Page 32 - Patchwork & Quilting - UK (February 2020)

FEATURE // spotlight @40

‘40 Endangered
in 40’, Melanie
Missin-Keating.
Region 9

Spotlight @40

BY SHEILAH DAUGHTREE

Birthdays and anniversaries are dates that we remember for many reasons and forty years
of ‘bringing together quilters in the spirit of friendship and learning’¹ by The Quilters’ Guild of
the British Isles is one to celebrate. The question was – how? The guild has a wide and large
membership covering the British Isles, so, not an easy task. In 1994 it celebrated its 25th
anniversary with a successful challenge. Perhaps a similar one would be appropriate reflecting
today’s contemporary world?

Linda Seward had been asked by the guild’s Collections Many hours of planning and organising went into the
Committee to take the job as co-ordinator of what was to be project liaising with each group and region. The eighteen
called ‘Spotlight@40’, a large undertaking for one person. Jan regions of the guild were asked to submit a piece of work
Allston had just retired as a trustee of the guild and the two by one of their members by 31 December and the
agreed to meet at the Festival of Quilts in 2017 to discuss the chosen quilter had to complete the work by 30 June 2019.
idea. Their collaboration as co-coordinators of ‘Spotlight@40’ International members and the three age groups of the
was born. This new challenge would be an excellent way of Young Quilters were also invited to contribute. The whole
celebrating the guild’s 40th anniversary whilst acquiring new exhibition would remain together as part of the Quilters’
work by contemporary textile artists who do not already have Guild permanent collection. Although forty years is a ruby
a piece in the guild’s collection. The criteria were laid down, anniversary, Linda and Jan requested that the ‘40’ theme
and in conjunction with the organisers of the Festival of be interpreted as creatively as possible and use 40" as a
Quilts, Linda and Jan were all set to go. designated size for at least one edge.

32 British Patchwork & Quilting FEBRUARY 2020