Brenda Smith @ Burwood Meeting: 31 May

The next general meeting is at Burwood RSL (96 Shaftsbury Avenue) on Saturday, 31 May at 1pm.

Before the meeting, at 11am, Brenda Smith will be demonstrating some alternatives to binding quilts. She will also be the guest speaker at the meeting, presenting a selection of her vibrant quilts (including her contributions to the Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt Project) and discussing the role of serendipity in quiltmaking.

Pick up some goodies from Oatley Cottage, the shop for this meeting. There are also a number of door prizes. Non-member guests are welcome.

Autumn Splendour - When Nature Goes to Pieces
by Brenda Smith
2006 Guild Challenge: Going to Pieces

Forster Quilt & Craft Show: 24 & 25 May

The Forster Arts & Crafts Exhibition will be held on this weekend:

Quilt & Craft Show & Quilts of Love
Forster Arts & Crafts Centre, Breese Parade, Forster NSW
(near Council Chambers/Library, opposite Stocklands)
24th & 25th May 2008
10am-4pm each day
Contact 02 6554 6900 (10-4pm every day)
Entry "Gold Coin Donation

Forster Arts & Crafts is one of the largest community arts and crafts centres in NSW. Their inaugural Quilt & Craft Exhibition in 2007 was such a success, with several hundred people attending, they have decided to make it an annual event. Last year over 60 quilts and wall hangings were displayed together with many other members' crafts and another 150 Quilts of Love made for Ronald McDonald Family Respite Beach House.

Gala Dinner Menu & Reminder

Don't forget to reserve your place at the Gala Dinner. Bookings with payment must be received by Friday, 30 May 2008 at the Guild office. Come along for great company and a sumptuous dinner as well as an presentation from guest speakers Sarah Fielke and Kathy Doughty from Material Obsession, who have just released a book with the same name.

Gala Dinner, 6pm for 6.45pm dinner: Friday, 13 June 2008
Novotel Rockford, , Darling Harbour
Cost: $55 per person, 3 course menu

• Entree: Potato gnocchi with wild mushroom veloute and white truffle oil OR Tiger prawn salad with avocado and tomato tian, mango and ginger dressing
• Mains: Roasted beef sirloin with honey roasted veges and onion gravy OR orange marinated duckbreast with potato bundled veges and maidera jus.
• Dessert: tiramisu with espresso anglaise OR an australian cheese platter with honey scented yoghurt

Please contact the venue directly on (02) 8217 4000 regarding any specific dietary requirements.) Disabled access is available.

Central Coast Craft & Quilt Expo

The Central Coast's 11th Annual Charity Doll & Bear Fair and Craft & Quilt Expo will be held this weekend:

9.30-4pm, Saturday and Sunday
17 and 18 May 2008
Wyong Race Club
$6 Adults $2 Children

The aim of the expo is to raise money for cancer care services at Wyong and Gosford Hospitals and the Cancer Council of New South Wales.

For information.please contact Jan on (02) 4393 1576.

Dutch Quilter looking for Sydney Accommodation

A Guild member from the Netherlands is proposing to travel to Sydney for the quilt show next month. She's planning on spending four or so days at the show and has visited Sydney before. She would love to stay with an Australian quilter from Monday - Monday (9-16 June). Tonny has her own quilt shop! and is an experienced quilter. Please telephone (NOT e-mail) the office on 9283 3737 if you are interested in having Tonny to stay.

Homespun Search for Young Designer of the Year

Australian Homespun is proud to announce their search to discover Australia’s best young craft designer. If you, or someone you know is 18 years of age or younger, on 25 July, 2008 (the official closing date of the competition) start creating and designing a project suitable for publishing. Conditions of entry and forms can be found in April, May & June issues of Homespun.

Entries close on 25 July 2008.

Arcadian Quilters Exhibition:9-11 May

The Arcadian Quilters are holding their annual quilt exhibition at Swane’s Nursery Glasshouse, 490 Galston Rd, Dural NSW, featuring a display of members’ work, a raffle quilt and trading tables. All proceeds go to cancer research and local charities. Open: 9am-4pm. Entry: $5 (children free).

For information, call Maxine O’Toole (02) 9653 1380.

My Place Exhibition:Call for Entries:

Australian quilt artists are invited to submit an entry into the forthcoming My Place exhibition. Entries close on 23 June. The exhibition will travel to South Africa for the South African National Quilt Festival 2008, before touring other venues in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Europe. The quilts will be displayed at Taia Textile Gallery, Wellington during Symposium 2009 (New Zealand).

• Entries must be 50 cms x 50 cms (square) finished.
• Entries may be any kind of fibre art.
• Each selected artist will provide a photograph of themselves plus a 75 word statement that describes the inspiration for their "My Place" themed piece.
  
• Each piece should be sturdy enough to travel without special requirements ( pieces that havesignificant 3 dimensional features, require special hanging apparatus, or are delicate or require special handling will not be selected)
• Entry submission will be due on 23 June 2008 ( please not Express post delivery does not operate to the organizers’ address).
• Selected works must be delivered by 15 July 2008.
• Artists’ whose work is selected will pay a $20 administration fee to assist with travel and
• administration and the return of quilts.
• The work will be available to travel for 2 years and will not be released during this period.

See the entry form or contact Dijanne Cevaal for more information.

Update on Key Dates for Sydney Quilt Show

Due to an administrative hiccup, quilt show acceptance letters (including your exhibitor ribbon and Drop Off Lady details) will not be posted out until later this week. In the meantime, please note that all 344 quilt show entries that were received by the closing date have been accepted.

Other key show dates to keep in mind include:

• 18 May - please return raffle ticket monies to the Guild office by this date. (You can, of course, purchase more raffle tickets at the show.)
  
• 30 May - last date for bookings (and payment) for the Quilt Show Gala Dinner
• 4 June - exhibition quilts must be delivered to Drop Off Ladies by this date
• 8 June - judging day
• 10 June - set-up day
• 11 June - Opening Day and Awards Ceremony
• 15 June - Final Day and Take Down

If you have not already done so, please complete and return your Volunteer Form to the Guild Office.

Crowle Foundation Needlecraft Sale: 3 May

This Saturday, The Crowle Foundation will be holding a unique voluntary fundraising project offering generously donated treasures at bargain prices to needle crafters and quilters:

11th Annual Needlecraft and Textile Sale
Saturday 3rd May 2008
Gates open 7.30am
Belmore Street entrance: 76 Belmore Street, Ryde NSW

All proceeds of this one day sale go direct to the Foundation, a community based organisation providing accommodation, training, employment and community access services to adults with an intellectual disability.

In addition, the Foundation plans to have the Emporium (including the existing Fabric Cave) open on Mondays and Fridays and the first Sunday of the month. The Foundation welcomes any donations of quilt and craft fabrics in good condition for resale.

2 May Friday Showcase: Rae Cashman

Rae Cashman presents the May showcase at the Guild Office at 10am, Friday 2 May 2008. Rae is a longstanding member of the Guild and has shared her traditional-style quilts at the Sydney Quilt Show more than 15 times. Rae is also a "drop off lady" for the Quilt Show - just one of many vital volunteer roles that help make the quilt show happen. If you are able to assist with white glove duty, catalogue sales, raffle tickets sales, on the membership desk or in the Treasurer's office, please complete and return the Volunteer Form to the Guild Office.

My Tribute to Sarah Johnson by Rae Cashman (QS2007)

Eastwood Patchwork Quilters Exhibition: 1-3 May

EASTWOOD PATCHWORK QUILTERS 2009 EXHIBITION
May 1 –3 10am to 4.30pm
Brush Farm House, 19 Lawson St Eastwood
Admission: $6

A chance to see a spectacular display of traditional quilts made by the members of Eastwood Patchwork Quilters, while visiting historic Brush Farm House, 19 Lawson St Eastwood .

Over 150 beautiful quilts made by our members will be displayed.

Located on bus routes 545 and 550 Chatswood/Macquarie/Eastwood/Parramatta.

Brush Farm House(pictured) was built around 1820 by Gregory Blaxland, one of the first Europeans to find a route across the Blue Mountains. It is one of Australia’s oldest and substantial houses remaining from the Macquarie era. It has been, recently restored and renovated as an exhibition space by Ryde City Council.

We will also use additional exhibition space in the adjacent Corrective Services Training facility.

Refreshments, light lunches, and quilt and craft stores will be available.

Springwood High Quilt Show:25-27 April 2008

If you are anywhere near the Blue Mountains this Anzac weekend, be sure to visit:

Springwood High Quilt Show
Springwood High School Hall, Grose Road, Falconbridge
Friday 25 April: 11am - 5pm
Saturday 26 April: 9am - 5pm
Sunday 27 April: 9am - 4pm
Entry: $5 (children under 12 free)

Proceeds to Springwood High textiles faculty and Kids with Cancer. Featuring over 150 quilts on display, trading tables, Alices' tea party raffle quilt, free demonstrations during the day and Bygone Beauty's teapot display. Enquiries: Robyn Stuart (02) 4758 8869

QS2008 Gala Dinner - 13 June

It's time to book your place at the Gala Dinner held as part of the Sydney Quilt Show 2008. Come along for great company and a sumptuous dinner as well as an interesting presentation from guest speakers Sarah Fielke and Kathy Doughty from Material Obsession.

Gala Dinner
6pm for 6.45pm dinner: Friday, 13 June 2008
Venue: Novotel Rockford, 17 Little Pier St, Darling Harbour

Cost: $55 per person, 3 course menu
Disabled access is available at the venue

Bookings with payment must be received by Friday, 30 May 2008 at the Guild office. (Please contact the venue directly on (02) 8217 4000 regarding any specific dietary requirements.)

QS2008 Guest Exhibitor: Kim McLean

Award winning quiltmaker Kim McLean is this year's guest exhibitor at the Sydney Quilt Show. Seventeen of her stunning large quilts will be on display including two Sydney Best of Show quilts from the early 1990s, A Tisket A Tasket, Fill up Casey's Basket (1991) and Casey, Santa, the Beach, It must be Christmas (1992) together with Houston prize winners Hexagon Stars and, Turkish Tiles. Each of these four quilts has graced the cover of Quilters' Newsletter Magazine so viewers are in for a real treat.

After a seven year quilting hiatus, Kim started making combined applique and pieced quilts again in the early 2000s. While her early quilts were made from reproduction fabrics, more recently Kim has been using contemporary fabrics. Princess Feathers (pictured) features bright Kaffe Fassett fabrics is a masterful example of a modern quilt made in keeping with the spirit of antique quilts. Be sure to come and look at the quilts in person.

Princess Feathers ©2007 Kim McLean

See the Guild Website for details of other feature displays at the Sydney Quilt Show 2008.

Nelson Bay Quilters Quilt Show:17-22 April 2008

In 2007, Nelson Bay Quilters held a challenge with the theme Looking through your Window. The challenge quilts along with an exhibition of other member quilts will be available for all to see at:

Nelson Bay Quilters Biennial Quilt Show
10am - 4pm Thursday 17th to Tuesday 22nd April 2008
Port Stephens Community Arts Centre,
Shoal Bay Rd, Nelson Bay.
Official Opening Friday 18th April at 11am,
$5 entry to opening only, admission free of charge at all other times.
Enquiries: 0413363245

Raffle Quilt 2008

The cover of the March newsletter, The Template, features the fabulous Guild raffle quilt for 2008. Tuesday's Folly was made by The Piecemakers group from Earlwood. Raffle tickets were distributed with the March newsletter but you can always purchase more from the Guild office or at the Sydney Quilt Show.

Tuesday's Folly by The Piecemakers

Australia's Biggest Quilting Bee

The Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc invites you to participate in a national quilting event and take part in Australia's Biggest Quilting Bee on Saturday 17 May 2008 (or any other date in May or June that suits you).

For every $50 raised, fill in a lucky ticket and return to your ABQB Representative by 30 June 2008 to win fabulous prizes sponsored by Singer, XLN, Mini Jumbuk and Australian Homespun.

For more information, download this brochure (237KB) or contact NSW ABQB Representative Margaret Stephenson (Tel: 02 9771 3189).

Fairholme Quilters Exhibition: 4-6 April 2008

If you can't make it to the Guild's away meeting on the South Coast, perhaps you would like to attend a local quilt show. The bienniel exhibition of Fairholme Quilters Inc is on this weekend:

Fairholme Quilters Exhibition
10am to 4pm
Friday - Sunday, 4 - 6 April 2008
Thornleigh Community Centre (next door to Bunnings)
Phyllis Avenue, Thornleigh
Enquiries Lynette phone 0412099813 or
email fairholmequilters@optusnet.com.au

Lovely quilts, traders stalls, tea, coffe, lunch, a prize-winning raffle quilt, craft stall just in time for Mothers' Day. Raffle proceeds will go to Hornsby Ku-ringai Mental Health Association.

Away Meeting: Saturday 5 April 2008

The 2008 "away" meeting is this 1pm, this Saturday, 5 April 2008 at the Bocce Club at Malua Bay, 12 kilometres from Batemans Bay. The [new] guest speaker will be Robyn Ahern, editor of Patchwork & Stitching magazine bringing her own brand of humour to the presentation and sharing over 20 of her own quilts together with a selection from her antique quilt collection.

If you are from the Batemans Bay area (or anywhere else for that matter), please join us for a fun afternoon with plenty of door prizes. Non-Guild members welcome!