This ThreadArt Workshop involves handstitching with decorative threads creating a lovely make-and-take card in the morning session. Card Kits will be provided @ $10 so participants can work with 2 more advanced designs in the afternoon. Cindy will share lots of card-stitching tips along with a mini trunk show for inspirational ideas. It’s all about the thread!

DATE: Saturday, October 26, 2013
TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: St. Agnes Church, 530 East 13th, North Vancouver
COST: $70.00 (includes $10 kit fee)

Harmony Arts, West Vancouver’s mid-summer arts festival, showcases a Slow Clothes Day, Tuesday August 6.

A Slow Clothes Fashion show, featuring the work of artists working in various fibre media to produce one-of-a-kind garments, will be presented on the main stage at the foot of 15th St., West Vancouver, at noon. The show will offer the work of over a dozen artists, and is being coordinated by VGFA members, Monica Brammer, Deb Ryan, and Ros Aylmer.

There will be an opportunity to have a close up look and purchase from the artists, after the fashion parade.

At 3pm that afternoon, Charllotte Kwon,of Maiwa Handprints will present Waiting For the Monsoon, Slow Clothes in India. Join Charllotte as she explains her involvement with the peoples of India to bring the work of their artisans to markets right here in Vancouver.

Slow Clothes are made, one at a time, by artisans steeped in the history and traditions of the process, and whose work results in articles of singular beauty. Two events not to be missed by lovers of fine textile work.

A Great Notion is sponsoring a visit by Ricky Tims. For details on pricing and to register please go to their website http://www.agreatnotion.com/index.php

Thursday August 8th, 2013
Michael J Fox Theatre 7373
MacPherson Avenue, Burnaby BC

Daytime Workshops: 10:00 – 4:30
Doors open at 9:15am

Evening Concert: 7:00 – 9:00
Doors open at 6:30 pm

Ricky is known in the international world of quilting as a best-selling author, enthusiastic and encouraging teacher, an award-winning quilter, fabric designer, and a talented and spellbinding speaker. His innovative and entertaining presentations feature live music and humour combined with scholarly insights and wisdom. His quilts have been displayed worldwide and are highly regarded as excellent examples of contemporary quilts with traditional appeal.

Good news, everyone!! We have a Workshops Coordinator and a committee. Thank you Anne Pelton for volunteering to chair the committee and attend the monthly Executive Meetings. And thank you Anita Jones-Gould, Jane Andrew and Clarice Hobson for volunteering your time to serve on the committee. On behalf of the guild and all of those who love Workshops of all descriptions I thank you. During the past months several people have apologized to me and some of the other Executive members for not being able to give more time to the guild. I think that Anne had some serious thinking to do until she was able to commit to taking on this job. But the time needs to be right for all of us who volunteer our time. And if the time is not the right time now, it will be in the future. The time finally came available to me when I could give of myself and I am really enjoying meeting and working with guild members. So, now, we have a full complement of Executive members. I am a happy woman.

I received an interesting letter last week from a group of North Shore quilters who have started up a business geared to quilters. It is called Quilt Stash, Squared. More information is in this newsletter or our next newsletter. I shall just quote a part of the letter which might peak your interest. “We are quilters who gleefully collect fabric every chance we get, sometimes for specific projects, sometimes just for the joy of adding to our stashes. We had an idea to get all the wonderful fabric sitting in quilters’ bins, boxes and closets and market them in an online shop. It’s our quilters’ community stash shopping project.” Their website is http://www.quiltstashsquared.com/ – take a look.

I attended another Guild Gathering Meeting on April 13th along with two other members of our Guild. During the day we discussed the following topics: “Blogs”; Executive/Directors set of up of our various Guilds; Monetary Grants for guilds; Charity choices of guilds; Guild Socials and the “Talent within our guild/Teachers” sharing list. All those who attend can be part of a DropBox system of sharing guild information. The technology of DropBox is great but those of us who are not as knowledgeable as others are not as comfortable with the system. I am doing fine with the technology but others are struggling. The Dropbox system allows us to share big time. At the meeting there were 29 people representing 14 guilds. Most of the guilds were quilt guilds but there were a couple of Textile guilds there. Our next meeting is Saturday October 26th from 10 until 3 in Langley. If anyone is interested in coming with me you are welcome. We already have two topics on the agenda and they are Trips and Retreats.

Our next guild meeting is on the fourth Tuesday of May, the 28th. We have had 5 weeks between meetings this month so just a little extra time to get those UFOs finished and ready to Show off. This month is your last opportunity to Show and Tell about your registered projects. Don’t forget your Show and Tell, library books and library fines money, your mug, 50/50 raffle ticket money, left over birthday ‘goodies’, your name tag and your happy, smiling face.

Happy Quilting,
Betty

I would like to thank my workshop committee – Carol Piercy, Anita Jones-Gould and Betty Clarke – for all their assistance and ideas over these last few years. They were always there with suggestions for workshop instructors and a helping hand to make tea and coffee. It was a privileged to have been your workshop co-coordinator for the past 4 years.

I would also like to thanks all the guild members who signed up for the workshops and offered to help set up and take down the tables along with the bringing of goodies for us to nibble on. Your assistance was always appreciated.

I am pleased to announce that we do now have a new workshop co-coordinator. Anne Pelton has volunteered to plan and look after workshops for the next 2 years and we met this morning to go over what is required to put on a workshop. Anne has a committee in place already with Jane Andrews and Clarice Hobson lending a helping hand and Anita Jones-Gould has agreed to stay on to help as well. I hope you will lend them as much support as you afforded me. Good luck Anne and your committee, too!!

Joan Herrin

We currently have 131 members registered and we had 89 in attendance at the last meeting. If you know of someone who has been a member in the past, remind them to renew their membership. Although this is not a quilt show year, in order for a member to show quilts in the show of June 2014, a member must be in good standing as of the beginning of December 2013. So why not renew sooner rather than later and enjoy the benefits of membership.

If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to email me.

Remember to bring your nametag in order to win the door prize. Congratulations to our March winners: Carol Hill and Gaye McCance. Be sure to remember to be wearing your nametag in order to claim your prize, should your name be drawn.

Nametags are available, if you forget to bring yours, and are $1 each.

Have a wonderful month, and Happy Stitching!
Kate Burzuk

We would like to invite your guild to join us on Denman Island for a special event this October. It is called the “Creative Threads Conspiracy” and this will be its second year running. The event will include three full days of classes, catered meals and a free Wearable Art Fashion Show as entertainment included in the Saturday evening dinner. The dates are October 25th, 26th and 27th 2013.

Classes include several by well-known and loved quilting teachers from the area – Sharon Pederson, Ionne McCauley, Barb Mortell, and Carol Piercy as well as many different streams of fiber arts: Basketry with Cynthia Minden, felting with Christine O’Neill, Knitting with Jean Cockburn and Kerri Boland, Hardanger Embroidery with Judy Briosi, Rag Rug Braiding with Phyllis Fabbi, Paper Cloth making with Pelka Wiltshire and Natural Dyeing with Anna Heywood-Jones. In addition Marilyn Jensen, a local multimedia artist will teach an all-day class in using your sewing machine as a drawing tool… a great way to truly learn free-style quilting for those who don’t yet.

For more information or to register check out our website: http://creativethreadconspiracy.com/

Please note, some of the class sizes are very small and therefore will fill quickly.