Member News - Salley Mavor

Salley Mavor’s Wee World

June 2, 2016 – January 8, 2017 

at the Providence Children’s Museum, Providence, RI

SAQA MA/RI member, Salley Mavor has a very exciting exhibit happening in our area. Don't we all wish we had a great reason to go to the Providence Children's Museum, the premier fun destination for children of all ages. Salley has given us one.

  

This ThinkSpace Exhibit features selected wee folk dolls, houses and props, plus 2 original fabric relief illustrations from “Pocketful of Posies” in the Geometry Gallery display case. Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes is a 72-page, full-color, hardcover edition, illustrated in fabric relief by Salley Mavor and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Pocketful of Posies won the 2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Picture Book and the Golden Kite Award for picture book illustration from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. 

Original fabric relief illustrations from Pocketful of Posies have been exhibited around the country. The tour began when the book was published in September, 2010 and concluded in February 2016. Two of the original 50 illustrations from this book will be on display at the Children's Museum. Salley's book, Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes  is available from Amazon.com.   Autographed copies are available from Salley Mavor’s Etsy shop.

Salley with her exhibit, Pocketful of Posies, at Highfield Hall in Falmouth, MA

The Providence Children's Museum is located 100 South St, in Providence. Call (401) 273-5437 for hours and directions. 

  

New Trunk Show Artwork

We have received a new piece of artwork for the regional Trunk Show from Alanna Nelson. Alanna has been enjoying working with needle felting recently. Her piece, titled Turtle Grass, is made of wool and silk with a cotton back and is nuno felted and machine quilted.

Turtle Grass

"From afar, you note the water color change. Paddle closer, plunge face in the water, open your eyes. There is the beginning of a turtle grass bed. Watch the leaves sway with the waves, respond to your kicking feet. To think it harbors and camouflages so many creatures..."    Alanna Nelson

Submission details for the trunk show:

Each piece must be 9”x 11” - unbound please as the edges will not be visible and the piece will be mounted on matboard.  Please keep any dimensional embellishments at least 1" from the edges.  Include a one page (8 1/2” x 11” sheet of paper) artist statement that has your name, the title of the piece, materials and techniques used and any contact information or other information about the piece you wish to include.   Please also email a copy of this statement to Nancy at artgirlri@hotmail.com

Send the artwork to Nancy Turbitt (or bring it to a future SAQA regional meeting, our next meeting is Sun. August 7, at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, MA from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Please include $5.00 (make checks payable to SAQA) to cover the supplies needed to mount and frame the artwork.

Note that this is an open ongoing call for all SAQA MA/RI members and there is no deadline to submit a piece for it.

Member News - Jeanne Marklin

MovingPlans?

Jeanne Marklin has three art quilts in the Vessels Invitational Exhibit of Mixed Media at the Meeting House Gallery, New Marlborough, MA. The opening is Friday, June 17, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and Jeanne would love to have some SAQA members join her at the opening, or the next day from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm when she will be sitting at the gallery.

The exhibit will continue through July 10, 2016 and the gallery will be open Fridays, Saturday and Sundays 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Meeting House Gallery is at 154 Hartsville-New Marlborough Road, New Marlborough, MA.

Quilt Symposium in August

Trends & Traditions
Quilt Symposium

August 17 to 19, 2016

Evening Welcome Reception: Tuesday, August 16

The Trends and Traditions Quilt Symposium is an opportunity to connect with other artists, work with some of the best instructors in the world and challenge yourself creatively. Set in Manchester, NH in the summer, the Symposium runs concurrently with Quiltfest run by Mancuso Shows. Only 50 registrants will be able to attend. Included with your registration:

• 4-night stay at the Radisson Hotel Manchester.
• Tuesday Evening Welcome Reception with light dinner and wine.
• Workshops with Rosalie Dace and Frieda Anderson!
• Lecture with Frieda Anderson: "Moving Forward with a New Tradition."
• Luncheon Lecture & Trunk Show with Bonnie Dwyer: "The Roots of Modern Quilting."
• Evening Art Excursion at Manchester's Muse Paint Bar.
• Adventure Tour to the New England Quilt Museum and Canterbury Shaker Village.
• World Quilt New England Show & Merchant's Mall admission included.
• World Quilt Panel & Forum Ice Cream Social.
• 4-Nights Hotel Parking.
• 4-Days Breakfast.

Rosalie Dace

Going Round in Circles - 1 Day Workshop

From buttons and dinner plates to automobile tires and even the earth itself, circles surround us in our daily lives. In this class you will look at them, slice them up and have fun sewing them! Used symbolically in all cultures, circles are also a strong design element and focal point, adding power and visual interest wherever they are used. In this hands-on sewing class, students will discover the possibilities of circles as they learn how to use them to make a quilt top. From perfect whole circles to eccentric and concentric circles, a variety of spirals and helixes, arcs and wedges, students will learn how to break up, divide, piece, appliqué, fuse, overlap and stitch to make a dynamic and exciting work. Emphasis will be on design and practical sewing tips and techniques, and we will also discover how other artists and crafts people have used circles in their work to create character and emphasis. All levels.

Frieda Anderson

Creative Crisp Curves - An Intentional Improvisational Class - 1 Day Workshop

In this class you will piece a design with curves using freezer paper. Students will pick one of 3 different designs and one of 3 different colorways to make an Intentional Improvisational table or wall piece. We artists think of improvisation as a form of play which may lead toward discovery. Some new idea may be lurking in our subconscious; by playing around with line or shape, color & value, order or layout, we may discover something new and wonderful that will bring our work to life. This class is designed to help the student let go and work intuitively while learning to use precise curved piecing to create a one of a kind design. All levels.

Bonnie Dwyer

The Roots of Modern Quilting

Luncheon Lecture & Trunk Show

What does it take to become an Art Quilter and make your mark with fabric? Building from the traditional beginnings of quilting and making it your own takes inspiration and imagination. In this hour long PowerPoint presentation, Frieda shares with you her inspiration and shows you how she designs and makes her art quilts.

The Symposium is being held at the Radisson Hotel Manchester which is located at 700 Elm St, in Manchester, NH. For reservations or information about the hotel call (603) 206-4109. If you are interested in participating in this new concept symposium or have questions, please contact Mancuso at mancuso@quiltfest.com or call (215) 862-5828.

PUBLISHED

Published and distributed by Stampington & Company, LLC, Art Quilting Studio is a semiannual publication released every June and December, which caters to the art quilt. It's not surprising to find inspiring works from cover to cover by members of SAQA. Ann Brauer and Cheryl Rezendes were featured in the January 2016 issue. The latest, June 2016, issue does not disappoint with articles by SAQA artists Deidre Adams, Mary Pal, Pamela Allen, Paula Kovarik, Denise Labadie to name a few, and our own MA/RI member artists, Nancy Turbitt and Cheryl Rezendes.

Queen Bee Says No to GMOs leads a 6 page article written by Nancy Turbitt

titled, "Nature's Portraits: Tapping into Imagination." Nancy talks about her inspiration and the process of creating in her storybook series. She talks about her techniques, unexpected challenges and a bit about her process. Other artworks depicted in the article are Empress of the Pines and Mariposa. 

In her article titled, "Cross Journeys at Dusk," Cheryl Rezendes talks about the process of creating her artwork of the same name. Starting off as a watercolor response to a particularly gorgeous sunset across an open field on her way home from work, the one painting turned into several and was collaged. Using an image-transfer technique, Cheryl transferred her watercolors into the creation of an art quilt. The article continues with supplies, techniques and tips for creating similar art quilts.

 

Art Quilting Studio offers their readers the opportunity to be published in several departments as outlined in the back of their publication. The deadline for submissions for the Winter 2017 issue is July 15, 2016. They prefer receiving original artwork for submissions. For an overview of their guidelines for submission visit stampington.com. To purchase a subscription you can go to Stampington & Company or call 877-782-6737. Back issues are available from Stampinton as well. Local quilt shops and JoAnn's may also carry this publication.

Life's Work: Ruth B. McDowell

At the Vermont Quilt Festival

June 23 to June 26, 2016

Essex Junction, Vermont

VQF is very proud to present "Life's Work: Ruth B. McDowell," the largest exhibit ever of Ruth McDowell's art quilts. In a thirty-five year career, Ruth has developed an extraordinary body of art exploring the traditional structure of piecing as a format for original design. Her use of a wide collection of cotton fabrics gives her work incredibly rich surfaces, as well as a visual connection to the importance of fabrics in other places and times. Often based in nature, her quilts have been exhibited nationally and internationally and are represented in many public, private, and corporate art collections worldwide.

Found at Miller North in the exposition center, "Life's Work" was curated by Ruth. In her own words, "My 'Life's Work' exhibit at the Vermont Quilt Show... will feature 62 of my art quilts from the last 32 years." This will be the largest exhibit ever of Ruth's art quilts. Her art quilts and books can be viewed on her website.

Sap Buckets                                              © 2011 Ruth B. McDowell

Vermont Quilt Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary Ruby Jubilee this June with hundreds of eye-popping quilts in several exhibits. VQF, 40 and Fabulous, runs from June 24 through June 26, 2016, at the Champlain Valley Exposition, 105 Pearl St, Essex Junction, Vermont. Admission for one day is $12.00. Hours are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday & Saturday and 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday. The Merchants Mall has over 90 vendors and quilt appraisals can be arranged for $70.00 a quilt.

Member News - Wen Redmond

Wen Redmond has a mini exhibit at the League of NH Craftsmen's Gallery, 13 Lebanon St, in Hanover, NH. The Annual Spring Show features three artists, Blair LaBella - jewelry, Wen Redmond - contemporary fiber, and Evan Williams & Grace Pejouhy - woodfired pottery. The show will be on view through June 30 and the gallery is open Monday - Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. For more information call (603) 643-5050. 

Bringing the Outside In

Wen just completed a solo exhibit at the Textile Center in Minneapolis and part of that exhibit can be seen at Eversource Energy, 780 N. Commercial St, Manchester, NH. The Eversource exhibit runs for 3 months through the end of August.

Wen recently traveled to the Ruth Funk Textile Center at Florida's Institute of Technology to present a lecture about her upcoming book, Digital Explorations in Fiber and Paper and spoke at the opening for SAQA's exhibit Radical Elements.

Wen in front of Lighter than Air, SAQA's Radical Elements

It has been a busy spring for Wen and it will continue to be a busy summer. Wen was invited to be a juror for the Art Quilts at the Whistler 2016 exhibition. She will be returning to teaching for a few more years as well. You can catch up on her news on her art Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Art-of-Wen-Redmond-209943249168554/ Her work will be part of the QBL Faculty Quilt Show Schweinfurth Art Center July 17 – 29, 2016. She will be teaching there next year. 

Quilt Day in CT

Quilt Day at the Windham Textile & History Museum

June 11, 2016

The Windham Textile & History Museum will be host to a textile festival in June and the first of three days is Quilt Day. On June 11, 2016 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm there will be demos, lectures, a vendor mall and art displays. Artwork will be on display by Melanie Johnston, Joan Blade Johnson, Catherine Whall Smith and Barbara Barber.

Melanie Johnston
Melanie is an artist working with textiles. Her subject matter ranges from the realistic to collage and abstract. She uses commercial and hand dyed cotton and silk as well as any other interesting fabric that strikes her fancy. She particularly enjoys dyeing and painting her own fabric using a variety of techniques from ice dyeing and shibori to gradation and whole cloth.

Joan Blade Johnson
Joan is a fiber artist who has long been interested in all things fiber. In the last several years, she has become fascinated by the entire creative process involved in composing fiber art pieces using non-traditional methods and materials to achieve her artistic vision, most often inspired by nature and her original nature photography.

Catherine Whall Smith
Catherine is a quilter living in Chaplin, CT. She designs her quilts through the process of discovery; discovery of the relationships of fabric, pattern, color and a limited variety of shapes. All of her art quilts are traditionally hand quilted.

Here is what is happening throughout the day:

VENDORS
Allison Wilbur                  Vintage Fiber Art Embellishments
Carol R. Eaton                 Unique Hand-Dyed & Painted Fabric
Michele Palmer                Vintage Fabrics & Textile Books
MJ Fiber Art                    Hand-Dyed Silk Scarves & Fiber Art
Schillers Sewing Circle     Sewing & Embroidery Machines Demo
Stitch Chicks                   Quilting Fabric & Notions

MUSIC
Heartstrings                    Melanie & Mack Johnston
                                      Mountain Dulcimer, Mandolin & Guitar
Sally Rogers                     Folk & Mill Music

DEMONSTRATIONS 
(ongoing)
Schillers Sewing Circle      Sewing & Embroidery Machines
Carol R. Eaton                  Designing a Quilt
(scheduled)
12:00 pm  Catherine Whall Smith                                    
                Hand Quilting
 1:00 pm  Sally Rogers                                                    
               Folk & Mill Songs
 2:00 pm  Catherine Whall Smith & Joan Blade Johnson     
               Printed Images on Fabric
 3:00 pm  Stitch Chicks Quilt Shop                                   
               Working with Pre-Cut Fabric

LECTURES & TRUNK SHOWS
Main Building, Second Floor
11:00 am  Hope Barton          SAQA Trunk Show
11:45 am  Rita Hannafin        Modern Quilting
 1:15 pm  Allison Wilbur         Quilts for Change
 2:00 pm  Barbara Barber       Mill Girls Painted Quilts
 2:45 pm  Lois Palmer            Anatomy of a Quilt Appraisal
               Certified Quilt Appraiser

The Museum is located at 411 Main St. in Willimantic, CT, 860 456-2178. There will be food available for purchase at the museum. 

Regional Meeting News

June 4, 2016

PRO Chemical & Dye 

Twenty four SAQA members and guests attended the quarterly meeting in Fall River, MA to connect with other members, receive and share information and attend a lecture and demo by Vicki Jensen, owner of PRO Chem. Topics of the day's business directed by Nancy Turbitt and Allison Wilbur, the region's reps, were upcoming meeting schedules, Currents opening at the Brush in August, upcoming calls for entries and events, topics for next year's meetings, open studios, outreach on the Cape and development of the blog with thank you's to Dawn Allen & Alanna Nelson and the addition of Sharyn Raiche as the blog's reviewer of books and articles. Two guests were in attendance who have joined as a result of their attending. Two members of the SAQA Board of Directors, Diane Wright and Jeanne Marklin, were also in attendance and spoke briefly to the group.

Vicki began her discussion of discharge products by stating that recently some of her basic products have been discontinued but have returned as the products of another company. Jacquard Products have bought out Harbor Sales formulas for deColourant and have tweaked the recipe to put out their own recipe for a discharge agent which is now carried by  PRO Chem. Discharge agents take color out of previously dyed fabric allowing for a myriad of creative uses. 

Behind Vicki (above & right) you can see three sample boards which she prepared to explain her findings of how Thiox preparations and bleach preparations affect MX black dyed fabric. She used several different numbers of MX dyes which produce black and one Kona cotton in black so that we could see the varied colors created from using discharge.

Vicki explained that there are two ways to discharge dye from fabrics, reduction which uses Thiox to work with cottons and silks employing heat (an iron) to make it happen, and oxidation which uses bleach to remove dye from cotton at room temperature. Bleach can never be used with silk as it degrades the fabric over time. Bleach may also continue to degrade cotton fabric if not rinsed properly with a product called Anti-Chlor Concentrate. Soft Scrub cleaner and bleach pens are two products which can be used to apply bleach to fabric. Vicki also had several fabrics illustrating the creative uses of discharge products in which she had added dye over discharged areas, used stencils with a spray of Thiox, and added potato dextrin over bleach paste to create crackling in the discharge. 

After breaking for lunch, shopping at PRO Chem, and socializing, members had the choice of going out on the loading dock with Vicki to practice with discharges or

staying inside to play with PRO Chem's new line of PRO Silk & Fabric Paint. Vicki's new line of paints are similar to Setasilk, a thin paint for using with silk and cotton, but with the benefit of a lower price.

Here are some photos of members being creative and having fun.

Dawn Allen amid friends having fun with paints.

Diane Wright using a spray bottle to use the paints.

Vicki explaining the use of stencils with sprayed discharge fluid.

Members Vicki Jensen, Cathey LaBonte, Sara Crocker, and Suzanne Housley-Noonan with their respirators having fun with discharge but being safe

Nancy Messier's gorgeous feather painted with PRO Silk & Fabric Paint on cotton

Creativity on the painting table

Although it was difficult to walk away from the fun of experimenting with new techniques, the group moved on to Show & Tell. Here are some shots of our member's sharing their work and their experiences.

Nancy Turbitt started off the Show & Tell with her article in the June 2016 issue of Art Quilting Studio

Jeanne Marklin continues the discussion on the SAQA Yahoo page by showing her cards printed by Moo.com

Dawn Allen wowed the crowd with her 3D Black-eyed Susans created completely with her fabrics designed from her photography, computer manipulated, and then produced by Spoonflower

Cathey LaBonte shows us her samples made minutes prior with discharge techniques

Suzanne Housley-Noonan shows us an unfinished but fantastic piece she has been working on - the centers of the flowers were padded and in relief - so much fun!

Diane Wright explains how this work is part of an exhibit where each piece continues a linear line

Nancy Messier brought in a small piece in which she used the discharging process to create her image of an unfurling fern

Nancy Donovan shows two pieces, the second is created from a photo taken of tubes drying on the path to the beach - she found just the right piece of fabric for the sky

Members enjoyed a full day of socializing, learning and experiencing by creating samples, shopping at PRO Chem, and picking up information about SAQA and our region. The MA/RI Region's next quarterly meeting will be held at the New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck St. in Lowell, MA on August 7, 2016 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Melanie Johnston & Joan Blade Johnson will be talking about exhibiting and marketing your work. There will be no Show & Tell this meeting and members are encouraged to have lunch before coming to the meeting. The meeting will be followed directly at 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm by the premier reception for Currents at the Brush Art Gallery & Studios on 256 Market St. in Lowell. Don't miss the fun, join us there!