September 2023 Guild Meeting

 Welcome

The Fredericton Quilters' Guild is excited for the 2023-24 guild year to start in September.  Committees have been busy planning over the summer and are set for the new year to start.    Our guild welcomes old and new members to join us Tuesday, September 19th, 2023 7 pm at the Johnston Avenue Seniors Center on the North side just past the Superstore.

Got questions?   Feel free to contact us.

Marj and Gail

Or come see us on Thursday August 17th, at the Garrison Market.   We will be under the FredRec Community tent near the skateboard park from 4pm - 9pm. We'd love to talk sewing and quilting with you.    Come ooh, and ahh, over our lovely quilts that we will have on display.  

See you there!!

Machine Sales and Service

 As a service to our members, and because the question is often asked, below is a list of sewing machine dealers and others who service machines.  We can recommend those on this list as they are known to provide good service. Of course it is always best to deal with who you purchased your machine from for regular service/cleaning or problems, if possible.

Babylock: 1. Holly Irving, 8 Estey Lane, Fredericton. Ph. 506-472-8662 

2. Kate's Open Quilt Studio, See below.

Bernina: 1. Sewing Machine Den, 1019 Brookside Dr., Apt. 106, Fredericton. Ph. 259-7070. Email thesewingmachineden@gmail.com  Sales and service/repair of Bernina, also services any make/ model of machine. Pierre and Michelle Parisienne

2. Kate's Open Quilt Studio, 42 Octave St. Shediac Cape. Ph. 506-532-6456  Email openquiltstudio@gmail.com  Sales and service of Bernina & Babylock, also can service most mechanical problems on any home brand, including Singer featherweight and vintage machines. Kate O'Brien

Husqvarna: Town and Country Quilts, 221 Hampton Rd., Rothesay. Ph. 506-847-4099  Email townandcountryq@gmail.com  Sales and service of Husqvarna Viking. Tina Hanson

Janome: Victoria Corner Sewing Machines, 2282 Route 103, Victoria Corner (between Hartland and Woodstock). Ph. 506-375-4396. Email cookgc@live.com  Sales and service of Janome, also service and repair of all makes, models. Charlotte Cook

Pfaff: Covered Bridge Quiltery, 631 Pinewood Rd. Suite 101, Riverview. Ph. 506-386-2888 Pfaff sales and service. Vickie Quigley

Other: Frank McInnis in Rusagonish cleans and services any make/model. Ph. 506-357-2701

Quilt Show Quilt Show Quilt Show

 

Winter Weather!

 Yep, winter is here! Lots of snow/sew days!!   :)

Welcome 2023!!

 Is it too late to say Happy New Year? Regardless, the calendar has been turned (or should I say replaced?!) and it's now January. The winter has been kind to us so far, but I'm sure there are lots of cold wintery days to come- perfect days for sewing and quilting!! 

Just a reminder, both January and February meetings will be via Zoom. Watch your email inbox, you will get a message several days before the meeting with the link to join in. If you think you will need help, let us know!

For Sale: Jim Hinks quilting frame

 For Sale: King size 3 roller quilting frame - 104". Made by well known Jim Hinks, Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS circa 2000. 104" width, with 3 rollers and double ratchet tensioning. Anchor pins on side for lateral tension. Frame can be adjusted from flat to nearly vertical for storage. 

Contact Marijke Hurkens,  454-7459. 

Canada Council for the Arts grant recipient... Lee McLean

Lee McLean, a twenty-plus year member of our Fredericton Quilters' Guild has been selected to receive Canada Council for the Arts funding. Her grant application to the Research and Creation component  of the Explore and Create Program was decided by a peer assessment committee composed of a diverse range of artists and arts professionals.

Lee's project is to explore dye and thread painting on fabric and to create textile art pieces about the mother/child relationship. She says, 'I will create a series of works inspired by what Jann Arden wrote about her mother: "Like the words written on..torn-up bits of rags she tied in the trees for the birds...her words are tied around my bones." Does a mother know which retort leaves a lasting mark? My mother's words have been "tied around my bones" for a lifetime, a voice in my head still, even after she is gone. This project will respond to this.'

To increase the personal meaning, Lee will hand dye and make marks on fabric for this project, techniques new to her artistic practice. To accomplish this, she has already completed an independent study focused on dyeing techniques and painting and printing with thickened fibre reactive dyes. Experimenting with the overlap and change of colour as dyes flow on the wet surface, she seeks to create fabric pieces that inspire work. We have seen some of these in our Zoom show and tell sessions.

Lee recently graduated from the Advanced Studio Practice Program at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design and is a juried member of Craft NB. Her work has also been supported by the New Brunswick Arts Board. She pursues her art practice as an active member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), an international organization devoted to promotion of the art quilt. She has work currently travelling in the Grand National Fibre Art Exhibit and in SAQA Atlantic regional exhibit that will be shown at Quilt Canada 2023 in Halifax. 

www.leemclean.ca

Show and Tell

 Our October meeting is less than a week away...  we hope to see you there. Please return any guild library books that you may still have at home. We have some new members, don't forget to make them feel welcome!

Show and Tell is a favourite part of our meetings.. please bring your projects to share with us. Sometimes quilts are made and given as gifts before they can make it to a Show and Tell which means we don't get to enjoy them! Here are two that Deanna M. made and recently gifted to granddaughters who had graduated. What lucky gals they are!! These are beautiful Deanna, thanks for sharing the photos with us!

Hope to see you Tuesday October 18th. 

Reminder...

Just a reminder... have you renewed your membership for the coming year?  The membership renewal form was sent  to you by email on May 26... check back in your inbox. If none of your info has changed, you can simply forward the $30.00 fee, by cheque to our registrar Joyce Humble, or by etransfer to our guild email address.  Make cheques payable to Fredericton Quilters' Guild. 

Deadline for the September newsletter is Sept. 10. Send any submissions to our new Editor, Stefanie H. 

Did you know QUILT CANADA is coming back to the east coast? The dates have just been announced.. mark your calendar now for Quilt Canada in HALIFAX, June 7-10, 2023. 

Reminders...

Just a couple of reminders.. first, there will be a brief Zoom meeting this coming Tuesday evening, June 14,  at 7p.m. to accept our new slate of officers. We're still looking for a Secretary... We need a quorum, so please attend!! 

Secondly there is a (growing!) list of quilt shows and events on our sidebar. If you hear of or have info on a show in the area that is not listed, please contact me or leave a comment with the info so I can add it to the list! If you're traveling this summer, check here to see if there is a show happening on your route!

For Sale

One of our members is down-sizing and has some items from her studio for sale:

1. Design wall, 50" wide, 84" tall, wood frame with flannel surface. 

2. Wooden step stool with music stand-like attachment to hold book, pattern or blocks when working at design wall. 

3. Table with folding legs. 42" wide by 72" long by 30" high. Laminate surface. 

4. Two cabinets, white laminate.  Each one is 23.5" wide by 48" tall by 17" deep. Two open shelves with four drawers below. 

Design Wall

Two cabinets 

Long Fabulous table

Any reasonable offer entertained. Please contact Donna Young.

Also, remember the wonderful program by Margo Duff of Saint John we enjoyed recently? For those of you on Facebook, I hope you are casting your vote for her daily on the DIY Hero page.. she is currently in third place!!

Happy Galentines Day!!

Happy Galentines Day to you all! Never heard of it? It's today, the day before Valentines Day, a day for women to celebrate their female friendships. It's Valentines Day with your gal pals. Wishing you all a special day!! Bouquets to you all! It seems we're having lots of "days" recently.. Lots of Snow Days, or as we call them SEW days... 

The 2022 Winter Olympics.. more time to sew while watching/listening to the exciting events! Go CANADA! Speaking of the Olympics, have you noticed the bouquets presented to the medal winners? They are crocheted - each precious bloom and leaf by the hand of a volunteer. Each bouquet has taken a minimum of 32 hours, with a total of 1,251 bouquets needed to honour all the medal winners at the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. This handmade arrangement of botanicals is known as "The Shanghai Bouquet" with cultural significance that dates back to the mid-19th century and includes six varieties - Lily of the Valley, Rugosa Rose, Hydrangea, Laurel, Sweet Osmanthus and an Olive branch, representing perseverance, happiness, unity, victory, bounty and peace. More than just a token handout.. what a beautiful keepsake! 

 Today is also Superbowl Sunday... another SEW day! What project(s) are you working on? Remember our February meeting is only two days away. Have you sent in your photos for Show and Tell? See you then!

Merry Christmas!

  Just a reminder, tomorrow evening is our Christmas Social. Your invitation is in your inbox, sent last Thursday, Dec. 9. Get your Bingo card made!!  7pm on Zoom.

How's the Christmas sewing coming along? I am still hard at it.. one more runner to go, and masks.. more masks...  will the mask-making ever end?  

Leaving you with this thought, seen on Facebook.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Quilt Show and Tell

 November meeting is just two days away. Have you sent in your Show and Tell photos? We want to see!  Came across this poem today, thought you might enjoy it...

Quilt Show and Tell

by Rose Kelley

The first time I witnessed a quilt Show and Tell
I thought "Wow! These people can really sew well."

Sew "well" did I say, well that's just a joke!
Amazing the projects as done by these folk:
Artistic, dramatic, quite outside the line,
Stunning, outrageous, and gorgeous and fine!

They'd fall right out laughing at something of mine:

My uneven stitches, my lines all askew,
the fabrics I've chosen, the markings still blue,
my edges all wavy! The group would just stare
at corners not meeting, at points sort of square,
at obvious patches and fusing to mend
the hole that I made with the seam ripper end.

But then once I did show a project so odd
that no one could figure whatever would prod
a person to make such an ungainly thing
and then dare to show it to stitchers who bring
fine art work, great classics, and projects with zing!

And nobody snickered! And nobody joked
and no one raised one single finger to poke
fun at my fabrics, my choice of design,
and not once did anyone talk out of line!

In fact, they applauded, and smiles did appear.
Some even showed interest and seemed to lean near.

And that's when I realized the purpose of show 
was not just for bragging or chances to crow. 

The idea is to share inspiration and fun,
and love of the art, and look one by one
at each quilter's projects so dear to her heart
and with all the time, love and work they impart.

Each project deserves full regard and respect,

no matter how simple or small. Let's reflect

on the person who holds her ideas and work dear,
and cheer on the quilter who shows her work here. 

For Sale...

 FOR SALE: Creative fabric mid arm quilting machine, has Creative overhead light bar and stitch regulator, and Pfaff Quilt Expressions 4.0 machine.  $3250.00 with Pfaff, $3000.00 without Pfaff. Contact Marilyn Wynn in Sussex at 506-433-3928

Reminder...

Just a friendly reminder.. have you paid your membership dues yet?? They are now due.. we have a big year planned, you don't want to miss it... 

Mid- summer Hello!

 Hello everyone! How is your summer going? Can you believe it's already August! Wow, the summer days are flying by much too quickly. Why does winter seem sooo long and summer so short?  

For some reason, Blogger won't let me edit or update things on the sidebar right now (most frustrating!) so will list a few things here. First up, a Quilt Show (because aren't we ALL starved for a quilt show?!)

Next weekend, August 12-14, the Upper Miramichi Quilt Show and Sale will be held at the Boiestown United Church on highway 8 at the intersection of highway 625. Hours each day are 10-4. Entry is by freewill donation with proceeds going to charity. Door prizes from Candle in the Window of Boiestown and Memory Lane in Doaktown. 

Other local shows are listed on the sidebar - Akerley Area Guild in Cambridge Narrows this weekend, and St. Andrews next weekend. These offer the opportunity to get out and view some quilts, access a vendor or two and see some quilting friends!   :)

One of the items found on our sidebar is "Quilt Shops in Our Area". Shops or business must have  a website for me to add them to that listing- it's just the way Blogger has it set up. There are two that cannot be added because of this so I am listing the info here for your info.

Contact info for our local Bernina dealers, Pierre and Michelle at The Sewing Machine Den: 1019 Brookside Drive, Apt. 106, Fredericton, E3G 0E2. Phone (506) 259-7070 or email them at thesewingmachineden@gmail.com. Bernina sales and service - cleaning and repair. On Facebook.

If you are venturing upriver, you might want to check out Victoria Corner Sewing Machines between Woodstock and Hartland. Proprietor Charlotte Cook carries fabrics (including108" backings and some flannels), battings, notions, some books and patterns, and a great variety of threads. She sells Janome machines and repairs all machine makes and models. She tells me she has a good selection of Christmas fabrics in already (it's never too early to start Christmas projects!) Her shop is in her home and hours are 10-4 Monday to Friday; she is there 90% of the time, but it's always a good idea to call ahead to be sure, and if you cannot make it during her regular hours other arrangements can be made by contacting her.  Phone 506-375-4396 or 506-325-8926. Email cookgc@live.com  Address: 2282 Route 103, Victoria Corner, NB E7P 1E7. Take exit 172 off Trans Canada (route 2), right at stop sign and proceed several kms, passing the Upper River Valley Hospital and Day & Ross terminal. Turn right onto route 103 just before the Hugh John Flemming bridge. Proceed about 3 kms to 2282 on the left, a white house with green shutters. 

There are also three relatively new smaller quilt shops in NB. I have not visited any of them yet, so can only pass on basic info:

1. Edge Squared Quilt Shop, 745 North Barnaby Road, Barnaby NB  E1N 6E9 phone 1-506-623-8301  http://www.edgesquaredquilting.com/  email: beverleyhackett222@gmail.com   Closed Sunday and Monday. Open Tues.- Sat. 10-5. On Facebook.

2, Chloe's Quilting Cafe, 10635 rue Principale, Saint Louis de Kent, NB E4X 1G2   phone 506-335-3535   http://www.chloesquiltingcafe.ca/   email: chloesquiltingcafe@yahoo.com  Closed Sunday and Monday, open Tues. - Fri. 9-4, and Sat. 8:30-12 noon.   On Facebook. 

3. KP Quilting Studio, 1 Lake Road, Kingston NB E5N 1J8  phone 506-763-2560  https://kpquiltingstudio.com  email: kpquiltingstudio@gmail.com  Closed Mon. & Wed., Open Tues., Thurs., Fri. &Sat. 9-5, Sun. 12-5.  On Facebook. 

Perhaps if any of you have visited these shops, you could tell us about it in the comments. 

Congratulations are in order for several of our members - firstly to Jenny Adam for having her quilt "Playing with Fire" in the Abstract and Improvisational category of the National Juried Show at Quilt Canada 2021 earlier this summer. It was designed to call attention to global warming and the devastating wildfires around the world. Such a  striking quilt, Jenny!

Jenny was also one of 14 artists chosen by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery to be part of the  Isolated/Together project. This exhibition is now open at the Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery in Florenceville until August 21. Her piece "Dancing in the Rain" is based on Vivian Greene's quote: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain." You can see several more photos of Dancing in the Rain on this earlier post. 

Congratulations are also due to Darcy Stewart Hunter on receiving an Arts NB grant to create six large art quilts to share her love of the natural beauty of New Brunswick. We can't wait to see these works of art, Darcy. 

The photo at left is a work in progress of the Sackville Waterfowl Park. Beautiful, Darcy!

Last but not least, Congratulations to Kathy Tidswell whose wall quilt "Bank Machine Blues" was selected by Martha Sielman for inclusion in her book about fibre artists inspired by birds.  Martha is the executive director of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). The book is not a SAQA endeavour, but will be published by Schiffer Publishing. "Bank Machine Blues" was made for the 2005 Grand National Quilt Exhibition: Airborne, held at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery in Kitchener Ontario.

  

Grand National 2021: CROSSROADS

 Have you been to the UNB Art Centre (otherwise known as Memorial Hall) to view the Grand National exhibition yet? It is WELL worth a visit. Visits are limited to Sunday afternoons, noon - 5pm, thanks to Covid, and must be pre-booked. This is easily done online at  www.unb.ca/cel/artcentre . Bookings are taken for groups of four so get three friends together and book an appointment! (Of course you can book a time slot to attend by yourself as well.) Twenty minutes is hardly enough time to really take it all in, so plan to visit more than once. (If you are coming from out of town, you could book several appointments in a row, each under a different name of someone in your group.) 

You will be sorry if you don't see this amazing exhibition of quilts and fibre art pieces. There is much variety and so much talent, skill and creativity! It always amazes me how a theme can be interpreted in so many different ways. You will, no doubt, want a catalogue so that you can read the artist statement for each piece. Catalogues are $10.00 each and are available from Kathy Tidswell. You can contact Kathy at kathy@kathytidswell.com or 363-3560. (Sadly they are not available at the Art Centre.)

The exhibit is made up of 48 pieces of fibre art works by 43 Canadian artists. How nice it is to see three from New Brunswick - our own Lee McLean of New Maryland, Juliet Nowlan of Quispamsis, and Charline Collette of Campbellton. Congrats to all the artists on an inspiring exhibition. 

This exhibit runs at the UNB Art Centre until June 27.

Colours of Nature exhibit

A solo exhibit of works by Kathy Tidswell opens at the Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery in Florenceville-Bristol on May 15. There will be both thread paintings and wall quilts on exhibit and for sale. The gallery is found at 8 McCain Street, Unit 1, Florenceville-Bristol. 

Hours are Tuesdays by appointment (call ahead- 506-392-6769), Wed., Fri., Sat. 10:30-5pm, Thurs. noon- 8pm.  Of course Covid protocols are in place- please wear your mask when visiting the gallery. The exhibit runs until June 19.

The Grand National Exhibition: Crossroads

UPDATE: The Gallery will be open on Sundays, starting May 9 from noon-5:00 until June 27. Appointments to view the exhibit can be booked at  https://www.unb.ca/cel/enrichment/art-centre/

The virtual exhibition and talks with the artists (including our own Lee McLean) can now be viewed online at  http://www.unb.ca/cel/enrichment/art-centre/index.html

The Grand National Virtual Opening and Awards Ceremony will take place this Saturday May 8 at 4;00 pm local time. FQG members will have received an email invitation to the Zoom ceremony. Check your inboxes!

 Crossroads: Grand National Fibre Exhibition 2021 will be on view at the UNB Art Centre from May 2 until June 27, 2021. While the office at the Art Centre is currently closed, the galleries will be open on Sundays from noon until 5 pm by appointment at www.unb.ca/cel/artcentre. 

This year's exhibit presents 48 works by 43 outstanding artists in a juried selection on the theme of Crossroads. Fibre artists have been challenged with visualizing a decisive moment when a path diverges, and a resolution is made. Visit the online galleries to hear a number of the artists talk about their inspiration and their process and to view the artist's biographies.

The Grand National Exhibition has been showcasing quilt and fibre artists across Canada in a biennial exhibit since 2003. However Crossroads is the organization's first touring exhibit and makes its first stop at the UNB Art Centre. The tour wraps up at the end of 2022 and brings the show to the Thunder Bay Museum, ON; Woodstock Art Gallery, ON; Victoria Arts Council, B.C.; Weyburn Arts Council, SK; and the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, MB.