About Nic
Nic Bridges has been involved in patchwork and quilting since 1992, and became a professional quilter in 2002. Since then, Nic has established herself teaching contemporary quilt making techniques in Sydney, Wollongong and on the South Coast of NSW, in addition to her longarm quilting business and artistic endeavours. A regular contributor to Australian quilting magazines, Nic has been featured in profiles in Australian Patchwork & Quilting, Down Under Quilts, Quilters Companion and Homespun over recent years.
Background
Nic Bridges is a happily-married mother of two teenage children. In her pre-quilting life, she had a busy career in the finance and insurance industries as an Administrator and Manager. Nic left the insurance industry in 2002 to pursue her creative career in the world of quilting and textile arts.
Education and training
In addition to many textile classes and workshops over the years, Nic has been studying Art since 2001. Nic is currently enrolled in the Fine Arts Diploma course at West Wollongong TAFE and plans to continue her studies and attain the Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts over the next few years.
Teaching
Nic teaches contemporary patchwork and quilting techniques on a regular basis at Patchwork shops and Quilt Guilds in the Southern Sydney, Wollongong and Shoalhaven areas. She has taught Longarm Quilting at The Finishing Touch, Camden and the 2008 Longarm Quilters Symposium at the Sydney Quilt & Craft Expo. Nic has taught at several Southern Cross Quilters Retreats, at the 2008 Be Creative By the Sea Retreat at Coffs Harbour and the 2008 Janome Conference.
Commissions
In 2008, Nic was commissioned by Janome to create a quilt to showcase their Memory Craft 6600P sewing machine. Touchstones #3 – Outback at Dusk was a prizewinner at the 2008 Sydney Quilt Show. Nic has an ongoing relationship with Janome Australia.
Publications
Nic is regularly commissioned by Down Under Quilts, Quilters Companion, Australian Patchwork & Quilting and Homespun to design projects for publication. Her Earth Mother quilt was published in the I Remember Mama book from the special exhibition project, and was also featured in the catalogue for 2007 Spring Quilt Market in Chicago. Her quilts have been included in the Down Under Quilts calendar in 2005 and 2006, and Crossroads – Stepping Outside the Square was featured on the promotional banners for the DUQ Indulgence Festival 2006.
Exhibitions
In 2008, Nic Bridges exhibited original art works in Friends of Wollongong City Gallery Photographic Portrait Prize and the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize.
Nic has been regularly exhibiting in the Sydney Quilt Show and Wollongong Quilt Show for the past decade. In addition, she has been involved in various group art exhibitions held at the Project Contemporary Art Space in Wollongong, the Old Firehouse Community Gallery in Kiama, and at the DeHavilland Gallery in Wollongong.
Voluntary work
Nic is currently on the committee of Project Contemporary Art Space, an artist-run exhibition space serving the Wollongong Art community. Nic holds the position of Treasurer and is actively involved in many facets of gallery life.Achievements
2009
Bushfire Sunset, client quilt belonging to Lisa Walton
3rd Prize in the Large Wall Quilts: Longarm/Midarm Machine at the 2009 American Quilters Society Quilt Show & Contest in Paducah, Kentucky USA.
Touchstones #2 – Gingko Garden
was selected to be displayed in the Best of Australia Quilts in Melbourne at the Australasian Quilt Convention.
2008
Touchstones #2 – Gingko Garden
Best Use of Colour Award at the Quilters Guild of NSW Inc. 2008 Sydney Quilt Show.
Touchstones #3 – Outback at Dusk
3rd Prize Art Quilt (Open) at the Sydney Quilt Show.
Bushfire Sunset, client quilt belonging to Lisa Walton
1st Prize in the Commercially Machine Quilted Quilt (Professional) Category at the Sydney Quilt Show.
This quilt was also juried as a finalist in the Houston International Quilt Festival.
In My Garden, client quilt belonging to Kerrie Goeldner
4th Prize in the Commercially Machine Quilted Quilt (Professional) Category at the Sydney Quilt Show.
Andamooka Decoflower, client quilt belonging to Gay Jenkins
Judges Commendation in the Commercially Machine Quilted Quilt (Amateur) Category at the Sydney Quilt Show.
This quilt also received the Amateur Encouragement Award at the same show.
2007
Crossroads – Stepping Outside the Square
1st Prize in the Small or Wall Quilt (Professional) Category at the Quilters Guild of NSW Inc. Sydney Quilt Show 2007.
This quilt was awarded 1st Prize in the Professional Commercially Quilted category at the 2007 Queensland Quilters Quilt Show.
Welcoming the Bluebird of Happiness
2nd Prize in the Traditional (Professional) Category at the Quilters Guild of NSW Inc. Sydney Quilt Show 2007.
Squared Up, client quilt belonging to Lisa Walton
1st Prize in the Commercially Quilted Quilt Category at the Quilters Guild of NSW Inc. Sydney Quilt Show 2007.
This quilt was awarded 2nd Prize in the Professional Commercially Quilted category at the 2007 Queensland Quilters Quilt Show, as well as Best Use of Colour in the same show.
Client quilt belonging to Gay Jenkins
2nd Prize in the Two-Person Category at the Birmingham Festival of Quilts, UK.
2006
Tropical Punch
1st Prize for Professional Machine Quilting at the Illawarra Quilters Bi-Annual Exhibition.
Limelight
2nd Prize in the Wallhanging category and 3rd Prize for Professional Machine Quilting at the Illawarra Quilters Bi-Annual Exhibition.
Client quilt belonging to Val Muir
2nd Prize for Professional Machine Quilting at the Illawarra Quilters Bi-Annual Exhibition.
Crossroads – Stepping Outside the Square
One of twelve finalists in the Down Under Quilts Calendar Competition.
This quilt was also featured on promotional banners for the 2006 DUQ Quilt Indulgence Festival in Mittagong.
Client quilt belonging to Gay Jenkins
3rd Prize in the Two-Person Category at the Birmingham Festival of Quilts, UK.
The Eyes Have It, client quilt belonging to Lisa Walton
3rd Prize in the Commercially Quilted Category at the Sydney Quilt Show.
This quilt was also juried as a finalist in the Houston International Quilt Festival.
2005
Earth Mother
Juried into the “I Remember Mama” special exhibition at the Houston International Quilt Festival.
This exhibition was also shown at the Chicago Spring Quilt Festival 2006 and the Quilt Expo in Lyon, France.
A book of the exhibition project was also published.
Pick Up Sticks, client quilt belonging to Lisa Walton
4th Prize in the Commercially Quilted Category at the Sydney Quilt Show.
This quilt was also juried as a finalist in the Houston International Quilt Festival.
Seeds of Diversity
One of twelve finalists in the Down Under Quilts Calendar Competition.
Client quilt belonging to Gay Jenkins
1st Prize in its Category at the Birmingham Festival of Quilts, UK and was awarded Best Longarm Quilt at this show (from over 1000 quilts).
2004
Vintage Vignette
2nd Prize – Small Quilt at the Illawarra Quilters’ Wollongong Quilt Show.
Maths Lesson, client quilt belonging to Lisa Walton
1st Prize in the Commercially Quilted Category at the Sydney Quilt Show.
This quilt was also juried as a finalist in the Houston International Quilt Festival.
2003
You are the Sun, I am the Moon
Best Pantograph Quilt at the Australasian Machine Quilters Convention in Mittagong.
2002
Marshland Oasis
2nd Prize – Small Quilt at the Illawarra Quilters’ Wollongong Quilt Show.