Australian Council of Quilters Conference

Canberra Quilters Inc is delighted to be the host of the Australian Council of Quilters conference, this weekend 19-20 February. This is held annually and has delegates from each of the state-based guilds, plus ACT, Darwin and Alice Springs. Guilds take it in turns to host the conference.

The venue for the conference will be the Canberra Quilters' Headquarters at the Cook Community Hub. Delegates are staying nearby at the Belconnen Premier Inn. The Conference Dinner will also be at the Inn.

Topics on the agenda include Teacher Accreditation, various issues dealing with exhibitions, valuation, newsletters and use of electronic media, response to natural disasters.

Some early-arriving delegates from Darwin and South Australia were able to attend the Wednesday meeting and enjoy our company. Canberra Quilters welcomes all delegates and hope you have a fruitful conference and an enjoyable time in our region.

2nd Wednesday Meeting - Row by Row Challenge

Canberra Quilters held the inaugural new meeting today - the "second Wednesday of the month" meeting. Throughout the year this meeting will focus on a Row-by-Row Challenge - approximately 40 members have signed up.

Each participant makes their own quilt row-by-row, one row a month. Each row must contain two ingredients, one drawn from each of two lists. Each month those who have completed the previous month's task will go into the draw to choose an ingredient. Once an ingredient has been chosen, it is crossed off the list.
The ingredients chosen at this meeting were "diamonds/hexagons" and "purple". So we now have to make a row incorporating those two things. A great deal of discussion occurred after these were chosen. Diamonds could be part of a block, blocks set on point, fabric with diamond shapes. Purple could be a major colour component of the row, a tiny sliver of fabric, or a small part of the print.
Below is a photo of similar quilts from another version of this challenge. They were all made with the same ingredient pairings so there can be huge variety in what can be achieved.
For example in one quilt we have applique baskets, and the other two have basket-weave piecing. This satisfied the basket ingredient.

Looking forward to next month's rows being revealed.

New Year - additional meeting

Happy New Year everyone. We have resumed meetings and drop-ins at the Canberra Quilters premises at Cook. February will be the first full month of the new meeting timetable. If you wish, you will be able to attend a Canberra Quilters meeting every week. There are also drop ins scheduled every Wednesday  (10-4) and Friday (1-4) so you can come and use the space then as well.

First Thursday of the month is the evening meeting. It is a more formal meeting held in the Community Hall adjacent to our premises at Cook. Start time is 7.45pm. Our library is open from 7pm, in the CQ room in Block C.
Second Wednesday of the month, from 10am until 12noon.  In the CQ room. This is a 'sit and sew' meeting, although part of the time will be devoted to a Row by Row Quilt Challenge called 'Permission to Play'. This is a no-swap challenge, so if you choose to participate you will be working on your own quilt. You don't have to be part of the challenge to come to the meeting. The 'final reveal' will be at the show and tell in December. Meeting led by Joanne West and Karin Malmberg.
Third Wednesday of the month, from 9.30am until 12noon. In the Community Hall. Meeting also know as 'Wonderful Wednesday'. This is also a 'sit and sew' meeting. Members leave fabric and magazines, 'free to a good home', on the stage. Meeting led by Anne Arnold.
Fourth Friday of the month, from 10am until 1pm. In the CQ room. Meeting also known as 'Friendly Friday'.This is a 'sit and sew' meeting. Meeting led by June Carthy.

On the second Tuesday of the month, Quilts for Others (QFO) holds a sewing/quilting bee to work on quilts to be donated to charities.  Session runs from 10am  until 2.30pm. Contact the QFO co-ordinator, Jocelyn Green, for further information.

Two special interest groups meet on a Saturday, in the CQ room.
On the first Saturday of the month the Creative Clothing group meets. Start times vary according to the program for that month. February starts at 10.30. Contact the co-ordinator, Sandra Farley, for further information.
On the second Saturday of the month the Art Quilters meet, from 12 noon. Co-ordinators Buffy Beggs and Jenny Huston.

QFO donates quilts to Ted Noffs Foundation

This week, Canberra Quilters donated fifteen quilts to the Ted Noffs Foundation in Watson.  These quilts, pictured below were either donated to, or made by members for Quilts for Others.  The Foundation was thrilled to receive the quilts and its Co-ordinator explained that the graduates of its program are able to choose a quilt from those provided by QFO to take with them.  Sometimes their choice of quilt surprises the staff.

Images from recent events at Cook

Below are some images from recent CQ events at the Cook Community Hub.

Wednesday daytime meeting on 20 October. This was the first meeting of this group of members at our new venue. It meets in the Community Hall on the third Wednesday of each month (except Dec), between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

Open Day at Cook on Saturday, 16 October.

Quilts For Others(QFO) volunteers at work.

Completed QFO quilts being inspected,

Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher speaking at the Open Day.

Six of the seven life members of Canberra Quilters at the opening of our premises on 10 October.

LtoR: Elizabeth Rose, Margaret Rolfe, Beryl Hodges, Nerida Barges, Wendy Saclier and Margaret Barclay. The seventh life member, Iris Hockley, wasn't at this event.

Canberra Quilters Official Opening - 10 October

On Sunday Margaret Rolfe officially opened the Canberra Quilters premises at Cook Community Hub.
Here are some of the images of the day.

Jocelyn Green and Helen Rose, two of the drivers behind getting our own premises, explain the history.

Founder and Life Member of Canberra Quilters, Margaret Rolfe, unveils the plaque commemorating the opening.

Margaret Rolfe and President Susan Blood,

Maragret and Susan cutting the cake.

Members of the audience at the opening.

Cook Community Hub Open Day - 16 October

Everyone is reminded that the Cook Community Hub is having a celebration day on Saturday 16 October, from 11am to 3pm. The address is 41 Templeton Street, Cook, ACT.
All the tenants, including Canberra Quilters Inc will have their premises open. There will be displays and demonstrations and a sausage sizzle. Please come if you are able.

Drop-in sessions at Cook

The CQ room at Cook will be opened regularly for drop-in sessions. These are for members to get together to chat,sew, perhaps use the pinning table to baste a quilt. When the procedures are in place and volunteer training is complete the library will be also open.

At this stage sessions are scheduled for 10-4 on Wednesdays and 1-4pm on Fridays, excepting on Public Holidays. Details will be on the noticeboard near our front door. Two member-volunteers, trained to open and close the premises, will be on duty during those hours.

Quilts For Others are having two working bees - one on 12 October and one on 9 November, from 10.30-2.30.
Please come along and join in.

Invitation - Official Opening of Canberra Quilters Premises

At 2pm on Sunday 10 October our premises at Cook will be officially opened by Margaret Rolfe. Members are invited to come along and share tea and cake and enjoy the company.

The address is Building C, 41 Templeton Street Cook ACT

First Evening Meeting at Cook

Last night Canberra Quilters had its first evening meeting at the Cook Community Hub Hall. This will also be the venue for the 3rd Wednesday daytime meeting.
Our room was open before and after the meeting for members to use the library and have a look at the facilities.
The meeting went reasonably smoothly, with few teething problems.
Congratulations to all involved.

Views of Canberra Quilters' Headquarters

Below are some images of our new meeting and adminstrative space at Cook. It doesn't have any furniture in it yet but you can see what the fitted-out space looks like.

View to entrance from western wall. Note power cords looped to the ceiling- this will be a much safer option during working bees and workshops.

View to NE from western(storage room wall). Good natural light from those north-facing windows.

Facing west towards the storage rooms.

Cup of tea, anyone? We have tea & coffee-making facilities within our space. There will be a bar fridge below the bench. There is a full kitchen, which we share with the other tenants, elsewhere in the building.

Storage space for all our exhibition paraphenalia, workshop equipment and QFO supplies.

Stay tuned for more info - we are having an "at home" afternoon on 31 August, 2-7pm. All members welcome.

Raffle Winners

The Canberra Quilters Exhibition raffle was drawn yesterday. These are the winners:
1) Norma Vitnell (sewing machine) - ticket 01844
2) Shirley Reeves - ticket 05531
3) Ayse Stuart - ticket 01992

Congratulations and thanks to every one else for your support.

Exhibition Opening

Today the Annual Members Exhibition was opened by Helen Redmond, Senior Editor at Vogue Living. Here she is being introduced by President, Susan Blood.


Here is an image of the official announcement of Best Of Show- Collections: Hot Lava II by Beth and Trevor Reid. The quilt, a diptych, hangs behind them.

L to R above: Susan Blood, Beth Reid, Trevor Reid, and Greg Alexander from Bernina, the sponsor of the award.

The Bernina Excellence Award for a Junior Quiltmaker was awarded to Ineka Voigt for her quilt Friends of Beatrix and I. Here she is shown with Susan Blood and Greg Alexander.

Gary Fitzroy from Expertise Events, another of our sponsors, used the opportunity to announce the theme for the next AQC/ AP&Q challenge. It is The Seven Deadly Sins. Details will be in AP&Q magazine and there will be $7,500 in cash prizes.
This theme presents plenty of creative opportunity!

Exhibition Sales Room

At the Canberra Quilters Exhibition there is a Sales Room where members are able to sell their wares. This has become famous for the quality and the variety. Here are some shots taken on set-uo day (yesterday) to give you an idea of the bounty available.

The fluoro vests are all part of the set-up. It is a construction site and we must abide by OH & S rules.

The exhibition runs from 10-4.30 over the next four days at Exhibition Park, Canberra

Canberra Quilters Raffle 2010

The winner of the Canberra Quilters Inc Members Exhibition raffle gets to choose from three prizes:
The quilt "Florabundance", designed by member Joanne Westand valued at $2850, or
a Bernina B330, valued at $1499, kindly donated by Bernina Australia, or
a 'Tru Blu' quilting frame valued at $1,295, 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 8 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 3297, WESTON CREEK, ACT 2611.


Single tickets will be available at participating shops and at Canberra Quilters Inc regular meetings from 3 April:
Evening Meeting, 7.30 pm 1st Thursday of the month;

Southside Day Meeting, 9.30 am 3rd Wednesday of the month;
Northside Day Meeting, 10 1m 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.

Workshop with Carolyn Sullivan, 3-4 July 2010

Want to spend a relaxing two days doing some hand stitching? Why not sign up for the workshop with Carolyn Sullivan, entitled "Kantha-New Ways"? Kanthas are traditional heavily hand-stiched domestic cloths from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanks and India. Carolyn has adapted this to modern quilting, but still retains the traditional look.

Contact the workshop co-ordinator or check the latest issue of our newsletter, Connecting Threads, for details.

Art Quilters Meeting: 12 June

The Art Quilters Canberra group meets every month, on the second Saturday at the Civic Library from 1:30 to 3:30pm.

These meetings have: Show and Tell, discussions on experimenting with new techniques, reviews of new books, and information about current exhibitions and future workshops.

We welcome new members! The next meeting is Saturday 12 June 2010.

CQX 2010 Closing Date: 4 June

This is a friendly reminder that closing date for entries and roster forms for the Canberra Quilters 2010 members' exhibition is Friday, 4 June 2010.

A complete entry pack for the exhibition is included in the March 2010 issue of Connecting Threads or can be downloaded from the Forms Page of the Canberra Quilters website. Please read the documentation carefully as there are changes. This includes changes to forms, categories, roster requirements and conditions of entry.

Biggest Morning Tea Quilting Bee: 22 May

When: 10am - 2pm, Saturday 22 May 2010
Where: Church of Christ, 82 Limestone Ave, Ainslie
Cost: $5 entry and a few dollars for raffles and games

Bring a plate to share, a friend, a project to work on during the morning and show and tell to share with everyone. The theme this year is aprons or pinaforres. Old, embroidered, appliqued, pieced or fancy - show us your apron and you may win a prize.

The ultimate aim of the morning tea is to raise money for cancer research as part of Australia's Biggest Morning Tea. As such, we are seeking donations for prizes and raffles to be held throughout the morning.

CQ Market Day: 8 May 2010

Canberra Quilters is hosting a market day on Saturday, 8 May 2010, 2-30-4pm at Weston Creek Uniting Church Hall.

For the sale of good quality cotton fabrics, books, magazines and quilting notions.