Contemporary Quilt Group

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Hello and welcome to the Contemporary Group web page!

 We are a diverse group of over 400 quilters and fabric artists at the cutting edge of quilt making.  We like to work in textiles to create innovative and dynamic art.  Many of our members have exhibited work nationally.  However we also want to encourage newer quilters to extend and develop their work. 

We set group challenges which are open to all members, work is selected for exhibition and our varied work styles can be taken to a wider audience.   For the last three years we have had the opportunity to make journal quilts to develop new styles of working, record memories and express our feelings.

If you are interested in developing  your  own creative abilities or are interested in contemporary quilts and would like to join us, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Ali Mesley, Co-ordinator

e: contemp@quiltersguild.org.uk

Treasurer: Millie Thomas

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Contemporary Quilt Group

The aims of the Contemporary Quilt Group are allied to those of The Quilters’ Guild, in that we aim to promote the appreciation, knowledge and skills of patchwork and quilting to our members and the general public. In addition, the Contemporary Group endeavours to:

• Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information relating to the practice of contemporary quiltmaking.
• Take traditional techniques and push them to their limits by using new fabrics and technology and encouraging original design.
• Encourage members to be makers and exhibitors of their own work and to attend and appreciate exhibitions of contemporary work.

The group is open to all interested members of The Quilters’ Guild, both makers and appreciators of contemporary practice in quilting and patchwork. For an application form and information about joining Contemporary Quilt, please contact Ali Mesley at contemp@quiltersguild.org.uk

 

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Regional groups

Thames Valley Contemporary Quilt Group  - On Saturday 15th May, 25 members met at Bracknell for an activity-filled day. Three mini-workshops were taken by Kate Findlay, Jane Glennie and Joanna O’Neill. Kate is trained in carpet design and taught a clever technique involving cutting and repositioning paper to give an overall half-drop pattern repeat. Jane had been experimenting with the embellishing machine and showed samples of various techniques, which members then tried out for themselves, using either a machine or a hand embellishing needle. Joanna showed examples of numerous techniques for using felt and enhancing it with stitch. There was also an opportunity to buy second-hand books and media on the ‘Been There Done That’ stall and to view members’ recent work. A new challenge was launched where members are to work towards an exhibition next year inspired by artefacts at Slough Museum or in and around the town itself.

At the next meeting, 11 September, the Slough Museum project will be launched - the museum is loaning artefacts for the day, which can be sketched or photographed.

Another meeting is scheduled for 20 November. Meetings are held at Birch Hill Community Centre, Bracknell, 11-4. Contact Sandy Snowden for more information:  snsnowden@harmonyinformation.com and 01344 641334.

 

North West group met on 21 July at Bankfield Museum, Halifax, to see the Quilt Art exhibition, and then all 11 who attended went to Gillian Travis's amazing studio.

The next meeting is Friday 30 September at Frodsham Community Centre. Magie Relph will be bringing some of her African artefacts to tell the group about and for drawing.

Subsequent meetings are all on Fridays:

12 November 2010 - visit to Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston: "Embellished: The Art of Fabulous Fabrics"

14 January 2011 - Frodsham - practical session

18 March 2011 - Ruthin - exhibition visit

20 May 2011 - Frodsham - activities TBA

15 July 2011 - Plas Newydd, Llangollen - visit to house and garden with sketching/photographing opportunities

23 September 2011 - Frodsham

18 November 2011 - museum/gallery visit TBA

Anyone is free to join in if they are in the area. Contact Elizabeth Vidler (elizabeth.vidler@gmail.com) or Judy Fairless (judy@austinracing.co.uk) for more information.

 

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2010 Journal Quilt Challenge

This year the format for journal quilts is 7" wide x 10" high. The first due date for submitting photos and descriptions is 30 April.

 

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2009 Journal Quilt Project

Format for the 2010 Journal Quilt Project is 7"x10", portrait orientation. This follows an A4 format in 2007, a 12" square format in 2008, and a rectangular 6" x 12" formatin 2009. Over 100 members have signed up to each produce one little quilt each month for a whole year. 

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The Suitcase Collection

CQ has launched a new Suitcase Challenge, on the theme of "Childhood Memories". Finished work will be A3 in size, and will be accompanied by a statement explaining the inspiration behind the design and the technical details.

Up to 50 quilts will start travelling in January 2011.

The previous collection, on the theme of "Figure it Out", went to many venues around the UK.

 

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The Thin Blue Line challenge and exhibition

'The Thin Blue Line'  showed at Loch Lomond in May 2009, and a selection of quilts were shown at Minerva Arts Centre, Llanidloes, Wales, in August and September, and at Uttoxeter in April 2010.

48 specially made quilts were selected for the exhibition at Dudley Museum and Art Gallery between 7 June and 12 July 2008, each with a 'thin blue line' running from side to side (sometimes these lines were very thin indeed!).

15 of the Thin Blue Line quilts were published in the 02/2009 issue of Patchwork Professional, a German-language magazine.

 

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2009 challenge - Breakthrough

The theme for the 2009 Challenge was 'Breakthrough' which inspired a wide variety of interpretations, from the scientific to the literal and personal.  The standard was very high and members showed the broad spectrum of skills and techniques which you would expect to find in a group of quilters dedicated to exploring and expanding the boundaries of quilting today.

 

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'Little Gems' at the Festival of Quilts 2009

Thanks to the over 2000 contributors of Little Gem quilts - the tombola at the Festival of Quilts was an amazing success, raising over £10,000 for the Quilt Museum and Gallery!

The Little Gem Quilts website is still available, with photos of over 1000 quilts: http://littlegemquilts.wordpress.com

 

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Summer School

The 2010 summer school was held 2-4 July, at Alston Hall in Lancashire - in 2011 it will be in southern England. Details will be announced in the newsletter in January.

Tutors in 2010 were Cas Holmes (From the Land), Edwina Mackinnon (Sand, Sea, Stitch), and Linda Millar ("In Stitches" Pictorial machine Embroidery). 

 

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2010 AGM

On 17th April about 50 CQ members met in London to conduct business, followed by an excellent and inspiring talk by Ann Smith, who travelled down from Wales. She generously shared her life, techniques, and inspiration, and everyone present was captivated and enthused. 

The topics on the agenda generated constructive discussion, and members had a chance to air their views, show their work, and socialise. 

 

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About The Contemporary Quilt Group

The group was set up by Annette Morgan, who handed the job over to Effie Galletly in August 2002 for the following two years. Effie, along with Judy Stephens as our first Newsletter Editor, and Margaret Ramsay, helped shape the beginnings of what is now such a successful part of The Guild. As well as our informative and challenging quarterly newsletter we have a yahoo group where we can exchange news and views.

 

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The Quilters' Guild of The British Isles
St Anthony's Hall
York, YO1 7PW
United Kingdom

www.quiltersguild.org.uk
info@quiltersguild.org.uk
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