Another great one! Saturday’s regional meeting at the Guilford Free Library was one of our best yet. Over 50 people - SAQA members and guests - made the trip to catch up with friends, meet new people, see the Sisters in Cloth exhibition and share their own fiber art as well.
We started out with a few announcements:
- First, a big Thank You to the members of Sisters in Cloth, for hosting this meeting and providing lunch.
- For other members who belong to small art groups or guilds, please consider combining your next get together with a SAQA regional meeting. You don’t even have to feed us! (but we never object to a free lunch). What we really need is enough room and chairs for 30+ people. Any ideas for meeting venues? Please contact Kate Themel or Diane Wright.
- SAQA-CT’s regional exhibition “Local Color” is now officially SAQA-approved and the prospectus can be found on SAQA’s website (as well as on this blog). Members can log into saqa.com and see a preview of the on line entry form: http://saqacallforentries7.com/
- On line entries for “Local Color” will be open Jan 15 – Feb 15, 2013
- Please welcome your next CT Co-Reps, Catherine Whall Smith and Barbara C. Adams! Kate Themel will be stepping down in April 2013 and Diane Wright will stay until the end of 2013. In the meantime Kate and Diane will remain as mentors, gradually transitioning responsibilities to Cathy and Barb.
- Kate and Diane will remain as managing curators for “Local Color” until the exhibition closes. Check the Local Color facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Local-Color-Fiber-Art-in-Connecticut/210938965706155?ref=hl
Then onto the Gift Bag Giveaways!
As a way to thank the members of SAQA-CT for their enthusiasm, creativity and friendship, Kate gave away 2 tote bags filled with fiber-art-making goodies. In random drawings, the bags were taken home by Dierdre Abbots and Timi Bronson.
Bobbie Morehouse also donated a book on embroidery, won by Lina Lawall.
Show and Tell was inspiring, enlightening and fun, as always. You can see some of the artists and their work in the slideshow below. For the uninitiated: our Show and Tell time is usually the high point of our meetings. Everyone (including guests) are encouraged to bring something to share. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a quilt. We’re interested in ANY kind of fiber art.
There were so many participants we had to break for lunch half way through. And the variety of work! We saw a bit of everything - beautiful traditional quilts, wall hangings, stitched paper, felted bags, embellished clothing, even photo-printed soda cans!
Lunch and Shopping
Members were treated to a delicious lunch as they socialized, enjoyed the artwork on display, and shopped for fabric and books. Carol Eaton had a table full of her stunning hand-dyed fabrics for sale. And Rita Hannifin brought books and catalogs from the SAQA store.
Thank you, Sisters in Cloth, for hosting this event. The “Indigo” and “Postage Stamp” challenge quilts were inspiring! And everyone I talked to loved the homemade soups, not to mention the stuffed breads and great desserts!
The Sisters also rallied our generous CT members for a good cause. Quilts, blankets, sheets and over $250 was collected for the “reCOVERy” effort – to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Several CT members wanted to come but weren’t able to attend this time. We hope to see you at the next one, tentatively planned for February 2013. Check this blog for details as they become available.
Thank you to everyone who came to Guilford this weekend, and for ALL the members of SAQA Connecticut who make this such a special group!
