AGM

14TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

A reminder that the AGM will be held at Hamilton Girls High School, Ward St, Hamilton.

Friday 19th September at 5pm

Followed by a brief social time.

Look forward to seeing you there,

Nancy

NANZQ Quilts Aotearoa

Just to let you know Selection Day on Sunday went off well.
146 entries 107 selected. Plus 21 Junior entries.

The judges did exercise their right to move quilts to more appropriate categories in several instances which does skew the following figures a bit.

Entered Selected

Bed quilts 40 28
Traditional Wall 17 14
Innov Wall <75 26 18
Innov Wall>75 38 31
Fibre Conn 25 16

Judging will take place on Wednesday 17th & winners will be notified that day/evening if contactable.

Look forward to seeing you at the show.
Nancy Neilson

2008 Quilt Shop Directory

By now most of you will have received the 2008 issue of the Quilt Shop Directory along with the newsletter. This year's directory looks very smart with the green cover and the glossy paper. We have had good support from quilt shops throughout the country. Please keep the directory nearby so that you can refer to it and visit the quilt shops listed if you happen to be in that area. New Zealand is well covered by quilt shops and we need never be too far from a fabric 'fix'.
If anyone knows of a new shop opening that I could contact for next year's directory please contact NANZQ.

NANZQ Quilts Aotearoa

A reminder that Entry Forms & Identification photos are due in Hamilton by next Friday - 22 August.
Quilts must be at Donna's Studio by Friday 5 September.

August Newsletter & Shop Directory

The August Newsletter is almost complete. It needs to be proofed, one more column needs to be filled then it will be off to the printer. The Shop Directory is already at the printers. Both the newsletter and the shop directory will be posted together, probably late next week so with luck you will have them to read over the weekend of 23rd, 24th August. This newsletter has the exciting announcement of the tutor, dates and venues for the Masterclass 2010. Being on the committee of course, I know what they are and I'm planning to send in my Registration of Interest very soon.

If anyone has a contribution to the newsletter it will be welcomed very sincerely - I still have that one column to fill!

Introducing Mary T

This is a new venture for me as secretary of NANZQ.
The new committee who met in Wellington recently are a talented and motivated group of quilters with a good representation from across the country. We can look forward to some new and innovative ideas, as well as continuing many of the programs already in place.
Of the programs which NANZQ runs, especially important to me, are NANZQ Quilts Aotearoa, and the Masterclass.
I had a wonderful time at Vaughan Park doing the Masterclass with Ruth McDowell, and I would recommend it to anyone – what better way to spend five days that to sew, talk, eat and relax.
Quilts Aotearoa is the showcase for our members, and I would like to encourage everyone to enter, as I feel that entering competitions helps to raise the standard of our work. Remember, this year there is a first time entrant award so have a go, if you have never entered before....
I have been involved in Workshops by Mail, which has now finished. The shop directory is a great resource, and I am proud of the NANZQ sponsorship and support of Symposium prizes and forums.
Personally, I am committed to the idea of a National Association and I would like to see NANZQ grow and become the body which every New Zealand Quilter looks to for guidance, help and inspiration.

Introducing Margaret

This is my first term on the NANZQ committee too. I put up my hand because I think everyone who possibly can should have a term or two on committees or else the clubs will fall over. I've taken over the task of organising the 2010 Masterclass, what a learning curve!! I'm on the tutor sub-committee for Wellington symposium so that experience is helping a bit. I do all sorts of quilting, so long as its by machine. I usually alternate between bed quilts because I like playing with the fabrics and colours, and art quilts because the design part is a challenge.

Introducing Janice

I'm another newbie to the committee and I volunteered to take on the position of newsletter editor as that is the area where I have skills. If you have anything you want to see in or to contribute to the newsletter or this blog please let me know. My contact details are in the newsletter. I started quilting about 8 years ago so I'm just out of my apprenticeship really. I'm enjoying exploring the more contemporary forms of quilting. I really enjoyed the Ruth McDowell Masterclass and I'm looking forward to the next one in 2010 - details of the chosen tutor, venues and costs will be published in the August newsletter.

Introducing Mary N

Hi yes there are two Mary's on the committee, just to create confusion. This is year three of my second time on the committee. I am looking after membership which means I clear the PO Box every day, do the banking and keep the database up to date. I would also like to encourage each and every member of NANZQ to introduce a new member to the organisation. You can access our membership form on our website. I have been quilting for 30+ years and now days it competes for my spare time with my large garden. I enjoy being involved with the committee and hope that the membership will keep us informed of what they expect from your organisation.

Introducing Nancy

This is my fifth year on the National Committee and after 4 years as Newsletter Editor I am still working out just what I should be doing as your President! I enjoy the interaction with quilters around the country that being involved with the Association provides and have made new friends as well as renewed old friendships during this time.
Our recent meeting in Wellington was a busy one and it was good to begin to get to know the new members on the committee and discover some of their hidden talents.
My quilting activities vary from traditional to contemporary and while I am probably a traditionalist at heart I love new ideas, products & especially new fabric :)

Introducing Anne

I am new on the NANZQ committee and I am responsible for the Shop Directory. This year there are 50 advertisers in the directory which will be available in August and sent to all NANZQ members with the newsletter. Look for quilt shops near you, there may be some new ones, and refer to the directory when travelling within New Zealand. I have been quilting for more than 20 years and enjoy meeting new patchworkers and old friends up and down the country.

Committee 08-09

From left back: Janice Dowdeswell  - Newsletter Editor, Mary Napper - Membership Secretary, Margaret Rogerson - Masterclass, Nancy Neilson - President

From left front: Ann Cleary - Treasurer, Anne Groufsky - Shp directory, Mary Transom - Secretary

NANZQ Committee

The new NANZQ Committee meet for the first time in Wellington on June 20/22. It was great to welcome 4 new people with heaps of enthusiasm and skills to the committee. Margaret is busy organising the next Masterclass which will be announced in our August Newsletter. Join NANZQ now by visiting our website if you wish to attend a 5 day Masterclass in 2010. The website is www.nanzq.org.nz.

The Why

This blog has been set up by the members of the Executive Committee of the National Association of New Quilters (NANZQ). We are hoping it will increase communication to members, allowing them to keep up to date with the events, competitions, challenges and other activities of the Association. It may also open a window onto the work done by the committee volunteers on behalf of members.

The Association has a regular programme of events and these have been listed in the side bar. The newsletter is sent out every quarter, in February, May, August and November. Each year NANZQ holds Quilts Aotearoa, a national juried exhibition held in conjunction with the Craft & Quilt Fair at the Events Centre in Hamilton. Every second year, we issue a Challenge. The quilts accepted into the Challenge are judged and subsequently tour New Zealand. And every four years, NANZQ brings an overseas tutor to New Zealand for a 5 day Masterclass, held in three locations - upper North Island, Lower North Island and South Island. NANZQ also publishes a Quilting Shop Directory each year and this is sent out to members with the August Newsletter.

Other services to members include: maintenance of a list of Quilting Tutors, a list of Quilting Groups and one of Quilts in Public Places (published in the Quilting Shop Directory); opportunities for Judging Mentorships; a website including a calendar of quilt related events; 2 Scholarships to the value of $1500 each year.