Hexagon Madness - Old and New: 24 April 2-4pm

Join many other hexagon lovers at the Powerhouse Museum to pour over antique hexagon quilts, be enthralled by the many modern interpretations of the hexagon and to learn more. We hope to have several quilts from well-known quilt makers for you to see up close.

This event organised by the Quilt Study Group (part of The Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc.) will be held in the Powerhouse Learning Centre on Saturday 24th April 2010 from 2pm to 4pm.
Bring along any of your hexie quilts, old or new, for us to see. Entry is free for Guild members and afternoon tea will be provided. Access to the Powerhouse Museum is via the walkway over from Chinatown or by walking from Central Station. (See the Powerhouse Museum transport page for details.)

If you contact the event owner, Sandra Lyons on 9589 2537 beforehand it is possible to arrange for car parking in the Powerhouse's parking area for disabled drivers. Or you can use the drop off area near the entrance to the car park which provides easy access to Level 2 where our events are held.

Calling All Blogging Members

Are you a current member of the Quilters Guild of NSW? Do you keep a blog with a focus on quiltmaking and other creative endeavours? If so, you are welcome to send a request to the Guild Webmaster for your blog to be added to the Member Blog Roll that can be found in the sidebar of this blog and on the Cyberspace links page on the Guild website. The webmaster will be updating these listings shortly.

Public Lecture: Dorothy Caldwell: 29 April 7-9pm

Textile artist Dorothy Caldwell speaks at the College of Fine Arts in Sydney - Out of the Ordinary: Textiles in the Everyday.

When: 7 pm Thursday April 29 2010
Where: COFA Main Lecture Theatre, EG02
             Cnr Oxford Street & Greens Rd,
             Paddington, Sydney,
Cost: Free and open to the public

One of the wonderful qualities of cloth is that it wears out, breaks down and is continuously being re-made into something new. Stitching, mending and patching create a surface of unintended beauty and the sense of “lives lived”. It is from these ordinary practices that Dorothy Caldwell has developed the vocabulary of marks that she uses in the making of her large fabric constructions. The talk will address this aspect of traditional textiles and how it has been used as a basis for Caldwell’s work.

Dorothy Caldwell is a graduate of Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and maintains an active international exhibition and teaching schedule. She has carried out research in Japan, India, and Australia on textile traditions and is the recipient of grants and awards including the prestigious Bronfman Award given to one Canadian craftsperson each year. Her work is included in many permanent collections including the American Museum of Art and Design, Canadian Museum of Civilization, The Carlton and Reta Lewis Collection in Washington D.C., The Canadian Consulate Bangkok Thailand, and the International Quilt Museum and Study Center University of Nebraska.

Dorothy is visiting Australia at the invitation of The Australian Forum for Textile Arts and teaching at their Orange Forum (NSW) in April.

Teacher Accreditation Information Day: 8 May 2010

Do you teach Patchwork and Quilting? Are you interested in becoming an accredited teacher with The Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc?
Come and join the members of the Teacher Accreditation sub-committee and some accredited teachers at the Guild office on Saturday 8th May 2010.
This is an excellent opportunity to find out more about the process of becoming an accredited teacher, to ask questions and to share any concerns you may have about the program in an informal gathering.
Time: 10am to 4pm. A sandwich lunch will be provided. Cost $10. Bookings are essential.

For more information please phone Amanda Daly 9654 9463

Sydney Quilt Show 2010 Update

289 entries from over 200 individual and group members have been received for the 2010 Sydney Quilt Show.  ALL valid entries have been accepted. Formal acceptance letters with important details about the delivery of your quilts will be posted out at the beginning of May. In the meantime, keep on putting the finishing details on your quilts. We look forward to a great show!

The New Quilt 2010: Selected Artists

The New Quilt 2010 will take place at the Manly Art Gallery and Museum from 18 June until 25 July 2010 and there will be a colour catalogue generously sponsored by Brother International Australia.

Congratulations to the following textile artists whose work has been selected for The New Quilt 2010, a juried exhibition of contemporary quilt textiles presented by the Guild in partnership with the Manly Art Gallery & Museum:

• Geri Barr
• Mog Bremner
• Anna Brown
• Beryl Brooks
• Marion Curry
• Sue Dennis
• Pamela Fitzsimons
• Margery Goodall
• Helen Gray
• Camille Lord
• Nichole Lubcke
• Valentina Maximova
• Thelma McGough
• Deborah McArdle
• Gloria Muddle
• Alison Muir
• Judi Nikoleski
• John Parkes
• Cath Phillips
• Brenda Gael Smith
• Greg Somerville
• Carolyn Sullivan
• Ruth de Vos

1000 Artisan Textiles

Congratulations to Guild members  Sue Dennis and Brenda Gael Smith who each have two quilts featured in the new book 1000 Artisan Textiles :


1000 Artisan Textiles features artisan-made examples of quilts, wall hangings, linens, rugs, baskets, wearable art, home accessories, and fashion accessories; incorporating a number of techniques including felting, hand and machine embroidery, appliqué, dyeing and fabric painting, weaving, beading, and all types of surface decoration.

Other Australian textile artists featured in the book include: Elizabeth Armstrong, Gill Brooks, Heather Crossley, Ruth deVos, Penny Eamer, Jette Ford, Jody Pearl Lange, Carol McGill, Sharron Shalekoff, Tricia Smout, Svenja and Daniela Tommasi.

Away Meeting at Wagga Wagga: 10 April 2010

The annual "away" or country meeting is tomorrow 10 April 2010, 1.30pm at the ARCC Hall, Tarcutta Street, Wagga Wagga. Judy Hall from Punch with Judy is the guest speaker and there will be a HUGE Show & Tell event.  All welcome!

1930s Quilts Event Report

On the 27th February 2010 at the Powerhouse Museum, Jennie Burton gave the Quilt Study Group of NSW members and friends a 30 minute talk about 1930s quilts. She brought along some 1930s quilts, quilt tops and feed sacks from her collection for us to see. She told us that she is drawn to these quilts for their colourful scrappiness and put the making of these quilts into historical perspective, referring to the influence of the depression years of the 1930s, changes in fabric dyes, the mass production of bed coverings and then the revival of quilt making between the wars.

During the Depression the number of advertisements, patterns and articles about quilts in newspapers increased so that many women had scrapbooks containing planned quilts (not dissimilar to us now). Popular patterns included the Dresden Plate, Butterfly, Grandmother’s Flower Garden, Sunbonnet Sue, and Double Wedding Ring because they all involved using up fabric scraps. “Use up, wear out, make do or do without” was the motto for these women. Quilting in the 1930s also provided a way for some to make money by designing quilt patterns, making and selling quilts and quilt kits and by winning prizes at quilt shows. Quilts were also a softer side of the Great Depression and the importance of sewing and quilting bees took the quilters’ minds off their troubles.

The feed sacks, which provided cheap fabric for the 1930s quilts, were originally made from plain calico and were hand sewn by the farmers with hand written labels. Later they were sewn by machine and had pre-printed labels that had to be soaked off in order to use them. The feed sack bag and sack manufacturers then came up with the idea of using patterned fabrics thus leading to their use in making curtains, dresses, quilts and even underwear. The finer grades of feed sacks were used for holding sugar or flour, the coarser ones for corn or chicken feed. Now they are discovering whole attics full of feed sacks which are coming onto the market.

Jennie then showed us some American feed sacks which prompted Annette Gero to show us her Australian feed sack. Among the many wonderful quilts from Jennie’s collection we saw one unusual quilt with black baskets, another with a yellow background and a vibrant ‘Trip Around the World’ quilt with such perfectly matching fabric that she believes it could only have been from a quilt kit.

Feature Display Quilts @ Sydney Royal Easter Show

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and the Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc are showcasing patchwork and quilting as the feature display in the Arts Pavillion at the 2010 Royal Easter Show. In addition to the quilts entered in the show, there will be a display in the centre of the pavillion and demonstrations of different quilting techniques. The Royal Easter Show continues until Wednesday 14 April 2010. Come along and say hello!

Lisa Walton Jewel Pearce Patterson International Quilt Teacher Scholarship 2010

Congratulations to Guild member Lisa Walton who has been awarded the Jewel Pearce Patterson International Quilt Teacher Scholarship, Houston, USA for 2010.

Jewel Pearce Patterson was one of the founders of Quilts, Inc. and the mother of Karey Bresenhan who is the current president of this organization. Quilts Inc. sponsors three major quilt festivals and two quilt markets each year. In 1990, this organization developed a scholarship for quilting teachers and one teacher is chosen for this prestigious award. This year is even more special as it would have been the 100th birthday of Jewel Patterson and Lisa feels especially honoured.

The scholarship covers airfare and accommodation and a full program of workshops at the 2010 Houston Quilt Market and Festival and is an opportunity of a lifetime. In 2011 Lisa will be required to mount an exhibition of her work and that of her students at the Houston Quilt Festival and it also travels to the other Festivals. What an extraordinary opportunity to show her work to so many people.

The Fabric of Society Exhibition: 3 April-25 July

The Fabric of Society
Australia’s Quilt Heritage from Colonial Times to 1960
Saturday 3 April to Sunday 25 July 2010

Australia’s history is retold through patchwork quilts in this exhibition drawn from national, state and private collections. The fabric scraps, patterns and needlework conjure memories of past times and allow an examination of the social histories of countless ordinary and some extraordinary people which would otherwise never have been told—Governor’s wives, wealthy shop owners, farmer’s wives, gold rush immigrants, prisoners of war, and all the mums that made their children’s clothes and never threw anything away.

This exhibition includes rare and unique quilts displayed with contextual photographs and period furniture and has been curated exclusively for the Ipswich Art Gallery by Australian Quilt Historian Dr Annette Gero.

IPSWICH ART GALLERY│EXHIBITION GALLERY
d’Arcy Doyle Place, Nicholas Street│Ipswich CBD Qld 4305
T│(07) 3810 7222 W│www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au
OPEN 7 DAYS 10am-5pm│Entry by gold coin donation


Roebuck chintz quilt (detail) c.1860
Henrietta Maria, Margaret & Lizzie Roebuck
Chintz printed cotton, hand-pieced and appliquéd, unlined, 240 x 240cm. Private collection

SKINT! Making do in the Great Depression: 27 March - 25 July

A new exhibition SKINT! Making do in the Great Depression opens on 27 March at the Museum of Sydney and for Seniors Week, during the weekend of 27 & 28 March, seniors receive free admission to the exhibition.

Skint! Making do in the Great Depression explores the spirit and flavour of life in Sydney in the 1930s: the community spirit and political activism, everyday life and key events and personalities of the period. It brings together evocative images, objects, oral histories and film to help us understand the story of Sydney in the Great Depression.

Quilt historian, Dr Annette Gero will be talking about waggas at the Museum of Sydney on Sunday, 18 April from 2-3pm..

PETITE - Call for Proposals

Artists working in TEXTILES or FIBRE are invited to submit proposals for artwork to be included in the exhibition PETITE Miniature TEXTILES to be shown in the Gallery WORKSHOP SPACE @ Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery 12 June - 11 July 2010

Proposal Requirements

• Artists may submit up to 3 works for selection. Entry is free
• Works must not exceed 30x30x30cm in size but may be smaller
• Submissions must include a CV or brief artist’s biography and Jpeg files or photographs of the works for selection
• Include title/s, medium, dimensions, price including 20% commission
• Submissions must be received by 5pm Friday 14 May 2010. All submissions will be subject to a selection process
• Artists will be notified of the selection by 21/5/10
• Selected works must be delivered to the Gallery by Monday 7 June or by prior arrangement. Artists are responsible for all delivery transport or postage costs
• Artworks will be returned by Express Post at the conclusion of the exhibition on 12/7/10
  

For more information contact the Exhibitions Officer on 03 57220761 or
gallery@wangaratta.vic.gov.au

2010 World Quilt Competition

Australian traditional and contemporary quilters have the opportunity to enter the 2010 World Quilt Competition and have their work tour in the United States from August to November.

The World Quilt Competition entries will premier at the World Quilt Show New England in Manchester, New Hampshire and then be exhibited at the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza XVII, the Pacific International Quilt Festival XIX in Santa Clara, California and the World Quilt Show Florida in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Innovative & traditional entries compete for a range of awards with cash prizes. These include Best of World, Traditional first, second and third, Innovative first, second and third, Best Use of Colour, Best Hand Workmanship, Best Machine Workmanship, Best of Country if the country has 10 entries and Viewer’s Choice. In 2009 Australian Linda Steele received the Best of Country with her quilt “Crazy about Spring”.

Down load the 2010 World Quilt Entry form or send a business size SSAE to World Quilt & Textile coordinator Sue Dennis at31 Shelley St, Sunnybank 4109 QLD. Deadline for entry submission is May 17, 2010. Entries are juried in the USA. Notification of entry success is by June 16 and accepted quilts must be delivered to the coordinator by July 7. Quilts are returned to exhibitors late December.
Sue Dennis
info@suedennis.com
Australian World Quilt & Textile coordinator

Machine Quilting Workshop: 12 & 13 August 2010

This workshop with Deborah Louie will be for advanced beginners and intermediate machine quilters at the Campbelltown Arts Centre on 12 and 13 August 2010 (Thursday/Friday) Beginner machine quilters will not be accepted. Maximum bookings will be 12/13 participants. Minimum bookings 10.

You must have your own machine. The boom gate can be opened on request for easy access, if required. Set up time is 9.30am. The tutor will start promptly at 10.00am. Tutoring will finish at 3.30pm. Gallery closes at 4.00. Lunch time will be at the tutor’s discretion. There is a cafe on the premises. Tea/coffee/soft drink and biscuits will be available all day. Please bring your own cup.

Workshop fees are $55.00 per day for members and $70.00 for non members. Two members of a member group may attend at the member's price. Book now to reserve your place. Download booking form or contact the office on (02) 9283 3737. Full payment confirms your place in a workshop.

Twelve by Twelve Burwood Presentation: 22 May 2010

Come along to the Burwood meeting on Saturday, 22 May 2010 to see Brenda Smith's presentation about the Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt Project. 12x12 inches (30x30cm) is a remarkably versatile format and you are invited to bring along your own 12x12in quilt to share in a mini-exhibition for the meeting. This can be a quilt already in your collection or you are welcome to follow along with the next Twelve by Twelve Colourplay challenge - Kilauea , a palette inspired by the volcanos of Hawaii.

You can view all 144 quilts from the Twelve by Twelve Theme Series at the following forthcoming exhibitons:

• 29 April - 2 May 2010: Australasian Quilt Convention Melbourne, Australia
  
• 28 May - 23 June 2010: Gosford Regional Gallery NSW, Australia
  
• 25 - 27 June 2010: Textile Art Festival Brisbane, Australia

The New Quilt 2010:Entries close on 19 March

The New Quilt is a biennial juried exhibition of contemporary quilt textiles presented by the Guild in partnership with the Manly Art Gallery & Museum in which many of our country’s finest quiltmakers have shown their work since 1991.

The New Quilt 2010 will take place at the Manly Art Gallery and Museum from 18 June until 25 July 2010 and there will be a colour catalogue generously sponsored by Brother International Australia.

Entry is open to all quiltmakers regardless of whether or not they are Guild members. The closing date for entries is 19 March 2010. For further information:

Download The New Quilt 2010 Entry Form (84KB)
or contact the Guild office or Pamela Fitzsimons.

2010 AQS Paducah Semi-Finalists

Congratulations to Esther Aliu, Jenny Bacon, Susan Campbell, Lisa Walton and any other Guild members who have been selected as semifinalists in the 2010 American Quilters' Society Quilt Show & Contest at Paducah. Here is the full list of 2010 semi-finalists.

Ocean Dreaming (detail) by Lisa Walton

Quilts at the Cathedral @ Goulburn: 13-14 March

Fiona Hammond, Julie Woods and Claire Ayling are presenting an exhibition “Quilts at the Cathedral” on the 13 and 14 March at St. Saviours Church Hall, Bourke St Goulburn between 10am – 4pm. The entry fee will be a gold coin donation.

Contact details – Julie 0404 106601

As well as the quilt show, there will have fabrics, beading supplies, threads and handmade crafts for sale.

Craft Expo: 11-14 2010

The Guild is attending Craft Expo at Olympic Park, Homebush 11-14 March 2010, are you?! For quilters, exhibits of interest include:

• Collections, an art quilt exhibition by Canberra textile artists tACTile; and
  
• a selection of quilts from Kathy Doughty as featured in the popular books Material Obsession and Material Obsession Two.

Do stop by the Guild stand to say hello.

Reminder: Quilt Show Entries Close 1 March

This is a reminder that entries for the Sydney Quilt Show 2010 close on Monday, 1 March 2010. Here are the relevant forms:

• membership form for you to join the guild or renew your membership, if applicable;
• entry form ; and
• volunteer form

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

1930s Quilts Presentation: Saturday 27 February

Quilt dealer and collector, Jennifer Burton will give a 30 minute talk about 1930's quilts at the Powerhouse Museum on Saturday 27 February at 2pm as part of the Guild's quilt study group program.

Jennifer will bring along some of her 1930's quilts and quilt tops. You are welcome to bring along your own 1930's quilts or quilt tops or any you have made that are reproductions of or inspired by these quilts for the members' show and tell after her talk. Afternoon tea will be provided.

The talk will be held at the Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo in in Room A of the Powerhouse Learning Centre on the second floor at 2pm. Signage (Quilt Study Group of NSW Special Event) directing people to the event will be at the main entry and on the walkway down to the 2nd floor. Guild members attending this special event are not required to pay an entry fee for the museum.

Proposed Jacqueline de Jonge Workshop: 6 & 7 June

The Guild is proposing a two day workshop with Dutch tutor Jacqueline de Jonge is who is teaching in Australia with the Barbara Meredith Trust. The workshop will run on Saturday, 22nd May and Sunday, 23rd May, Sunday 6 June and Monday 7 June 2010 at Epping Creative Centre. Workshop particulars are under negotiation.and feel free contact the Vice President or ring the office and give your ideas.

Advanced bookings will be taken with a $100.00 deposit. The balance will be required by 1 May, 2010. Without knowing which workshops content will be chosen, it is difficult to firm a price just yet. However, with the cost of the dollar as it is, it is anticipated that the fee will not be less than $180.00 for the two days. Further details will be posted as they become available. We will need 16 participants and depending on the workshop chosen, there may be up to 20 places.

Blue Mountains Rhapsody 2010 Raffle Quilt

Blue Mountains Rhapsody is the spectacular queen size quilt made by Glenbrook Cocktail Quilters for the Guild's 2010 quilt show raffle. Raffle tickets are $2 each and will be distributed to members to sell with the March newsletter. Tickets can also be purchased from the office from March. The fantastic 2010 Raffle Prizes are:

• 1st Prize: Winner's choice of "Blue Mountains Rhapsody" raffle quilt or Bernina Aurora 44oQE sewing machine valued at $3199, sponsored by Bernina;
• 2nd Prize: The remaining item from above;
• 3rd Prize: A collector's box of sewing threads sponsored by Perivale Gutermann;
• 4th Prize: a Sew-Ezi table sponsored by the Just Patchwork;
• 5th Prize: A magnifier lamp sponsored by the Scissorman; and
• 6th Prize: 10 metres fabric sponsored by PK Fabrics.

Blue Mountains Rhapsody - 2010 Guild Raffle Quilt

The raffle quilt design is based on the pattern "Prairie Primrose" from the book "Simple Traditions". Copyright 2006 by Kim Diehl and permission granted by Martingale and Company for one time use only.

One Month Until Closing Date for The New Quilt 2010

The New Quilt exhition will take place at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum from 18 June until 25 July 2010.

The New Quilt is an initiative of the Guild and the Manly Art Gallery & Museum and is held every two years. Entries are juried and selected for this exhibition and it has become one of the major events on the quilt exhibitions calendar not only for quilters but for anyone with an interest in cutting edge textiles.

Entry is open to all quiltmakers regardless of whether they are Guild members. The closing date for entries is 19 March 2010. For further information:

Download The New Quilt 2010 Entry Form (84KB)

or contact the Guild office or Pamela Fitzsimons - pamela.fitzsimons@gmail.com

Key Forms for Sydney Quilt Show 2010

By now all members should have received a copy of the entry form and volunteer form for the Sydney Quilt Show 2010 in the mail. Entries close on Monday, 1 March 2010 and entry forms CANNOT be submitted by fax or e-mail. Here are the relevant forms to download:

• membership form for you to join the guild or renew your membership, if applicable;
• entry form ; and
• volunteer form

Every volunteer will receive a specially minted Quilt Show 2010 badge and all volunteers on set up day go into a draw to receive a framed textile artwork donated by Caroline Sharkey. If you have not entered a quilt, we would still appreciate your help so we may present the Guild in the best possible way and ensure that the show runs smoothly.

And don't forget, the Guild now offers a special "Junior Group" class of membership (read all about it here). Spread the word to schools, shops and groups in your area. We look forward to enjoying more junior quiltmaker entries at future members' exhibitions.

Quilt Show 2010 Button

Entries for the Sydney Quilt Show 2010 close on Monday, 1 March and the show itself runs from 16-20 June. Please assist in promoting the show by adding the QS2010 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 2010 button - no further action required!

Burwood Meeting: 13 February 2010

The first general meeting for 2010 is this Saturday, 13 February at the Burwood RSL ( 96 Shaftsbury Avenue Burwood). It's market day so there will be lots of quilting and other goodies for you to peruse, and maybe buy! Market day commences at 11am. The formal proceedings commence at 1pm followed by a presentation by Guild Vice-President, Yvonne Line who will be sharing a selection of her quilts. Visitors welcome! see you there.

Rockpools I & II - Yvonne Line

Sydney Quilt Show 2010 Entry Form

Sydney Quilt Show 2010, the Guild members' exhibition, takes place at Darling Harbour from from 16-20 June 2010. Entry forms will be posted out to members this week. The closing date for entries is Monday, 1 March 2010.

Download Sydney Quilt Show 2010 Entry Form (156KB)

(NB: There has been a technical hitch with the proposed online/electronic entry form process. Further updates will be posted as information becomes available.)

5 February Friday Showcase: Carol Timmins

Carol Timmins presents the the first Friday showcase for 2010 at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 5 February 2010. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee). Carol's quilt Migration is featured on for the month of November in the 2010 Guild Calendar.

Copies of the calendar are available for sale from the Guild office priced as follows:

• 10 copies @ $7.70 each total $77.00 postage to the same address included
• Less than 10 copies @$10.00 each postage included

Download an order form.

Designing Matters 2 with Alan Tremain

Designing Matters 2 is a forthcoming workshop with Alan Tremain
Saturday, 20 February and Sunday 21 February 2010, Epping Creative Centre
9 for 9.30 am until 4 pm both days. WORKSHOP CANCELLED

For Designing Matters participants from 2009 who are continuing onto level 2, we will be following through the designs from Designing Matters and cutting and sewing these designs into quilt tops following previous design principals as decided in the former workshop (see workshop summary below).

For workshop participants starting with Designing Matters 2 we will be discussing their design work to date and venturing forward with the whole group fine tuning their colour and design skills and creating a new level of design profiles, cutting and sewing these new designs into quilt tops.

On Day 1 of the Designing Matters workshop participants debunked their fabrics and designed general quilt pattern layouts and moved onto deciding where these fabrics were placed in their designs. Through stylizing of quilt blocks and their supporting role in their quilt designs, guidance on how to translate these into actual sized templates was pursued. As the quilt profile grew participants accurately recorded these ideas for retrieval at a later stage.

On Day 2 of the Designing Matters workshop, participants started to follow their own paths as dictated by their individual design approaches, by sampling blocks and drawing layouts on graph paper and key colouring areas to relate to their fabric placement choices.

The two days were rounded out by looking at the importance of bridging elements in both colour and design and layering techniques such as embroidery and appliqué.

Workshop fees are $55.00 per day for members and $65.00 for non members. Two members of a member group may attend at the member's price. Book now to reserve your place. Download booking form or contact the office on (02) 9283 3737. Full payment confirms your place in a workshop.

Annual Away Meeting @ Wagga Wagga 9,10 & 11 April

The annual away meeting for 2010 is at 1.30pm on Saturday 10 April in Wagga Wagga and the Guild is arranging a coach for a fun weekend away. The program includes:

• pick ups at Sutherland and Strathfield railway stations early in the morning of Friday, 9 April;
• morning tea and quilt shops at Bowral;
• lunch at Goulburn;
• Saturday markets and quilt shops at Wagga Wagga;
• Saturday lunch with Wagga Wagga Quilters;
• away meeting with Judy Hall from Punch with Judy as guest speaker and a Show & Tell event;
• Sunday - more markets and wineries and lunch at Gundagai;
• afternoon tea and shopping at Goulburn or Berrima;
• return to Sydney, tired but happy quilters.

The approximate cost for the three day event is $350 twin shares and includes all accommodation, transport, lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday. To reserve your place, please complete the form in the December newsletter and forward your $100 deposit to the Guild office (or call 9283 3737). Full payment is due by 22 February 2010.

Road to California 2010

Congratulations to Guild member Helen Godden who, together with Annette M Hendricks from Chicago IL USA, Gail E Thomas from Vernon BC Canada, was awarded Best of Show in the 2010 Road to California for the collaborative work "Seasonal Sisters". You can read more about this wonderful quilt on the Three Sisters website.

Book Your Table for February Market Day

The first Burwood meeting is coming up on Saturday, 13 February 2010 and it's "Market Day". Members are welcome to sell their wares, surplus stash and other good things from 11am. Trading must cease during meeting but traders may continue during afternoon tea if desired.

Tables must be booked through the Guild office at a cost of $5.00 per table. Call the office now on 02) 9283 3737.

Remember the AP&Q AQC Challenge

The AP&Q AQC challenge is a wonderful opportunity to share your contemporary or traditional quilts. The theme for 2010 is "Remember". Prizes are awarded based on the interpretation of theme, excellence in design, and craftsmanship.

• FIRST PRIZE: $5,000 cash


• RUNNER-UP PRIZE: $2,000 cash


• AGE 18 AND UNDER ENTRANT PRIZE: $500 cash

Each work must measure a minimum of 100cm (39 1/2in) on each side up to a maximum of 150cm (59in). The participating quilts must be available for eight months, from April 2010 to November 2010 and will be exhibited at the Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne April 29 – May 2, 2010 and selected Craft & Quilt Fairs around Australia and in New Zealand. Download the entry form. Remember - completed entry forms must be postmarked no later than 10 February 2010!

Art to Wear Retrospective Guest Exhibitor 2010: Cheryl Bridgart

Entries for "Classic Oz Rocks", the Art to Wear section in the Sydney Quilt Show 2010 have now closed. Preparations for the the exhibition are progressing well and the Guild is pleased to advise that our Retrospective Guest Exhibitor for 2010 is Cheryl Bridgart who last exhibited in 2002. Cheryl's studio/gallery is in old horse stables in down town Adelaide.

Cheryl is an internationally recognized master of the Art Form of Thread Painting creating portraits, fantasy pieces, animals, landscapes and Wearable Art. Cheryl's inspiration comes from her dreams, nature and life. Cheryl has taught and exhibited extensively overseas.

Cheryl was the winner of The Australian Tourism Commission/Qantas / Australian Arts Councils Dreamtime 96 “National Billy Can Art Award”. This Image was used to promote Australian tourism world wide. Cheryl's artwork is in numerous collections including The Powerhouse Museum (Sydney), Plescher / Palmer (USA); Madeira International Art Collection (UK); Hemeji (Japan) and the Victorian State Opera.

500 Art Quilts

Congratulations to Guild members Alison Muir, Diane Firth, Beth Miller and Brenda Gael Smith whose work has been selected from over 2000 entries for inclusion in the book 500 Art Quilts that is due to be published in March 2010 available for sale at the end of January.

SEEKING DESCENDENTS OF IRISH IMMIGRANTS

Seeking descendents of Irish Immigrants who were passengers on the ship Abyssinian in 1862 .

I am from Gartan, County Donegal, Ireland. I have been asked by An Taisce, a conservation organisation, to enquire re the possibility of making a commemorative quilt to illustrate the connections between the Gartan area and Sydney. Most of the people who emigrated to Sydney on the Abyssinian in 1862 had been evicted from their homes in Gartan and this land is now in the Glenveagh National Park. Perhaps some Guild members who have Irish connections might consider being involved. As this project is only in the initial stages, I would welcome a response by email to establish contact.

Yours sincerely,
Ann Quinn
Email anncmquinn@gmail.com
Or write to Ann Quinn, Lacknacoo, Gartan, Church Hill, County Donegal, Ireland.

December 2010 Newsletter - Available Now!

Here's what's inside the latest issue of the Guild newsletter:

• President’s Report
• Friday Showcase
• Vale Narelle Grieve
• Jamberoo Weekend Away
• Community Exhibitions & Challenges
• The New Quilt 2010
• Quilt Study Group Report
• Patchwork in Paradise
• “What Tickles My Fancy” Challenge
• Pam Priday Workshop & QSG Events
• Notification of Sydney Quilt Show 2010 categories
• Splinters & Nelson Bay Group Reports
• Librarian Report
• Teacher Accreditation
• Wagga Wagga Away Weekend
• Block of the Quarter
• Community Quilts & Campbelltown Report

Don't forget that the newsletter is only sent to members. Is your membership up to date?! If not, complete and send in a membership form.

The deadline for contributions for the March newsletter is 22 January 2010. The newsletter editor always welcomes articles, letters and calendar items.

Please contact the publicity & sponsorship officer if you wish to place an advertisement. (Click here for more information about advertising.)

2010 Guild Exhibitions Entry Closing Dates

The Guild has a busy exhibition program for 2010. Here's a reminder of the relevant closing dates for entries:

• Art to Wear 2010 - the theme is "Classic Oz Rocks" with a designated palette of ochre 70%, teal 15% & indigo 10% your choice 5%”. Entry is open to all individual Guild members. Download an entry form for Art to Wear 2010. Completed entry forms and associated materials must be received by 31 December 2009.
  
• Sydney Quilt Show 2010 - entry forms will be posted to members in late January. Entries close on 1 March. See the December issue of the newsletter for details of categories; and
  
• The New Quilt 2010 - entries close on 18 March 2010. Entry is open to all quiltmakers. Download The New Quilt 2010 Entry Form (84KB). For more information, Pamela Fitzsimons - pamela.fitzsimons@gmail.com
  

Sydney Quilt Show 2010 New Award - Best Use of Dyes & Pigments

Planning for the Sydney Quilt Show 2010 is well under way. A full listing of categories is set out in the forthcoming December newsletter. Please ensure that your category and quilt size are correct when planning your entry. In addition, there are two new exciting special awards:

• “Best Use of Dyes and Pigments” sponsored by Lynne Britten of Batik Oetoro with a $250 product voucher as a prize. This award will be open to any entrant where they have dyed, coloured or discharged the fabric themselves and this hand dyed fabric forms at least 20% of the quilt top. Again, entrants wishing to be considered for this award must tick the relevant box on the entry form. Entrants are also encouraged to write about the dyeing/colouring/discharge process in their quilt description.

• 'Best Reproduction Inspired by an Antique Quilt' with a prize of $500 is jointly sponsored by Dr Annette Gero of Historic Australian Quilts & Melinda Smith of Quiltsmith.

Sydney Royal Easter Show - Postal Entries close 9 December

Postal entries for the Royal Easter Show close on WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 2009 at 5pm but online entries are accepted up to 5pm on Wednesday 3 February 2010. 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
  

New Junior Group Membership

To encourage increased participation in the junior quiltmaker categories at the Sydney Quilt Show, the Committee has introduced a new class of membership. The new "Junior Group" membership has the following features:

• an annual subscription fee of $44 (inc GST);
• junior quiltmakers (up to 18 years of age) from the same school or geographical area can form a group;
• the group must nominate a contact person;
• each junior group member is entitled to enter one quilt into the Sydney Quilt show free of charge;
• a quarterly newsletter will be sent to the group;
• members have access to the Guild library on the same terms as other members; and
• two junior members from a group may attend Guild workshops at the member's price.

Spread the word to schools, shops and groups in your area. We look forward to enjoying more junior quiltmaker entries at future member's exhibitions. Download a membership form (180KB pdf).

2010 Guild Calendar - A Great Christmas Gift

In 2010 you can have a quilt brighten every single day with the Guild's calendar now available from the Guild office for the special price of:

• 10 copies @ $7.70 total $77.00 postage to the same address included
• Less than 10 copies @10.00 postage included

Download order form. Orders received by 16th December 2009 will be dispatched promptly. Orders received after this date will be dispatched after 10th January, 2010. Just send us a cheque or fill out the credit card particulars. (A fee of $1.50 applies to payments by credit card. )We look forward to your order.

The following winning quilts were selected from the entries in last year's calendar challenge:

• Cover award sponsored by Pfaff Australia: ‘Faites Simple:The Impressionists’ – Cathy Jack Coupland
• January: ‘We Do Like to Be Beside The Seaside’ – Marilyn Lowder
• February: Pippy Hunting – Low Tide at Davistown – Elizabeth Long
• March: Still Life With Picasso #1 – Helen Godden
• April: Spring Beauty – Judith Thomson
• May: Seachange 1 – Alison Muir
• June: Lift Off – Carolyn Sullivan
• July: Colour Patch Series:Black, Blue & Red – Sue Dennis
• August: Simple String Theory - Brenda Gael Smith
• September: Flannel Flowers – Amanda Daly
• October: Inspiration Unleashed 2 – Sharon French
• November: Migration – Carol Timmins
• December: Still Life – Log Cabin Flowers – Alan R Tremain

Bid 4A Cause Auction Commences 27 November

Bid-4A-Cause is holding a reverse auction of textile works to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. On November 27 the auction will BEGIN – tell ALL your friends.

There are 14 wonderful A4-sized textile artworks up for grabs. You can add an artwork to your textile collection for a fraction of the price that these artists work normally sell for. All money raised will be sent to the NBCF – no admin or artist’s fees will be required, so every cent you spend will go to this extremely important and worthwhile charity.

Several Guild members have donated textile works to Bid-4A-Cause including: Nic Bridges, Sue Dennis, Helen Godden, Jocelyne Leath, Caroline Sharkey, Erica Spinks, Brenda Gael Smith and Lisa Walton.

What tickles your fancy

Thirty one entries for the 2009 Guild Challenge, What Tickles Your Fancy, were on display at the end of year Guild meeting today. First prize and viewers' choice was awarded to Jocelyne Leath for Foot Loose and Fancy Free:

Footloose and Fancy Free by Jocelyne Leath, Churchlands WA

Second prize was awarded to Carolyn Sullivan for Feathers Do!

Feathers Do! by Carolyn Sullivan, Bundanoon, NSW

Judges commendations were awarded to Judith Thomsen and Brenda Gael Smith. You can view all thirty one entries and artist statements via the slideshow below. Thank you to everyone who participated.

The 2010 challenge (which closes on 27 August 2010) is fabric rather than theme-based and each entry must incorporate the mystery challenge fabric. This fabric is available from the Guild office for $2.20. If you would like the fabric to be posted to you, please send your details to the Guild office along with 5x55 cent stamps.
Download 2010 Challenge Entry Form (75KB pdf)

Burwood Meeting: 21 November 2009

The final Guild meeting for 2009 will be held this Saturday, 21 November at Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftsbury Avenue Burwood. The program includes:

• 11am demonstration by Nancy Parkinson: Nancy will be demonstrating machine piecing without pins. This promises to be unique and simple, which will be a great help to those who shy away from curves.
• Shop: Lyn's Fine Needlework - a valued Sydney Quilt Show sponsor
• Guest speaker: Diane Groenewegen artist and collector will share her creative journey including printmaking.

The "What Tickles Your Fancy" challenge quilts will be displayed for the first time at this meeting and you will have the opportunity to vote for your favourite . We will conclude with afternoon tea and exchange christmas greetings with fellow quilters. All welcome!

The Gentle Arts "Textiles" Discovery Tour

This Saturday, the Powerhouse Discovery Centre at Castle Hill in Sydney is having a textiles-focused open day.Here is a brief overview of the day. For more detailed information about the day, go to the Power Museum website.

The Gentle Arts 'Textiles'
Saturday 14 November
10.00am-4.00pm
Join us on Saturday 14th November when the Powerhouse Discovery Centre presents an Open Day celebrating the 'gentle arts', focused on embroidery, quilting and needlework in the Powerhouse Museum's collection. Highlights of the Open Day include; a lecture by Powerhouse Museum Conservator, Suzanne Chee, on textile preservation and how to display needlework; displays and demonstrations of fine embroidery and patchwork quilting and a hands-on workshop where visitors can take part in embroidering a convict bonnet as part of the 'Roses from the Heart' convict bonnet project, developed by Tasmanian artist, Christina Henri. Visitors can also spend time in the Centre's Collection Lab to view a selection of quilt panels from the Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt Project and meet some of the Discovery Centre
volunteers involved in the conservation of the quilts.

Social Meeting at Campbelltown: 15 November

The final Sunday social meeting for 2009 is this Sunday, 15 November.

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.

6 November Friday Showcase: Cathy Jack Coupland

Cathy Jack Coupland presents the next Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 6 November 2009. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee). Cathy's stunning work is featured on the cover of the 2010 Guild Calendar.

Art Quilt Australia 09 Exhibition @ Canberra: 7 Nov-19 Dec

Congratulations to Guild members (including Anna Brown, Cathy Jack Coupland, Sue Dennis, Pamela Fitzsimons, Jan Frazer, Helen Gray, Alvena Hall, Alison Muir and Carolyn Sullivan) whose work has been selected for Art Quilt Australia 09, an exhibition of contemporary quilts presented by Ozquilt Network Inc and Craft ACT.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 7 November and continues until 19 December 2009 at the Craft ACT Craft & Design Centre, Level 1 North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City ACT.

Soft Furnishings Project - Old Government House

Fabric Samples Thistle design for Drawingroom sofas.

The Quilt Study Group of NSW visited Old Government House Parramatta on 10th October 2009. Fourteen members of the Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc. visited Old Government House for the last event of the year organised by the Quilt Study Group of NSW. The building, which is home to one of the finest collections of early colonial furniture in Australia, has curtains, braids, bed hangings, mats and othersoft furnishings that were made by hand for the rooms on the ground floor of the house. Because of the expense of sourcing the soft furnishings from commercial sources, the National Trust of NSW decided to call for volunteers to make them instead. Thus was the five year long Soft Furnishings Project created.

There are 20 or so volunteers who form the main team of the Project. They worked under the guidance of Dr James Broadbent, who sourced the fabrics, and Elizabeth Wright who worked on the designs. Some had existing skills but many developed new skills for the tasks at hand. These included painting on velvet, spinning cords for bell pulls, and the painstaking work of binding silk thread over vellum strips to form tassels. Rug making and upholstery skills were also required. The tassels and fringes, which would have cost thousands of dollars if purchased from European workshops, were all made by hand by the volunteers. After a very informative guided tour of the house four of the Soft Furnishings Project volunteers kindly took us back to the rooms where their work was exhibited and explained exactly how they had created the items. Back in the Soft Furnishings Project work room we were allowed to touch the items, and the ladies demonstrated how they had created these amazing braids, curtains, mats etc. Thelma, Sue, Nerida and Fran were all veryhelpful and informative in sharing their knowledge and experience with us.

If you want to see the house and visit the Soft Furnishings Project room to look at their exhibits and source references, the volunteers for the Soft Furnishing Project are at Old Government House on Wednesdays between 10 - 2 pm.  Phone 02 96358149 to confirm the project volunteers will be there before visiting.

Sydney Quilt Show 2010: New Special Award

As announced at the recent annual general meeting, for the Sydney Quilt Show 2010, there will be an exciting new special award - 'Best Reproduction Inspired by an Antique Quilt' with a prize of $500 jointly sponsored by Dr Annette Gero of Historic Australian Quilts & Melinda Smith of Quiltsmith. Entries that are reproductions that are inspired by Australian, American or English antique quilts are eligible for this award. If you would like your quilt to be considered for this award, please tick the relevant box on the entry form and supply supporting particulars identifying the inspiration antique quilt. You will also be required to supply an image of the antique quilt which inspired your entry quilt and from where it has been sourced.

You will find plenty of inspiration, together with patterns of 29 of the heritage quilts, in Dr Gero's book The Fabric of Society available from www.annettegero.com.

2010 Meeting Calendar

2010 is not far away. Here are some key meeting dates to mark in your calendar. All members, and friends and interested persons, welcome.

Burwood General Meetings
General meetings are held at Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftsbury Avenue Burwood at 1.00pm. There is a demonstration at 11 am before each meeting and the program includes a guest speaker and member show and tell.

• 13 February - market day
• 10 April - away meeting at Wagga Wagga
• 22 May
• 17 July - market day
• 16 October - AGM with the display of challenge quilts
• 4 December - end of year meeting

Sunday Social Meetings at Campbelltown
The venue is Campbelltown Arts at Centre Cnr. Camden Road and Moore Oxley By-pass, Campbelltown. Closest major intersection is Narellan Road and Appin Road. Gallery opens at 10.00am , Show and tell at 11.30, Café for lunch or bring your own, Guest Speaker, 1.00pm, tea & coffee and light afternoon tea provided, meeting closes at 3.00 pm, Gallery closes at 4.00pm. Wheelchair access, Sculpture Garden, Art Gallery, Japanese Garden.

• Sunday, 17th January, 2010
• Sunday, 21st March, 2010
• Sunday, 16th May, 2010
• Sunday, 18th July, 2010
• Sunday, 19th September, 2010
• Sunday, 21st November, 2010

Check the Guild website closer to the time for guest speaker and other details.

Braidwood Bus Trip

A visit to the airing of the quilts at Braidwood on 28 November 2009 is proposed.

The bus will leave Sutherland (outside Council Chambers) at 7.30am and pick up at Strathfield Railway Station (Everton Rd-Parramatta Road side of the station) at 8.30am. The cost will be $40.

There are still some spaces on the bus available. Please contact the Guild office (Tel: 9283 3737) to make your payment and to reserve your place. Friends of members are welcome to join the excursion.

Vale Narelle Grieve

An obituary for past President Narelle Grieve appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 15 October 2009 and can be viewed online for a limited period.

Exploring the Art Quilt Practice: 7 November Canberra

Art quilters may be interested to know that the Ozquilt Network is hosting a one-day conference in Canberra entitled "Exploring the Art Quilt Practice". The conference will be held at Primal Space,Shop 12 Torrens Shopping Centre, Torrens Place, Torrens ACT from 10.30am - 4pm on 7 November 2009. Speakers include:

• Valerie Kirk, Head of Textiles, ANU School of Art, “Process, Ideas & Technique”


• Bea Brickhill, Director – ACT, Australia Business Arts Foundation, “Business Skills for Artists”


• Barbara Macey, eminent textile artist and founding member of Ozquilt Network Inc, “A Journey in Textiles”

Non Ozquilt Network members are welcome! See the booking form for the full program and other details. Conference papers are available for $15. Bookings for the Ozquilt Network annual conference close on 30 October 2009.

Newsletter Advertising Opportunity

The guild newsletter, The Template, directly reaches over a 1000 dedicated quilters every quarter. The closing date for advertising in the December 2009 issue of the newsletter is Monday, 19 October 2009. The Guild's new printer arrangements mean that all advertisements can incorporate COLOUR at no extra charge and we offer a a range of advertisement sizes and prices.

ADVERTISING RATES including GST:
Eighth Page Horizontal Only 65 x 92mm $82.50 each issue
Sixth Page Vertical Only 136 x 60mm $110.00 each issue
Quarter Page Vertical Only 136 x 92mm $165.00 each issue
Half Page Horizontal Only 136 x 190mm $330.00 each issue
Full Page Vertical Only 277 x 190mm $660.00 each issue

A 20% discount applies if you take out an advert for 4 consecutive editions.

Please contact the Publicity & Sponsorship Officer to place your advertisement. For more information, also see the Guild's Advertising Brochure (285KB pdf).

Novocastrian Quilters 2009 Exhibition: 17 & 18 October

Celebration of the Tradition - Silver Anniversary 1984-2009

When: Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2009
Where: New Lambton Community Centre 14 Alma Road, New Lambton
Opening Hours:10am - 4pm
Entry:$5

Display of Members Quilts, Anniversay Challenge Quilts, Local School students Quilts, Handmade gift stall, Merchants stall, Demonstation workshops, refreshments
Quilt raffle in aid of Prostate Support Group

Contact details: Helen 02 49680941 or Elizabeth 0249674363

Soft Furnishings Project @ Old Government House, Parramatta

The Quilt Study Group of NSW's tour of the soft furnishings project at Old Government House, Parramatta will take place on Saturday, 10th October 2009.
The five year long Soft Furnishings Project was designed to recreate as far as possible the tastes and style of Mrs. Macquarie during the residency of Governor Macquarie until 1821. We will meet at 1.20pm for a 1.30 start to the tour at the entrance to Old Government House. The tour will be up to two hours led by a member of the Soft Furnishing Project. Tour cost is $5 or free for National Trust members (remember to bring your membership card). No backpacks or large bags are allowed in the building but cloaking facilities are available.

2 October Friday Showcase: Pat Dwyer

Machine quilter Pat Dwyer of Waterfall Manor Quilts presents the next Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 3 July 2009. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee)


Simple but Effective by Pat Dwyer
First Prize, Mixed Techniques-Anything Goes (Professional)
Sydney Quilt Show 2009

Made in New Zealand II

Many Guild members dream of visiting an international exhibition. For those of us who can join the festivities at the 15th Carrefour Européen du Patchwork in Ste Marie-aux-Mines from 17-20 September 2009, we can still have the pleasure of viewing Made in New Zealand II - the the largest collection of New Zealand quilts ever assembled to travel overseas.

Mystery Playday - Mixed Mediums with Fabric: 31 October

Enjoy a playday with Pamela Priday at newly renovated Epping Creative Centre on Saturday, 31 October. (The workshop will set up at 9.00 am for 9.30 am till 3.00 pm.)

You will using paint, glue, stamps, stitch, heat, to make silk, paper and other "fabrics" that can be stitched to fabric for gifts or art wallquilts. You can anticipate being involved with a range of mediums such as papers, Shiva Stiks and paints, silk fibres, painted webbing, Lutrador and other mysterious products. By being introduced to a wide range of mediums, you will understand how they work and learn how they can be incorporated to make an innovative art-quilt or applied to create lovely gifts. Machines will be required for freemachining (dogs down).

You will be using your own fabrics and yarns. For a small additional fee of approximately $20-$30 per person Pamela can also provide a goodies bag and use of mixed mediums to make the day easier and more cost effective for you.

Workshop fees are $55.00 per day for members and $65.00 for non members. Two members of a member group may attend at the member's price. Book now to reserve your place. Download a workshop booking form or contact the office on (02) 9283 3737. Full payment confirms your place in a workshop.

Annual General Meeting: 19 September 2009

The next Guild meeting at Burwood is Saturday, 19 September 2009. The program includes:

• 11am - for the demonstration, Maree Gebhardt will be talking about valuation procedures
• 1pm - Annual General Meeting including appointment of office holders and committee members for 2010/2011 (no guest speaker);
• Member show and share; and
• Shop - The Remnant Warehouse - a valued Sydney Quilt Show sponsor.

Burwood RSL is located at 96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood.

Social Meeting at Campbelltown: 20 September

The next Sunday social meeting for 2009 is this Sunday, 20 September.

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.

The New Quilt 2010

The New Quilt exhition will take place at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum from 18 June until 25 July 2010.

The New Quilt is an initiative of the Guild and the Manly Art Gallery & Museum and is held every two years. Entries are juried and selected for this exhibition and it has become one of the major events on the quilt exhibitions calendar not only for quilters but for anyone with an interest in cutting edge textiles.

Entry is open to all quiltmakers regardless of whether they are Guild members. The closing date for entries in 18 March 2010. For further information:

Download The New Quilt 2010 Entry Form (84KB)

or contact the Guild office or Pamela Fitzsimons - pamela.fitzsimons@gmail.com

Block of the Quarter - September 2009

To celebrate the arrival of spring, members are invited to make the block of the quarter using green and yellow fabrics. This is a Broken Wheel block. All the instructions for this 9in (finished) block are in the current issue of The Template newsletter but here is a colour image for a guide.

Bring your blocks to the Burwood meeting on Saturday 2821 November and hand them in at the welcome table near the entrance to the meeting room OR mail your blocks to reach the Guild office by Tuesday 2417 November.

September 2009 Newsletter - Out Now

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

Don't forget that the newsletter is only sent to members. Is your membership up to date?! If not, complete and send in a membership form.

The deadline for contributions for the December newsletter is 8 October 2009. The newsletter editor always welcomes articles, letters and calendar items.

Please contact the publicity & sponsorship officer if you wish to place an advertisement.

Guild Committee Opportunities for 2009/2010

This is your opportunity as a member to contribute to the Guild's policy, operations and success through nominating for a position on the Quilters' Guild Committee or as a coordinator of a sub-committee Each year all committee and sub-committee coordinator positions fall vacant however the incumbents in the following committee positions will not be re-nominating due to having served the maximum three year term on the committee or due to changes in their lives:

• Vice President
• Secretary
• Sponsorship & Publicity

Please take time to read the information about each position and consider nominating. All committee or sub-committee positions can be challenged. A vote will be taken should two or more members nominate. The closing date for nominations is 14 September 2009. Download a nomination form.

VICE PRESIDENT

• Assist and deputise for the President when necessary
• Arrange Workshops or Special Lectures as opportunities arise and promote such activities in the Template
• Manage the Scholarship Program
• Host the social part of the Guild bi-monthly meetings
• Attend Judging Day and set-up day of the Annual Quilt Show (if available)
• Be available for duty at the Quilt Show
• Prepare quarterly reports for the Template

SPONSORSHIP/PUBLICITY OFFICER

• Seek Sponsors for Sydney Quilt Show
• Liaise with President and Exhibition Sub committee to create Quilt Show categories and allocate sponsorship appropriately
• Prepare full documentation (spread sheet) when Show sponsorship finalised
• Prepare all prizes for presentation at the show and ensure distribution to the winners
• Seek door prizes for general meetings
• Keep comprehensive and complete records of Sponsor contacts and logos.
• Attend Judging Day and set-up day of the Annual Quilt Show (if available)
• Be available for duty at the Quilt Show
• Seek publicity and advertisers for the Guild
• Liaise with Template Editor and Treasurer to provide advertising and invoicing information for the Template
• Prepare press releases for the Guild as required

SECRETARY

• Attend monthly committee meetings
• Prepare a Preliminary Report for the monthly meeting
• Reply to all correspondence as directed by the committee
• Carry out any instructions given by the committee
• Take minutes of meetings if Minute Secretary is unable to attend
• Update list of Committee and contacts
• Attend Judging Day and set-up day of the Annual Quilt Show (if available)
• Be available for duty at the Quilt Show
• Arrange Gala Dinner in June
  

4 September Friday Showcase: Karen Malone

Award winning quiltmaker Karen Malone presents the next Friday showcase at the Guild office at 10am on Friday, 4 September 2009. All welcome! ($5.50 entry fee)

Festival of Quilts - Birmingham 2009

Congratulations to Guild members, Helen Godden, Lisa Walton and Nicole Bridges on their success at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England last week.

Lisa and Nicole were awarded 2nd prize in the Group Quilt category for Bushfire Sunset:

And Helen was awarded first prize in the Art Quilt category for her quilt Mother Earth. You can view and hear the judge's commentary on this category in this video: Joanna O'Neill Shares Insights into the Art Quits Category.