Winners of Giveaway and a Modern Pillow

Last week at the end of our post, we offered a giveaway.   Our two winners of the Quilter's Connection magazine are:

1. Eileen17 June 2013 10:52

   TEXTILE SELF PORTRAITS: I am a CQA member. One unique project I have participated in recently is a 'Fabric Arts Self Portraits Project'. Twelve quilters have been working independently since last fall and will be showing their self portraits at the Langham Gallery in Kaslo, BC July 5 - Aug 18th. Mine is finished and you can view it on my blog at eileengidman.blogspot.com . I can't wait to see the rest and will be posting photos after the opening
2. 
   Suse17 June 2013 13:55

   I am a CQA member as well as belonging to the Prairie Piecemakers Quilters' Guild in Regina, Sk. This past year our guild meetings have included a 10 minute trunk show by a PPQG member. This opportunity gives a quilter an opportunity to show her work and perhaps build some confidence in her accomplishments.

   
   

   Suse, I need you to drop me an email at vicepresident@canadianquilter.com.

   
   

   Congratulations ladies!
   
   Upon contacting Eileen Gidman on her win, she had this to say about an article in the last 'The Canadian Quilter':
   
   

   The article, 'The Modern Quilt Movement', inspired me to do a little research into this type of quilting. It has kind of excited me as I thought it might just suit my hand painted fabrics. The attached photo is of a pillow that is my interpretation of Modern Quilting. The pillow is one in a new series titled,'Artisan Pillows'.

   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   Check out Eileen's blog to see more of her handpainted fabric!

   
   

Making It Modern in the National Juried Show!

 You heard it here first.   We have created a Modern quilt category in our National Juried Show!

'My tribute to B.C. Binning' by Diane Thompson

photo by Holly Broadland

We are so excited to spread the news of this fun new category.   Our Call For Entry comes out September 1st, 2013 on our website.  You will be able to read all the rules for entering.   The National Juried Show is hung in conjunction with Quilt Canada each year.   In 2014 it is going to be in St. Catharines, ON.  You will be able to find out all the details on our conference blog.

'Flowers for Cynthia' by Janet Archibald

photo by Holly Broadland

Modern quilting is gathering followers faster than a fire through a dry summer.   This type of quilting is fun, colourful and very creative.

Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild (VMQG) Logo Colours Group Quilt by VMQG

photo by Terry Aske

If you have never entered the National Juried Show (NJS) this is your chance to try!
Here is the Modern Quilt category description that will be in our Call For Entry form.

Modern Bed or Wall Quilts depict modern design and demonstrate personal expression and originality in the design, colour and/or techniques. Minimalism, asymmetry, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work are often a part of modern quilt compositions, as are improvisational piecing and solid fabrics.

'Improv is Foxy' by Amy Dame

photo by same

Here are a few great links to see some modern quilts from the United State's first QuiltCon, the juried modern show.  First link, second link, and third link.

Ellison Lane blog just hosted a Modern Mini Quilt challenge and you can see the entries here.

 'Cool Blue Kona Modern' by Terry Aske

photo by Holly Broadland

 All the photos are from quilters who belong to the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild.


Jackie W.

An Amazing Guild and a Giveaway

 It is always so interesting to see what different guilds do, who belongs and the fun things they create.

After seeing the cutest photo (pictured below) posted from our NWT Regional Representative Shona Barbour, it prompted me to ask a few questions that I thought would be fun to share with you.

Here is Shona and her friend Kayla's 9 month old Jacob at their UFO retreat.   Shona mentioned the needle is in the down position!

The Inuvik Quilting Guild began in 2006 when three quilters got together regularly to quilt. In 2007 as interest grew in the community, the guild became a registered non-profit society with bylaws, a Board of Directors, a bank account and the ability to fundraise. They have remained in good standing as a society since that time. Shona Barbour (NWT Regional Rep) has been the Chair of the guild since its inception. Their main activity is the Monday Night Quilting Get Togethers which occur every week from September long weekend to May long weekend, making a weekly gathering a bit unique to a guild.

Blocks made at the UFO retreat

 The guild averages about 30-40 members and requires people to purchase a $25 annual membership if they register for courses and activities. They have some members who pay their membership only to be on the email list and others who purchase a membership and participate in all the activities! The guild is made up of a VERY young group with many members starting to quilt in their late 20's and now keeping up with things into their 30's. It is not unusual to have a row of baby car seats in the room during weekend activities as there has been a baby boom in the guild over the past two years.

By Candace Morgan

They have tried hard to maintain a very regular schedule of annual activities; beginner classes are held in the fall, members teach a couple classes throughout the long winter, the New Year Creative Challenge is launched at the annual Christmas party, out of town instructors come in the new year and the summer quilt show begins July 1 of each year. They have maintained this schedule for about four years. In the summer they do many partnerships with the Inuvik Community Greenhouse such as; natural dyeing, flower pounding, Dyer's Garden and some kids activities.

By Lynda Smith

They have a wide range of quilters in the guild but many of the younger crowd have been drawn to the simple lines and geometry of modern quilting. But at any given Monday Night Get Together you will see a wide variety of projects; big and small.

Every couple of months the guild hosts a UFO weekend and these have been incredibly popular as it gives members classroom space and dedicated time to finish projects. They are fortunate to have  classroom space and a storage cupboard available to them at the local Aurora College campus.

This means irons, ironing boards, mats, rulers, extensions, cutters are all available to members to use. As guild members are working mothers, grandmothers, professionals in the community, small business owners, etc there is no set time commitments for the UFO weekends and people can come and go as they need to. Many times kids and partners come to share a paper bag lunch with their moms!

Life in the North is great and pretty much the same, quilting wise, as being in southern Canada. They have an amazing quilting/textile community with some members being graduates of university design programs and even the Capilano College Textile Arts program in Vancouver. They get  fabric through internet shopping or trips away and the guild brings in a supply of batting for sale. The Yellowknife Quilters bring  great instructors to Yellowknife and some Inuvik members make trips down for those classes (Pippa Moore, Susan Carlson, Karen Stone, Gloria Loughman, Elaine Quehl, Carol Soderlund and others have been there recently). The biggest difference Shona has seen is just the 'young' age of the members and the commitment members have with the guild. Every activity is filled with participants, and Board members have been easy to work with and enjoy volunteering. People always have great things to say about their group; openness, warmth, energized, eager, and so committed to quilting.

by Anick Jenks

Thanks Shona!   What a fantastic guild.  Do you have a guild or quilt group you would like to share with other Canadian quilters?  If so, email me at vicepresident@canadianquilter.com.  I would love to hear from you!

And to celebrate guilds across the country, we have a giveaway!  The latest edition of the Quilter's Connection magazine.  If you want to enter, leave a comment below telling me that you are a CQA/ACC member and something unique your guild or quilt group does.   If you don't belong to a guild, tell me something fun you do while quilting.  I will randomly pick a winner on June 24th, 2013.

Only CQA/ACC members can win.

Just The Facts

Sometimes we get so caught up in highlighting different events that we forget to go back to the basics, so to speak.   This post today is to let you know of the great things CQA/ACC has to offer on an ongoing basis.

Grab a cup of your favourite beverage and sit back and scroll through some interesting tidbits.

First off, is this blog. If you glance to the right of this post, in the 'side bar' you will see a title called "CQA/ACC bloggers".  This is your fellow quilters that have blogs thatshowcase their quilting activities.   Directly below that is the CQA/ACC member guilds who have websites.  What a great way to connect with fellow guilds across the country.  They have so much information on their websites.  Go and look at a few!

I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about the Agnes Boal Bursary that CQA/ACC awards each year to a member guild.   With almost 300 guilds in our organization, many are not applying for the $750 bursary to bring a teacher (CQA member) to come and instruct at your guild.   It takes literally less than a minute to apply.

We have introduced quarterly challenges that fall in conjunction with 'The Canadian Quilter'.  Our latest one is 'Through the Eyes of a Bug', and you can win fantastic fabric, and it is a very very small quilt you have to make and take a picture of.  Deadline is June 20th, grab a few hours and enter!

If you want a bit of inspiration, then go and look at our past National Juried Show and Trend-Tex Challenge winners.

Lastly, what are you working on?   What neat things is your guild doing?   Canadian quilters would love to see their fellow quilters featured here, drop me a line at vicepresident@canadianquilter.com

Fun Tips and Giggles #11

It is being noticed that with quilting these days, anything goes.   Literally anything!  If you check out Quilt National, there is a quilt made with the 'danger' tape that emergency personnel use.   Quilt National is a juried quilt show in which 851 quilts were submitted and 85 were selected in 2013.   Canada's Pamela Allen had a quilt juried in.

To see the winners and find out more about Quilt National, go here.   For an excellent overview of some of the quilts, Deirdre Adams did a terrific job with her photos.

If you are feeling inspired to do something a bit different in your quilting, check out Lyric Kinard's tutorials.   They include beading, Citra-Solv photo transfer, discharge printing and more.


Your giggle for the day:

Quilt BC 2013

We came, we laughed, we spent, we took workshops, we took in breathtaking quilts, we ate great food, we were entertained, we laughed and most importantly we bonded with fellow quilters across Canada. This could not have happened if not for the amazing teamwork, dedication and smiling faces of the LOC (Local Organizing Committee) and all the volunteers who showed up to help make this national conference a smashing success.

Local Organizing Committee 

Part I of the  QJCP (Quilt Judge Certification Programme) ran prior to the conference.

It was truly remarkable to wander around the National Juried Show and the concurrent shows and be met by lovely white gloved volunteers ready to answer questions, or lift the quilt up so you could see the back.

When bidding on Trend-Tex Challenge quilts, there were always volunteers ready to help or explain what the silent auction was about.

The Merchant Mall was mind blowing.   So many vendors, so much fabric, so many gadgets.   Need I say more?

The workshops were raved about by all attendees, and the classroom angels ensured the instructor and quilter had everything they needed.  A special shout out goes to Judy Farrow and Anna Hergert who jumped in when we found out about Libby Lehman's serious medical condition.

At the AGM (annual general meeting), the Dorothy McMurdie award winner was announced.   It went to a most deserving recipient - Laurie Swim.  This award is given to someone who has made a significant contribution to quilting.

Laurie Swim and Laine Canivet, Board member

Also the recipient of the Teacher of the Year was awarded to Margie Davidson who delighted us with her speech.

Margie Davidson

The new Board members were introduced, bringing on Lynn Mills as Treasurer and Lauren MacDonald as Secretary.   We say a heartfelt goodbye to Kathryn Tucker who did a fabulous job as Treasurer.   Judy Kelly moves into the President's role, Gayle Szmurlo into Past President, Laine Canivet as Director at Large, and Jackie White as Vice President.

We ran a Youth Pilot Project in which 280 children over the course of two days toured the NJS and concurrent quilt shows.  They made a quilt block from fabric and crayons.  Volunteers in local guilds are donating their time, backing and batting  to finish the quilts and return them to the classes.

The lecture was sold out as everyone hung onto the words of Anna Hergert as she educated and inspired us on her journey into landscapes.

Anna Hergert doing her lecture

Finally the banquet, we laughed till we cried.   There was a skit put on by quilters that should be seen by every quilter from coast to coast.   Then 'Elvis' took the stage and you have never seen the likes of quilters letting loose and having a fun time.

Adam Fitzpatrick being Elvis.

Quilt BC 2013 could not have been a success without all the volunteers, teachers, wonderful sponsors, vendors and the quilters that came out in droves to show their support.   Thank you!

We look forward to seeing all of you in St. Catharines, ON June 11-14, 2014.

All photos by Laine Canivet

Leslie Prokop

You never know when you will meet that person who makes you stop in your tracks and think about the generous quilters out there.    Every quilter has a story of how they began quilting.   This is one such story that grabbed my attention and is about an amazing woman and how she has incorporated quilting into the lives of the next generation.

Ms. Leslie Prokop was discovered by CQA/ACC when she sponsored a number of students in the Youth Challenge, through the exchange of several emails, she was gracious enough to share her story with us.

Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a mother of two and married for 26 years. I have been a high school guidance counselor/ teacher for the past 29 years.

Patch work quilt – in between every third or fourth quilt that I complete, I have tried to put a personal rule in place that I must use fabrics from my stash or scraps.  This is a table cloth we currently use in our kitchen.  It is quilted with thermal insult in the center to keep the heat off the table.

When did you start quilting?
I started quilting when I was a counselor with the Peel Board of Education. I oversaw a program called TEAM - Teen Education and Motherhood Program. Young girls ages 13 – 21 attended school either pregnant or with their babies.  This was a community outreach program with the YMCA and Peel District School Board. We offered a full range of classes from  English, Math Science, to physical education and parenting classes.  We tried to offer whatever courses were needed so the girls could graduate from high school with their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. These girls stayed with the program until they went to college, university or got a full time job. My first year at the program we needed a credited course that none of the girls had taken before that needed to be taught by me.  The only course we could find was a family studies course in sewing.

 I had sewn a little in the past: dresses for my daughters for Thanksgiving and Christmas, curtains and pillows etc.  My principal offered to send me to any sewing course to better equip me to teach this specialized area. I ended up at the Toronto Needlework Festival, registered in a variety of sewing classes.

The first class I attended was a quilting class with Ami Simms. I walked into her classroom and was totally overwhelmed – it was amazing.  She had quilts displayed around the room, with signatures and pictures of all of her students past and present. I decided immediately that I was going to do this. I wanted to create a memory of all of the students who had touched my life. So at the end of the class I went directly to the registration desk and changed my “sewing” classes all to “quilting” classes.

 Next I had a class with John Willard.  He was over the top creative and imaginative. I had no idea what I was doing, yet every woman taking the class took me under their wing and helped me. I had no stash, I didn’t even know what this was.  They all started donating fabric so I could stay a part of the class. I learned immediately that quilters were incredible people, and generous to a fault. They had hearts that were caring, plentiful and gave freely of themselves. 

During my four days I also had the opportunity to enjoy classes from Rosemary Makhan. Her supportive quiet nature combined with her vast knowledge and experience helped to solidify my interest in quilting. I have never looked back and have been taking courses ever since, reading books and magazines, attending retreats and workshops.  So far it has been 12 years of an incredible journey.

Sailing Quilt – I live in a home of avid Ontario sailors - our oldest daughter was on the National team and Olympic campaign last year. This quilt will be an auction item at Bronte Harbour Yacht Club’s fund raiser for the visually impaired sailing school / summer youth sailing program

You teach at a unique school, can you tell us about it?
 I currently teach at Appleby College. It is a university preparatory school in Oakville Ontario, attended by students from around the world. We host both local and international students who are either day students or boarders. One of the co-curricular activities that students have the option of taking is CRAFT CLUB. This club occurs every Monday after school for an hour and a half. Students learn a variety of crafts throughout the year. Every year we teach sewing and quilting. We donate cuddle quilts to the Neonatal unit at McMaster University. We create pillow cases for the Oakville Trafalgar Hospital and Ronald McDonald house. In the past we have donated full size quilts to the Quilt for a Cure Challenge. This year all of our Craft Club members created blocks to enter into the CQA/ACC Youth Block Challenge.  One of our members, Antonia Engel a grade 10 student won in her age category.  We were thrilled as it was her first time quilting.

Tula Pink – Free on-line pattern.  I currently love her fabric line – and patterns

What type of quilting do you like? 

I can truly say I am very eclectic. I like everything.  From traditional, civil war,  to applique and modern. I am limited like most quilters by not enough time. I have had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Houston Quilt Festival, as well as local quilt shows over the years.  I am currently a member of two guilds, the Grimsby Quilters Guild and the Stoney Creek Quilters Guild. The members in both are so creative and inspiring that every month there is something new to see and experience through the guest speakers and show and tell segment.

Tell us some favorite things you enjoy about quilting?

 My favourite thing about quilting  is the sense of community, and kindred spirit among its membership. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to include my hobby in my work place. It has enabled me to share my passion and creativity. I have been on several guild executives; Halton, Oakville, Stoney Creek and Grimsby.  Through participating in each, I have found the strength in women and a sisterhood through a common interest.

 I have also had the opportunity to work at a local quilt store and teach some classes on the weekends. The Quilters Garden Patch is a hidden treasure in Bronte, and has been amazingly supportive of my interest in quilting. The owner Janet Henry and customers are inspirational. I have a friend who also runs a long arm quilting business – Shelley De-Hay Turner.  Her company Perfect Pear Quilts makes all of our family quilts come to life.  Meeting and working with fellow quilters has motivated me, and helped to make my life more complete.

With retirement in the near future I have decided to launch an on-line quilt store with my daughters Joanne and Jenna.  JP's Quilt Studio will be selling fabric, books and hopefully inspiring others. We plan to have our kick-off grand opening on June 15th at our home at 6 Richmond Crescent in Stoney Creek. This will be an open house to show what we will be carrying and hopefully share the Houston quilt market experience with some of our local quilters. Lots of great new hot fabrics at some great low prices.  It might sound crazy but we don’t want to make oodles of money – we want to share our addiction by offering great value at market type prices.  This will provide me the opportunity to work with my daughters, and continue to share my passion and interest in quilting.

What would you like to try in quilting? 

I am about to try the Tula Pink hexagon quilt kit. The colours are fresh but the pattern istraditional. I like the blending of the two.

 Where would you like to see quilting go in Canada? 

My grandmother was a master quilter.  She was 99 years old when she passed away.  She always had some stitching in her hands and never sat idle.  She was so proud of being Canadian that she always tried to include a little maple leaf in her work. We have the opportunity to travel a great deal, and I am always impressed on my trips around the world, how stitching and quilting are everywhere. I would love to see Canadian quilters/artists continue with my grandmother’s  tradition and include a maple leaf somewhere in everything that they do. Either in the stitching, hidden in a border or on a label. I am so proud of our country, heritage and culture.  We need to stand up and be recognized as the best place in the world to live, and quilt!

This year was the inaugural year of the Grimsby Quilters Guild.

We were lucky enough to host a challenge sponsored by Northcott Fabrics.

My daughter and I each purchased a kit to enter.

We then decided we would try use them two-fold. 

Once for the challenge and secondly as a gift to my boss and her husband as they are expecting twins.

  

Grimsby Quilters Guild Challenge - Leslie Prokop

Grimsby Quilters Guild Challenge (made with daughter Joanne)

 Lastly, and I ask everyone this, what is your favorite food? 

Hahaha, could there be any question? Cookie dough, obviously.It has been such a pleasure interviewing Leslie, with her determination to educate the young about quilting and her strong pride in our country.  I think I am off to tuck a little maple leaf into my new art quilt.