Sisters In Cloth Extravaganza!

My very first blog post.  How happy am I?  I don't want to count the years that developing a website has been one of my New Year's goals.  However, a blog has only been on the goal list for a year...so there's progress.

The art quilt group that I belong to, Sisters in Cloth, annually hosts an intimate winter gathering that we call an Extravaganza.  And in the interest of honesty, it's a concept and title that I brought with me when we were transferred to CT from FL.  One of my FL groups (Gone to Pieces) had a long tradition of a similar annual event.  When I was bereft of quilting buddies, I formed a quilt group from the local Newcomer's Club.  Since 2000 we have morphed into our own art quilt group of thirteen...and holding.  We meet weekly in members homes and have become Sisters in Cloth.  We are always on the hunt for new venues for our work....local libraries, restaurants, clubs...

Back on subject.  Saturday was our fourth annual Extravaganza.  The day was cold and sunny outside and warm and sunny inside.  I'm posting two of the pics I snapped during our Show and Tell...one of the highlights of the event.  Kate Themal (one of our invitees and co-rep for SAQA) is showing three of her wonderful leaf creations.  I'd seen them on-line before...but they are even better up close and personal!  The other pic is my buddy Vivika Denegre displaying two of her works inspired by a local glass artist's work (Barbara Kerwin-Shulman).  The two of them along with a weaver are preparing for a three person show in May.

The day began with coffee and...whilst everyone gathered.  This year everyone brought two nine patches for a charity quilt.  Usually our group asks for an original block that we exchange amongst ourselves, but this year charity seemed more appropriate.  

Trish and Owen Hodge who are Batik Tambal gave an informative talk about their travels and textile collecting in Indonesia and Syria.  Of course they had exquisite panels and batiks that we freely looted and plundered.  They weren't the only vendors:  Laura Wasilowski (ARTFABRIK) and Roni McCullough-Sheppar (Sunny Bunny) sent boxes packed with delicious hand dyes!  Our own Ruth Anne Olson offered her hand painted and dispersed fabric.  Nearby fiber artist Karen Loprete brought her work (and incredible pet portraits!) for us to buy and wonder at.  Dorothy Meyer, a local beader brought work.  Oh, you just know the 22 attending were atwitter! Just think, everything that makes a quilt artist's heart beat strong:  good friends, good food, great show and tell, vendors and a mini-workshop by our own Vivika and Barb Adams!  Boy, it doesn't get better than that!

I don't know how frequently I'll post.  Despite the "core dump" you've just slogged through, I worry that I have nothing to say.  Hmmm, maybe I can get over that worry.