Mixed Blessings

No sales whatsoever at the Art Show and Sale in Lacombe today.  That said,

• I wasn't alone.  One water-colourist for whom this was her twelfth show, said it was her worst year ever; the potter next to me has been in the show three years now -- ditto; the same for my favourite jewellers (third or fourth year at least; they were next-door to me last year) and  for three fellows who shared a booth of photography and framed paintings (their first year).
• I had 3 people very interested but all saw me late in the day today and had spent their $$.  One has just moved into a new home and wants fresh wall art.  I may get a call.  I will remain hopeful;
• I had lots of interest and positive feedback (no more laughable comments, though I'm still being compared to people's grandmothers, mothers and aunties, and to my SAQA colleague and predecessor as SAQA WC Co-Rep,  Patti Morris, whom I admire);
• I met several more people who'd seen my work in "Meet the Best of the West" when it showed in Red Deer;
• I had two gentlemen fascinated with The Burgess Shale exhibit now touring Southern Alberta through the auspices of the Alberta Society of Artists and TREX (one of them had hiked the excavation site!);
• I had compliments from a woman who'd already seen the "Western Threads" exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton; 
• I had many opportunities for public education (shades of the SAQA Trunk Show, "THIS is a Quilt!"); and
• I got lots of hand-stitching done on the second part of my triptych.  (I hung the first section up with a note that read "Work in Progress: 'Deteriorating Civility' (a Triptych).")  It got some curious looks.  :-)

What's next?

• A day in Lacombe tomorrow -- meetings, errands, recycling, a doctor's appointment, and a funeral tea at the church for a dear soul -- 94 -- who passed away last week;
• When home over the next month, (almost) complete rest.  By this, I mean working in the yard and garden (front needs raking), reading, knitting (for a change), perhaps working on a pieced project or two with OPI ("Other People's Instructions");
• Work on my 15 x 15 group piece (due May 31) on the theme, "Nature";
• Work on a piece for the 2014 SAQA Benefit Auction (due June 1, I think!);
• Travel to Edmonton on Friday for my son's graduation, which is the next day (Dip. Digital Media and IT) and house-warming (new digs for himself, his fiancée and another couple).  This will include (I hope) a visit to an LYS (Local Yarn Shop) or two, a gallery or two, a quilt show in Sherwood Park (on the way there), a favourite used-book shop and cafe, some long walks and some total "chilling".  
• Oh -- and the opening of the Focus on Fibre Arts Biennial Juried Show, "Prairies", at Enterprise Square in downtown Edmonton on Sunday evening (May 4).

Rural Rhythms (C) 2014

Time to get into my jammies and curl up with  a glass of wine.  In the words of the legendary Lawrence Welk,

Quiet Day

Here's what I sold at the Art Show & Sale today:

My daughter, on the other hand, sold a photo bookmark.

Apparently, most of the other artists had a similar day.

As Maggie Muggins used to say, "I wonder what will happen tomorrow?"  

:-)

Mixed Reviews

Adrenalin was running high in the lunch room yesterday as 60+ artists gathered for a wonderful repast just before the Fifteenth Annual Encore! Lacombe Art Show and Sale opened its doors.  We'd been bustling in and out since Thursday afternoon, setting up our back-drops, tables, walls and works.  Anticipation was in the air.  As we left for the exhibit hall one wished another, "Have a great show!"

The first afternoon was -- as usual -- full of browsers.  The Red Hatters visited in full regalia; there were numerous very senior citizens (I'm guessing in their late seventies and upwards) -- and an abundance of young parents with kids in strollers.

Once again I'm the only textile artist in the place.  This year I'm situated between a potter (same gal as last year) and a painter -- a new fellow who paints carefully executed figures and detailed still life in oils.  My daughter, Gina, couldn't be with me this year as she was away all week on business and won't arrive home till late this evening (I believe)...but I had permission to intersperse some of her pieces in with mine as we did last year.  I was challenged to place pieces in a complementary way based on size, colour and theme; I think it makes for a very effective presentation, but it's definitely a challenge!  :-)

SOLD! A Silvery Moon, an Orange
Sky and Dhow (C) 2014
Photo credit: Bob Laws

Another viewer picked up my business card -- and I could tell by his furrowed brow that he was thinking.  It delighted me when I was able to confirm for him that yes, I was the same "Margaret Blank" who had a piece in the "Meet the Best of the West" SAQA Western Canada show that he saw at the Kiwanis Gallery in Red Deer earlier this year.

I had several post-cards about the current Western Threads collaborative exhibit to give away, and by the end of the afternoon they were all gone.  Luckily, I also have my own post-cards on which visitors can make note of that show.  Several did so; I'm hoping they'll get up to the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton to see it before it closes in early August.

The rest of the afternoon was quiet as to sales.  I sat and stitched on a "statement" piece I'd let lie dormant for the last couple of months.  It's part of a triptych with the working title, "Deteriorating Civility".  ( I managed to get the stitching finished in the early evening and laid it out on the display table with a note, "Work In Progress".  I'll be working on the second section today.)

A steady stream of viewers came by with an assortment of feedback:

• "Interesting; very interesting" (from a snowy-haired senior);
• "I remember when my grandmother used to do this, and we tied them" (another snowy-haired senior, referring to helping her grandmother make tied bed quilts):
• "So...you're retired now and this is what you do?"
• "So-o-o-o-o beautiful; so-o-o-o beautiful."
• "This is why I wish I had more walls [in my home]!"

After 5 p.m. the viewers changed up somewhat.  The ticketed event for the evening was "The Art of the Motor Cycle", featuring over a dozen amazingly air-brush painted Harley Davidson 'cycles, sponsored by a local dealer.  I've never wanted to ride a motor cycle, nor do they attract me, but these machines and the artwork they sported were pretty impressive!  

The testosterone level in the hall mounted, as the exhibit drew more men than I've ever seen at an art show.  The women accompanying many of them were equally interesting to observe.  Tattoos abounded on both genders, as did tee-shirts and jackets emblazoned with elaborate scrolled text proclaiming their favourite 'cycle brand.  Many of the women stood tall on spiked heels that had to be at least 6"; one wore vintage-look nylon stockings, complete with seams up the back, between her heels and short, narrow skirt.  Truly a colourful crowd.  

This portion of the evening audience weren't quite sure what to think about much of the art on exhibit; many gave only a passing glance to my textiles.  Others looked genuinely confused -- a bit like deer in the headlights.  

SOLD! Boot Dance (C) 2014

At the same time, there were in the crowd many who attended simply because it was guaranteed to be a different, fun event, and they wanted to support the Lacombe Foundation for the Arts, the beneficiary of the fund-raiser.  

The young woman who was selling beer and wine tickets turned out to be none other than the person who'd bought my piece at the September 10 x 10 fund-raiser.  

SOLD! Waxwings' Delight (C) 2014

After her shift she came by the booth with 3 friends, and bought two of the minis, effusing about all of the work and wishing she could afford more.  I'm completely tickled to think I might have a fan -- and one my daughter's age or younger, at that!

And now for the Most Unusual Comment (so far) -- made by a woman who took a good look at all the pieces hanging on my display and, standing in front of Waiting for the Train, complete with its painted Lutradur (R) and hand-dyed silk ribbon embroidery, asked:

So...when the show is over what will you do with these?  Will you take them home and put them altogether in a quilt?

Go figure.

P.S.: Linking to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday" -- have a great weekend!

Never a Dull Moment

In the week since my last fabric-related post, discounting Easter observances, it's been all about prep for the 15th Annual Lacombe Art Show and Sale, which begins Friday.  As in: the day after tomorrow.


I wanted to have a dozen 'minis' ready, and managed to do that...For example...

Where There's Life, There's Hope
(C) 2014

and

Prairie Gold (C) 2014

and

Tree-O! (C) 2014 - yet another reprise of this

I also have a few 'experiments' and pieces on stretched canvas or mounted on mat board:

Rock Face III - Portrait orientation (C) 2014

This one is free-motion quilting on whole cloth -- the cloth being a section of drapery sample fabric I've had in my stash for years now.  It can also be displayed horizontally... and is 6" x 12" however you like it!

Rock Face III - Landscape orientation (C) 2014

The toughest to photograph has been this piece I created based on a photograph by Velma Bolyard, and used with her permission.  The reason it was tough is the fabric selection, as you'll see.

Vee's Berries (C) 2014
9" W x 12" L

I'll have some pieces of my daughter's to add to the mix, and plenty of easels as well and spots for hangings.  Must remember to dig out my cash box, and to make sure I have a float!  There are credit/debit card services provided on site by the City of Lacombe (for a modest fee)...but I have to be prepared for cash customers, especially for the smaller pieces.

Yesterday I updated my inventory/price list, made dowels for a half-dozen hangings that needed them, and packaged, priced and packed all my pieces.  Today?  Time to turn the rack that holds my fabric and trims into a rack that looks something like this:

With a full day of work at The Shop tomorrow, I likely won't post again until next week.  If you're out for a day trip over the weekend, do drop by the Lacombe Memorial Centre and visit my booth!

Not sure this is exactly about Work In Progress, but I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday over at The Needle and Thread Network anyway.  Have a great weekend!