WIP-less Wednesday

I begin with an apology for losing count.  In my last post, I said that St. Monica's Under the Sky was the ninth miniature.  I was mistaken; it's number eight.  Here's Number 9:

"Plough the Fields and Scatter" (c) 2013

It's based on a photo of a newly-ploughed field near my home...not far from this winter scene.  (For those of  you wondering, I took the title from a favourite old hymn, and that is the correct spelling of 'plough' in that context -- from the U.K.  :-) ).

What?  You want to know what the wee white 'v' shapes are in the ploughed field?  Those are gulls, which have swooped in after worms turned up by the plough.  I've seen them follow a plough in a flock of at least a gazillion; however, I've just put in a few to give you the idea. :-)

Materials?  My own hand-dyed blue sky; sari silk ribbon "trees" along the horizon; arlee's wonderful eco-dyed silk for the grey hilly soil; cotton for the dark tilled soil; and batik for the mix of dried grass and soil at the bottom.

Though I'm linking this post to WIP Wednesday on The Needle and Thread Network, it's still Tuesday evening, and there'll be no WIP to post tomorrow, for I am on my way to Calgary...not to return till Friday.  While there I'll be seeing several friends, visiting Mutt & Jeff and the rest of the SAQA WC Best of the West exhibit at Galleria Inglewood with one of them (who's never seen my work on exhibit before -- be still, my heart!), and introducing another of them -- an embroiderer -- to my colleague arlee at the Collaborative Quilting event at Art Gallery of Calgary on Thursday evening.  You can check details about that HERE.

Have a great week -- see you later!

This Just In...

"Mutt & Jeff" (C) 2013

From Jill Sullivan, SAQA Western Co-Rep for B.C.,  on the SAQA Western Canada Blog:

Our exhibit, "Meet the Best of the West" (currently showing at Galleria Inglewood in Calgary through March 23)  travels next to British Columbia.  Here's the scoop, so those of you in the area(s) -- please check it out!

• May 10-12 in Gibsons at the Sunshine Coast Quilt Show. The show will be at the Gibsons Rec Centre.  (Sharon Pederson and Hilary Rice will be teaching at that show! Wow!)
• Moving to Quilt BC, in Penticton, May 15 - 18. Penticton Convention Centre.  (Libby Lehman is teaching and giving a lecture at that event!  Other teachers include our own Margie Davidson (Edmonton), Elizabeth Spannring, Vivan Kapusta, and our SAQA WC Co-Rep for Alberta, the inimitable Patti Morris (Red Deer). Double wow!)
• The Portals Gallery, Cowichan Valley Art Centre, Duncan, B.C.  - dates to be confirmed.

Note: There will be cards and catalogues available for purchase at the first 2 venues.  The cards are printed with single photos of pieces in the show; on the back of each card is the name of the artist and a bit of information should you want to get in touch.

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P. S. I'll be at the Galleria Inglewood for about an hour beginning approximately 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6th.  If you're in the neighbourhood, do drop by.  :-)

"Where It's At"

...the last weekend of September, that is!  I'll be at this show on Saturday, September 29, as docent for the SAQA Western Canada exhibit, "Meet the Best of the West".  If you're in the area, come on by!

Full and Rich*

*Long; many photos!

Those are the two words I've managed to come up with to describe my day at the Central Alberta Quilt Show in Red Deer yesterday.  There were more merchants than I remembered there being last year and the year before, which is a Good Thing, and all seemed to be doing steady business -- even the long-arm salespeople, and those are Big Ticket Items!

The main show was very traditional in style this year, but within that context there were some interesting pieces, wonderful use of colour, skilled hand and machine quilting and original designs.  Here are a few of my favourites:

An Incomplete Sentence -  Orlanda Brown - 33" x 55"
Quilted by Orlanda

Ms. Brown designed this piece using selvedges (spelled 'selvage' in some places, apparently), deliberately intending it to look as if it were part of a larger project.  There are no borders on 2 sides!

Oh Canada!- Corinne Hewitt - 39" x 50"
Quilted by Joan Statz

Corinne, a pattern designer, also had a booth at the show.  The sentiments she expresses in her pieces really speak to my heart. Here's the second one of hers I decided to photograph.  She designed the blocks originally as single hangings with embroidered phrases, and gave them to family members for Christmas.  However, she liked the way they looked altogether, too, so she ended up making a quilt.

Words to Live By - 44" x 53"
Quilted by Misty Smereka

And a detail of Misty's quilting in the borders:

Though I have no idea of the origins of the design, this black and white piece with red accents was one of the most striking, colour-wise:

Current Affair - Sherry Renschler - 90" x 110"
Quilted by Country Lane Quilters

Another stunning use of colour and wonderful piecing:

Star Chain - Wendy Rowledge - 84" x 108"
Quilted by Joyce Barkley

And then there was this original design:

Quilted Diamonds - Cathy Tessier - 88" x 107"
Hand-quilted by Cathy

There are over 7,000 pieces in Ms. Tessier's masterpiece.  Here are a few examples of the diamonds she created:

One other quilt I just had to take a shot of what this completed Orca Bay Mystery Quilt -- from Bonnie K. Hunter's quilt-along in which Yours Truly participated between November 2011 and January this year.  It was just so great to see one completely finished!

Orca Bay - Debbie Woods - 74" x 84"
Quilted by Debbie

Alas, it was hanging where I couldn't back up to photograph it fully -- without knocking over the quilt behind me -- so the top and bottom have been cut off.  Those of you who've at least pieced your top will have an idea how they look though, as she followed the border pattern closely.

Finally, in the main exhibit hall, there was this lovely tribute to a Guild member who passed away in November 2011.  Her name was June, and she was known not only for her quilting but for her quiet sense of humour and her generous gift of time and teaching to new members.  Here's a photo of a photo (!) -- a retrospective of her life and work.

To the right of the entrance to the main hall was an avenue of vendors in a large side room.  At the very end of the room, strategically placed across from where everyone needed to drop in their entries for two significant door prizes, was the SAQA (Western Canada) exhibit, "Meet the Best of the West".  Photos weren't permitted, but we did a brisk business selling CDs of the exhibit and greeting cards featuring a half-dozen or so of the pieces -- including mine.  Here's Mutt and Jeff, hanging between two of its compatriots:

And here's a shot of how the display looked in general (both photos taken with permission of Patti Morris, Co-Rep for Alberta).  In addition to the cards and CDs for sale, we had a binder with the Artist's Statements and copies of SAQA exhibit catalogue and the SAQA Journal for folks to peruse on site, and a stack of brochures for those interested in more information and/or membership.  We also had a few surveys for Art Quilters from the Alberta Quilt Project, as well as notes detailing Lucie Heins' up-coming talk about the project, June 20 in Camrose.  All were very well received.

I worked at the exhibit between 3 and 7 p.m.; except for a lull between 4 and 5, when those who'd been at the show since the morning were going home and those coming after work had yet to arrive, I had a steady stream of viewers to see it.  Most were appreciative.  Many were looking for names they recognized.  Others wanted to draw inspiration from the work, perhaps seeking that 'something' to move them out of their own comfort zones.  And some whizzed through it with vacant looks, either not understanding what it was about, or not wanting to know!

It's always an education to participate in and work at an exhibit like this, as well as an opportunity to educate others about the art, and textile as a medium.  My day (perhaps my year!) was made by the last visitor of the evening, who so enjoyed the exhibit that she was moved close to tears.  To my delight, she purchased a card featuring my piece, looked me in the eye and said, "I'm not buying this because you're standing there in front of me; I'm buying this because [your piece] reminds me of my home."  

What more can an artist want?

ETA:  Sorry if there's been confusion.  I didn't sell my piece as it's not for sale during the travelling show.  However, I did sell a greeting card featuring my piece!  :-)