Browse our galleries of quilters, friends, and teachers past and present - and let us know if you've got contributions to add to our collection of photographs. We'd love to share yours here.
Congratualtions to the winner of the 2015 Retreat Raffle - Barb Mrkonjic!
Barb has been to all 14 Retreats and has been a wonderful supporter and helper. Congratulations again Barb, see you at your 15th Retreat!
And many, many thanks to all who bought and sold tickets, the raffle wouldn't be possible without all your support.
Congratulations to Marie Hayward, winner of the Mayflower Quilter's Retreat Raffle! Marie has been a long time supporter and attendee of the Retreat. And she served on the committee for many years. Marie was at the Mayflower meeting when the winning ticket was drawn. She was very excited, she already had her registration form ready and cheque made out. many thanks to all who bought tickets and congratulations again to Marie.
Marie at the 2009 Retreat.
Congratulations as well to Debbie Bliemel, winner of the Avonport Award For a Young Quilter. We had seven applications this year and I know the jury had a difficult time choosing just one winner.
Debbie is from Hammonds Plains, NS and she writes "I have always loved sewing. When I'm tired or grumpy, I sit down at my machine and start making something. Soon enough, I'm immersed in the serenity of fabric gliding between my fingers. As a project starts to come together, a deep sense of contentment grows inside my heart and I am happy.
I've been sewing for about 30 years, but have been quilting for only three of those. When I was young, I made clothing for myself and my dolls. After I married and had my first child, I began making clothing and cloth diapers. I even had a small business making custom-made cloth diapers for a few years, but I closed the company once I moved from Ontario to Nova Scotia.
Debbie's "Manly Quilt"
I first began quilting when an organization called Craft Hope put out a call for children's quilts for Margaret's Hope Chest, a group that collects quilts in Michigan. I looked at all of the wonderful baby fabrics that I had lying around. Then I said, "I can do that." My two quilts were simple, wonky and slightly lop-sided. But I was hooked.
Debbie's "Baby Quilt for Frodo"
After that, quilting became an integral part of my crafting life. Currently, I knit, sew, spin my own yarn, occasionally dye my own yarn, embroider, crochet, make wire jewelry, and of course, quilt. When I'm not doing any of that, I am a stay at home mom who likes to travel. I also write short stories and am working on my first novel. I would say that I'm mostly interested in modern quilting. Some of my favourite quilt blogs include Oh Fransson!, Film in the Fridge and Red Pepper Quilts. Bright, vibrant colours hold the most appeal for me.
By far, the quilting project that I'm happiest with was coercing/organizing a group of my knitter friends into a year-long quilting bee. Each month, all of the members work on squares for one person's quilt. We get together at the end of the month to exchange blocks for new fabric packets, and we also enjoy tea, cake and chatting. It's been great fun, and I'm hoping that the love of quilting will remain, even after the bee is completed.
My flickr account is filled with all of my crafty endeavors, should anyone wish to see what I'm working on (http://www.flickr.com/photos/k-townrocks2006/)."
Congratulations Debbie, we are all looking forward to meeting you in September.
Saturday, March 30, 2013 | MQG in Avonport Award, Fundraising | Post a Comment | Share Article The 2013 Mayflower Quilter's Retreat at Pictou Lodge brochure and registration form is now available. If you would like the information, please email me at robsonbh@eastlink.ca
We do a fair bit of fundraising for our Retreat to help keep the costs as low as possible. The Retreat Raffle tickets are now available for purchase. One lucky winner will receive an *all expense paid Retreat (*except for travel to Pictou Lodge and supplies), the winner also is guaranteed the workshop of her choice. If you would like more information and tickets email me at robsonbh@eastlink.ca The draw will be at the March 21, 2013 meeting of the Mayflower Quilter's Guild.
Monday, January 14, 2013 | MQG in Fundraising, Registration | Post a Comment | Share Article Since we began the Mayflower Quilters Retreat at Pictou Lodge in 1987 we have had various challenges over the years. Some have taken the format of "getting to know each other", others have been team challenges at the Retreat that also fit in with the "getting to know each other" theme. We've had group quilts being made over the 5 days of the Retreat, we've had scavenger hunts but in the most recent Retreats we have had a challenge that are made ahead of time and then they are paraded on the last night, at the closing banquet.
Debbie's creative use of toilet plungers! At the closing banquet, there was a spontaneous auction, Debbie's creation has resurfaced at several Retreats! I wonder if it will be back this year?
The challenge usually has either a theme or a must use object such as the toilet plunger! And I must say quilters are the most creative when it comes to challenges. We have had bibs and then apron themes...
Bibs from 2007.
Marie and Fiona and their aprons from 2009.
Quilters get creative with the apron theme!
This year the theme is a "mug rug", I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. This is totally an optional challenge and often it results in a spontaneous auction to raise funds for the next Retreat.
The mug rugs should be approximately 6"x10", they will be judged by our teachers with suitable prizes awarded to "the most absorbent", "the best beverage related" and the "most snack friendly"...honourable mentions will be awarded at the judges discretion. Have fun!
The Retreat Committee decided to resurrect the Quilters Quarters House Tour this year as a fundraiser for the Retreat in September. We have done this 4 times in the past for previous Retreats and it always was a successful day.
Five quilters, Laureen, Meredith, Alex, Vivien and Kate, were asked to open up their homes, share their quilts and their space where they make their quilts. All were very different, all were inspiring.
Quilts were in the gardens, on the walls and on kitchen tables. Almost 75 quilters and friends (and a few husbands) trekked about the city for 3 hours on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Tips and tricks were shared, many photos were taken. It was really quite the feast for the eyes.
The Retreat Committee is very grateful to those who opened their homes and to those who bought tickets to go on the tour. Thank you so much. We hope to have another Quilters Quarters House Tour in 2013, just before the next Retreat. Check out the pictures in the QQ House Tour 2011 in the Photo Albums section on the sidebar.
The Retreat Committee has just a couple of more fund raisers before the 2011 Quilters Retreat in September.
We have 2 baskets filled with approximately 7.5m if fabric. One basket is batiks and the other has a lot of Jane Sassaman's fabrics from her Garden Diva line along with some to coordinate.
As a bonus, we have a copy of Jane's book The Quilted Garden which will be drawn for after the 2 baskets at the MQG's annual June diner on June 2.
We are so appreciative of the support from members of the Mayflower QG and the Mahone Bay QG who always buy tickets!
Update - the lucky winners of the fabric baskets were Uta Reiner and Cynthia Schwekowsky and the winner of the Jane Sassaman book was Fiona Oxford! Thanks again!
