Back from Turkey. Back from Houston. Back to Work.

Our tour and home-hosting in Turkey was AMAZING!!  We took hundreds (thousands?) of photos.  And, we renewed our friendships and made new ones during our cultural exchange in Izmir.  I can't tell you how warm and welcoming our stay was.  Such hospitality!  Oh, and the food!!

Within two days of our return, I was off to the Houston Quilt Fest with four of our Sisters in Cloth group (we met up with another Sister member Carol Ludington, who had work juried into a special exhibit)

My participation in the SAQA Benefit Auction bookended my trips.  Before I left I won Lorraine Dena Kpo's "Against the Odds" in the online auction.  Later while I was in Houston I saw Norma Schlager's "SW#4, Greening Up" displayed there and 

was demanding that I take it home.  I could do no less.  How lucky am I, anyway!?!

Norma Schalger's "SW#4 Greening Up"

Larraine Dena Kpo's "Against the Odds"

And that brings my collection to eleven.  L-R: Row 1: Cathy Smith, Cathy Smith, Holly Altman,
Row 2: Vivien Zepf, Cathy Smith, Sandy Gregg, Row 3: Debbie Bein, Lutgard Gerber-Billiau and Ali George, Row 4: Norma Schalger and Larraine Dena Kpo.

Hmmm....I really NEED one more ;^)

SAQA Auction Wins

I have decided to enjoy my SAQA wins from the past while watching this year's Auction, waiting to bid on another.  On the top:  L_R Debbie Bein, Sandy Gregg, Lutgard Gerber-Billiau, Vivian Zeff, Cathy Whall Smith, Ali George, Holly Altman, Cathy Whall Smith, Dijanne Cevaal, Vivika DeNegre, Cathy Whall Smith, Janine Anderson-Bays, Dijanne Cevaal, Vivika DeNegre, Louise Schwab and Laura Cater Woods.  Inspiring!

Tomorrow! SAQA's Benefit Auction

Hello, Sunshine!

Tomorrow SAQA's Benefit Auction begins at 2pm Eastern.  Click on the link to read how the auction works.  I always try to 'win' a piece.  There were a couple of years I was unsuccessful :^(

But I have persevered!  I figured out that I have been participating in the Benefit Auction for seven years now and I have a very nice collection :^)  It is such a satisfying way to support SAQA:  first making a 12" square piece AND then 'winning' other artists' work.

At this point my Auction collection includes work by Cathy Smith CT, Sandy Gregg MA, Debbie Bein NY, Vivien Zepf NY, and Lutgard Gerber-Billiau Belgium.  Now I will be trolling the pages again this year very stealthily....join me!!

SAQA Auction Collection

Without intent, initially, I've started a nice collection of very interesting 12" square art quilts.  This past week at the SAQA booth in Houston at the International Quilt Festival I became the proud owner of two (!) new pieces.

Joining four others that I 'won' in previous SAQA Benefit Auctions, are Cathy Smith's Twins with Matching Hats, from her marshmallow hay bale series, and Vivien Zepf's Chilean Chair Whimsey.  I feel SO lucky to have such a wonderful sampling of art from five very talented fiber artists!

Twins With Matching Hats/Cathy Smith

Chilean Chair Whimsey/ Vivien Zepf

Happy Anniversary #2/Lutgard Gerber-Billiau

Collections #3/Debbie Bein

Leaf Litter/ Sandy Gregg

Waiting for Roasting/ Cathy Smith

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!

SAQA Transformations/Reflections 09

Saturday Artist's Talk at Guilford Art Center (www.guilfordartcenter.org)

In support of Studio Art Quilt Associates' fabulous exhibit Reflections, we (in the person of Linda Zimmerman: zimmermandezigns.blogspot.com) invited exhibiting artists to come to the Art Center to talk about their work. We were very lucky: Debbie Bein (quiltstew.blogspot.com) and Judith Plotner (www.judithplotner.com) came last week, staying over after attending the Opening Reception. This week Andrea Limmer from VA generously accepted our invitation to chat with viewers all afternoon about her work "A Walk in the Woods".

The exhibit is generating a lot of buzz about art quilts. Fingers crossed that the feet in the door is so great that we will be asked to mount more exhibits!

Thanks to all who made this possible...and there are many!

My winning bids!

The piece on the top is "Happy Anniversary" by Lutgard Gerber-Billiau (www.lutgardgerberbilliau.be) and the second is "Connections #3" by Deborah Bein (quiltstew.blogspot.com).

I was the lucky winning bidder for them in the SAQA Auction's first phase. The second phase is currently up for auction...hurry! (www.saqa.com) This is such a wonderful way to collect incredible small pieces of art and support SAQA, and, in so doing, encourage and support all of us.