Elevenses I S S U E
Region 11 Newsletter
3
2 0 1 2
Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and Young Quilters
Kathy Irwin’s ‘A sad tale’s best for Winter’ at Festival of Quilts
Inside:
Area Days
Committee News
Shows
Quilt Museum News
Regional News
Exhibitions
Dates to Remember
Events
Project News
Workshops
Who’s Who
Group Diary
Shops and Traders
The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles The Quilters' Guild is registered in England and Wales as a charity, no. 1067361 and a company limited by guarantee, no. 3447631. The Guild is registered as a charity in Scotland no. SC043174.
Who’s Who (continued) WARWICKSHIRE AREA REPRESENTATIVE Sue Cook Tel: 01608 652326 Email: cooksuepeter@aol.com
Registered office: St. Anthony’s Hall, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PW Tel: 01904 613242 Fax: 01904 632394 Email: info@quiltersguild.org.uk Website: www.quiltersguild.org.uk
WEST MIDLANDS AREA REPRESENTATIVE
This could be you!
POST VACANT
Advertising in Elevenses
Black & white rates: Full page £25, Half page £12.50, Quarter page £7
Colour rates: Full page £30, Half page £15, Quarter page £9 Back page (colour only) £35
Cheques payable to: The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles, Region 11 Please send direct to The Treasurer, Sheila Curtis, 43 Church Meadow, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2DG and enclose an SAE If you require a receipt. Thank you.
WORCESTERSHIRE AREA REPRESENTATIVE Eleanor Marsden Tel: 01905 453002 Email: eleanormarsden@btopenworld.com
YOUNG QUILTERS REPRESENTATIVE Helen Milosavljevich Email: hmmilo@yahoo.co.uk
Contributions to Elevenses Contributions are welcome from all Guild members. Material sent to the Editor for publication may also be used on the website unless the author specifically requests otherwise. The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of The Quilters’ Guild of The British Isles. Please remember that articles in this newsletter are copyright and may not be reproduced without the Editor’s permission.
YOUNG QUILTERS REPRESENTATIVE Sadie Yeomans Tel: 01386 750251 Email: cornerhousecrafts@btinternet.com
Please send your news and photos via email to: Sally Stevens: quilt@shiba.waitrose.com Copy Deadlines For Issue 1, 2013 (February) issue For Issue 2, 2013 (June) issue For Issue 3, 2013 (October) issue
1 December 2012 1 April 2013 1 August 2013
Thank you to all our advertisers, contributors and members: YOU make this newsletter possible! Page 2
NEWSLETTER EDITOR AND ADVERTISING Sally Stevens Tel: 01684 592111 Email: quilt@shiba.waitrose.com
This could be you!
Marketing Officer
POST VACANT Page 39
Who’s Who in Region 11 REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR Susan Lees Tel: 01789 720430 Email: susanatpebworth@btinternet.com
A Letter from our Regional Co-ordinators – Susan Lees and Kathy Unwin Kathy
REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR Kathy Unwin Tel: 01926 511552 Email: k.i.unwin@btinternet.com
REGIONAL WEBSITE CO-ORDINATOR Jill Exell Email: djexell@btinternet.com
REGIONAL TREASURER Sheila Curtis Tel: 01531 635529
HEREFORDSHIRE AREA REPRESENTATIVE Mary Cook Tel: 01568 708961 Email: marycook@manx.net
SHROPSHIRE AREA REPRESENTATIVE This could be you!
POST VACANT
STAFFORDSHIRE AREA REPRESENTATIVE Maggi Birchenough Email: mbirchenough@btinternet.com
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Susan
Hello Everyone Almost autumn and we’ve only had occasional glimpses of summer – perhaps it has encouraged us to sew more than we usually would at this time of year. Like many of you I’ve just been enjoying the Festival of Quilts. I had three days there plus a family wedding on the Saturday and a concert in London on the Monday. The next few days were a bit slow, recovering from too many hours looking at quilts, talking and shopping. Even with three days there were things I didn’t do at Festival but I did get to several lectures, bought some ‘essential’ fabric, threads and fabric paint, met up with lots of friends and feasted on quilts, both the competition quilts and the gallery displays. As a Regional Co-ordinator I spent a few hours on the Guild stand talking to people who wanted information about the show, the Guild, quilting meetings and opportunities in their area. It’s a nice job which means chatting to so many others who are enthusiastic about quilts. Susan, my fellow coordinator, I only glimpsed in passing but I know she had been busy hanging quilts before the show and taking them down on the last day. Post Festival it’s back to Region 11 work. In the past we have been pleading for Area Reps to volunteer for the West Midlands and Shropshire – well we still don’t have anybody – so our members in those counties don’t have a direct say on the Regional Committee about what we are or should be doing in Region 11. It also makes it difficult for us to organise Guild events for those areas; the Committee lacks detailed knowledge of quilting opportunities in your counties. However we have decided not to be deterred and Susan and I, with the help of others, are filling in for Area Reps, and organising Area Days. We know that local Reps would do a better job though. You’ll find an advert elsewhere in this edition for a West Midlands Area Day to be held at Solihull on November 10th and we have plans for similar events next year, one in the western part of the West Midlands and one in Shropshire. Do come along and join in. Continued on page 4 Page 3
Continued from page 3 We hope to see lots of you at the Area Day in Solihull. I’m looking forward to hearing Judy Fairless speak and to seeing locally made quilts and cushions brought along for the ‘Show and Tell’ and the ‘Cushion Raffle’. We’ll have 2013 Calendars and Christmas cards available from the Guild shop. Elsewhere in the Region; the Area Reps and some local helpers are planning and making bookings for workshops, area days etc. These include two workshop days in Worcestershire, already fully booked, as well as meetings in Staffordshire and a Warwickshire Area Day at Claverdon in March 2013. If you, or you and a friend, feel that you could join us as Area Reps do contact Susan or I or any member of the Committee for a chat about what is involved. The jobs are not hugely demanding and the Committee is very supportive and fun to work with. Post festival it’s also back to quilt making for me – well I need to use some of the things I’ve shopped for – not just this year but at previous Festivals and shows. Searching for something else, I’ve just come across gold and orange threads, a pack of bronze ‘angelina’ fibres and some gold silk – what were they for? – a quilt relating to the theme of ‘festival’ I think – they weren’t used when I made the quilt so now what do I do with them? No doubt you are all busily solving similar problems. Enjoy your Autumn quilting. Kathy Unwin Co Regional Co-ordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warwickshire (cont....)
Meet
Contact
Hathaway Quilters, Stratford
1st & 3rd Wed 7.30
Jean Parker jeansterrey@hotmail.com
The Little Bear Quilters
Quarterly
Carol Davidson 01926 512503
Market Bosworth Quilters
–
Angela Guppy 01455 292242
No Name Quilters
4th Wednesday
Pat Ingram 02476 422375
Rochberie School House Quilters
Quarterly
Laura Cox 01788 521956
Shire Quilters Coventry
2nd Saturday
Margaret James 02476 520767
West Midlands
Meet
Contact
Cotteridge Quilters, Birmingham
1st Monday 7.30 – 9.30
Sally Barney 0121 444 2901
Crystal Quilters, Amblecote Stourbridge
3rd & 4th/5th Wednesdays. 7.30
Judith Nex or Dawn Nex 01384 396425
Goose in the Pond Quilters Group Birmingham
3rd Monday 10.30 – 12.30
Joy Edgington 0121 474 5968
Shirley Quilters
1st Thursday 7.30 – 9.30
Sheila Pitt 0121 705 2597 shirleyquilters@yahoo.co.uk
Walsall P & Q
1st & 3rd Wednesday 7.45
Elizabeth Tomlinson 01922 624036
Solihull Quilters
1st Monday 1.30 – 3.30
Sheila Pitt 0121 705 2597 shirleyquilters@yahoo.co.uk
Stitch in the Ditch Quilters
4th Monday 1.30
Maureen 0121 444 8213 stitchintheditchquilters@aol.co.uk
Trinity Quilters. Sutton Coldfield
2nd Tuesday 7.30 4th Wednesday 2.15
Maureen Crowley 0121 329 3319
Worcestershire
Meet
Contact
Forest Quilters
1st & 3rd Tues 7.30
Vivien Little 01299 400926 letticelittle@hotmail.com
Kingfisher Quilters. Redditch
2nd & 4th Thurs.7.30
Pat Acton patacton@ntlworld.com
Malvern Quilters
1st & 3rd Mon 7.15
Bronwen Warner 01684 572059 www.malvernquilters.org.uk
Marlbrook Quilters
1st Wed 10am
Audrey Lockyer 01527 61505 audreylockyer@hotmail.com
Pershore Patchers & Quilters Birlingham Village Hall
2nd Thursday 7pm–9pm
Sadie Yeomans 01386 750251
Saltway Quilters. Droitwich
2nd & 4th Wed 7.30
Carol Hardy carolmhardy@hotmail.com
Spring Bank Quilters
–
Hazel Wakefield edwakefield@tiscali.co.uk
Postscript from Susan ... Summer seems not to have meant much sewing time for me, in spite of the poor weather, but post Festival I have spent more time at my machine and have started making a bag for the Warwickshire Quilters New Year Lunch challenge in January. I also need to get back to those UFO’s that I promised myself to get through this year: several have been completed, but the pile does not seem very much smaller. What has surprised me is that I am enjoying their completion. As Kathy has mentioned, plans are in progress for several events in the coming year and we are issuing a challenge to all our affiliated groups so watch out for those details. Let us hope for an Indian Summer, I really am very tired of the rain! Susan Lees Co Regional Co-ordinator Page 4
Teme Valley Quilters. Clifton upon Teme 2nd & 4th Wed 2–4
Margaret Upton 01886 853666
Three Pears Quilters
Helen Milo 01905 426112
2nd and 4th Monday
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Groups by Region
Regional Round-Up
Herefordshire
Meet
Contact
Archenfield Quilters
Every Monday 10 – 12.30
Margaret Taylor 01981 540816
Borderers
3rd Thursday 7.30 – 9.30
Ann Harris 01584 711088
Hands All Round
Every Wed. 10.00–12.30
Margaret Taylor 01981 540816
Hoarwithy Quilters
–
Jennifer Kennedy 01989 767815
Ledbury Quilters
4th Wednesday 7.30
Lesley Conning 01989 740303 lesley.conning@virgin.net
Leominster Quilters
1st & 3rd Wednesday 7–9pm
Gill Hollingsworth 01568 797623
Staunton Stitchers
3rd Thursday all day
Kate Renshall 01981 500341
Shropshire
Meet
Contact
Bridgnorth Quilters
1st & 3rd Monday 2 – 4pm
Ann Neilson 01952 249878
Country Quilters, Alderbury
Wednesday in term time 10-4 pm
Margaret Davies 01743 850757
Ludlow Quilters
4th Tuesday 7.30 – 9.30
Diane Meanley 01544 267722
Newport P & Q’s
Every Thursday 10 – 12
Jenny Emery 01952 813206
Shropshire Quilters Shrewsbury
3rd Tuesday 7.30 – 9.30
Mary Allen 07751 356584 marycallen@btopenworld.com
Staffordshire
Meet
Contact
Eastfield Quilters
Every Monday 6:30 – 9:30
Contact Carole 07808 041555 carole@ferndale41.plus.com
Shenstone Quilters, Lichfield
1st & 3rd Thursday 8pm
Cynthia Stokes 01543 480032
Staffs P & Q, Stone www.spq.org.uk
1st Thursday 7.30
Irene McGranachan programme@spq.org.uk
Wombourne Quilters
1st & 3rd Wed 8pm
Catherine Brierley 01902 711983
Warwickshire
Meet
Contact
Rowington Quilters, Rowington
1st & 3rd Thursday of the month 10am Mary Loggie –4pm 01993 842820
Crowley Quilters
2nd & 4th Mondays, 2pm – 4pm
Ann Runacres 01564 797970
Dell Farm Quilters, Knowle
2nd & 4th Thursday
Ann Wiles 01654 777614
Forest of Arden Kenilworth
1st Wed 7.30 3rd Tues 10 am.
Anne Clegg 01676 533389
Continued on Page 37
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Warwickshire Now that the Festival of Quilts is over it’s time to get back to the most important part of our hobby/obsession; making quilts. I could only count to 20 when I checked on my list of UFOs so obviously it is time to start some new projects. My local group, Hathaway Quilters, has been invited to take part as a “community group” in an Allotment Festival at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, so the challenge was to produce quilts that could hang outside, with a vaguely horticultural theme. How many fabrics can you find that are related to allotments? I managed to find 30, although I did think I might be stretching the point by including chickens. (My friend has assured me that there are 3 plots dedicated to fowl rearing in her allotment site) I now have 3 pieces ready to hang and no extra UFOs! For anyone who is suffering withdrawal symptoms may I suggest an exhibition called “Through Our Hands” taking place at Leamington Spa Pump Rooms from October 18th to January 13th. This features work by 10 textile artists; Bethan Ash, Elizabeth Brimelow, Linda &Laura Kemshall, Sandra Meech, Alicia Merrett and Annabel Rainbow from the UK, with Dijanne Cevaal (Australia), Eizabeth Barton (USA) and Eszter Bornemisza (Hungary). Sue Cook
Herefordshire This time last year the summer had broken records for lack of warmth, this year it is the wettest for 100 years! There is always a silver lining as with all this rain I am sure there has been a lot more sewing completed than usual. I went to Ledbury Quilters’ Show and Tell at last week and was amazed by the quilts everyone had completed. Thanks to Jill and the entire group for a really good evening and great food. We were all shocked and saddened by the death of Marie Roper. She will be greatly missed by so many people. I was so pleased to see the show of her quilts and dolls at the NEC and would like to thank Amanda, Jill and friends for both organising and setting it up. It was a fitting tribute and gave us all a chance to admire a very talented lady’s work. I had a really good day at Festival. Leominster Quilters coach makes it all very easy and relaxing and gives plenty of time for shopping and looking at the quilts. Lots to admire and many congratulations to all the members of Region 11 who won prizes and certificates. Sadly I will miss the Area Day in November as I had already booked on a Quilting Weekend before the date was decided but do go along if you can as I am sure it will be a great day out. Finally this is the last newsletter before Christmas so I hope you all enjoy the Festive Season and may 2013 be a Happy and Healthy for you all. Mary Cook Page 5
Regional Round-Up Worcestershire It has been a real pleasure to visit Quilting groups all over Worcestershire, and meet so many welcoming and talented people. We are very lucky to have such a number of healthy, wellsupported groups. The two workshop sessions arranged for October and November are now both full. I am really pleased that there has been such interest, and it is always good to meet people from other quilting groups. I plan to arrange more such days in 2013, and have a booking with David’s Nurseries for an event on 23 February making a Stack, Slash, Switch and Stitch Sudoku Quilt. If you are interested, you can contact me by phone or e-mail. We are already planning the Worcestershire Area Day, and the date will be Saturday 5 April 2014, and we have booked Sheena Norquay as the speaker. More details will follow nearer the time, but put the date in your diary now! I look forward to seeing many of you again, and in the meantime, Happy Quilting! Eleanor Marsden
Welcome! To the following new members of Region 11 Individuals: Mrs Liz Wildon, Mrs Carole White, Mrs Sheri Warren, Mrs Alison Porter, Mrs Elizabeth Peers, Dr Margaret Oliver, Mrs Margaret Newport, Mrs Sarmite Lasmane, Mrs Cheryl Kirby, Mrs Sandy Jones, Mrs Eileen Jones, Mrs Ashley Hockin, Ms Jackie Hart, Mrs Joy Fine , Mr Bill Fine, Ruth Dugdale, Mrs Geraldine Burge, Mary Pucardo, Mrs Diane Gaffney, Ms Penny Allen, Ms Sue Palmer, Mrs Linda Peberdy, Mrs Kathy Haynes, Mr David Bettelley, Mrs Joanne Watson, Mrs Jana Foist, Mrs Ruth Smallwood, Mrs Lesley Sawrey, Mrs Glenys Nash, Mrs Anne Egerton, Mrs Barbara Dunn, Mrs Lucille Eveleigh. Young Quilters: Elise and Alex Spurgin, Sarah Lawless, Zoe Watson. Groups: Dell Farm Quilters, Wrekin Quilters, Sutton Coldfield Trinity Quilters. Page 6
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‘A sad tale’s best for Winter’ (The Winter’s Tale: Shakespeare) Congratulations to Kathy Unwin, as she takes Third Prize with her Art Quilt Entry to the Festival of Quilts!
New! Bigger Shop Workshops Available
New! Bigger Shop Workshops Available
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I am a little obsessive about the remote, often wild and quite beautiful landscapes of Scotland – particularly those of the NW Highlands and Western Isles. I visit there most years and have recently made trips by myself through the Outer Hebrides. Lonely? A little, sometimes. But a pleasure to choose my own pace: where I stop, stare and take photographs. These experiences and images provided the source materials for the design of my quilt, which is made in three panels. Each is a series of images reflecting the often bleak but enticing character of the remoter mountains and shorelines of NW Scotland. One panel is in icy white with a little pale turquoise reminiscent of the sea on white shell sand beaches. The other two panels are in deeper shades of the same blue. All have black mountain shapes, silhouetted against the pale colour. People are a small part of this harsh and beautiful area, often dwarfed by its spectacular, remote and challenging environment. Is there a ‘sad tale’ here? In the past certainly. People were forced to emigrate in large numbers as the land was valued more for its ability to support sheep than people. Everywhere there is evidence in the landscape of the homes and cultivation activities of those who had to leave. More recently many have found living so remotely to be difficult and have left, although the local communities can be glad that a good number are now attracted to return. The fabric for this quilt was hand coloured, using fabric paints: enabling me to produce a good range of subtly different shades. Each panel is strip-pieced. Distressed, painted and bonded layers have been added. People appear, as on many of my quilts, as tiny stencilled and stitched figures. Everything is held together, and textural interest added, with heavy free machine stitching. Kathy Unwin Page 7
DIARY DATES - WHAT’S ON 6th October Warwickshire Quilters' Autumn Sewing Day and Mini Workshops. Saturday 06/10/12: 10—3. Admission £5.00, inc. Tea, coffee and cake. St Francis Catholic Church, Warwick Road, Kenilworth CV8 1HL Contact Susan Lees on 01789 720430 or Anne Gough on 02476 594231
20th-21st October 2012 Country Cousins Quilt Show. 20-21 October 2012. 10—4. Admission £2 inc. refreshments. Traders, sales tables, bag draw, workshops, Disabled access, ample parking. Village Hall, Henley Road, Ullenhall B95 5NW Contact Ann Runacres 01564 797970
Until 21st October Forge Mill Needle Museum textile exhibition:The Orientation Exhibition: Linda and Laura Kemshall and friends. Forge Mill Needle Museum, Redditch, Worcestershire http:/l/www.forgemill.org.uk/exhibits.htm
22nd-28th October CQ@10 The tenth anniversary exhibition of Contemporary Quilt, a specialist group of QGBI. Open daily 10-4 Admission Free
The Patchwork Basket 8 church Street Newent Nr Gloucester L18 1PP Tel: 01531 822442 email: quiltpatch@newentbb.co.uk
Fabrics - threads - notions
Weavers Gallery, Church Lane, Ledbury, HR8 1DW
All your patchwork and quilting needs
27th October Cotteridge Quilters: Open Day - Christmas themed event - Saturday 27th October. 10am-4pm. Admission £1, children free. Cotteridge Friends Meeting House, Watford Road, Cotteridge B30 1JB Contact Sally Barney 0121 444 2901 or Cath Whitehouse 0121 486 3309
Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday 10.30—5.00 Saturday 9.30—5.00 Ample free parking
Workshops Full workshop schedule available
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Castle Court Quilter Visiting the historic market town of Oswestry? And you love the art of quilting - A few minutes drive to Whittington Specialising in 100% cotton fabrics by leading names, Warm & Natural wadding, rotary mats, rotary cutters & rulers. Come and join one of our Patchwork & Quilting workshops in our fully equipped workroom, available to hire.
DIARY DATES - WHAT’S ON 3rd November Newport P’s and Q’s Patchwork and Quilt Show. Saturday 03/11/12: 10–4. Admission £3. Refreshments, Traders St Andrews Church, Church Aston, Nr Newport, Shropshire. TF10 9JL Contact Jenny Emery: 01952 813206
3rd-4th November Quilts & More. Exhibition of Patchwork Quilting & Embroidery. Trade & Craft Stalls, quilt raffle & tombola, plus Barbara Chainey, Chris Frances, Ann Jermey, Anne Armes. Sat 3rd Nov 10-5pm. Sun 4th Nov 10-4pm. Refreshments. Admission £2.00. Wheelchair access. Accompanied children free. Bradley Church and Village Hall, Nr. Stafford ST18 9DB Contact: Kate Fenton 01785 822933
Castle Court Quilter AMPLE FREE CAR PARKING Opening hours: MONDAY - FRIDAY 9.30am - 5.00pm Now open: SATURDAY 10.00am - 4.00pm Phone for more details: 01691 654862 Now stocking: Slice Fabrique digital fabric cutter alongside AccuQuilt See demo's on new website www.castlecourtquilter.co.uk
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3rd-4th November Quilts in the Village - Kinnerley Quilters Third Exhibition. Admission £2. Saturday 03/11/12: 10–5. Sunday 04/11/12: 11–4:30. Trader, Cushion Raffle, Refreshments, Free Parking, Disabled Access. Proceeds to The Severn Hospice and Hope House Children's Hospice.
Parish Hall, Kinnerley, Shropshire, SY10 8DE Contact Pauline Brown: 01691 682035
20th January 2013 Sunday 20 January 2013 10 - 4. Quilters and Fabrics January Sale. Fabric Stalls, Exhibitions and Demonstrations, Quilt displays, and "Meet the Guilds". Admission £2.50 (Partners and Children free). Raffle. Refreshments, parking and disabled access. Nantwich Civic Hall, Nantwich Cheshire CW5 5DG Enquiries :020 8742 3685
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Tel: 0107 193 3104 An online patchwork and quilting store specialising in top quality cotton fabrics for the discerning customer We stock fabric from Makower and Moda plus other leading suppliers Quilting notions, patterns, Jelly Rolls, fat quarters, charm packs Also a large selection of 1.8m or 2yd pre-cuts Passion4quilting’s aim is to encourage quilters with ideas and quality fabrics at good prices. Look out for our special offers We look forward to welcoming you at www.passion4quilting.com where you can browse in comfort and see our fabric selection for yourself and order online with our secure checkout Happy quilting Sue Page 10
I hadn’t embroidered since primary school and could only remember chain stitch, I looked again at the picture and realised that feather stitch was very much in evidence. Thank goodness for technology, I managed to find a short tutorial on this stitch on my mobile phones internet app. I sourced some fairly vintage variegated threads from a junk shop and proceeded to tackle this aspect of my project. The sense of achievement I felt when it was finally completed was marvellous, I really wouldn’t have tackled this technique again without having committed to this project. Again the piece was despatched and an email expressing gratitude received. Nothing more was needed for the rest of the year so I sat back and got on with my own personal projects and put my volunteering behind me with some satisfaction. So it was with surprise and delight that I viewed the Unfolding the Quilts video on volunteering and lo and behold there was my handling piece centre stage as they discussed the benefits of volunteering to both the Guild and the volunteers – ah fame at last! Now I have been really bitten by the crazy bug (some would say that’s not a recent thing) and I have gone ahead and made a number of crazy patchwork cushions incorporating antique lace and buttons and using up all those little scraps of silk I’ve been hoarding for years. So next time you read a request for volunteers from the Guild remember that it could be a mutually beneficial enterprise and go ahead, you may be surprised where it takes you. Cath Whitehouse (Cotteridge Quilters) Page 31
Serendipity These days it seems that there are many calls on us to volunteer our time and skills in many worthy causes, schools, charities and not least the Quilters Guild. While I am always willing to help where I can, unfortunately because of family commitments I am restricted to how much I can do. In 2010 I responded to an appeal in The Quilter for volunteer Judging Angels at the Festival of Quilts as this would only require me to spend a day away from my family (and I could justify it as I would get a free ticket to FOQ). This was a long but very rewarding day and I learned a lot about the judging process and gained a new respect for those involved, however it was extremely tiring and I was quite grateful that there were enough volunteers not to have to do a second year. So when I read an article in the Quilter asking for volunteers to make handling pieces for exhibitions at the Museum in York this seemed a better opportunity for me to do my bit for the Guild . The idea of working on something at home that could be done at my own pace (albeit to a deadline) was much more appealing. I duly contacted the Museum by email and asked what was required. A speedy response informed me that the next exhibition was to be of items from the Averil Colby collection and pictures were included of a coverlet made up of smallish hexagons. Along with most people I started my interest in patchwork with English paper pieced hexagons, and so I felt confident that I would be able to come up with something acceptable. The piece would have to be approximately 9”x9” and left partially unfinished so that people could see how it was put together. The fabric choices were left to me so long as they offered a flavour of the exhibited piece and could be a close but not exact match. Well, I romped through it and finished it well within the deadline, sent it off and in due course received an email saying thank you. I indicated my willingness to do more and was told I would be contacted well before the next exhibition came up. The next exhibition was called Celebrations and proved more challenging as the exhibition piece I was assigned was a C19th crazy patchwork piece. Now I have struggled for a number of years with crazy patchwork, it seems too random for my organised (?) mind. However I was committed and looked upon this as an opportunity to finally bite the bullet and nail this bête noire of mine. So I duly packed up an assortment of silks and embroidered fabrics and some velvet and decided to work on this project over the Easter holiday while we were at the caravan. I wish I could tell you that this was a walk in the park, but I’m afraid that it was every bit of the challenge that I thought it would be, there was a certain amount of hair pulling and unpicking involved. When I finally had something that I felt reflected the spirit of the exhibition piece I sat back with a huge sigh of relief – and then remembered that I needed to add embroidery! Page 30
Lucy & Derek Allen Le Bodeuc 22230 St. Vran Brittany France Tel: 0033 2 96 56 15 49 Mobile: 00 33 617111994
Email: lucy@quiltinginpeace.com www.quiltinginpeace.co.uk ‘QUILTING IN PEACE’ Situated in the heart of Brittany and only 40 minutes drive from the golden beaches of Pleneuf Val Andre. Visit our tranquil home set amongst rolling hillside and beautiful views.
Sewing breaks available to suit all ages & abilities Accommodation in recently renovated 300 year old farmhouse Sew and chat in beautiful surroundings with full board and endless flow of liquid refreshment - either soft or not! Length of breaks and dates to suit you Optional visit to the historic town of Dinan or Josselin with its variety of shops & restaurants including lace, bead and craft shops OR relax and finish those UFOs Husbands and partners more than welcome and will be catered for Sewing machines and cutting equipment supplied on request (free of charge). Along with a stock of materials and notions to purchase. Easy access by air and sea (only an hour’s drive from St. Malo ferry port) Transfer from local airport at Dinard or ferry port of St. Malo can be arranged Christmas and New Year breaks available Dietary needs catered for
Contact us for an information pack, availability and to reserve your booking
Go on, treat yourself - You know you want to!
Lucy Page 11
YOUNG QUILTERS Young Quilters recently enjoyed a ‘Disappearing 9-Patch’ sewing machine workshop held at The Cotton Reel, Worcester. Six inch squares were stitched to make a 9-patch block and then cut in both vertical and horizontal directions. The resulting four squares were re-stitched to make a new block. This was then stitched to backing fabric to make a cushion. All YQs worked YQs with Fiona Law from The Cotton Reel with great expertise and the cushions were much admired at the end of this two and a half hour workshop. Alex Hunt is another YQ who has been working on his own project at The Cotton Reel. Alex has created many examples of pieced and quilted patchwork. Alex enjoys stitching his own designs and is very interested in learning new techniques. His San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge uses many different types of machine stitched appliqué.
Alex Hunt with his San Francisco project
At another workshop, children from Belarus who were visiting Malvern stitched some bean bag Children from Belarus characters using small squares of cotton fabric and embellished with googly eyes. Despite the language differences, the children stitched with great enthusiasm and were great fun to work with. Helen Milosavljevich and Sadie Yeomans Page 12
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A Few Words from the Editor Hello Everyone, I hope you’ve been enjoying some of the wonderful quilt shows and exhibitions that we’ve been treated to over Sally the summer (if not the summer weather...). There are still many more events to visit this autumn and, inspired by what we’ve seen at the shows, lots of quilting to be done with all our lovely purchases!
Project Linus UK - South Herefordshire I have just volunteered to be the co-ordinator for Linus Quilts for South Herefordshire. I guess this project for making and sending quilts to children in any sort of trouble is well known to most quilters, so I am asking you to support Linus by making a quilt, or even two. We can then continue to provide quilts to help bring comfort to babies, children and teenagers who are sick, distressed, disabled or disadvantaged, wherever they may be. This is going to be a steep learning curve for me, but please feel free to phone me if there is anything you wish to know and I'll do my best to answer any queries you may have, or, of course, to arrange collection of any quilts you have made. My name is Mary Wood and my phone number is 01981 540412. Page 28
Whenever I visit a show, I always manage to find another lovely piece (or pieces!) of fabric that I simply must have. Do you find the same thing happening to you? I’ve realised that I probably won’t have time to use all the fabrics I have bought over the years. So a good idea is to donate some of them to other ladies, who perhaps have more time, to sew into charity or Linus quilts. So ... your fabric purchases make you happy when you buy them, they make other people happy when they sew them up, and they make the recipients happy when they receive their made up quilts. Which means we have lots of good reasons to buy even more fabric! Sally Stevens Newsletter Editor Page 13
Stitch a Gift Region 13 wish to pass on their thanks to everyone who supported the Tombola stall at FoQ 2012 either by making items for the tombola stall or by purchasing tickets at Festival. Festival of Quilts Thank you to everyone who volunteered at Festival of Quilts, whether it was on The Guild stand, on specialist group tables or in other ways. Your help is hugely appreciated. You may be interested to know that we recruited 107 people at Festival of Quilts including one new Life member and seven international members. 31 people also renewed their membership at the show. A real achievement in the current economic climate.
THE QUILTERS’ GUILD
WEST MIDLANDS AREA DAY Saturday 10th November 2012 10.00 – 4.00 Solihull Methodist Church Hall, Blossomfield Road, Solihull, B91 1LG Good parking and disabled access Close to Solihull Station and bus station Entry: £11.00. Quilters’ Guild Members £7.25
Speaker: Judy Fairless Show and Tell: bring your work to share with us Traders. Cushion Raffle* Tea, Coffee and Cake available, but please bring lunch
Do put the date in your diary now Come along and enjoy a great day out More details? Contact me: Kathy Unwin 01926 511552 Email: k.i.unwin@btinternet.com
*This is more fun if we have a good number of cushions. We’d love to have some that you have made. So please donate a cushion: pin cushions to floor cushions, all are welcome ... Page 14
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Quilt Museum and Gallery - NEWS QUILT CITY, YORK - to 16 NOVEMBER The Quilters' Guild of the British Isles, based at the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York, is planning an exciting city-wide exhibition of quilts in public spaces around the city. 'Quilt City' is part of the York 800 celebrations and a specially commissioned quilt will being displayed in the foyer of the Quilt Museum and Gallery. The exhibition is supported by The National Lottery through Arts Council England and City of York Council. It will run from 14 September until 16 November 2012 and will show a wide range of original and contemporary York-themed quilts, which are unique works of textile art. As part of this innovative project, two contemporary quilt makers have been commissioned to make new work for the exhibition. Linda Barlow and Alicia Merrett will produce quilts exploring contemporary and historical York. Alicia will produce a colourful quilt map influenced by John Speed's 17th Century map of York. Alicia has said that her quilted map will "describe the main features of the city that survive today, and show the beginnings of what is now a great and flourishing city. It will celebrate the permanence of the main features of York". Linda Barlow, based in Shropshire, makes pictorial quilts creating images and scenes based upon substantial research. For 'Quilt City', Linda will work with images and ideas based on her experiences of visiting the city. The exhibition take the best of contemporary quilting to a wide audience in all sorts of locations across the city and introduce the art of quilting to people who people who have never seen contemporary textile art. The Museum closes during exhibition changeovers. Please check the website www.quiltmuseum.org.uk or phone 01904 613 242 to check on opening times. Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10am–4pm, Admission charges apply. Information correct at the time of issue.
Forthcoming exhibitions - to 1 DECEMBER: Pauline Burbidge: Interpretations in Cloth Amy Emms, The North Country Quilting Legend Contact: Quilt Museum and Gallery St Anthony’s Hall, Peasholme Green York, England YO1 7PW Tel: 01904 613 242. Email: admin@quiltersguild.org.uk The Quilters' Guild is registered in England and Wales as a charity, no. 1067361 and a company limited by guarantee, no. 3447631. The Guild is registered as a charity in Scotland no. SC043174.
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Stitch In The Ditch Quilters group ... ... evolved from a few friends meeting together to talk about and do projects. We soon realised that Diane’s apartment was not big enough for the now seven or eight who were getting together. Diane and I decided to find somewhere roomier where we could meet and hopefully encourage others to join us. Our aim is that everyone has an input at the meetings; suggesting projects and hopefully sharing their experience and techniques. We want to encourage Patchwork & Quilters of all levels to join and hope anyone who is only just starting on this hobby or maybe has always wanted to do quilting will come along and be part of our new and exciting group. I know that our group will be a friendly and fun place to be with lots of interesting and exciting challenges no matter how experienced you are. Meetings are held on the 4th. Monday of the month. The fun begins at 1.30pm Warwick Room, Shirley Institute, Church Road, Birmingham B90 2AX. Contact Maureen 0121 444 8213 Email stitchintheditchquilters@aol.co.uk Please take a look at our facebook page too ... Page 15
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Group Diary – October 2012 to January 2013
October 2012
www.whitecottagecountrycrafts.co.uk
Corner House Crafts The Corner House, Birlingham, Pershore Worcestershire, WR10 3AB 01386 750251 cornerhousecrafts@btinternet.com
Fabrics from Moda, Andover, Makower & Red Rooster together with a range of stripes, dots and essentials in country colours. Our own patterns as well as Bareroots, Whistlepig Creek and Joined at the Hip. Also Warm & Natural wadding and YLI threads. If you would like us to bring a selection of our stock along to your quilt group or to your quilt show we would be happy to do so. You may view our range on Thursdays 11am till 4pm, please telephone or email first to make arrangements.
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1 Cotteridge Quilters 1 Malvern Quilters 2 Forest Quilters 3 Hathaway Quilters 3 Marlbrook Quilters 3 Wombourne Quilters 4 Newport P&Q’s 4 Staffs P&Qs 6 Shropshire Quilters 9 Trinity Quilters 10 Saltway Quilters 11 Kingfisher Quilters 12 Newport P&Q’s 11 Pershore P&Qs 12 & 13 Trinity Quilters 13 Pershore P&Qs 13 Shire Quilters 15 Malvern Quilters 17 Wombourne Quilters 17 Crystal Quilters 17 Hathaway Quilters 21 Wombourne Quilters 18 Forest Quilters 18 Newport P&Q’s 20 Wombourne Quilters 24 Ledbury Quilters 24 Saltway Quilters 24 Trinity Quilters 25 Kingfisher Quilters 25 Newport P&Q’s 27 Cotteridge Quilters 31 Crystal Quilters
Jackie Taylor: Evening Workshop ‘Christmas Cushion’ ‘Colour Basics’ - Yvonne Jenkins Sit and Sew Eleanor Marsden. Quilts from the Rainbow Isobel O’Neill Christmas Swag. 10.00 - 12.00 Talk: Toni Giles ‘Paper - A Certain Shade of Vintage’ Group Meeting Magie Relph ‘African Blues’ Saturday W/shop: Hand Quilting for Beginners - Sue Bonney 7.30 pm. Clothes for Festivities. Jim & Diane Gaffney Angie Hughes Textile Artist BOM - Sawtooth Star - Alison Crisp Group Meeting ‘Mystery Gift Bags’ with Sally Stevens Exhibition Free motion quilting workshop Mary Halbert - Crazy Mary Crafts - Workshop ‘All Stitched Up’ Liz Brooke-Ward Demo & Mini workshop: Janet Bevan ‘Denim Jeans Panel’ Sit & Sew Sit & Sew / Show & Tell / Bring your Favourite Book Demo & mini workshop- Christmas Quilting Jim Gaffney ‘The Future of Handmade Textiles’ Group Meeting Workshop - Edwina McKinnon ‘Paducah & Beyond' Deryn Welsh and Janet Taylor Sit & Sew - Block-a-month 9 2.30 pm. Exhibition Review. Pollyanna Patchwork (Trader) Surprise Project - Stuart Hillard Group Meeting OPEN DAY - Christmas themed event - 10am-4pm Jane Davies - Mini Workshop (continued on page 18) Page 17
Group Diary – October 2012 to January 2013
November 2012 1 Staffs Patchwork & Quilters Members’ Evening 1 Newport P&Q’s Group Meeting 5 Malvern Quilters ‘Show & Tell’ and ‘My Favourite Book/Tool/Tip’ Everyone 5 Cotteridge Quilters Stephanie Redfern Talk: ‘Themes and Threads’ 6 Forest Quilters Sheilagh Daughtree ‘Intarsia’ 7 Marlbrook Quilters AGM - members only 7 Sue Cook Egyptian Applique workshop 7 Wombourne Quilters Demo & mini workshop - Gill Biel - Brooches 8 Newport P&Q’s Group Meeting 8 Kingfisher Quilters Sashings, borders and bindings - Sue Nickson, Alison Crisp 11 Pershore P&Qs ‘Stained Glass Panel with Eleanor Marsden 10 Shire Quilters Christmas Theme Activities 14 Saltway Quilters Sit & Sew - Block-a-Month 10 15 Newport P&Q’s Group Meeting 19 Malvern Quilters ‘Quick Christmas Makes’ Sharon Coates & Yvonne Jenkins 20 Ledbury Quilters Lesley Conning: New York Beauty & Beyond 21 Hathaway Quilters Table Hop & Bring & Buy 21 Wombourne Quilters Demo & mini workshop- Christmas Quilting 22 Kingfisher Quilters Bag - Doreen Watson 22 Newport P&Q’s Group Meeting 28 Saltway Quilters Asding Wadding with Sue Nickson 28 Crystal Quilters Show & Tell - UFO’s completed 28 Ledbury Quilters 'Quilts from the Rainbow' Eleanor Marsden 28 Trinity Quilters 2.30 pm. Christmas Mini Workshop. Rachel Warren 29 Newport P&Q’s Group Meeting December 2012 1 Malvern Quilters 3 Cotteridge Quilters 3 Malvern Quilters 4 Forest Quilters
Workshop - Easy Machine Trapunto - Sarah Wellfair Christmas Party - Buffet, games and fun Christmas Party Christmas Party (continued on page 19)
Your Guild Needs You! We live in a time where traditional skills like sewing are no longer passed down through generations. The Quilters Guild is an educational charity, and we already work with young people to preserve the heritage of Quilting and Patchwork for future generations. Your on-going support has allowed us to develop the Young Quilters and to keep in touch with its members via a website and popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. We’re determined that in ten year’s time, Quilting will not be wilting but thriving! We need your support with a new idea that will help ensure this objective is met .Do you have experience working with young people? Do you want to share your sewing skills with under 18’s who’d like to learn them? Would you like to learn new skills yourself? Perhaps it’s time for a new challenge? We want to hear from Guild members (and their contacts) who could run workshops in their local area alongside the existing work of the region’s YQ reps. We already have over 200 Young Quilters and we’d like to gather them within each region to learn basic sewing skills as well as further developing their appreciation for and love of quilting. We will support you in finding a venue in your community and supply all materials needed. We’ll also give you full training to be confident in transferring your skills as well as working with you to devise content for your sessions. Workshops can be run on evenings, weekends or during the day; whatever suits you and your existing commitments. All we’re asking for, at this stage, is your enthusiasm and a desire to promote quilting to our young supporters. You will not be expected to recruit participants. For an informal chat about this exciting new voluntary opportunity, please contact the Young Quilter’s Project Leader, on 01904613242 or email yqpl@quiltersguild.org.uk
MARIE ROPER It was with great sadness that Ledbury Quilters recently lost one of their longest standing members. Marie joined the group about twenty years ago and was very influential on the committee over the years. As a teacher, she touched many people across the country and abroad. At Westhope College she taught City & Guilds courses in Embroidery, Patchwork & Quilting, and Creative Computing. In the last few years she taught on-line as part of the Design Matters team. Marie belonged to the group Six, and with them exhibited at various venues in this country and abroad. Her stunning quilts won many awards and in recent years she has become known for her exquisite art dolls. Twisted Thread dedicated a tribute gallery to her at Festival of Quilts and we were able to display some of her work. She will be sorely missed by many in the textile world. Amanda Wright
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Newport P’s and Q’s We have just completed our 4th Group Quilt; this quilt will be donated to Hope House Children’s Hospice. The main fabric used in the quilt was sent to us by Ann, one of our Members who has emigrated to New Zealand. Ann sent the fabric as a challenge to our group. The fabric was various coloured fairies which were cut into 48 individual units. Each unit was made into a Court House Step block by adding colourful 1” strips of fabric. We then sandwiched the quilt and finished it by hand. Members of Newport P’s and Q’s took part in producing this very colourful quilt. (Editor’s Note: It really is VERY colourful!)
We would like to think Hope House will benefit from this quilt. As a Group we have risen to Ann’s challenge and achieved a great end result. We did experience some difficulties which we managed to overcome with a lot of laughing and plenty of coffee!!! Chairperson of Newport P’s and Q’s
A note from Beverley Potter I understand that some of you have been emailing me and not had a response. Regrettably, the email account previously used for my quilting correspondence failed in early June and I have not received any emails since then. Apologies if we didn't make that clear in the previous edition although the revised email address was shown on page 21 for diary requests. I am also stepping down from Newsletter Editor - this is partly because of work commitments and partly because Sally and I have struggled to split-up preparation of the newsletter in a coherent way. We’ve agreed its better to be done by one person and Sally is happy to take this on again. So please continue to support Sally and the rest of the Region 11 Committee and send your contributions (and updated events) to quilt@shiba.waitrose.com Page 22
Group Diary – October 2012 to January 2013
December 2012 (continued) 5 Hathaway Quilters Christmas Party Pot Luck Supper/Show & Tell/Xmas Item 5 Marlbrook Quilters Mince Pies and Christmas Fun - Sew & Yack 10am-12pm 5 Wombourne Quilters Christmas Show & Tell 6 Staffs P&Qs Christmas Party 8 Shire Quilters Christmas Party and Sit & Sew 11 Trinity Quilters 7.30 pm. Christmas Party 12 Saltway Quilters Christmas Supper 13 Kingfisher Quilters Christmas Party 13 Pershore P&Qs Sit and Sew and Christmas 13 Trinity Quilters 7.30 pm. Staffordshire Embroideries. Sylvia Everitt M.B.E 19 Wombourne Quilters No meeting 19 Crystal Quilters AGM, Christmas Party & Chairman’s Challenge 19 Ledbury Quilters Christmas Party January 2013 7 Malvern Quilters 8 Trinity Quilters 9 Saltway Quilters 16 Sue Cook 21 Malvern Quilters 23 Saltway Quilters 23 Ledbury Quilters 24 Trinity Quilters
“Intarsia” a talk by Sheilagh Daughtree 7.30 pm. Figures in the Landscape - Kathy Unwin Sit & Sew BOM Sewing Machine Mat workshop ‘Dipping in the Stash’ - Liz Cornish Sit & Sew BOM 'Flower Power' Gill Bebb 2.30 pm. Talk - Amanda Hall (Monkey Buttons)
Region 11 Young Quilter Leif Sinclair from Region 11 won the first prize in the Young Quilter / Young Embroiderer Category for ages 5-8, at the 2012 Festival of Quilts!
Congratulations and well done Leif! Page 19
Quilt and Stitch Village Uttoxeter Racecourse April 2013 We are lucky to have so many of the major quilt shows in Region 11 and Uttoxeter is one that I particularly enjoy, not just because it is so local to me. I really like this show because of its manageable size. There are plenty of quilts on display but the fact that, unlike at Malvern, they are separated from the traders gives plenty of room to see them all, and to be able to do it all in one day without feeling like you have completed a marathon at the end. Who of us has not felt a sense of overload kick in at the Festival of Quilts before we have seen even half of the quilts? It has often been commented lately that the number of traditional quilt entries has declined at FOQ, not so here. Traditional piecing and appliqué is alive and well and Uttoxeter 2012 showcased the wonderful sense of colour that quilters also have. During my stint as a Quilt Angel it was good to hear all the positive comments from visitors, with very few negative ones. I was also encouraged by the number of people who said that they had just started out on their quilting journey and were inspired by what they had seen. The number of entries was down in 2012, for whatever reason. If we want the show to continue we need to make sure that we support the show, not just by attending, but by entering our quilts. For those who are put off by judge’s comments, which can be somewhat strange to say the least, you have three choices; don’t open the envelope if you are of a nervous disposition; open the envelope and laugh at the fact that the judges don’t actually seem to have been looking at your quilt when they made the comments; open the envelope, cry and decide you will never enter a quilt show again. There can only be one winner in each category but to me, all the entries were winners. They were there for us all to see, enjoy and gain inspiration from. I have seen many beautiful quilts in Region 11 and they all deserve to be seen by as many people as possible. The show is not about the judges and winners, it is about getting your wonderful quilts out there on display. Let’s make it a bumper year from everyone in Region 11 in 2013. And just in case you need another reason for supporting the show, our own Sally Stevens has taken over from Margaret McQuillen and will be running the show under the TPL Exhibitions banner. Thanks should go to Margaret who has done sterling work over the years to provide us with a show of which we can be duly proud. Maggi Birchenough Note from Sally: You can download your copy of the open Competition Entry Form at www.quiltandstitchvillage.com Page 20
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