President's Report September 2008 Greetings Friends, This finds us at the end of another Decoupage Year, and at a very busy time with the 2008 Ekka just behind us and looking forward to the Exhibition in the Chermside Library on Sept. 27th and 28th. (see details in the September 2008 Snippets). Congratulations to winners and participants in the Ekka whose combined efforts resulted in such a fine display, which once again was received, transported, set up and dismantled by Sally and Marilyn – this is a marathon effort for which we congratulate and sincerely thank them. Thanks also to Allan and Sue who stepped in at late notice to judge the competition. It was pleasing to see entries in the 5 categories,- which this year had been modified to include works on canvas, under glass and precut images. Nancy’s exquisite work on her egg was rewarded with the Medallion. What a great display of works on tiles Shirley brought along to the July meeting. She inspired and guided us to add another dimention to our endeavours – some gluing images directly on to the glazed tile and some onto tiles she had prepared for painting. Members had brought along a variety of images and papers to use including Japanese and serviettes, and all went home happy with articles to be finished with a chosen lacquer – most probably a 2 pack. Now is an appropriate time to be considering seriously the future of the Guild as we come together at the Annual General Meeting on the 14th September. It cannot have escaped notice that numbers at meetings as well as membership have dropped dramatically making it very difficult (nigh on impossible) to share the responsibilities of committee positions; and to remain incorporated it is necessary that an Executive be elected. At this point I must emphasise that due to personal reasons, I will not be available for re-election in 2008/09. In the event that members of DGQ are not available to form a committee, may I be so bold as to put forward this radical suggestion – that DGQ and the Caloundra Guild come together and form one group. This would have many details to be fine tuned, but has many advantages. There is no reason why present arrangements for meetings cannot remain similar; all members would belong to an incorporated body; individuals would have one group to join rather than 2 as it stands at present; and there would be no need for 2 lots of PLR insurance. I throw it in simply as a suggestion to be considered! As members we gain inspiration from one another, motivation from participating in the workshops, benefit from the endeavours and advice of others and firm friendships with like minded folk – may this continue well into the future – and hopefully we all remain part of it. Barbara Chapple. July 2008 Greetings DGQ Friends I write from Broome -- we move on tomorrow (Friday 13th) after 9 days here, to Derby. So much to see -- so much history -- and we haven't even got to the Kimberleys yet. Took a tour to Cape Levequqe; flew over and jet boated through the Horizontal Falls and have watcheds the sunset over Cable Beach at "Happy Hour" each day we've been here. Still crossing paths with our A Van friends along the track. Have a great meeting in July. Happy Decoupaging. Barbara While our President Barbara Chapple & husband Graham, are away on their wonderful caravan holiday, I will try to keep up her good work. At the last meeting on May 18th, we decided to do something a bit different. With plenty of prepared Chinese Paper Cutting pictures to choose from, we arranged the tables so members could cut out, while also taking part in the meeting. I feel it was quite successful. The black & white pictures are stapled onto gold (or other coloured thin paper) then cut through both sheets, finishing with the lovely gold one below. It was a good excercise in cutting, and though I prefer to use a scalpel, other members did beautifully with fine scissor. One of our visitors completely finished cutting her picture. Good work . With the day fast approaching when we must take our entries in to the Ekka Show, we have been assured that we will be able to present a good display. Sally Wearing & Marilyn Brown have again accepted the job of Stewards for our section. Each year they have done a wonderful job of setting up very interesting displays . Our next important date, is of course, our Exhibition at the Chermside Library on September 27 & 28th, with set up day on the 26th. We would like any member, who is prepared to loan some of their treasured pieces, to list them , with a small discription (Plate, Vase etc) with approximate size & the general catagory into which it would fit (Victoriana, Floral, Australiana, Birds & Animals, Landscape Miniatures, Work on Canvas, Under Glass & Using stickers & Precuts.) The list could be brought to the meeting, mailed, or emailed, to me, Val English. This should help in planning a good display. At present, we have only two lists in hand. We have the use of two free standing glass cabinets in the foyer, as well as two large adjoining rooms for more displays and small workshops. At present we feel these workshops would not be "hands on", more a demonstration, but that is up to the demonstrator. So if you feel you could manage a simple demonstration, please let us know. Remember, the success of the Exhibition will depend on the members' cooperation. Val English May 2008 Thoughts go on to paper as we prepare for our 4 month caravan trip to WA, and just after returning from the third DGQ live-in-workshop at Crows Nest. Unfortunately some members found it necessary to cancel, while those who attended are already looking forward to the next one. The emphasis was on canvas pieces and the results were most satisfactory. With Val's guidance Sue was justifiably thrilled with her finished piece -- we all agreed it was a prize winning effort; Val approached things a little differently by completing a landscape of a cool and green lagoon with background trees, then gluing on the cut out birdlife -- the sponged background gave the picture a wonderful depth; Glenda chose a serviette as her picture -- a good choice to allow the texture of the canvas to show through; Di was most ambitious with her large canvas and calendar print of Australian outback colours and was happy with her sponged background to finish the detail at home; Nancy and Meadan observed the techniques while working on their present projects; Roger was also an observer handicapped somewhat with one arm in a sling as a result of recent surgery. The wide variety of pieces displayed drew the attention of other guests -- Glenda's holiday snaps and Di's grandchildren on placemats under 2 pack, Nancy's small piano jewel box decorated with Japanese paper, Val's "seaside" plate, works under glass, soaps, shell pendants and more made a display of which we could be proud. We all went home to a very light Sunday supper after the wonderful cuisine and friendly atmosphere the venue offers. I am sorry I will miss the "Reviewing Basics" workshop in May. Remember to bring your images, scissors and scalpel etc. to practise techniques and pick up some tips; and also bring any problem piece you may have. Keep in mind your experiences, good or otherwise, are of benefit to others. I know Val has some great news to share about her recent communications through "Dialogue" and "Snippets". The American Guild would like to know more about us, our work and how we operate. I feel this could be a wonderful opportunity to broaden ourselves. Val will explain further, but please co-operate by supplying details she needs to pass on. Closer to home and to September 26th - the DGQ Exhibition at the Chermside Library. Please be thinking seriously about pieces you are able to make available. It would be an advantage if members could bring to the next couple of meetings a list of articles suggesting appropriate category and approximate size. Suggested sections have been Victoriana, Floral, Australiana -- including Outback, Natural History -- birds and animals, Landscape, Miniatures -- including Jewellery, Work on Canvas, Using pre-cuts and stickers and Under glass. By the way, are your pieces for the EKKA well under way. The Schedules should be circulated by now. Sally is the contact person for the RNA. Please contact her on 3888 1002 if you have any queries. I will be somewhere in the approximate vicinity of Perth when you meet on May 18th, my thoughts will be with you - have a Friendly, Fruitful and Fun time. Barbara Chapple (President) February 2008 Welcome to a HAPPY NEW YEAR of DECOUPAGE. I trust you all enoyed the holiday season with family and friends and are now enthused to make the very best of whatever 2008 holds for you (hopefully that includes plenty of time relaxing with our favourite hobby of decoupage). Whilst it is disappointing that new membership to the Guild is far less than those of our number who are moving on to other things, I consider the continuation of the group with the remaining friendly faces is well worthwhile. However the decreasing numbers require the full commitment of all for success in our ventures, and to be realistic this should be kept in mind when planning. Following is a brief outline of activities for 2008. May I suggest that you carefully consider how you may fit into these plans and request your comment on ways that may enhance outcomes. FEBRUARY 3RD MEETING:- As requested, Ornella Michellini has been invited to join us - we hope she is able to come. In any event, we will continue along the theme of Backgrounds. Since one of the aims of the Guild is that of sharing we will make this one such opportunity. Would each member please bring along an example of a background or a finish (either on a completed piece or on a sample board), and in turn we will explain how this effect was achieved. Brief demos might also be a good idea - bring with you the necessities if you are willing to participate in this way. Please bring along something which you can work on, as well. MARCH 14TH-16TH - Live-in-Weekend CROWS NEST:- Have you booked your cabin for this great weekend ? (Ph 4698 1269). We look forward to another relaxed weekend of socialising (partners included), enjoying good food and of course a little work. It has been suggested we concentrate on applying images to canvas with the aim of completing some pieces for entering into this new section at the Ekka. Sharing of ideas on backgrounds and design for new pieces has also proved worthwhile. Please feel free to add your idea to the weekend itineray. AUGUST - 2008 EKKA:- (NB pieces need to be completed by mid June for collection). The new categories give considerable scope for a variety of works. As well as tradional work, use of precut images, under glass and work on canvas have been added. We need to be starting NOW ! As yet we have not heard if demonstrations are to be included in the Fine Arts section. SEPTEMBER EXHIBITIONS AT CHERMSIDE LIBRARY:- The meeting rooms have been booked from Friday pm 26th to Sunday 28th as well as one glass cabinet for the month of September where we can mount a small display and publicise the Exhibition. We need to be thinking of sections for the displays. Here are some suggestions for your comment:- Victoriana, (ii) Floral, (iii) Australiana (including Outback), (iv) Natural History (birds or animals), (v) Landscape, (vi) Miniatures, (vii) Work on Canvas, (viii) Using Precuts (Stickers), (ix) Jewellery (this could be included in minuatures). Have you other ideas ? We will have pieces back from the Ekka by then, but more will be needed. Pieces do not have to be new. Past members may like to contribute. Have you contact with any such folk? This is going to be a greast deal of work. One such project per year is probably sufficient for a group of our number. Brisbane City Council has once more been generous and contributed $135 to the coffers in the way of a Senior Citizens grant; and Faith Hopkins, Councillor for Marchant Ward, has offered her website to us to publicise any events . Until we get together on February 3rd - Happy snipping ! Remember friends and past members are welcome at the meetings. Barbara Chapple (President) November 2007 Once again it is my privilege to report on behalf of the Guild, which consists of a small but friendly group of folk with the common interest of their chosen craft of decoupage. It is a disappointing situation that the Guild struggles to maintain membership, dropping from 35 in 2005/6 to 30 in 2006/7, and even more so that new members fail to be attracted as those whose circumstances change move on. It would seem that the perceived time consuming methods are off putting within current busy lifestyles rather than being seen as a very rewarding experience for a well finished end result. Remarks from the public at the recent demonstrations at the RNA indicated that the general perception of decoupage was very uninformed and very much in the past. Whilst these remarks sound very negative, I would rather see the situation as a continuing challenge and a quest to find means of improvement for the future. Meeting more frequently was suggested and one extra date was added to the programme in the year just past. This allowed the inclusion of a workshop in quilted eggs led by Wiera Nolan in October, another working on masks under the guidance of Barbara Beck in February and then in July Nerida Singleton inspired us with a demonstration exploring the possibilities of works on canvas. The proposed May workshop on backgrounds was postponed until November, but the sharing of ideas around the table was very worthwhile for the smaller number who were able to attend. The Live-in-Workshop at Crows Nest in March was thoroughly enjoyed by the decoupers and partners who participated. Working with foil papers under the watchful eye of Allan Press, and resulted in a variety of very attractive pieces, some of which were awarded prizes at the Ekka. This was also an opportunity to set up a small display in the restaurant which drew comment from other diners. Once again the display of entries in the RNA exhibited a wide range of works, and the overall result was in no small way due to the arrangement of stewards Sally and Marilyn. Thanks are extended to them as well as to the Judges and of course congratulations to all who entered pieces. An invitation from the Creative Arts section of the RNA to demonstrate decoupage was accepted and Guild members responded by showing the preparation of Christmas eggs, work on canvas, plates, luminaires, soaps, pendants and more. The effort put in by the members was wonderful; some attendees seemed genuinely interested, but the signage was very disappointing. Suggestions were made to the stewards for improvement should the demonstrations be repeated next year. This was seen as a wonderful opportunity for the Guild to promote decoupage and the many and different new attitudes toward it, and it would have been so if more people had been aware that we were there.I close by saying thankyou to all members who contribute to the success of the Guild, but especially to the Executive and Committee who have been a pleasure with whom to work. Snippets arrives crammed with information thanks to Val, the Minutes are carefully recorded by the combined efforts of Liliana, Sue and Di, Glenda guards the finances, Shirley arrives with delicious sandwiches and slices, and Roger is always there quietly helping as required. The efforts of you all are sincerely appreciated. May the Guild successfully continue for the enjoyment of us all. Thank you. Barbara Chapple. President September 2007 Greetings. Well, what a busy time we have put behind us. Congratulations to those of you who were prize winners at the Ekka (details of results within), and also to other members whose fine works made up such a wonderful display. The final result was in no small way due to the care and skill executed by stewards Sally and Marilyn who spent several days in attendance on site supervising and arranging the exhibition and for this our thankful apppreciation is extended. Gratitude is also extended to Nerida Singleton and Beverly Evans who had the difficult task of judging. This was also the first year an invitation had been extended to the Guild to demonstrate our craft twice daily over the duration of the Exhibition. Many thanks to those members who prepared work and took up the challenge. It will be interesting to compare notes on the response from the public (even if some were simply grateful to find a chair to sit upon). How many of you, after being inspired by Nerida's demonstration of works on canvas, have put some thought and action in creating your own masterpiece or family portrait? I look forward to seeing examples at future meetings. Nerida, thankyou again for your willingness to take time from your busy schedule to share with us. As you are aware, the meeting on September 9th will be the Annual General Meeting. At least 2 positions will need to be filled. Has anyone given thought to taking on role of Secretary? I have been in the President's chair for 3 years so perhaps now is the time for new ideas and direction. If written nominations are not received, nominations will be taken from the floor. Please consider what you can offer to the benefit (and continuation) of the Guild. Arrangements have been made for caterers to deliver a light luncheon to the meeting, the approximate cost of this will be $10 per person. After a quick cuppa the AGM will commence at 10am where a slight change should be considered to the Guild's constitution in regard to auditing (details within). At the ordinary meeting details of sections and wording to be included in the 2008 RNA Schedule will need to be finalised. With business out of the way as quickly as possible an informal and relaxed time is to be enjoyed as we lunch together, as well as welcoming new member Ornella Michelinis who has moved from Victoria to Queensland and has kindly accepted an invitation to be Guest Speaker. We look forward to what you has to share with us Ornella. I trust all members have escaped the ravages of the dreaded flu, and are able to be present on September 9th. On your behalf I extend kindly thoughts to Bev Starkey - Bev we trust that you have put the worst behind you and are well on the way to a comfortable and normal lifestyle. Barbara Chapple, President P.S. Don't forget about Project 2007 By the Seaside, to be displayed at the November meeting. July 2007 Hello members, Can you believe that half of 2007 has already gone? Are your latest creative endeavours in decoupage blossoming as you had hoped? Sometimes it does take considerable discipline not to let other matters get in the way, does it not? But meeting together is encouraging as well as inspiring, as resulted from our small get together of 10 members in May. This allowed us to sit around one table and comfortably interact sharing our latest endeavours and queries. Firstly Val demonstrated her latest experiment in smoothing the surface of an ostrich egg, and it was noted that this relatively quick and simple method could be used on a variety of rough surfaces (details within). Sue's latest additions to her shell jewelley decorated with intricate decoupage were a joy to study and led to a number of questions; and not dis-similar was the beautifully decorated wooden pendant that Jan had completed and was wearing. It was commented that such things, as well as the fact that scraps of foil paper could be used on soaps, would be useful inclusions in the demonstrations at the Ekka. Myra showed us her two works on canvas and Robyn produced her collection of table mats and coasters in fantastic colour combinations resulting from layers of paint creating interesting designs by the addition of a water spray. Thus two ideas for future demonstrations at meetings were decided upon. This still left enough time for a nostalgic look through the photo albums of the 1999 Decoupage Exhibition and the later Exhibition at the Queensland Museum - each at a time when membership was much larger. Comment was made as to the noticeable change in the type of work being produced presently. Subsequently, Mrs. Nerida Singleton has been invited and has kindly accepted to demonstrate Decoupage on Canvas at the July Meeting. She promises she has some new designs and various types of finishes to share with us - something to which to look forward.. On a disappointing note, response to the Weekend Workshop at Mapleton was of concern, and following a ring around it was decided that insufficient numbers were committed, and as the 120 days deadline for cancellation were fast running out, it was decided necessary to cancel or risk losing our $400 deposit. However not to be set back by one disappointment, it has been decided to approach the Chermside library for the use of Rooms 2A and 2B (the larger adjoining rooms) for a Friday to Sunday booking to host an Exhibition of works in September 2008. The use of the 2 rooms would allow for workshops and demonstrations in the smaller area Thank you if you have offered to demonstrate at the Ekka - check the minutes for the prepared roster - of course days may be swapped if necessary. Please note also that the scheduled times for the daily Decoupage Demos are 12 noon and 2pm. Depending on date of issue of the Snippets, you may have already delivered your RNA entries to Allan or Sally - necessary before Wednesday 27th June. All efforts, including those of Judges, Stewards and Entrants, contributing to this venture are greatly appreciated. And amongst all this busy-ness, don't let the 2007 project ''By the Seaside'' slip your mind. We will bring the completed (or works in progress) along to the November meeting. I look forward to seeing everyone on July 22nd. Barbara Chapple May 2007 Greetings Friends, I trust you remain inspired and continue to enjoy our mutual passion of decoupage. 2007 was off to a good start as we worked on our masks in February under the guidance of Barbara Beck, some of these completed works of art added to the display at Crows Nest. And then the next undertaking was this Live-in Workshop in the country town of Crows Nest where a total of 16, 12 of whom were decoupeurs, worked, chatted and in general enjoyed a relaxed time. After sharing queries and hints around the table, Shirley demonstrated applying Aristocrat to a placemat and then on another piece achieving a tiled effect. The remaining mixture was not wasted - it was used to finish a variety of pearl shell pendants various members had decoupaged. The variety of these pieces made up a fine collection. Saturday afternoon found us exploring the use of foil paper under direction of Allan. The fine texture of the foils should only require a minimum layers of lacquer. I look forward to seeing the completed eggs and vases. Unfortunately the hot dry wind that sprung up on Sunday was not conducive to working under glass as planned, so we were forced to pack up a little earlier than scheduled. The display arranged in the restaurant drew the attention of diners, while we once again were treated to the spread of home-style cuisine that this venue offers. The weekend concluded with a barbecue meal prepared by the non-decoupeurs of the party. Now we look forward to gathering in May. Allan apologies that he will be away, and therefore unable to lead the workshop in backgrounds, but promises to do this at a later meeting. You may by now have realised, as I have, that this meeting clashes with Mothers Day and some may unable to attend. Never the less, I am sure that those of us who do come along, even though small in number, will enjoy the day. Please bring along a piece to work upon. May I suggest that we also bring along our completed pieces using the foil papers. I have several pieces of foil paper and am happy (with advice from others who were at Crows Nest) to demonstrate on a small piece if anyone is interested. In the meantime I know you will be busy finishing off you piece/s for the Ekka - (why not work on it at the meeting.) The special category for this year is 'Any Piece in Florals'. Many of us will already have a piece that fits this category. Please make an effort to support this Guild sponsored venture. Allan has offered to act as a collection base if you can't get your entries to the RNA yourself. Entries close on the 23rd May. You may by now have received your schedule which should be in the mail shortly after Easter. The Guild has been given the opportunity to demonstrate twice daily at the 2007 Exhibition. Thank you to those volunteers who have offered to participate. The time slots allocated are 12 noon and 2pm on the 8 days Friday 10th to Friday 17th inclusive. A roster will need to be completed before then so we can avail ourselves of passes. Amongst this busy schedule, don't forget about your Project piece for 2007. The theme is 'By the Seaside', which gives considerable scope for inspiration. The success of the Guild depends on members sharing and helping; to those who have contributed or have offered to contribute in the activities mentioned so far, on your behalf, I say a big "Thank you". Until May 13th, keep well, happy and busy with your decoupage. Barbara Chapple P.S. If you are unable to attend on May 13 would you please ring Barbara (not between April 9-30) or Val. Don't forget we need names of those intending to participate in the Workshop at Mapleton in September (21-23) at this meeting October 2006 As I prepare my second report as President, I wonder where the time has gone and ponder as to what extent the main objective of the Guild, to promote decoupage, has been achieved. Twelve months ago, realising that to maintain membership and encourage new members would be a real challenge, suggestions were put forward towards this end. Emphasis should be on ''hands-on'' full day workshops; that tutors from Southern Guilds be invited to instruct and advise; and that less time consuming approaches to decoupage be sought were some of these ideas. How have we fared? Has this been the right approach? In October, a major effort was put into a wonderful exhibition of pieces and preparation of gift items for sale at the Ceramic and Craft Show at Caboolture. It was a display of which to be proud, but unfortunately the promoters of the show failed with their publicity resulting in a dismal lack of patronage. At the October meeting the showing of 2005 project pieces (depicting silhouettes or birds) was as diverse as it was inspiring. Earlier this year the ''Day of Decoupage'' as planned for February was unfortunately cut short by various circumstances. Apologies to those who may have been disappointed with the outcome. Those members who attended the live-in workshop at Crows Nest in March voted it a success. From my perspective, as well as the vast amount of information shared, two major positives evolved. Firstly it was rewarding to observe members' satisfaction when viewing the 2 displays, one at the local art gallery and the remaining pieces in the park restaurant. Then by the end of the weekend acquaintances had become friends and were looking forward to another such time. The highlight of the years activities must surely have been the visit by Silvana Natoli in May. I need say no more -- the presentation spoke for itself, as all those present will attest. Thank you to members who loaned pieces for the display at the Chermside Library in May/June. The 2 glass cases, one in the foyer and the other inside adjacent to the coffee shop were positioned for good visibility and prompted a couple of phone calls. Such ventures are somewhat intangible, but must help to keep decoupage in the public eye. Participation in the RNA Fine Arts Show was the final activity for the year. The ''Outback'' section added another dimension to the usual. This is a huge undertaking for the judges and stewards without which this exposure would be impossible. On your behalf I say thank you. While the number of entries was a little disappointing, this did not take away from the wonderful display and quality of the work. Congratulations and sincere appreciation to those members responsible. My personal thanks goes to Secretary Sue, Vice-president and Editor of Snippets Val, Treasurer Glenda and to Committee members Sally, Ann and Roger. To each of you your support and friendship is greatly valued. No organization can function without the participation of its members, so to one and all thank you for your contribution to our mutual enjoyment of Decoupage. Finally, a welcome to the new Committee members: Liliana Morgan, Secretary, Diane Loxton and Shirley Waterton. - Barbara Chapple (President)