NJS Entrants

There were nine quilts from eight New Brunswick quilters in this year's National Juried Show at Quilt Canada. I promised photos of our three members with their entries. Here they are, in alphabetical order.

First is Trudy Corey. Her piece, "Bill's Peony" has special significance to Trudy. You will understand why when you read her Artist Statement:  "My love of family, flowers and fabric inspired me to create this piece.  It was made in memory of my step-father, Bill Pineo.  The fall before Bill passed away, he asked me to transplant his young Tree Peony Shrub into my garden.  In the spring the Tree Peony had a splendid single blossom.  This is the blossom.  This piece is an original design, hand pieced and hand quilted." This was Trudy's first time entering the NJS and she thought it was a great experience. I'm sure you'll agree, Trudy's peony is beautiful! Wouldn't Bill and Trudy's Mom Marg be proud?  Congratulations Trudy!

Next is Kathy Tidswell. Kathy is no stranger to the NJS or to Quilt Canada. This is the fifth time she has had entries accepted in the NJS and she has been on the teaching faculty at Quilt Canada several times as well. She won the Wearable Art category in 1999 and received an Honourable Mention in 2005 in the same category. Here is her Artist Statement for her entry Night Watch: "Wanting a mystical feel, I used silk as my canvas and painted an eerie moonlit scene from which my thread appliqué Great Horned and Saw Whet owls could oversee their kingdoms. I carefully balanced the amount of quilting so that the flowing drape of the cape would mimic the graceful flight of the owls." Congratulations Kathy!
You can see more of Kathy's work here: http://www.kathytidswell.com/

Monica Washburn is also a first-time NJS entrant. She decided to enter just to "learn the process" and was thrilled when her piece, Storm at Sea, was accepted. I'm sure you'll agree it was a worthy entry. Her Artist Statement read: " The year 2011 was a difficult year. My life, as I knew it, changed dramatically. There were challenges and decisions to make. Even though I received support from family and friends, I found myself at times, feeling helpless. When I saw the pattern for "Storm at Sea", I knew making this quilt would be therapeutic. Things are now on an even keel  and my world, although changed, is on calmer water. I am blessed." Congratulations Monica!

Way to go, gals!! We're proud of you!

Quilt Canada Report

Quilt Canada 2012 in Halifax is now just a memory... It was wonderful to see so many FQG members there - I think there were more than 25 of us - how great is that?!  I did not attend any classes or the evening events, but I have heard some great reports... I did get to all 10 Shows and they were awesome!! I have posted some photos on my own Blog which you can see here, here, here , here, here and here.
Photography was not allowed in the NJS, but the winning quilts have now been posted on the CQA website - you can see them by clicking here. Also all Trend Tex Challenge pieces are also posted on the CQA website- click here. (Unfortunately the color is not great on those photos but at least you can see all 78 pieces)
As you know, three of our own members had pieces accepted into the NJS this year- again, our Congratulations to Trudy Corey, Kathy Tidswell and Monica Washburn. I will be posting photos of "our girls" with their pieces soon. Five other NB quilters were represented in the NJS and three of them won ribbons!!  Juanita Allain of Moncton (Greater Moncton QG) won 2nd Place - Excellence for Originally Interpreted Traditional Wall Quilt with her 25th Anniversary Stars. Judith LeClue of Darlings Island (KVQG) won Excellence in Workmanship: Domestic Machine Quilting with her wholecloth quilt Saint George and the Dragon. Sandra Betts of Saint John (Marco Polo QG) won Excellence in Innovation with her piece Just for the Peck of It. Juliet Nowlan of KVQG also had two pieces in the NJS and Riel Nason, also of KVQG had one piece in. Congrats to all! What a great showing for NB quilters!!

Quilt Canada 2012 Update

Quilt Canada 2012 is only a few days away now. Yippee! I think we have a number of members who are heading to Halifax for a day or two, if not the whole week, and I have heard of many other local quilters going too.. I thought I might be able to pass on a few tips which would be useful.

If you are not familiar with the Dalhousie campus, it is a long narrow rectangle stretching westward from Robie Street- bordered by Robie on the east, Oxford St. on the west, South St. on the south and Coburg Road on the north. (Coburg turns into Spring Garden as you head (east) towards downtown.) The Student Union Building (SUB) sits roughly in the middle of campus and it will be the "hub" of QC activities (Registration desk, etc.).

As with most campuses, parking will be a challenge. There are a limited number of metered spaces on campus, with maximum of 2 or 4 hours parking allowed. Parking in the parking lots will require the purchase of a daily parking permit, available from the Security Services Office on the Parkade level of the Marion McCain Arts and Social Services Building, 6135 University Ave. If you do get a pass, I would suggest you try the parking lot at the DalPlex (off South St.) which is probably the largest on campus, or the parking lot in front of Eliza Ritchie Hall just up South St.  from the DalPlex. If you wish to try a spot off campus, I think your best bet is to try one of  the small side streets off Coburg Rd. or off South St. Actually your very best bet is not to bring a vehicle to campus, but hop on a city bus ($2.25). There are a number of busses which run right by campus and then you don't have to worry about parking at all!

My other suggestion concerns your tummy... if you will be on campus on Saturday, the only spot open to purchase something for lunch will be Tim Hortons in the SUB. So it might be wise to pack a sandwich or crackers and cheese and a few granola bars or something easy... I suspect the lineups at Tims will be lengthy... If you don't mind a bit of a walk, the closest restaurants will be down Coburg to Spring Garden- there are a number of eateries within the first block across Robie on Spring Garden.

The most recent blog post on the Quilt Canada Blog can be read here - there is much more detailed info concerning parking, eats, where to find banking machines on campus, etc. I highly recommend you reading this helpful post.

One other thing to note- the Shows do not all have the same hours, and several do not open until Thursday. Please read the following list of the ten shows carefully, noting days, hours and cost of admission.

In the SUB:

1. National Juried Show and 2. CQA Invitational Show: Open Wed. - Sat.  Hours - Wed. and Thurs. 10-5, Fri. 10-8, Sat. 10-5. $10.00 admission covers both shows. Location: 2nd floor of SUB.

3. Mariners' Quilt Guild Show (Dartmouth Guild). Open Thurs. - Sat.  Hours - Thurs. 10-5,
Fri. 10-7, and Sat. 10-5. Admission $5.00. Location 3rd floor SUB

4. Needlework Exhibition: Open Thurs. - Sat.  Hours - Thurs. 10-5p.m., Fri. 10-7p.m.,
and Sat. 10-5.  Admission $2.00. Location: 3rd floor SUB

In Risley Hall Residence, 1233 Lemarchant St. (directly behind SUB towards South St.):
5. FAN (Fibre Arts Network) Show (Theme: From Away) Open Thurs. - Sat  Hours- Thurs. 10-5,
Fri. 10-8, Sat. 10-5. Admission $2.00

In the DalPlex, 6260 South St. (about a 3 block walk from SUB)
6. Trend Tex Challenge Show. Open Wed. - Sat.  Hours- Wed. and Thurs. 9-5, Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-5.
    Admission is FREE.  The Merchant Mall is also in the DalPlex, also free admission (open to public)

In Howe Hall Residence, corner of Lemarchant St. and Coburg Rd. (about a 2 block walk from SUB)
 7. N.S. Miniature Quilt Challenge - (Theme: Seams Like Home)  Open Wed. - Sat. 
Hours Wed. and Thurs. 10-5, Fri. 10-7, Sat. 10-5. Admission: Free

In the Public Archives, 6016 University Ave. (about a 3 block walk from SUB)
8. Secret Codes - African Nova Scotian Quilts.   Open Tues. - Sat. Hours 10-4:30 daily
Admission: by donation

In the IWK Health Centre, (Parker Reception Room), University Ave. (about a 5 block walk from SUB)
9. Mayflower Quilters' Guild Show. Open Wed. - Fri. (Note: NOT Open Saturday) Hours: 9:30-5 each day. Admission $3.00

In the Mary Black Gallery, Marginal Rd., Next to Pier 21 and Cunard Centre (too far to walk!)
10. SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) Show - (Theme: Rooted) Open Tues. - Sat. 
Hours: Tues. 9-5, Wed. - Fri. 9-6. Sat. 11-6.  Admission: by donation

You can look at a map of campus with these locations noted by clicking here.

I hope you will find this info useful. If you still have questions or concerns, check the Quilt Canada Blog here or the CQA website here. I think you will find answers to any of your questions there...

Don't forget comfy walking shoes, a tote bag, your camera and your wallet!  I'm packing my bags for Quilt Canada 2012- - will I see you there?