Upcoming Guild Programs: 2008–2009 Season
We've scheduled an exciting lineup of speakers to discuss a great variety of topics during the 2008–2009 season. We hope you will plan to join us!
Special Program Note … Funding for programs comes from an annual $10,000 grant by a generous admirer and supporter of Empire Quilters. We are very grateful to this anonymous (and shy!) donor.
In addition to monthly meetings and programs, we have other activities throughout the year. For a complete list of guild events and activities, see the Calendar Page.
Next Program: Saturday, September 13, 2008
Quilt Appreciation: How Quilting Makes The Quilt
- Date/Time: Saturday, September 13, 2008, 1:00 pm
- Speaker: Helen Squire
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City (Guest Fee: $10.00 / $5.00 Senior). [ Map ]
Quilt teacher, designer, and author Helen Squire is coming to New York! Helen is a graduate of F.I.T. so she will be right at home with our guild. She has been answering quilters' questions for more than three decades via her early quilting book Dear Helen, Can You Tell Me …?, and her popular Helen's Hints column in American Quilter magazine.
There are currently seven books and two CD-ROMs in her Dear Helen quilting series, and her newest book, Quilting UFOs with Helen's Hints is due out in the fall.
Helen is one of the top experts in our field. She has developed a tried-and-true quilting philosophy — which she generously shares with quilters around the world. Helen has a talent for educating quilters in an entertaining and light-hearted manner. We're looking forward to her presentation, and hope you will join us.
For more information about Helen Squire visit her website: www.helensquire.com. Note that Helen Squire will be conducting a day-long workshop on Sunday, September 14, 2008. See the Workshops page for more information — and mark your calendar to attend.
Upcoming Programs
Thread Jazz
- Date/Time: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 1:00 pm
- Speaker: Patricia Rodgers of Sulky
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City (Guest Fee: $10.00 / $5.00 Senior). [ Map ]
How do you pick just the right thread to use on your latest masterpiece? You need to pick the color and weight, and decide between poly, cotton, or a mix, and whether you should use a blendable thread, an invisible thread, or a metallic thread — there are so many choices! Patricia Rodgers is a National Educator representing Sulky of America, and she will be helping us with the answers to all these questions.
Patricia is a blend of artist and teacher. She's also an entertainer full of information and techniques that she loves to share with students. Her goal is to help students experience an explosion of creativity in their work.
In addition to her extensive teaching schedule Pat has made three videos: Free Motion Machine Embroidery and Beading by Machine; Cutwork and Needlelace: Traditional to Contemporary; and Inspirational Innovations. Pat has been Representing Sulky of America as one of their National Educators since 1996.
For more information about Sulky and Patricia Rodgers, visit the Sulky website: www.sulky.com. Note that Pat will be conducting a full-day workshop on Sunday, October 12, 2008. See the Workshops page for details.
From Saudi Arabia Home to London
*** Note that this meeting is on SUNDAY ***
- Date/Time: Sunday, November 9, 2008, 1:00 pm
- Speaker: Philippa Naylor
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City (Guest Fee: $10.00 / $5.00 Senior). [ Map ]
Born in Yorkshire, England, Philippa Naylor discovered a love of sewing as a child. She trained to be a clothing designer, and worked in the garment industry for five years before moving to Saudi Arabia where she set up a business making wedding and evening dresses. A chance meeting in 1996 led to a quilting course — and her work took a drastic change!
Drawing on her designer training and the technical expertise she carried over from the clothing industry, Philippa's quilts are intricately machine pieced and heavily machine quilted, often utilizing trapunto. She has won numerous awards for her quilts. Each of her pieces creates a strong initial impact that invites the viewer to look first from a distance, and then draws the viewer in to inspect the exquisite details more closely.
Note that Philippa will be conducting a full-day workshop on Saturday, November 8, 2008. See the Workshops page for details.
Holiday Fund Raiser and Gift Gathering
Date/Time: Saturday, December 13, 2008, 1:00 pm - Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City [ Map ]
The details of our December Holiday Fund Raiser are not yet complete. We're certain to have some festive fun and fabulous food so plan to participate in this annual holiday event. We will post more information as it becomes available.
Organizing Your Workspace and Your Stash
- Date/Time: Saturday, January 10, 2009, 1:00 pm
- Leader: Guild member Anna Foss
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City
(Guest Fee: $10.00 / $5.00 Senior). [ Map ]
Is this what your stash looks like — on a good day? Or are you the most organized person in the City of New York? This is the meeting where we'll share our success stories — and also some of our not so successful stories — all with the goal of helping each other survive and thrive as quilters living and working in small spaces. We will be led in our discussions by Anna Foss, one of the charter members of the Empire Quilters guild. Anna is one of our amazing city dwellers who manages to create fabulous quilts in her typical not-colossal-sized New York City apartment.
Most of us living in city apartments either have creative storage and organization methods, or else we are totally lost when it comes to the issues of systems and order. We'll address this issue of organization at the meeting. And there's a contest! Awards will be given for Most Organized and Most Disorganized. To participate in the contest, bring a photo of your quilt stash — or quilt room if you are that lucky — and bring them to the meeting.
In the New York spirit of open-mindedness and acceptance, we'll also talk about the reasons to not get stressed over "perfect" organization. Yes, there are joys and benefits of disorganization! This is a meeting none of us should miss. It's also one of our favorite types of meetings — where we learn from each other. Remember to bring:
- Pictures of your fabric stash, tool storage and/or workspace
- Your favorite tip for keeping organized
- Your favorite "happy accident" story when you discovered that piece of fabric buried under the bed (or under the cat, or the kitchen sink … )
If you have any questions, or need more information about this program, contact Anna Foss at annamfoss@earthlink.net.
Beads Make the Quilt
- Date/Time: Saturday, February 14, 2009, 1:00 pm
- Speaker: Nancy Eha
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City (Guest Fee: $10.00 / $5.00 Senior). [ Map ]
Nancy Eha is an internationally recognized artist, teacher and author. She will join us to talk about all things beads. Beads can add color, texture, sparkle and interest to quilts. But beads can also transcend their customary role of mere embellishment and become a primary element of the quilt design. Nancy will help us expand our understanding of fabric beading with a plenitude of possibilities.
Nancy is a life-long resident of Minnesota and has traveled extensively to share her knowledge and passion on the subject of beading with others. She has explored nearly every needle art, and is constantly inspired by those she meets. She continually incorporates new 
elements and techniques into her work. Her artistry and know-how continue to inspire quilters world-wide. Nancy is in high demand as an instructor, with an ability to make the seemingly complex easy to understand via small steps. Her latest book Bead Creative has been called "a must have!" for anyone interested in taking their beading work to the next level.
For more information about Nancy Eha visit her website: www.beadcreative.com. Note that Nancy will be also be conducting two full-day workshops on Sunday and Monday, February 15–16, 2009. See the Workshops page for details.
Charity Quilting Day & Quilt Show Judging
*** Note that this is the FIRST Saturday of March ***
- Date/Time: Saturday, March 7, 2009, all day
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City (Guest Fee: no guest fee this month). [ Map ].
It's time for our annual Charity Quilting Day! Throughout the day we will be putting our efforts into making as many quilts as possible for the charities that the guild supports. The activities go on all day — beginning at approximately 10:00 am. Please come as early as you can.
Don't miss this opportunity to participate in one of the main activities of the Empire Quilters. You will learn, laugh and get to know your fellow guild members at this once-a-year activity. One of the quilts we made last year is pictured here, and you can see more of the quilts on the Charity Quilts page.
Bring your ideas, sewing machine (if you can), sewing supplies, fabric, quilt tops, quilt backings, and needles and yarn for tying. We can also use some large cutting mats and sharp rotary cutters. But most importantly — bring yourself! There are plenty of experienced quilters on hand who are able and willing to show everyone how to participate. Bring quilt tops you have for charity quilts. The charity committee saves large pieces of fabric from the scrap table, so we will do our best to match your quilt top with a quilt back. If you have fabric that you would like to donate for charity, please bring it with you. The more we have, the nicer the quilts will be.
If you want some ideas of how to make some easy charity projects, visit the Service page. The Service Page has quilt patterns, stuffed animal patterns, and some general guidelines for you to follow. There are also some easy quilt assembly suggestions.
And there's more! …
This is also the day that the judging will take place for our 2009 Urban Inspirations Quilt Show. If you signed up to have your quilt judged, the quilts must be delivered to F.I.T. by 9:00 a.m. You will receive a receipt for your quilt, and that receipt will be required to pick up your quilt on Sunday, March 8, 2009 between 1:00 and 3:00 pm.
The President's Challenge quilts will also be judged today, so don't forget to bring your finished Color My World quilts.
Elm Creek Quilts author Jennifer Chiaverini
*** Note that this is the FIRST Saturday of April ***
- Date/Time: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 1:00 pm
- Speaker: Jennifer Chiaverini
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City (Guest Fee: $10.00 / $5.00 Senior). [ Map ]
We all know and love the characters in the Elm Creek Quilts novels. The novels are stories of quilters, of friendship, of families, and of personal challenges and adventures. We are delighted that Jennifer Chiaverini, the author of those wonderful books will be the speaker at our April guild meeting.
Jennifer Chiaverini was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but grew up in Waterford, Michigan and Thousand Oaks, California. She is a graduate of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago and has taught writing at Penn State University and Edgewood College. In addition to writing the Elm Creek Quilts series, Jennifer is the author of several quilt pattern books and she designs the Elm Creek Quilts fabric lines for Red Rooster Fabrics. And yes Jennifer still finds time to quilt!
For more information about Jennifer Chiaverini and her books, visit her website: www.elmcreek.net.
Outback Travels with my Sewing Machine
- Date/Time: Saturday, May 9, 2009, 1:00 pm
- Speaker: Sue Dennis
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City (Guest Fee: $10.00 / $5.00 Senior). [ Map ]
Sue Dennis is an award-winning textile artist, teacher, quilt judge, and hand dyer of fabric. Sue began her quilting career in 1990 while living in the remote mining town of Mt. Isa, northwest Queensland, Australia. Her artworks encompass many aspects of her interesting background — her Slovakian Grandmother's colorful embroideries, sewing lessons at school, dressmaking, and her many travels around the world.
The work of her geologist husband has taken Sue and her sewing machine to remote corners of Australia and the island of Sardinia, Italy. Sue will take us along on a journey through the beautiful scenery of the Australian outback and will show us the quilts that were inspired by those travels.
For more information about Sue Dennis visit her website: www.suedennis.com. Note that Sue will be conducting a full-day workshop on Sunday, May 10, 2009. See the Workshops page for details.
To be announced
- Date/Time: Saturday, June 13, 2009, 1:00 pm
- Speaker: to be announced …
- Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City (Guest Fee: $10.00 / $5.00 Senior). [ Map ]
Information about this program will be posted when available …
© Copyright 2008, Empire Quilters. All Rights Reserved.