Tentmakers of Cairo

The Tentmakers of Cairo are coming to Canberra as part of the "Windows to the World" event, celebrating the Centenary of Canberra.
The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt will be open on the weekend of 28-29 September, between 10 am and 3 pm, with the work of the Tentmakers on display, as well as lectures and demonstrations. Bookings for the lectures and demonstrations can be made through windowstotheworld.com.au

Fragment of Birds in the Marsh

As well as this, the Tentmakers ( Hany El Sayed and Ekramy Hanafy) will be at the Friendly Friday meeting on 27 September, between 10 am and 12 noon and at the evening meeting on 3 October where they will give a short talk. At both these meetings small pieces of work and two publications will be available for purchase (EFTPOS, Cash or Card only).

The Tentmakers are also conducting workshops for Canberra Quilters on 30 September, 1-3 October. These workshops are booked out.

Sponsors for these events include Bernina, Jenny Bowker, Clare Ayling, Canberra Quilters and the Egyptian Embassy.

Quilting Sale Day - 7 September

Don't forget the second Sale Day this year on Saturday 7 September from 1.30 until 4 pm, in the CQ room at the Cook Community Hub.
Members will have fabric, thread, tools and gadgets, books and magazines for sale. These are good quality items that are no longer needed by their owners.  Fill the colour gaps in your stash, find that gadget that makes life so much easier and get some bargain books and magazines.

Yes- it is the date of the Federal Election, so why not vote and then continue on to the sale!

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.

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.

Canberra Quilters premises have re-opened

Last week was the first meeting of the year and the meeting schedule and drop-ins have resumed their normal cycle.
Tomorrow is the regular Wednesday drop-in day. In the morning Wendy Pang will lead the group with Small Japanese projects. In the afternoon I will help out with UFO pledge quilts.

On Friday the 25th,  the first Friendly Friday meeting of the year will be held. All welcome.

On Thursday 7th of Feb, the first evening meeting of the year is held. Traditionally this is when teachers and sponsors show us what they are planning in the year ahead. Meeting starts at 7.30pm in the Cook Hub Hall. This meeting is the deadline to hand in pledges for the UFO pledge activity.

Canberra Quilters Inc Raffle 2012 - tickets available soon

This is the raffle quilt for 2012, "Batik Rhapsody". The quilt is a log cabin design in batik fabrics in shades of blue, with hints of purple and some black. It was designed by member Elizabeth Rose and made by Elizabeth and Janet Cruise. The exquisite free-motion quilting was done by member Jenny Bowker. The quilting incorporates individual motifs, interspersed with sweeping feathers. All sewing was done on domestic sewing machines. The quilt is 236cm square and will fit a queen-size bed.

Close-up of Batik Rhapsody

The winner of the Canberra Quilters Inc Members Exhibition raffle gets to choose from three prizes:
The quilt "Batik Rhapsody", valued at $2750, or
a Bernina 700D overlocker, valued at $799, kindly donated by Bernina Australia, or
a Kingfisher 65"x 65" Design Wall valued at $240, kindly donated by Jackie McNab of Brindabella Quilting.
The remaining prizes will go to the second and third drawn tickets.
The raffle will be drawn Sunday 12 August at the close of the Canberra Quilters Inc Members’ Exhibition.

This year (until 1 August and within Australia only) you can buy books of 10 tickets by post for $10 each, paid by cheque or money order made out to Canberra Quilters Inc – NO CASH PLEASE!

Send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope* (for return of the tickets) with your cheque or money order to Canberra Quilters Inc, PO Box 935, JAMISON CENTRE, ACT 2614.

Single tickets will be available at Canberra Quilters Inc regular meetings from 5 April:
Evening Meeting, 7.30 pm 1st Thursday of the month;
ROWmakers Day Meeting, 10.00am on 2nd Wednesday of the month;
Wonderful Wednesdays Day Meeting, 9.30 am 3rd Wednesday of the month;
Friendly Fridays Day Meeting, 10.00am 4th Friday of every month;
and at participating shops.

* Please note that if no SASE is included then only 9 tickets will be sent as $1 will be deducted for post and handling.

QFO Excess Fabric Sale - 17 March (International Quilters' Day)

Quilts For Others (QFO) has been the recipient of some very generous donations of fabric from estates and members' downsizing. To help alleviate some storage issues and to raise funds for batting and thread to be used in future QFO quilts, a SALE of excess fabric and some donated tops will take place on Saturday 17 Feb, between 10am and 4pm. The sale will be in the Canberra Quilters room at the Cook Community Hub in Templeton Street.
Fabric is from $5 a bag, cash sales only.

Here is an example of a quilt made by QFO for donation to charity (over 200 were donated in 2011):

Workshop on Basics of Dyeing(with fibre reactive dyes) September 10

This Saturday CQ accredited teacher Mary Kennedy will be leading a workshop in hand-dyeing using Procion MX fibre reactive dyes. You will learn the basics of dyeing and come away with 12 fat quarters of hand-dyed fabric - be initiated into this wonderful world of colour!
Class runs from 10-3 at Strathnairn Arts Association, 90 Stockdill Road, Holt. Cost is $55, including materials fee. Contact workshop coordinator Jakki Cashman to secure your place: jakkicashman@homemail.com.au

Biggest Morning Tea - A Cancer Council Fundraiser

Every year during May the Cancer Councils around Australia encourage organisations to host a morning tea in order to raise funds for cancer research and support of patients.
For a number of years Canberra Quilters has hosted a morning tea - or an extended lunch - dubbed the Biggest Quilting Bee. This year it was held on Sunday, 22 May, at the Community Hub Hall at Cook - in the same complex of buildings as our headquarters.
Members had a fine old time from 11am until 3pm. The tables were groaning with tasty food - "bring-a-plate" brings out the best in the quilting cooks. The raffle tables were piled with donated prizes. Everyone had fun trying to complete the puzzles, chatting to friends, getting a little stitching done - and eating and drinking.

food, glorious food

What's a quilting bee without a bee?

Many, many prizes to choose from

Hard at work on the puzzles

Chat, sew, read, eat, drink...

Are you sure that's the answer?

At the end of it all...cleanup

A total of $1301.40 was raised on the day. Congratulations to Mary Robertson and her team and to all who attended. Special thanks to our MC - VP Tricia Morton.

Year of the Rabbit

Our April evening meeting was the deadline for entries in the Year of the Rabbit mini-quilt challenge. Below are images of the entries received. By popular vote, the first quilt was selected as a winner - of a basket of mini-chocolate eggs, of course!