Our premier event is Calico Christmas™, the annual quilt show of the APQG. This is our opportunity to share our work with the public at large.

Calico Christmas and APQG are very appreciative of the wonderful support given by the following prize sponsors at Calico Christmas 2011:

We also thank Wright Fabrics for sponsoring our bright new 2011 aprons. Thank you - Milton & Julie

Download a 2011 Calico Christmas Entry Form    [ PDF file ]

Click here to view images of the 2010 Calico Christmas™ winners

Calico Christmas 2011

• Calico Christmas Show Theme: 'A Nautical Christmas'
• Dates: November 4th, 5th & 6th, 2011
• Times: Friday 4th: 10am-5pm; Saturday 5th: 10am-5pm; Sunday 6th: 10am-4pm
• Venue: Harbour Function Centre, North Harbour Stadium, Oteha Valley Rd, Albany
• Hand-In Day: Saturday, October 1st at the Guild meeting, Freemans Bay
• Cost: $12 public entry (Guild members receive free entry only with voucher)

CATEGORIES:

All categories can be made using any technique: traditional, appliqué, pieced etc.

MAXIMUM OF THREE ENTRIES PER MEMBER OVER 'AMATEUR' and 'PROFESSIONAL' CATEGORIES

Amateur

• Wall Hangings (made by 1 person only), (maximum 2.50m x 2.50m)
• Wall Hangings, made by 2 or more people (maximum 2.50m x 2.50m)
• Large Bed Quilts  (made by 1 person only), 1.86m to 2.50m wide and maximum of 2.50m long  **see note below
• Large Bed Quilts, made by 2 or more people: (size as in previous line). Quilts that are quilted by someone else or BOM made from blocks won at Guild or from a group swap would go in this category  **see note below
• Small Bed Quilts (made by 1 person only) Up to 1.85m wide and maximum of 2.50m long.

Professional

• Bed Quilts (maximum of 2.50m x 2.50m) **see note below
• Wall Hangings (maximum 2.50m x 2.50m)

**  A total of 12 quilts can be accepted in these categories that measure over 2.5m and up to 2.90m wide and a maximum of 2.90m long.  Please read Conditions of Show carefully.

MAXIMUM OF THREE ENTRIES PER MEMBER OVER 'OPEN' and 'OTHER' CATEGORIES

Open

• Show Theme – 'All Things Nautical': max 2.50m x 2.50m.
• Mixed Media: Can be 2- or 3-dimensional. See criteria for mixed media below.

Other

• Kitset Quilts: Purchased Block-of-Month and/or Kits, max 2.5m x 2.5. It is still a BOM or Kit even if you change a few fabrics or add extra borders or change a few things.
• Bags

Calico Christmas 2011 Challenge - 'Wet, Wet, Wet'

• Challenge Theme: 'Wet, Wet, Wet' (This theme can be interpreted in any way you wish and you can use any style you wish;  e.g. pictorial, traditional, abstract or contemporary.)
• Must use a recognisable amount of the challenge fabric - 'Flamingo Floral' sponsored by Michael Miller Fabrics.

Prizes will be awarded for:

• Best use of challenge fabric
• Best use of embellishment
• Best interpretation of theme
• Best use of colour
• Most quirky quilt

Rules for Challenge

1. Quilts must have a perimeter of no more than 3 metres.  The perimeter is the distance around the outside edge and must be able to be HUNG.
2. All quilts must use a recognizable amount of challenge fabric in the front surface design.
3. A label stating your name, membership number, telephone number, category (Challenge) and the quilt title, must be sewn to the back of the quilt, on the bottom left hand side as you look at the quilt back.  NO HANGING SLEEVE IS REQUIRED.
4. Quilts must be handed in to a designated drop-off centre, or at the official hand-in day, accompanied by the completed entry form which is on the reverse of the information sheet.
5. Quilts must be the work of the entrant.  If any others have contributed they MUST be identified.
   

Entries That Will Not Be Judged

• Exhibition only

Please note: there is NO category for clothing this year

A Professional Quilter is someone who has been awarded two blue ribbons in any category, amateur or open.  The gaining of blue ribbons is cumulative, the time in between is immaterial.  A professional is also someone who teaches or publishes in the field of quilting, sells, designs or participates in making quilts for financial gain and/or has won a “Best of Show” or 2 blue ribbons in any judged competition, including Calico Christmas.

A judged competition is defined as any national or international judged exhibition or competition.

Conditions of Show

We are limiting the entries to 3 quilts in the AMATEUR and PROFESSIONAL sections. This may include one OVERSIZE quilt (above 2.50m x 2.50m and not exceeding 2.90m x 2.90m), as well as 3 entries in the OPEN and OTHER sections - therefore, a total of 6 quilts per person.
Then you may also enter the CALICO CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE.
If you don’t want your quilt judged, you can enter it into the EXHIBITION ONLY section.
If you are a Junior, you can enter the JUNIOR category

• All entrants must be financial members of APQGI by Guild Day, September 3rd, 2011.
• The number of entries per person is limited as outlined above, with the Committee reserving the right to reduce this number or change the category if this is considered necessary.
• Members must make their own quilt label stating name, membership number, telephone number, category (Professional or Amateur) entered, and quilt title. This label must be sewn to the back of the quilt on the bottom left corner when the quilt back is facing you. For the Mixed Media category this label must be sewn or pinned in an appropriate place.
• Insurance of your work is your responsibility.
• An official entry form must be completed and included with each item.  You also need to sign on this form to show whether or not you agree to us using photos of your quilt for advertising purposes, website, etc.
• Quilts must be measured accurately in cms as these measurements are used for display purposes.
• Quilts can be for sale, and if so, must have a named price. The Guild will not take any commissions.
• If entered under one name, the quilt must be all the maker’s own work, including piecing, quilting and binding.
• Design sources or patterns used must be acknowledged.
• All quilts, except the Challenge, must have the soft fluffy side of Velcro sewn (not pinned or glued) along the top. Quilts without Velcro (except Calico Christmas Challenge) or where the Velcro is not properly attached cannot be accepted.
• Any quilt entered must NOT have been shown previously at Calico Christmas.
• Judges reserve the right not to present an award if they see fit.
• Participation in this exhibition implies acceptance of all conditions.
  

Criteria For Mixed Media

• The Maker has to be a Guild Member.
• Item needs to have some stitching.
• It needs to have at least 2 layers.
• It needs to fit inside a 75cm cube
• It needs to weigh 3kg or less
• It can be 3 dimensional and does not have to be hung but must be able to support itself somehow.
• Clothing items are not eligible.
• It must include a recognisable amount of at least one non fabric material in its design and execution.
• Materials can include wood, paper, metal, plastics, Glass, clay and organic materials such as flax or string. Use of these materials must be an integral part of the design and not just used as embellishment.
• The Calico Christmas Committee reserves the right to not accept an item.

Information for Junior Members

This year Kids Quilts in Titirangi have accepted the sponsorship of this whole category at Calico Christmas and want to encourage entries from you all. So between us, we have made some changes to the category:

• This year each entry will be critiqued by the judges like all the other quilts in the show, so you will be able to see what you have done well and what you can work on. There will still be no 1st, 2nd or H C places.
• And as well as the critique, prize, certificate, every entry will receive a rosette.
• Each member is restricted to a maximum of 2 entries only.

So come on Junior members, get your entries finished. And Kids Quilts – thank you very much for initiating this improvement

2011 BEST OF AWARDS: 'A Nautical Christmas'

• Best Hand Quilting
• Best Commercial Machine Quilting, hand-guided
• Best Commercial Machine Quilting, computer-guided
• Best Use of Colour
• Best Machine Applique or Embellishment
• Best Hand Applique or Embellishment
• Best Machine Quilting

Trophies/Awards for Commercial Quilters

There are two trophies/awards for commercial quilters at Calico Christmas:

1/ The Quiltique Longarm Quilter Award for Professional, computer-guided, Machine Quilting

The corresponding award/category is: Best Commercial Machine Quilting, computer-guided

Criteria for eligibility:

• The quilter does not have to be a Guild member, but the quilt maker does.
• This award is to be made only for commercial computer-guided quilting using a system that allows the machine to move over the work. Work done on a system that requires the fabric to be moved under the needle is not eligible for this award.
• 'Commercial’ in the sense that the person who did the quilting is normally paid to quilt, though not necessarily on the quilt entered.
• Hand quilting is not eligible.
• If there is a mix of hand-guided and computer-guided quilting on any one quilt then it is eligible for this award only.
• It is the responsibility of the quilt maker to identify on the entry form which award the entry is eligible for.

2/ The Nolting Longarm Quilting Award for Professional Quilters

The corresponding award/category is: Best Commercial Machine Quilting, hand-guided

Criteria for eligibility:

• The quilter does not have to be a Guild member, but the quilt maker does.
• This award is to be made only for commercial hand-guided quilting using a system that allows the machine to move over the work. Work done on a system that requires the fabric to be moved under the needle is not eligible for this award.
• ‘Commercial’ in the sense that the person who did the quilting is normally paid to quilt, though not necessarily on the quilt entered.
• Hand quilting is not eligible.
• If there is a mix of hand-guided and computer-guided quilting on any one quilt then it is not eligible for this award.
• It is the responsibility of the quilt maker to identify on the entry form which award the entry is eligible for.

Click here for our Calico Christmas™ gallery