CQ member Dianne Firth wins award at Quilt National 2013

Quilt National is a prestigious art quilt exhibition held every two years at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio. It is considered by some to be the premier international showcase for contemporary quilts.

It started in 1979 and to quote from the Dairy Barn Arts Center website, "Quilt National was intended to demonstrate the transformations taking place in the world of quilting. Its purpose was then, and still is, to carry the definition of quilting far beyond its traditional parameters and to promote quiltmaking as what it always has been -- an art form."

To be selected to exhibit is quite an achievement. This year "there were 851 quilts submitted by 458 artists from 44 states, 17 countries and five Canadian Provinces. Jurors Linda Colsh, Penny McMorris, and Judith Content selected 85 quilts by 85 artists. The exhibitors represented 27 states and 7 foreign countries. In this exhibition 20 percent of the exhibitors are first time Quilt National artists."

Canberra Quilters member Dianne Firth has been awarded the McCarthy Memorial Award for her quilt Storm. This award is funded by the family of Cliff McCarthy and honours an exceptional level of achievement.

Congratulations Dianne.

Please go here for more information about Quilt National.
Or you can go to a post on Deidre Adams' site here and see images of some of the quilts, with their maker(s). This includes Dianne and her quilt.

Exhibition flyer competition

 The Canberra Quilters Member's Exhibition is rapidly approaching and we'd love for you to help us promote the event. This year we're offering a prize to the person (or persons) who can get a photo of their flyer (pictured above) in one of the following categories:

- the furthest geographical (as the crow flies) place from Canberra,

- the weirdest place possible, and

- with a celebrity.

There will be a prize offered for each category. The competition is open to all Canberra Quilters Inc members. Prizes will be awarded at the September Canberra Quilters Meeting. So get your thinking caps on and get out there and start snapping photos of your flyer! Entries to be emailed to angie@gnomeangel.com

Small print: Winners will be decided by the Exhibition Committee. Judges decision is final and discussion will not be entered into. Closing date is 7 August 2013.

Extra drop-in this Wednesday - 30 May

This Wednesday is the 5th one this month and an extra drop-in has been arranged, from 10 am until 3 pm. Come along and sew, use the design walls or the pinning table.
I plan on being there to get some quilting done on my quilt for the exhibition.

Successful Biggest Morning Tea Quilting Bee

Yesterday, Canberra Quilters hosted its annual Biggest Morning Tea Quilting Bee  - part of the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea program. So far we have raised $2415.75, with some more donations still on the way. All funds raised go to the ACT Cancer Council to help fund research into the disease.
It was a fun day highlighted by games, puzzles, competitions and horse racing(!) - all done with a 'day at the races' theme. Here are some of the images captured for your enjoyment:

Decorated red velvet cake, auctioned off...and then eaten

All smiles at the welcome desk

Before the arrival, all the tables were decorated and a pack of info and puzzles awaited...

There were many prizes to choose from in the raffles...

And more prizes for winning various competitions and puzzles...

We had an MC (Melinda) to keep us on track....

The horse racing involved riding a (hobby) horse while balancing a thimble on a ruler. Each table gave themselves a name, which became their horse name. The races were run as relays, with three participants from each table...

Andrea is at the starting line

Juggling at the 'baton' change

Each table also had a pack of modelling clay to make a 5" block. Some progress images...

the blocks

winning block

As well as luscious morning tea (the good old Aussie tradition of 'bring a plate'), there was a cake competition...

the winning cooks

In keeping with the Race Day theme, participants also could wear a hat or 'fascinator'.  Judging was by coin donation for each hat. The winners...yes that is a fascinator made with sewing supplies!

And to check the results of the puzzles...

Mary has the red pen out

Kay (convener of the day) is checking the answers too

The winners of the major raffle display their prizes...

New President Michelle Law (right), catches up with three members of long standing (LtoR): Joan Porta, Pat Savas and Margaret Barclay.

Thanks go to Kay Provins and her team for organising a fun and successful day.

Reminder for the Biggest Quilting Bee Morning Tea on Sunday 26th

Don't forget the big party this Sunday for the Biggest Quilting Bee Morning Tea. Got your hat ready? Baked a cake?
Go to this post for all the details.

Quilt Show in Young, NSW - 25 & 26 May

This weekend there is a quilt show in Young, NSW (it is only a couple of hours from Canberra). 
It is open from 10 am to 4 pm in the Young Town Hall in Boorowa Street. 
CQ member and Young resident, Carmel Price also helps to organise this event. They use our quilt frames to help with the hanging.
As well as the quilts on display, these traders are attending with items for sale:

• Westalee Rulers, Leonie will also show how to use her rulers - the new ones and older ones
• Robynettes, Joy will demonstrate some work with hexagons
• The Quilters Stash (from Murrumburrah)
• Patches of Heaven (from Temora)
• Country Matters (from Cootamundra), Janelle will also demonstrate hand piecing
• Caragabal's Off road Country Quilting
• Chiatanya Designs (from Lake Bathurst, this is member Fiona Hammond) and she will be demonstrating several things - kumihimo braiding, stick weaving, and perhaps some beading techniques.

Committee Position Vacant - Secretary

Unfortunately our Secretary has had to resign her position, and so this position needs to be filled as soon as possible.

The main roles of the secretary are to: compile the agenda and write up the minutes for the monthly committee meeting; check the Canberra Quilters mailbox; and answer the email enquiries that come through the Canberra Quilters website.

The secretary also has some statutory obligations which are outlined in the constitution of Canberra Quilters. These are to do with notification of the AGM and any special meetings.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Canberra Quilters and would enjoy working with a lovely committee, please contact Michelle Law by emailing her at president@canberraquilters.org.au

Small Japanese projects meeting- 22 May, 10-12 noon

This meeting is from 10 am until 12 noon on Wednesday. Here is a message from stand-in convener Wendy:

This month Ruth will demonstrate her roll up thread and needle case which can be adapted to any size.  Bring some Show & Tell, especially any little silk things from last month.

See you there.

Wonderful Wednesday meeting - 15 May

The Wonderful Wednesday meeting on 15 May runs from 9.30 am - 12.30 pm, in the Cook Community Hub Hall.
The theme for special show and tell is items made in workshops- so bring along some of the things you have made in workshops and also your latest projects for normal show & tell. This is a sit and sew (and chat) meeting so bring along some handwork to pass the time.

The Canberra Quilters room is open after the meeting for the library and drop-in activities.

Creative Clothing activity - using the embellisher

We had a small gathering at the Creative Clothing interest group on Thursday (9 May).
As usual we shared pattern, technique and project information, brainstormed some ideas.

Louise brought her embellishing machine for us to try. We were all amazed at its capabilities. We will be having another demo at the July meeting (11th). Here are some images:

Louise and Kay (at machine)

members watch Kay in action

Louise, Kay and
Beres (at machine)

Quilts for Others working bee - Tuesday 14 May

The next QFO working bee is on Tuesday, 14 May, from 10 am until 2.30 pm. QFO gave 300 quilts to local charities in 2012.
Come along and help put together quilts - sewing blocks, cutting kits, pinning quilts ready for quilting, doing some quilting or binding and labelling. There are jobs for everyone.
Morning and afternoon tea provided, BYO lunch.
Examples of completed (donated) quilts:

Biggest Quilting Bee Morning Tea coming up on 26 May

You are invited to come along to our annual Biggest Quilting Bee Morning Tea, supporting fund-raising for cancer research.
Entry is by $5.00 tax-deductible donation to the ACT Cancer Society. You are welcome to make a larger donation if you wish- secure donations can be made here.

The morning tea is from 10 am until 2 pm on Sunday, 26 May at the Cook Community Hub Hall, Templeton Street, Cook.

The theme is The Cancer Research Race Day, so wear a race day hat or fascinator, or go all the way in a fashions-on-the-field outfit.

It would be great if you could bring a plate of something nice to share at the morning tea.

morning tea- the tables groan with goodies to eat

There will be lots of raffles, a lucky door prize, table games, a challenge race  and lots of fun and laughter. There is also a quilt raffle- the quilt was made by the participants of last year's morning tea.

Raffle quilt

Again there is a cake competition.  It will be judged by 2 or 3 independent foodies. Bribery with $$ is permitted, but results can't be guaranteed. Cook your delight for us all to share and you may win a fabulous prize.

Donations of raffle prizes are most welcome and must be in new or as-new condition.
Any used or older donations will be put on a collectibles / white elephant table- where you will be able to purchase some great bargains. If you have something worthwhile to donate to this table please bring it along on the day. Leftovers will be donated to charity.

Images from ROWmakers meeting on 8 May

This week the monthly ROWmakers design group had their meeting. The challenge this time was to produce blocks etc incorporating the colour yellow and Celtic/stained glass techniques.
Judging from comments around the room there was some private cursing going on to make this design marriage work.
Here are some images:

Response to all three rounds

Here is a message from Joanne, our convener:

We have decided to have a weekend get-together again this year like we did last year.

It will be on SUNDAY 30 JUNE in our Room at Cook from 2.00-4.00 pm. (Bring a plate if you feel inclined - no pressure.)

Hopefully, people who find it difficult to come on Wednesdays will be able to join us.

Please put the date in your diary.

And lastly, the INGREDIENTS for this month:

 . BLACK (Jill Kennedy)

 . EMBELLISHED/EMBROIDERED (Pat Kenna)

I'll let you decide whether they're more or less challenging than last month's!

Have fun, Joanne

The next meeting is on Wednesday 12 June, 10.00 am for a 10.30 start.