood Meetings:

• 21 February - MARKET DAY. Guest speaker - Trish Bloomfield with vintage quilts. Please contact the Guild office to book a table for the market.
  
• 4 April (Away Meeting @ Mudgee)
• 16 May
• 20 June
• 15 August - Market day and guest speaker - Reece Scannell
  
• 19 September - Annual General Meeting
• 21 November - End of Year General Meeting
  

Sunday Social Meetings at Campbelltown:

• Sunday, 15th March, 2009
• Sunday, 17th May, 2009
• Sunday, 19th July, 2009
• Sunday, 20th September, 2009
• Sunday, 15th November, 2009

Friday Showcase:

• 6 February - Jennifer Ramsey
• 6 March - Chris Jurd
• NO APRIL SHOWCASE (due to Away meeting)
• 1 May - Audience Show & Tell
• 5 June29 June - Wagga group
• 3 July - Verna Horwood
• 7 August - Jennifer Corkish
• 4 September - Karen Malone
• 2 October - Pat Dwyer
• 6 November - Cathy Jack Coupland
• NO DECEMBER SHOWCASE

See the Guild website for more information.

Treasure Trove of Guild Member Blogs

If you are a current member of the Quilters' Guild of NSW and have a blog about quilting, you are welcome to e-mail the Guild Webmaster to apply to be added to the member blogroll in the right sidebar. Here are just some of the treasures you will find if you go surfing through the member blogs:

• Esther Aliu has released the third part of her fabulous (and free!) Red Delicious Block of the Month;
• Nicole Bridges has embraced "now" as her power word for 2009 as she prepares for her forthcoming exhibition and shares some of her artwork;
  
• Jenny Bowker gives us a sneak preview of some exciting quilts in progress;
• Helen Godden lets us in on the secrets of free motion machine quilting;
  
• Pamela Priday has recently joined the blogosphere and a journal quilt challenge and is having great fun experimenting with different techniques;
• Rooruu and Maggie revel in observing the patterns in the world around us;
  
• Brenda Smith offers a range of quilting and blogging related tutorials including experimenting with Alternative Quilt Finishes;
• Erica Spinks often writes about her favourite quilting books and her latest discoveries using the EQ6 quilting software program;
  
• Lisa Walton is stretching her creative muscles and shows us some of her coursework from her the City & Guilds course she is undertaking; and
• Amanda, Bernadine, Kathy & Sarah share the joys of quiltmaking.
  

Take a look at what these creative Guild members are up to and don't forget to leave a comment while you are there.

Country Workshop Support Program 2009 – 2010

To acknowledge and encourage our country membership, the Quilters Guild of NSW is initiating a support program for you to bring a tutor to your country area of NSW.

At the time of applying, the applicant must have been a member of the Guild (individual or group) for at least one full year and live in NSW. All workshop participants do not have to be Guild members. Application for funds should be made at least six months in advance of your workshop. Tutor must be domicile in NSW or Canberra or be in NSW or Canberra already at the time of the workshop. The workshop participants must cover the tutor’s workshop fees themselves.

The Guild will provide the funds for the following expenses:

• Travel expenses, own car, hire car, bus, train or plane travel will be considered. For private car travel, (a per kilometer remuneration will apply depending on type of car, as per tax scale) from home or previous destination to workshop venue and return within NSW and Canberra. Short taxi hire.
• One or two nights accommodation close to the workshop venue providing the tutor lives or will be traveling over 80kms to the workshop or from the workshop.
• If the tutor is being billeted, an accommodation/meals benefit of $50.00 per night will be paid.
• Meals for the tutor during the stay for the workshop.
• General organization expenses up to the value of $50 for phone calls, email and postage expenses.

Download an application form. The Guild can provide a list of accredited and experienced teachers and the types of work they are prepared to teach. Contact the Guild Office on 02 0293 3737 or email office@quiltersguildnsw.com, or Workshop Convener, Yvonne Line 02 4628 1170 for details.

The Guild has allocated a budget for the cost of having overseas tutors in Sydney and we would like to extend this facility to our country members in the future. If you are willing to organize a workshop in your area, we are compiling a list of those interested in being informed of future plans.

Forthcoming Visit by Vikki Pignatelli

Vikki Pignatelli, American quiltmaker, lecturer and teacher, is coming to Australia with the support of the Barbara Meredith International Tutor Trust in April and May 2009. The Committee has booked her to do a lecture on Saturday, 2nd May, 2009.

Vikki has developed a simple layering technique that is a blend of piecing and appliqué. She is the author of two books featuring this technique, “Quilting Curves” and “Quilting by Improvisation”.

The lecture will be held at the Epping Creative Leisure Centre, Saturday, 2nd May, 2009. Time is 1.30pm for 2.00pm start. The lecture ‘10 Attributes that Make a Good Quilter Better’ is for one hour. A question and answer session and showing of quilts is included.

All members, guests and interested persons welcome. The entry fee is $10.00. A light afternoon tea will be provided.

If there is sufficient interest, a 3 hour workshop can be organized for the morning. At least 16 people would be required. The fee will be approximately $50.00 (yet to be confirmed due to cost of A$) A $25.00 deposit will be required by 1st April, 2009 to hold your place. The balance will be advised with date of final payment.

There are two workshops ‘Crazy about Curves’, making curves fun to do, without the hassle of measuring seam allowances and ‘Scrap the Pattern-Improvisational Curves, an impromptu approach to piecing curves, offering total freedom in quiltmaking. Please state which workshop you would be most interested in and we will book the one with the most interest.

To register your expression of interest, please e-mail the office or leave a clear telephone message on (02) 9283 3737 or (02) 4628 1170.

Please get your friends together and support this initiative. We can’t do it without your support!

Reviews of Sydney Quilt Show 2008

Generous quilt show sponsors Australian Patchwork & Quilting and Quilters Companion each feature a selection of high quality images of prize winning quilts from Sydney Quilt Show 2008 in the current issues of their magazines APQ Vol 17 No 6 and QC Issue 34:

Sydney Royal Easter Show - Postal Entries close 16 December

Postal entries for the Royal Easter Show close on Tuesday 16 December at 5pm but online entries are accepted up to 5pm on Monday 2 February. You can lodge your entry online at:
https://www.rasnsw.com.au/OnlineShowEntries/ArtDefault.aspx
PATCHWORK, APPLIQUÉ AND QUILTING
ENTRY FEE: $10 PER CLASS. ONE ENTRY ONLY PER CLASS.
JUDGING: 31 MARCH & 1 APRIL 2009 AT 11AM
Cash Prize for the best Exhibit in Patchwork, Appliqué and Quilting Classes 70 to 75, supported by the Quilters’ Guild of NSW Inc. Prize $200

• CLASS 70 - Bed Quilt, Traditional, hand quilted. Prize 1st $50
  Cash Prize for the first prize-winning Exhibit in Class 70, supported by Mrs Prudence Charles. Prize $100
• CLASS 71 - Bed Quilt, machine quilted. Prize 1st $50
• CLASS 72 - Wall Hanging, Traditional. Must have loops or a
  sleeve for hanging. Prize 1st $50
• CLASS 73 - Wall Hanging, Innovative. Must have loops or a
  sleeve for hanging. Prize 1st $50
• CLASS 74 - Miniature Quilt, less than 45cm x 45cm.
  Prize 1st $50 Cash Prize for the first prize-winning Exhibit in Class 74, supported by Threads and Things. Prize $100
• CLASS 75 - Creative Article. Prize 1st $50

Dianne Finnegan @ Burwood

Dianne Finnegan is the guest speaker at the Guild Meeting this Saturday:

1pm, Saturday 6 December 2008
Burwood RSL
96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood

Dianne has made quilts for nearly thirty years and along the way has been president of the Guild for the Bicentenary, exhibited internationally, curated exhibitions, explored the history of Australian quilts, written books and articles, fundraised, and travelled around the world teaching. An exhibition of Dianne's work completed during her artist residency with North Sydney Council is to be shown at the Primrose Park Gallery, Matora Lane off Young Street in Cremorne, NSW continues until this Friday, 5 December (10 am to 4.20 p.m. daily).

Apartment by Dianne Finnegan

Please note that there will not be a demonstration at this Saturday's meeting BUT historical costume maker Elizabeth Elwell from Cote & Cutler Outfitters will be selling a selection of spectacular remnants of ecclesiastical brocades, silks, linens, some prints, as well as calicos, wools and other bits and bobs at discount prices. An ideal Christmas present for people into crazy patchwork or something a little bit different in their quilting stash. Remember, non-members are welcome to attend Guild meetings. If you can join us, be sure to introduce yourself!