East Bay Heritage Quilters traveled 400 miles to come to Road 2016 — their first time ever at the show. They came to show off one of their opportunity quilts, Bay Windows, and to share information about their upcoming quilt show, Voices in Cloth – Extraordinary Quilts by the Bay, being held March 19 and 20, 2016.
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East Bay Heritage Quilters members Edy Brady (l) co-chair of Voices in Cloth and Gwen McMillan (r) a guild member since 1985. Picture by Brian Roberts Photography[/caption]
Centered in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, the guild was formed in 1978 to support the traditions of quilting and to encourage the growth and development of quilting through art, education, and community. East Bay Heritage Quilters (EBHQ) currently has 350 members; women and men who embrace both traditional and contemporary styles of quilting.
In almost 30 years, the guild has given away over 30,000 quilts. In 2015 alone, they gave away 1,000 quilts to people in need, supporting the Diana Davis Community Project.
Bay Windows is an original applique design created by well-known quilt artist and teacher, Nancy S. Brown. The quilt captures the wildlife of the San Francisco Bay Area. The layers of the ecosystem move from the fish who inhabit the bay to the birds who live on the shores of the bay. With the help of 14 of Nancy’s students, drawings were made for each of the blocks. Nancy appliqued eight of the blocks herself and her students made the rest. Laura Lee Fritz did the quilting which was enhances the waves, kelp and sea grass of the ocean surface. The sense of humor and the attention to detail make this quilt an outstanding art piece.
If you look at Bay Windows closely, there are two animals stitched in the quilt that do not belong to the Bay Area. Can you name them?**
This year’s quilt show, Voice in Cloth – Extraordinary Quilts by the Bay — is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The show is held biennially so this is actually only the guild’s 13th show.There will be over 300 quilts and garments on display as well as a special exhibit by Julie Silber. Also featured will be a Guild Marketplace of Fine Fiber Art, a Cloth Doll Challenge entitled “Tell Me a Story,” and two opportunity quilts.
In addition to Bay Windows, the contemporary art quilt, String Theory, will also be given away. Made by Bay Area artist, Barbara Ramsey, this abstract original design purposely distorts the geometric shapes and combines light and dark fabrics which in turn, draws the viewer’s eye over the surface of the quilt. The use of batik and hand-dyed fabrics in a 4-Block pattern evokes apartment windows. The border treatment on two diagonal corners mimics a cityscape design with the other corners reflecting the sky, thus lending to the overall “High Rise” affect.
Congratulations East Bay Heritage Quilters on your anniversary show.
**Did you guess the animals? Godzilla and penguin.
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Photo by Brian Roberts Photography[/caption]
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Archive for the ‘Quilt Guilds’ Category
Meet Quilters By The Sea Quilt Guild
Friday, July 17th, 2015 It just seems fitting during summer to talk about a quilt guild that is located by the ocean.
Quilters by the Sea is based in Long Beach, California. The guild started in 1993 and their membership is open to anyone 11 years or older. Meetings are held each month on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the First Baptist Church of Lakewood. In addition, the guild holds Saturday workshops, social sewing nights, retreats, and fun-day excursions.
“The heart of our guild is supporting our community,” said Treasurer, JoAnn White. “We believe in strong community involvement.” Quilters by the Sea supports local Long Beach agencies by supplying them with quilts and/or pillowcases. In 2014, the guild contributed 361 pillowcases and 350 quilts to groups like the Long Beach Police Department – SART (Sexual Abuse Rescue Team) Unit, Long Beach Battered Women’s Shelter, For The Child, New Life Beginnings, St. Mary’s Hospital pediatric unit, and the VA Hospital in Long Beach. So far for this year, their members have made 188 quilts to be donated.
Every other year, Quilters by the Sea presents a quilt show featuring their members’ work. This year’s quilt show will be held August 1st and August 2nd at the National Guard Armory in Long Beach. Over 200 quilts will be on display along with workshops, gift basket raffles, and a silent auction.
At Road 2015, Quilters by the Sea displayed their 2015 Opportunity Quilt, “Starry Night at Sea.” The quilt is the 10th Anniversary edition of Jinny Beyer’s “Moonglow” pattern and kit. Originally a block of the month pattern, the quilt covers a variety of techniques, from strip piecing to using templates and foundation piecing, they range from beginner to advanced and the quilters all did an excellent job. Members of the guild did all the work, including custom machine quilting done on a long arm. Each compass has a different freehand quilting design; the courthouse steps have a feather motif, while the borders have a feather and piano keys design. The drawing for the quilt will take place at their December meeting.
For more information about Quilters by the Sea, visit their website.
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Meet the Glendale Quilt Guild
Friday, March 13th, 2015 The Glendale Quilt Guild’s 36th Annual Quilt Show and Retreat is this weekend, March 13 and 14, 2015 at the Pasadena Convention Center.
The Glendale Quilt Guild meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the first Congregational Church of Glendale. The guild has over 200 members. Tim Spinn has been a member for four years and is the newsletter editor. “I love the guild, says Tim. “There are always great educational opportunities and charity quilts to be made. It is a fun group to belong to.”
Loving Hands is the name of the guild’s committee that makes and donates quilts to worthy causes. They provide hundreds of quilts each year to various organizations including LAC/USC Hospital, Glendale Adventist Hospitals, Veteran’s Residential Facility, Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study, Family Promise of East San Fernando Valley, Glendale YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter, Kaiser Hospice, MEND and the Foster Care Project at All Saints’ Episcopal Church Pasadena.
Carol Andrews is the “beloved member and founder” of the Glendale Quilt Guild and the Glendale Quilt Guild annual Quilt Show and Retreat. In 1979, after attending a quilt conference in Palo Alto, California, Carol decided that “We need a quilt show in Glendale.” Carol enlisted the help of her quilt students and organized the First Annual Quilt Show of Glendale in 1980 at the YWCA on Lexington Avenue in Glendale. One of the vendors at that first show was none other than Road’s Carolyn Reese, who owned the Fabric Patch at the time. Carol oversaw the quilt show in Glendale for three years before turning full responsibility for the show over to the guild. 
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Photo- Gregory Case Photography[/caption]
The theme for this year’s show is Home Is Where The Quilt Is. Their opportunity quilt, which was on display on Saturday at Road to California, has at its focal point, a log cabin house surrounded by log cabin blocks. The main quilt blocks were sewn by members of the guild with fabric donated by guild members.
Road to California is pleased to announce that the Glendale Quilt Guild has been selected as the featured Southern California Quilt Guild for Road 2016. The guild will be responsible for providing the quilts for the special atrium exhibit located in the Arcade of the Ontario Convention Center. Congratulations, Glendale Quilt Guild!!
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