Winners Album - Kaleidoscope Festival 2013

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National Quilt Festival 2013 – Kaleidoscope -7

The committee and I are very proud of our achievement. We reached our goal in organizing a friendly, affordable festival. We have received many wonderful compliments that far outweigh the mistakes made in the Workshop Program. The committee members of Wanda Carmichael were our best advisors and supporters who went the extra mile to pave the road for a successful National Quilt Festival in Bloemfontein. As no-one on our committee has ever been involved in organising a festival on this level, we would like to extend more than the average appreciation to these women. Well done to my committee and all those who helped us! It was an honour for me to serve as the chairlady of the Festival 2013 committee and to work with such a willing and dedicated group of ladies who wanted to make a success of our festival.

Thanks to my team!

Iessie Steenberg

And also a word of thank from the chairlady of the Oranje Kwiltersgilde.

Marianne le Roux

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We were made to feel very welcome in the Eunice hostel and it was very comfortable. The meals were tasty and adequate!

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Our three evening functions were sold out and turned out to be outstanding successes. The décor created a wonderful vibrancy and the food was simply delicious! Handmade gifts were the cherry on the cake at every function. The wares the vendors shared with us, spoilt us with the variety they provided.

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The Teaching Applications for our festival have far exceeded our expectations. Thirty teachers from all over South Africa and two teachers from overseas were invited. The very talented teachers offered a variety of techniques at all skill levels and overall the feedback was very positive and it seems as if the workshops were thoroughly enjoyed. Bookings made through Computicket made the control of class lists as well as entrance to the lectures easy. Children from the Jeugsorgsentrum and women from Botshabelo attended the Outreach classes and Marline Turner, a very experienced teacher, taught them. These women are familiar with quilting, so the aim of this particular workshop was to broaden their exposure. These workshops were sponsored by members of the Oranje Quilter’s Guild and taken that the excitement could hardly be contained; I would say that it was money well spent. We followed the example set by Alive with Colour to offer “Kids can Quilt” classes. At first, it seemed to be not so well received, but were eventually, during the festival, filled by enthusiastically girls of 9 – 12 year olds.

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With all the entries we received for the competition, our Quilt Exhibition housed a breathtaking variety of colour, size and techniques. The hundreds of visitors that attended our exhibition were motivated and encouraged by the wonderful works of art.

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Our expectations were exceeded as we welcomed all most 700 registered delegates from around the country and from as far as the USA, Canada, Australia, England, Sweden, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Zimbabwe! We were overjoyed when our daily visitors count reached 1000 before week’s end.

National Quilt Festival 2013 – Kaleidoscope

It is an honour and privilege to stand in for Hettie, author of our blog.  She is helping out at their business.

Hettie asked me to do a sort of review on our Quilt Festival; therefore I will take it on as good as possible. My idea is to take it from an overall view back to where we have started – in reverse then.

The Quilt Festival was held in Bloemfontein, Free State, at the Eunice High School from 1 – 6 July 2013.  This proved to be an excellent venue and we utilized the facilities to our best advantage. We are grateful that both the school and hostel made their facilities available to us.  They walked the extra mile for us and were very accommodating. 

After a period of two years, organizing the 17^th National Quilt Festival 2013 – Kaleidoscope - the committee is very satisfied with the goals that we have attained.

The main aim of the committee was to organize a welcoming, warm, friendly and affordable festival for all quilters from around the world, but mainly from South Africa. Our committee consisted of 21 women, represented the different quilting groups of our Oranje Quilter’s Guild.   

The entire committee met only four times a year – due to long distances.  At these meetings, it was expected from each member to give a full report and update on her portfolio. Each member was completely responsible for the planning and fundraising regarding her specific portfolio and was encouraged to have a sub-committee to assist with all the necessary arrangements.  

Due to Bloemfontein infamous cold winters, we feared the worst regarding attendance, but quilters came prepared!  Our expectations were exceeded as we welcomed all most 700 registered delegates from around the country and from as far as the USA, Canada, Australia, England, Sweden, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Zimbabwe!  We were overjoyed when our daily visitors count reached 1000 before week’s end.

Time is running out

Okay people this concludes our posts on individual classes and there is but one week left to make your bookings.  So don’t be caught without a ticket to your favourite teachers and/or class.  

Book now!

Also remember to book for accommodation in the hostel.  From the sounds of it these people are geared and ready to host us quilters with no request to big to handle.  

So contact Pamela at:

pamela@ehs.co.za or get your hostel accommodation form by clicking HERE.

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Masks – Lesley Glover Taylor

Class 605 – Page 18 – Saturday, 6 July – Full Day

A teacher who finds it rewarding to see a pupil learning a new technique can only be a pleasure to take a class from.  This is Lesley with her 20 years of teaching experience.  Come make and embellish a mask similar this in her class.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Lesley at:

lesleyglover@mweb.co.za

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Flip-Flop quilts – Lesley Amy Pahl

Class 603 – Page 23  – Saturday, 6 July – Full Day

Again something I know nothing about...... sew-cur-sew appliqué.  

This is what Leslie offers in this class and with 25 years of teaching experience I can’t think of a better person to learn this technique from.  So join her in making this 75 x 75 cm quilt during this class.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Leslie at:

comequilting@gmail.com

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The bugs and the Beautiful – Wilna de Beer

Class 602 – Page38  – Saturday, 6 July – Full Day

Be warned, there is only place left in this class, so you better jump if you want to join Wilna in this class.  With her studies in Interior Decorating you can trust her in mixing and matching fabrics and colours.

Wilna likes finding new and exciting ways to put a modern twist to the old and wonderful art of quilting.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Wilna at:

wilnadebeer@ymail.com

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Gateways to Mongolia – Maggie Ball

Class 601 – Page 28 – Saturday, 6 July – Full Day

This is the last of the classes presented by this teacher all the way from the U.S.A.  So don’t let this chance slip through your fingers!

You will not only be taught on how to create the olzii (I don’t know where to find the ‘o’ with the little dots on top, sorry) or never-ending knot which symbolizes the endless cycle of life and death and I am sure Maggie will share some of the history about this with you.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Maggie at:

maggie.quilter@gmail.com

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Windmills – Elaine Barnard

Class 511 – Page 14 – Friday, 5 July – Full Day

Now if you followed the posts on our blog regularly you’ll remember that Elaine’s first class was sold out before we could even post more about it.  So if you still want the opportunity to learn from this experienced teacher, this is your chance.

Use water soluble fabric to create your own textured cloth which will serve as the background to your windmill and Free State landscape.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Elaine at:

jan3elaine@gmail.com

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My beautiful self – Mariëtte Venter

Class 510 – Page 8 – Friday, 5 July – Full Day

The last of our kiddies classes this time by Mariëtte Venter.  

Mariëtte is well known in our guild for her love to teach the youngsters during school holidays, so bring your kiddie for a day filled with fun and to have a lovely learning experience.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Mariëtte at:

venter@ntelecom.co.za

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An Almanac with Attitude – Mari Strydom

Class 509 – Page 31 – Friday & Saturday, 5 & 6 July – Two Days

The first thing that caught my eye was the fact that you’ll be taught to do a mitered corner binding on a quilt.  This was something that caused many of my gray hairs.

Let Mari help you to make a different calendar block for every month using needle turn appliqué.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Mari at:

maris@telkomsa.net

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Crosses wall haning – Marilie Bruyns

Class 508 – Page 33 – Friday & Saturday, 5 & 6 July – Two Days

Marilie promises to teach her students in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, dares them to take chances and experiment to create their own unique patchwork.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Marilie at:

mariliebruyns@yahoo.com

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Tunisian Crochet – Louria Blignaut

Class 507 – Page 23 – Friday, 5 July – Full Day

Now I can pretend to be clever and make it sound as if I know exactly what you’ll be doing in this class but alas my knowledge of crocheting is limited but I guess that is why our festivals offers these classes...... to learn.

Here Louria will take you through different stitches in Tunisian crochet until you get it right.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Louria at:

seliba@intekom.co.za

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Henco’s inheritance – Doortjie Gersbach

Class 506 – Page 13 – Friday & Saturday, 5 & 6 July – Two Days

This class gives you a wonderful opportunity to use a variety of techniques in one single quilt.  Use your bright or plain fabrics to build the blocks and darker ones to make the background.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Doortjie at:

rooidoortjie@telkomsa.net

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Free Style Designs using layers of fabric – Paul Schutte

Class 505 – Page 39 – Friday & Saturday, 5 & 6 July – Two Days

In this class there will be no hard and fast rules only the willingness to improvise.  Join Paul who already taught at the European Textile meetings in 2003, 2004 and 2012 and discover the possibilities in cutting curves or straight lines through 3 to 5 layers of fabric.

Should you need more information or simply feel our photos do not live up to your standards, feel free to contact Paul at:

paul.schutte@nwu.ac.za

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