Pick-a-Pocket The Thread Studio 2011 Textile Challenge

Have you ever wondered where pockets came from?
On the Victoria and Albert Museum website, there is some fascinating information about Pockets, see here. Do go and read all about it.
For 2011, we at The Thread Studio challenge you to make a pocket.

Details, Terms and Conditions:
• We are looking for pockets that are inspiring, creative, unusual, exciting, surprising, amusing and well done.
• Your work must incorporate textile material but the choice of materials is entirely up to you. You can use the embellisher machine, and include hand and/or machine stitch and also include non-textile materials. Please do not include any plant materials as they will not make it through Australian Quarantine.
• Be challenged by new techniques, new materials, new experiments, new inspirations, pushing the boundaries.
• Your finished pocket must be no more than 20cm x 15cm (sorry - no 3 dimensional items, no pieces behind glass, no pieces fixed on solid frames and so on). It should be as a pocket would be.
• You must create a label which includes your full name, address and email address (if you have one). Sew the label to the back of your work. Give your pocket a title and add this as well. Sometimes we are intrigued by what is inside a pocket – you are welcome to include ‘contents’.
• The work must be based on your own ideas using your own pocket design or perhaps inspired by information on the V & A site and may not have been exhibited or published before.
• Each participant can submit one to two entries.
• As many pieces as possible will be presented in an exhibition that is planned to be shown at various venues. The exhibition will be opening at Australian Quilt Convention in Melbourne (April 2011) and shown at other venues including Textile Art Festival in Brisbane(June 2011), WA Craft, Quilt & Stitch Show in Perth (August 2011) and The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in October 2011, and another couple of events still being negotiated. The exhibition will be featured on The Thread Studio website in a special gallery section and featured in at least two international magazines. You must be prepared for your work to be retained for at least a year and possibly longer.
• Should more entries be made than can be handled or should the design and/or the quality of a piece be below the standard of the rest of the exhibition, a jury of experts will have the right to exclude a piece. This decision is not contestable.
• Entry Fee AUS$20.00. The fee covers your entire submission, whether you enter one or two pieces. It is not refundable, even if the entry should not be accepted for display. Payment may be made by credit card, PayPal, EFT, cheque or even notes included with your entry. (UK include £10.00, US and Canada $20.00 Europe €10.00)
• The submission must weigh less than 500gms in total (including all packaging materials). Participants must send their entry to The Thread Studio at their own expense. Make sure your packaging is really safe to rule out any risk of damage through mailing or transportation. In Australia bubble wrap and a small Australia Post prepaid red satchel which takes up to 500gm will suffice. In other countries you will have an equivalent.
• Submissions must reach us by Friday 25th March 2011.
• The Thread Studio will take extreme care of your work while it is in their possession but will not be held responsible for circumstances beyond their control.
Prizes
• a panel of judges will select a winner and two highly commended, and Ian will select his choice as well.
• Prizes for all awards will be donated by The Thread Studio.
Finally
• At the end of the exhibition The Thread Studio will return all works to their owners.