You are invited

Artist Reception for Fiber & Friends

Sunday, July 19, 2:30-4:30

Meet the Artists

Enjoy wine, food and live music!

Friends & Co
Madison CT Restaurant
Boston Post Road

Featuring the work of Barbara Adams, Janine Anderson-Bays, Debra Bento, Vivika Hansen DeNegre, Gina Grubb Frank, Gail Kotowski, Carol Ludington, Kate Themel, Robin Wolek and Diane Wright

Second in the series

I have continued using the German fabric designed by Ernst Beck in the vase.  This time I have included three 1940(?) vintage stars given to me by my fellow Sister in Cloth Barb Adams, a piece of an Indian textile in the 'window', Finnish Marimeko fabric in the Chinese lanterns, and a piece by American contemporary designer Marcia Derse as the table top.

I still have a tiny bit more of the Beck fabric.  I'm hoping to cobble together another vase for a third, and maybe, last of the series.

I am titling it "Falling Stars" but I'm open to suggestions.

SAQA Benefit Auction: Report Card

I am SO excited!  

Week One of the SAQA Benefit Auction is just complete and Week Two has JUST begun.  

Pictured here is how super Week One was for me :^)

I love the fact that I am able to add to my collection of OP (other people's) work.  I do have to admit, however, that 'winning' at auction is a value added thrill. 

Imagine, I have Holly Altman's hand prints...it will remind me of the time in Houston when she and I got horribly soaked...drenched...and she, of course, had a friend on the staff of a very nice, nearby hotel who, when she saw us, ran and retrieved wonderfully warm towels for us to dry with, not the least bit concerned that we were not actually guests.  Holly's friends, boy, they are good to know.

Cathy Smith is my current SAQA co-rep for CT.  I am on my last couple of months as rep...my spot will soon be filled by my friend Barbara Coleman Adams.  The way I figure it, this piece will be a remembrance of Cathy and my service together.  Now I have to work on Barb to contribute a 12" square for next year .^)

Photographer in the Audience

Last night I was invited to give a Trunk Show of my work at the Shoreline Quilters Guild in Branford CT.  I had belonged to this guild several years ago so it was a real treat to be invited to return.  Lots of familiar faces and many new ones too.  

"Prickly Secrets"...and I have no idea for whom the Victory sign is being given

"They Rode the Stars to Heaven"

"Ode to Charley Harper"

I brought about half of the rolls of art quilts that I have in my studio.  What I chose to present could charitably be described as having a traditional basis.  This being a more traditional guild, I thought it would be of more interest to them.

Two really serendipitous things happened last night:  First, some of my buddies attended for moral support.  As I hardly ever plan too far in advance, their being there was perfect:  I had some help traveling the work around the crowd to see the pieces up close and personal.

Second, one of the members and a new SAQA member, Jan Doyle was there WITH HER CAMERA.  Remember how I don't like to plan too far in advance?  I did remember my camera, but I hadn't asked anyone to take pics.  So, whilst my buddies traveled artwork, Jan snapped pics.

She sent these three this morning for my use.  Darn, she's good!  I would never have taken...or posted...these 'animations' of myself.  But they are funny.  God knows what I was saying.  They are so graphic you can just make up your own narrative.  I am.

Thank you Jan, Barb, Robin, Vivika, Debbie, Judy Siccama and the Shoreline Quilters Guild!  You are the BEST.

SAQA/CT Summer Meeting

Our regional meeting was yesterday at The Guilford Art Center where On Higher Ground: Contemporary Hooked Art, along with SAQA's Trunk Show D, was on exhibition.

Liz Alpert Fay, one of the four featured "hooked" artists, graciously accepted our invitation to tell us about the collection. Wow!

And Wow on so many levels...the color, the texture, her journey, the journey of Contemporary Hooked Art (which is remarkably similar to Quilt Art...even with some of the "push-pull" we encounter between "contemporary" and "traditional" labels and practitioners) and her growth as an artist in moving into collaborative work with scientists...yep...you heard (read) it right...scientists!

Speaking of scientists...in this case former scientists...our Barb McKie developed

samples to survey the membership about sun exposure over time on cotton/silk/poly combined with various adhesives. Very scientific: Surveys, controls...lots of thinking, touching, opining...very interesting stuff.

Of course no meeting would be complete without food (thank you, Barb Adams for coordinating another yummy lunch) and a terrific Show and Tell (as usual). AND we got two new CT members! We may be a small state but we are loud...er...enthusiastic.

Saturday: a big ol' "two-fer" day

Actually, it was really a "three-fer" day! Led by our fearless SAQA regional rep, Kate Themal just under forty SAQA members from all over, braved cold rain to meet at the Guilford Free Library (Guilford CT).

First: SAQA Executive Director Martha Sielman gave a slide presentation about the making of the Art Quilt Masters book that she curated. In fact, many of the artists represented have work in the current New England Quilt Museum's exhibit. (I feel a road trip to Lowell MA coming on.)

Second: Kate had also arranged for the SAQA Trunk Show B to be available for the meeting. After the delicious box lunch arranged for by Sisters in Cloth member Barb Adams, all were able to study the Trunk Show and the Sisters' Photo Challenge exhibit that was mounted in the room.

Of course, it wouldn't be an art quilt (or traditional quilt meeting for that matter) without Show and Tell.....and it was a particularly wonderful Show and Tell at that. Pictured here is Barb McKie with one of her magnificent pieces. Incidentally her's is also on the cover of the current Quilting Arts magazine.

Two Marthas: Pictured here is my buddy Martha Wolfe, who probably should have been given an award from journeying the farthest for the meeting: Indiatlantic, FL! She's getting Martha Sielman's autograph on her copy.




Pictured here is Norma Schlager and Barbara Somebody-who-I-can't-remember-because-of-dead-grey-cells, both from CT discussing one of the Trunk Show pieces. Oh, and that's Sister member Carol Ludington on the far right.

As the time drew near to the end of our meeting, we had a drawing of items and gift certificates donated by local merchants who we support and we wanted to share. Shops like Chroma Gallery, CT Wool, Evergreen Crafts, Blue Moon Artisans.

THEN after all this, with maps in hand, we adjourned to carpool over to the Guilford Art Center where we all enjoyed seeing the incredible SAQA Transformation: Reflections exhibit. One of the artists included in the exhibit, Debbie Bein had traveled from Poughkeepsie NY for the meeting and was on hand to talk about her work.

Boy, it was quite a day!