Accepted! August will be BIG.

I am SO jazzed. I got the "fat" email from The Brush Gallery in Lowell MA for Art Quilts Lowell 2011.

I love the Brush. It is an artists' coop that is a wonderful place to exhibit and to shop.

This year I almost did not even enter. The theme seemed so broad and, frankly, I only had one piece that I had confidence in...and that piece had been rejected too many times to count. I know, I know...the jurying process can be fickle. It all depends on the juror and the other entries.

Well, finally, Boats at Slack Tide found an arena in which it could "play nicely with it's neighbors".

I have always liked this piece. Once when it was exhibited locally a woman offered me 2/3 of the asking price and tried to purchase it by going around the dealer. Not a nice thing to do. And, not something someone who formerly made her living as an agent for other people was going to sit still for. Instead I gave it to my son in North Carolina. He's a graphic designer who LOVES it. It should be where it's appreciated.

I phoned him last night to tell him to ship it back ASAP. He wasn't totally thrilled. He is a teeny bit afraid someone will persuade me to sell it. Silly boy.

This piece started with the beautiful hand dyed background that I certainly did not want to see cut up. "Boats" is entirely pieced. The whole time I chanted WWRD under my breath. (What would Ruth Do?) Referring, of course, to one of my art quilt heros, Ruth McDowell.

I just discovered that another SAQA/CT colleague was also accepted. Norma Schlager.

So, again, I'm in fabulous company.

Earlier this spring, I was able to book a hotel room for the Lowell Quilt Fest, hosted by the New England Quilt Museum. Now I'm really glad that I did. I will be able to attend both Artists' Receptions...The Brush for "Boats" and The Whistler for "Diaspora" and "Dusk".

This weekend is such a wonderful time. The whole town is involved in it. It's an opportunity to have good food, good art, good shopping and catch up with old and new friends....gosh, it really doesn't get better this.

ART QUILTS LOWELL 2011: The Sea
An exhibition of the finest art quilts in Canada and the United States. This year the theme is "The Sea".

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 13, 3 - 5 pm, during the Lowell Quilt Festival.

Exhibition Entry Deadline: June 15, 2011

Juror: Gerald Roy, Member, Executive Board, National Quilt Museum, Paducah, KY; Chair, Acquisitions Committee; Member, of National Advisory Board, Administrator, Quilt Appraisal Certification Program - American Quilters Society, Paducah, KY; Acquisitions Board: New England Quilt Museum, Lowell, MA.