Reaching out

It is very important for our guild to be involved with outreach programs and this year Iessie went to the Bloem Show management and asked if they would sponsor entrance tickets for 5 girls from a local Satellite home.

Iessie then asked members of our guild to add financially by giving these girls a little spending money and received approximately R100 per child.  The girls were very impressed with the quilts on display and will in future be taken to the CUT twice a month to be taught by volunteers from our guild to sew and cut in preparation of our National Quilt Festival in 2013.

Non quilting achievements by quilters

Iessie was so kind to take photos of other handmade items submitted for the Bloem Show by fellow members of our guild.  Thanks for these Iessie and to the participants - where the heck do you find time?

Calista von Wielich (our youngest member) entered this doll in the Hobbies category.

A doily made by Estie Maartens

Ceramic mosaic by Petro van der Merwe

Annelize Naude claimed a couple of winning prizes with her teddy bears

Amanda Palvie's stunning entry for embroidery

Linda Landman and her winners in the weave and spin category

To any other member of our guild who have entered but whose photo does not appear here, we dearly apologize.  With the crowds pushing from behind it is not always possible to stop and stare for as long as one would like to and it is highly likely that someone might have been overlooked.

Quilts at the Bloem Show - final part

Gerda Breytenback won the Mariëtte Venter trophy for the Best Innovative quilt with this entry.

Martie Botha entered a Trip Around The World.

First prize pillow entered by Santjie Steyn

Little old me won the prize for the best free-motion quilting with this quilt.

Iessie's winning quilt - best quilted item.  I think we have an Afrikaans and English prize for the same thing or do I have it wrong?

Lore and Alta from the Vingerhoede group entered this second prize winner.

The outreach group of ladies from Botshabelo also entered their work.

Christine von Wiellich's horses

Anina Louw's second prize winning quilt

And the final quilt shown on our blog is by Lenie Lourens from the Kwetter Quilter group

Our quilt cupboard displayed beautifully

Hope you enjoyed these eye candy and will be entering one of your quilts next year.

The Quilts at the Bloem Show - Part 1

Now I do believe any GOOD blog writer would do research, check categories, phone to find out who won what and write about it all in a well prepared manner.  However, I never claimed to be a good blog writer, I am simply 'the' writer.  So I will show all the photos sent to me and have the name of the quilter but you unfortunately either have to visit the Bloem Show or attend our next guild meeting to find out everything.

This year the theme of our Bloem Show is "Carnival" and the ladies made decorative masks to carry the theme over into our quilt cupboards.  Here these masks can be seen with a quilt from Adie Botha in the background.

In nor particular order, here are some of the quilts on exhibition this year.

Traditional quilt by Magriet Bester.  Winning the first prize and the trophy for the Best Traditional Quilt.

Lia Deysel's beginner quilt.  Iessie's pride and joy - not the quilt, the person.  This is Iessie's daughters' quilt.

First prize for a group quilt went to a Round Robin by the Kwetter Quilters (translated it would mean they talk a heck of a lot.)

Martie-marie Moss entered this quilt.  She too is a member of the Kwetter Quilters.

Alta Stemmet's Art quilt got a second prize.

A rather interesting quilt by Christa Gouws.

Calista von Wieligh won the Best Youth Quilt Trophy (under 18) with these 2 entries.

Daisies by Estelle Calitz was the judge's choice.

Jolita Geel won a special prize for the Best Beginner quilt.

Christa Gouws earned herself not only the award for the Most Outstanding quilt at the show but also the Anita Kleynhans trophy for the most points awarded.

A pretty picture quilt entered by Magda Diedericks

I still have 12 more pictures in my folder but I'll end here for today, so keep looking at this space there is more to follow.

Quilt judging and sorting for the Bloem Show

As we all know the Bloem Show is about to start one of these days but as with any exhibition this doesn't happen without a couple of people working really hard to make this possible.

This year these ladies did their thing to make a neat display for all of us and the public possible.  Note the empty cupboards behind them?  These all need to be filled once the judging was done.

First the quilts were sorted into categories.  These went into the cupboards temporarily awaiting judgement. (Sounds serious doesn't it?)

Then judge Frances too a serious look at every single quilt while Marianne sits ready to write down the verdict.

Magda from the Bloem Show has the ribbons sorted and she is the lady that will guard the quilts with her life for the duration of the Show.

All the first prize quilts are kept aside for consideration for the trophies.

Now who would believe a Cheetah rugby player would take the time to come check out the quilts being judged.  Free States' Junior van Schalkwyk taking a look at how things are done by the opposite sex.

In the mean while all the quilts needed to find a place in the cupboards and here you can see Iessie and Elsa packing, hanging, checking for possible mistakes, rearranging and trying again until it all fits.

Grateful to be done for this year Iessie and Elsa can smile again.

Now I know you are all dying to see more but I will keep you in suspense a little longer and stop here.  This is just for all of us to see how much work went into a seemingly small exhibition.  Let's be grateful for our fellow quilters who stepped up when workers were needed and consider helping one year ourselves.  Ladies, we thank you for all your hard work.

Bloem Show reminder

With our National Quilt Day 2012 behind us, we need to start planning for the next event on our quilt calendar. The first which would be the Bloem Show and your quilts for entry.  Please read THIS POST again to get all the detail.

Let's fill the show cupboard completely.

Bloem Show: 26 April - 5 May 2012

Can you believe it is already time to think about the Bloem Show again?  So while you read this, open your diary as you need to mark a couple of dates.  Firstly the dates of the show.  You will want to see the quilts on exhibition don't you?

Speaking of exhibition.... PLEASE enter one of your quilts for the Show competition.  These are the steps to follow:

1.  Get your entry form from Elsa Schoeman (082 459 6599)
2.  Attach your R8,00 entry fee to your completed form
3.  Pack your labelled quilt in a marked pillowcase
4.  Take your quilt, entry form and -fee to Iessie's house before 30 March 2011 (this is the other date for your diary)

Judging by Frances van Schalkwyk will take place on Friday, 13 April 2012

If you have a problem getting your quilt to Iessie's house, contact your group or group leader and see if there is someone that can help you but please do enter!

Let's keep our quilt exhibition area stocked and attractive.