Presidents Piece

August 2008

In Quilting as in life there are a lot of contrasts. This last month this has been bought home to me in the form of Quilt Shows; the first one I attended was the Victorian Quilter showcase, held at the Exhibition Centre
at Southbank. This is a massive building and an asset to all us Victorians. It was able to house the Vic Quilters Members Exhibition, the Machine Quilters Exhibition, Under Flynn's Wing (Royal Flying Doctors Quilt Competition) and a display of Japanese Quilts and Textiles as well as what seemed like over a hundred traders, where all sorts of tempting things were there to entice us to open our purses.
The next week I attended the E.L.F's Quilt show that was held in a Primary School Multi Function Room out a Knoxfield, which also had a very diverse display of Patchwork and Quilting. I enjoyed both Exhibitions immensely and if I had to, I would not be able to choose if one was better than the other. Well done to both the organizing Committees of these Exhibitions.
At the Monday Sit and Sew I see a lot of beautiful Quilts being produced. I hope that they will be available for our very own Members’ Exhibition in September 2009.I would like to encourage/challenge Members in our 30th Birthday celebration year to think about making this Exhibition something special and memorable. I would especially like to see Members who have never entered before rise to the challenge, keeping in mind that this is not a judged Exhibition and an opportunity to show the wider Community what our Association is about.
I was also able to attend the Geelong Quilters meeting last Sat and was again entertained and left awe-inspired by the talent of Mariya Waters who was the Guest Speaker. It was also their A.G.M and I noted that all the vacant positions on the committee were quickly filled. Please keep in mind that our A.G.M will be held in November and I hope that all our vacancies will be filled with equal enthusiasm and commitment to ensure the Australian Quilters Assoc continues to flourish. If anyone would like to talk to me about what is involved as a Committee Member please see me at the meeting or call me on 9873 4371. Current Committee members are always willing to help you settle in if you choose to volunteer.
I have recovered from my 5 week stint of full time work and slowly catching up on customers’ quilts; I have been able to return to one of my own Quilts I was working on, however in the time I was not able to work on it I have changed my mind on what I want it to look like and have done a lot of unsewing and rearranging. I was never that happy with the blue flower pots and have changed them to various shades of green; as I said life is full of contrasts.
Kind Regards, Pam

Meeting Points  . 

President, Pam Hammer, welcomed 80 members and Founding President, Megan Terry.
Today’s Banner: “Country Chats”.
Minutes of Previous Meeting: Moved: Marina Holland
Correspondence: Moved Robyn Vanzuyden Sec:
Treasurer’s Report: Moved: Helen Hayes
Helen noted that the $10,000 was moved to Term Deposit in June, NOT July, as written.
Symposium: Bookings going well, a few places available, so let friends know.
Exhibition: AQIPP Committee to meet Tuesday 12 August in hosting the next AQIPP.
Aprons. Challenge is extended by a month.
Newsletter: Jacqy explained the delay with printing. She will be composing the September Newsletter while away from Melbourne,
Retreat: 10 – 12 October – Bookings and Deposits ASAP.
Sit ‘n Sew: Thanks to all who helped on Gift Quilt Day, in July, and especially to Jean Baddams. A few Gift quilt-tops are available if you would like to complete a Gift Quilt.
$350 Grant received from City of Whitehorse for Cloth Doll materials.
Quilt-In: Around 150 attended; people from 12 quilting groups. Thanks to all who contributed.
Vicquilters’ AGM: 9.30 – 4.00pm Saturday 23 August at Keysborough Bowling Club, 356 Cheltenham Rd. Keysborough. Bring lunch, plate to share, mug and Show ‘n Tell.
Sit ‘n Sew THIS MONTH ONLY the third Wednesday night Sit ‘n Sew will be Thurs.
AQIPP: The missing QVWC quilt is being investigated.
Monthly Blocks: See Enid. Please ensure your blocks are exactly right in size.
Quilting ruler (as recently seen on ‘The New Inventors”): Pam is arranging for Westallee Rulers to do a Demo.
Lunch
Guest Speaker: Janet Kidson – The Bellarine Biodiversity Quilt Project
Show ‘n Tell
Door Prizes: 1.Marcie O’Loughlin 2. Miriam Macartney
Raffle: 1. Pam Hammer 2. Marg Burden 3. Diana Lawrey 4. Enid Stone
NEXT MEETING : MONDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2008
Marina Holland
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Annual General Meeting—Nomination form p11
New members Afternoon Tea Sunday 14th September. 2.00pm
If you haven’t received an invitation, ring Pam or Robyn (see p2)

September Speaker
3
Our September AQA guest speaker is quilt historian, Jan Gessin, who will speak about:
“19th Century Mothers and Daughters:
Their Relationship and Their Quilting.”
Do please make a special effort to attend this meeting as you will be enthralled by Jan’s knowledge of
vintage and antique quilts and by the quilts she will bring to show us.
Olga