Slater Call-to-Entry

Receiving date for the 73rd Annual Connecticut Artists Juried Exhibition is Saturday, January 7 from 1:00 - 4:00pm in the Slater Museum Atrium. (This is the same exhibition that our Diane Cadrain won first prize in last year!)

All resident artists of Connecticut are welcome to submit. Please refer to the prospectus for complete submission and exhibition details. Download it now at www.slatermuseum.org.

Meeting Minutes 12/3/16

Another fabulous meeting! We had 25 members and three guests for our regional meeting at the NEST Arts Factory in Bridgeport on Saturday December 3, 2016. It should be noted that our guests had quite the international flair: Selma Kenter came to us from Istanbul, Turkey, while Hiroko Matsuda and Masako Matsusaki were visiting from Japan. All three guests came to us through Sisters in Cloth.

Before I get into the meeting brief, a few calendar notes:
— Members of SAQA-CT (and NJ) are invited to the SAQA-NY regional meeting next Saturday, December 10, from 10-11:45am (RSVP to lisa@threadplay.com to confirm space availability). 335 West 38th Street, 8th floor #8.
— Sisters in Cloth will be having an Artists’ Reception on Saturday, December 10, from 2-5pm for their current exhibition at the Guilford Free Library. The exhibit will be up through the month of December and includes work by some of our SAQA members, as well as our recent guest, Hiroko Matsuda.
— The second half of the Local Color: Connecticut Stories exhibition will be up at Connecticut Hospice through January 7, 2017.
— We hope to have our next regional meeting sometime in February, but we’re still in need of a venue. Please email me or Christina if you have a (no-cost) meeting space for 45ish people on a Saturday from 10am-2pm…

Now back to our meeting! Christina briefed us on some helpful things found on the main SAQA website. First was the SAQA Seminar, a new project launched by the SAQA Education Committee, chock full of multi-media content - this series is all about "Stitching”. Christina also noted the fantastic index of back issues of the SAQA Journal. You can search or sort by topic, date, title or author to find what you need. So handy!

Our regional Trunk Show, “You’re Doing What?!" made a spectacular appearance at our meeting. It has visited three different guilds/quilt groups so far (email Hope Barton or Betty Warner to schedule the trunk with your venue!). It was a delight to see the variety of ideas and work amongst our regional membership, and the results of the hardwork of our Trunk Show committee. Those who were present and had pieces in the show spoke briefly about how their piece fit in the theme…or how it didn’t necessarily but represented their work or interests.

On to Show and Tell: many of those present had beautiful work to show off and exciting things to share. Some useful tidbits:
— Dot Bergen was enthusiastic about the use of encaustic wax to layer and college fabric. Highly recommended was the workshops of Leslie Giuliani.
— Paula Klingerman brought a great piece to show off the process of silk fusion, layering silk roving in cross-directional layers and melding it together using dish soap and textile medium.
— Carol Capozzoli reiterated her success working with a mentor, and inquired about critique or tips for using tulle to create depth or shadow.
— Norma Jean Brevik (who was also a hero in assisting with the abundance of door prizes for this meeting) introduced some of us to the wonders of silicone oven liners. Inexpensive and easily found, they can be used in place of a Supreme Slider  - just be sure to put some double-sided tape on the back. Others noted they are great for fusing assistance.
— The New Britain Museum of American Art has a enormous quilt reproduction fabricated in a manner reminiscent of sand mandalas, on exhibit in their New/Now section through January 23, 2017.

We then split into two groups and snuck into the exhibitions for Surface Design Association and the Celebration of Karen Loprete a little bit early, before adjourning.

The Healing Art of Pathology

Mary Lachman's work has just been published in "The Healing Art of Pathology", with two different works inside and with her piece, "Mermaid's Tale" featured on its coveted cover! The book focuses on the discipline of pathology as seen through the lens of art.

An IQA winner!

Hearty congratulations to Barb McKie for securing Third Place in the 2016 International Quilt Association "Quilts: A World of Beauty" show in the Art: Miniature category. Her piece, "Lifetime Partners" is a beauty, and we're so pleased that it has received the recognition it deserves.

Next regional meeting: October 8th!

Hello dearest CT regional membership! We are SO sorry for short notice on this, but we will be having our next regional meeting on October 8th. We will be meeting at the Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Ave, Hartford, CT from 10am-2pm.

We have an exciting agenda planned, but we need your help! We would love to have a discussion about workshops and teaching gigs - perhaps 3 or 4 panelists, speaking from your experience on how you started teaching, what you’ve learned from teaching and about teaching, favorite tips or what you would do differently if you could do it all over again. After that, we’ll have an open mic time of what the best workshop we’ve ever taken was or what a teacher may have done that really inspired or wow-ed us. Please email Kelly (art@kellyissuperneato.com) ASAP if you would be willing to share your expertise.

As always, we will have a lunch option - email Christina (christina.onebobbin@gmail.com) to be added to the list for $10 (sandwich, chips, beverage, cookies).

And Show and Tell!!!! I can’t wait to see and hear what amazing things you are all working on and doing out there! Plus, don’t forget your door prize donations.

Thanks for your abundant patience, and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Reflections by Clara Nartey

Clara Nartey has a beautiful solo show, "Reflections: Stitched Drawings" at Atticus Bookstore and Cafe, 1082 Chapel Street, in New Haven. The exhibit will be on view through October 23, and on October 22, Clara will be on hand for a meet and greet from 3:00 to 4:00pm.

There’s more info at http://claranartey.com/atticus-bookstore-cafe/ and http://claranartey.com/art-show-at-atticus-is-open/.

Dawn Allen's Secret Garden

A solo exhibit highlighting Dawn's fabric art from the past two years, will be at the Rinnova Gallery (105 Elm Street Westfield, MA - only 10 minutes from the CT border!) September through October with the artist's reception on October 7th from 6-8pm. Most of the artwork from the "Larger Than Life Flowers" series will be there as well as several new and not yet exhibited pieces.

The “Larger Than Life Flowers” series is inspired by the moment in the Wizard of Oz when the movie turns to color and the camera pans across giant colorful flowers. This series is fun, exciting, and happy. These original art pieces hang on the wall and bring cheer to your space.

All of the pieces are made from fabric using modern art quilting techniques and her own method of transforming the usually flat quilt medium into three dimensional art.

Escape New Haven

Have you heard about the newest craze of escape rooms? Kind of the next step up from murder mystery theater, you [in a group] are locked in a room with some sort of themed premise and need to find and puzzle through different clues to figure out how to get out. A popular New Haven-based version recently renovated their Gallery scenario and are looking to showcase a local artist or two. This could be a really unique opportunity for your work.  https://escapenewhaven.com/blog/artwork

Sisters in Cloth exhibition

Some of our SAQA-CT members will be exhibiting at The Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery at the Middlesex Hospital Shoreline Medical Center. The exhibit runs from September 8 through October 28, 2016 with an opening reception on Thursday, September 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Gallery is located at 250 Flat Rock Place, Westbrook. Details are available here: http://www.zip06.com/article/20160809/USR04/160809832/1172/NWS01

Local Color Pop-Up Exhibition!

13 pieces from our current Local Color: Connecticut Stories exhibition have been selected through a blind jurying to hang at Greene Art Gallery through the first week of September. Sisters In Cloth will be there Friday, August 26th, from 10a-12p in the sculpture garden. Bring your stitching and join them!

Arts Center East Off the Rack Sale

Arts Center East in Vernon CT invites you to submit work for their Off the Rack Sale. Sale dates are September 15-18, 2016. Prospectus and entry form are available here: http://artscentereast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Off-the-Rack-Prospectus-Final.pdf

Monson Arts Council Fiber Arts Show

Monson Arts Council is planning a Fiber Arts Show for Fall! They are seeking artists working with Felt, Quilting and Weaving to enter an open show — Celebrate Fiber Arts — which will be held in four venues on Main Street in Monson MA, September 30, October 1 & 2, 2016.

They are hoping to reach artists who want to show their work in a festive event and who will also have the opportunity to sell their work - all entrants may be in our sales shop. The entry deadline is September 10. The entry form and more details are available on the Monson Arts Council website.

21st Annual Quilt and Needle Arts Show

First Church of East Haddam is proud to present its 21st Annual Quilt and Needle Arts Show, located in America's Oldest Federal Meetinghouse. When decorated with vibrant quilts and needlework, it is transformed into a spectacular showcase and an inspiration to those of us who appreciate fine handwork. We hope you will be part of this experience! We invite you to share your love of needlework by exhibiting your quilts, cross-stitch, needlepoint, hooked rugs, knitting, crocheting, etc.

Show hours will be 10:00am - 5:00pm on Saturday October 8th and 1:00pm- 5:00pm on Sunday October 9th. Exhibitors should fill out the attached application (click to enlarge)

and mail it before SEPTEMBER 26 to H. Coleman, 140 Sillimanville Rd, Moodus CT 06469. Admission to the show is $7.00 per person, but exhibitors are admitted free of charge.

Submissions are due at the church on Friday, Oct 7th, between 10:00am and 6:00pm and can be picked up immediately after the show (between 5:00 and 7:00pm) on Sunday, Oct 9th. If your submission is for sale, please indicate your asking price on the application form. First Church reserves the right to collect a 20% commission for handling the sale.

Please be assured that your submission will be cared for by members of First Church. (Volunteers will be sleeping in the church on Friday and Sturday nights just to keep an eye on everything!)

More information is available on the website, http://ehquiltshow.sc43.org/

Connecticut Women's Artists Exhibition

Art by Diane Cadrain, Clara Nartey, and Catherine Smith have been juried into the Connecticut Women's Artists, Inc. 86th Annual Open Juried Exhibition - August 20th - September 23, 2016 at The Slater Memorial Museum 108 Crescent Street, Norwich, CT.   OPENING RECEPTION - this Saturday, August 20th 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. All are welcome!!

Sad news

Dear Members,
It is with great sadness that we have to tell you that our dear friend, Karen Loprete, died on Monday afternoon.

Funeral arrangements are at the convenience of the family.

There have been initial discussions of a tribute show of Karen's work.  Also, a very initial idea is to invite our members to create a piece that reflects Karen's style or spirit.  We expect in the next week that details on these ideas will available.

MA/RI SAQA meeting/Currents exhibition opening!

Exhibiting and Selling your Fiber Art
Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Lowell, MA
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Business Meeting 12:00pm, Lecture 12:30pm. Exhibit Reception 2-4PM
Melanie Johnston and Joan Blade Johnson

Melanie and Joan will be talking about their experience exhibiting and selling their fiber art.
They have many recommendations for anyone thinking about or interested in taking this next step as a professional fiber artist.

This event includes the SAQA MA/RI SAQA meeting and the opening reception for the MA/RI regional exhibition, Currents, which was juried by Kate Themel and Diane Wright.

2016 AQS QuiltWeek Semifinalist!

Paducah, Kentucky, USA – Paula Klingerman from Cheshire is a semifinalist for the 2016 AQS QuiltWeek® – Syracuse, New York July 27 – 30, 2016, at The OnCenter – Nicholas J. Price Convention Center. Paula has been chosen to display the quilt, GATHERON GUARDIAN OF THE GUILD, along with 191 others in this AQS contest. First, Second, and Third Place prizes in seven categories will be awarded, along with seven overall awards including Best of Show. Winners will be announced at the show and posted on the AQS website, QuiltWeek.com. More than $50,000 will be granted, including $10,000 for the Best of Show and $3,500 each for Best Wall Quilt, Best Use of Color, Best Original Design, Best Hand, Best Home, and Best Longarm Workmanship. Regardless of how GATHERON GUARDIAN OF THE GUILD places in the final judging, all semifinalists ́ quilts will be displayed at the show, which is expected to draw more than 15,000 people.  Quilts were entered in this international contest from 37 US states and 10 other countries.

Let Them Eat Cake!

Congratulations to Angelina Kendra for her quilt, "Let Them Eat Cake", making the front page of the Hartford Courant's Living section! It will be part of the exhibit, "SAMESEX" at the City Lights Gallery. The opening reception, as well as a pride walk, will be held Thursday, July 21, at the gallery located at 855 Main St. in Bridgeport, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The parade starts at 7:30. The exhibit will run until Aug. 30. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday and Friday 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday noon to 4 p.m.

Here's the Hartford Courant article link: http://www.ctnow.com/arts-theater/museums/hc-bridgeport-lgbt-exhibit-parade-0720-20160720-story.html

Quilts: A World of Beauty

A mighty "congratulations" to quite a few of our CT-regional members on their quilts being selected as finalists in the International Quilt Association 2016 show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty". I'm so proud of all the art-quiltiness we have in our region, and excited that you're able to share your talents with the world. Please email me a pic of what you have in the show so we can showcase it here!

Water, Water Everwhere exhibition

Helene Kusnitz has her piece called "Flow" in the Spectrum Art Gallery's exhibit called "Water, Water Everywhere on view from July 22 to September 11, 2016.

The gallery is located at 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT. Hours are Wed-Fri 11a-6p, Sat 11:30a-6p, Sun 11:30a-5p.

Fiber art at UMass Dartmouth

Nancy Monson just finished up her post-baccalaureate certificate in fiber art at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Find out all about it on page 54 of the current issue (Volume 5, Issue 4, Summer 2016) of Fiber Art Now.

Shuffle & Shake - Reception 7/14!

Mary Lachman has several artworks in part one of The Arts Council of Greater New Haven exhibit, Shuffle & Shake in the Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery. It will be up through August 4th, with a reception on Thursday, July 14 from 5-7pm. The artwork is on view to the public from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday at the gallery located at 70 Audubon Street, Second Floor, New Haven. There is no admission fee.

Quilts=Art=Quilts 2016 - enter now!

Quilts=Art=Quilts is an annual international juried quilt exhibition at the Schweinfurth Art Center.

Jurors select quilts based on overall quality of design, visual impact and originality.  Prizes are awarded, including $1,000 for Best of Show.

The opening weekend of the exhibit will include an Artist Reception and Awards Presentation, workshops, and a Quilters' Brunch with a lecture by Prize Juror Lasse Antonsen.

Jurors: Terry Jarrad-Dimond, Valerie Goodwin, Judy Kirpich
Prize Juror: Lasse Antonsen

Exhibit dates: October 29, 2016-January 8, 2017
Artist Reception & Awards Presentation: October 29, 2016
Quilters' Brunch & Lecture: October 30, 2016

All entries must be submitted online. Visit www.qaqentry.org for details and to submit entries. Online entries will be accepted until July 25, 2016.

Carol Eaton workshops

Carol Eaton has two surface design workshops coming up! Join her as she shares her experience from over a decade of experimenting and fine-tuning of her approach to surface design. Have fun - get messy - take home fabulous fabric! Each student will create and take home FOUR yards of fabric.

Sun Printing/Ice Cube Painting/Textures/Painting on 3D Surfaces!
August 27th at her Shelton, CT studio, 10:00 – 2:00

Ice Dyeing/Confetti Dyeing/Free Motion Dyeing!
September 10th at her Shelton, CT studio, 10:00 – 2:00

Workshop fee $35. Materials fee $45 (all fabrics, paints and tools included). Contact caroleatondesigns@gmail.com for more details or to register.

Barb McKie's been busy!

Barb McKie has had quite a few acceptances to exhibitions recently! Perhaps you can drop in on a piece or two if any of you are doing some traveling nearby:

Yellow Crowned Night Heron by Barb McKie

July 9th to September 11, 2016 – Aullwood Audubon Center in Dayton, Ohio will have their 24th annual art quilt exhibit about nature.  This show is called Flower Power.  All 3 of her entries were accepted for the show – Abundance of Orchids, Red Dahlia Reflections and Sunrise Serenade.

July 21st to 24th, 2016 – Quilt Odyssey at the Hershey Convention Center in Hershey, PA – her 2 accepted quilts are The Lookout and Yellow Crowned Night Heron

July 27th to 30th 2016 - American Quilter’s Society show in Syracuse, NY – both Rain Drop’s Story and Blue and Gold Macaw were accepted.

More of Barb's work can be viewed on her website, http://www.mckieart.com/. Congratulations, Barb!

Dawn Allen's solo show!

Here's the press release for Dawn Allen's upcoming solo show at Black Birch Vineyard. Hope some of you will make it up there!
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"Irma and Doris Go Wine Tasting" is a veritable garden of three-dimensional fabric flowers and foliage. You’ll want to get “up close and personal” to fully appreciate and enjoy the size, intricacies of beads and thread, and vibrancy of color in all of Dawn's creations. The cotton sateen fabrics themselves feature Dawn’s original designs—bright graphic patterns created from her own photographs of flowers and nature. Dawn’s exclusive hidden-wire technique brings each piece to life in three dimensions. Do not miss this glorious garden!
Dawn Allen started quilting and beading when she was a child. She loves creating three-dimensional fabric art—“happy art”—that brings color, whimsy, and beauty into any space. Her work has recently been exhibited at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA and at Highfield Hall and Gardens in Falmouth, MA. Her home studio is in Westfield, MA.

The exhibit can be viewed at Black Birch Vineyard, 155 Glendale Rd, Southampton, MA from August 5 to September 25, 2016. The Artist’s Reception will be held on Friday, August 5th from  6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.


Visit Dawn’s website at dawnallen.net.

From SAQA-VT/NH/ME

Stephanye Schuyler, VT/NH/ME Regional Representative, writes:

If you are attending August’s Mancuso’s World Quilt New England Show in Manchester NH, you are invited to our regional meeting on Saturday August 20, 1-4pm. We are lining up a speaker to talk about one of the aspects of exhibiting your work. Additionally, we will have a slide presentation of our region’s submissions to this year’s SAQA auction. And we will round out our meeting with your show and tell.  Bring your art to share and astound.

Also, wanted to remind you about an exhibit we’re putting together that is open to all New England SAQA members. Titled Wicked Good Art Quilts, the show’s focus is to showcase the New England’s best work, highlighting diversity of style and techniques used by New England SAQA artists. Here's a link to the Call for Entry, with the details: http://www.saqa.com/calendar-detail.php?ID=5023

I hope some of you are able to attend and participate. It's a great opportunity to meet different art quilters to stir your creative juices.

Thought about teaching?

Teaching workshops is a wonderful way to hone your art quilting chops, share your skills and techniques, get your name out into the world, inspire other people...and maybe pick up a tiny bit of cash in the process. We have quite a few SAQA-CT members who hold workshops regularly (for example, I'm signed up for an upcoming Carol Eaton fabric painting workshop! I'm so excited!). Laurie Russman just had a really interesting post with some things she's learned from teaching. I hope that you'll all consider holding some sort of workshop of your own at some point. And if you're already teaching, don't forget to drop me a line w details to post here on the blog for you!

SAQA-CT May Newsletter

Hello dearest SAQA-CT members! Did you enjoy your three days of spring before this summer weather hit? Hoping you all have some wonderful projects in the works [but without too much hot ironing involved!]. If you’re on Instagram, don’t forget to tag #saqact so we can all ogle your in-progress shots and completed masterpieces!

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I know that you’re all hankering for our next regional meeting. Well, at long last, here’s the scoop:
We’re having a vendor day/tag sale! Saturday July 16, 10:00 til 1:00 at Overshores Brewery, 250 Bradley Ave, East Haven.
Come to sell, come to shop! We will not be having our usual meeting agenda this time around to give everyone plenty of time to peruse the goodies.

If you’re interested in selling - fabric, artworks, crafts, overflow from of your stash, housewares, whatever! - tables are $10 each [and can be shared]. Please let Christina [christina.onebobbin@gmail.com] know your interest by July 2 so that we have enough tables and can visualize the spacing.

And when you’re done shopping our meeting, there is plenty more to do along the shore that day, including the Guilford Arts Center Craft Expo! Fun times!

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Not enough quilting camaraderie for you? Don’t forget to reach out to other SAQA-CT members in your area - we may not be plugging them but you can certainly still join or form parlor groups to get a more regular SAQA fix! [What’s a parlor group?] And be sure to stalk each other’s blogs and social media. I will be attempting to highlight and link to your blog posts on the SAQA-CT site more frequently starting this summer. Please email me if you have a blog that isn’t linked to your name on the member list!

Have you been “Working in a Series”? Or do you want to be? Working in a series is a fantastic way to see and push the evolution of your artistic voice. It’s also a means for increasing the size of your body of work. Please email Christina this week if you are interested in being part of the Working in a Series sub-group.  This group does not have a "form" yet; once we know who is interested, we will go from there.

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What are you doing June 11? The Windham Textile Museum (411 Main St. Willimantic, CT) is having a Quilt Day from 10am-4pm. Many SAQA members have been working hard to put this day together - I hope many of you can make the trip to enjoy it!

VENDORS:
            Allison Wilbur -  Vintage Fiber Art Embellishments
            Carol Eaton - Unique Hand-Dyed & Painted Fabric
            Michele Palmer - Vintage fabrics & Textile Books
            MJ Fiber Art  -  Hand-dyed silk scarves and Fiber Art
            Schillers Sewing Circle – Sewing & Embroidery Machines for demonstration
            Stitch Chicks  -  Quilting Fabric and notions
QUILTS ON DISPLAY by Catherine Whall Smith

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
12:00pm  Hand Quilting -  Catherine Whall Smith
1:00pm  Folk & Mill Songs - Sally Rogers
2:00pm  Printing Images on Fabric -  Cathy Smith and Joan Blade Johnson
3:00pm  Working with Pre-Cut Fabric - Stitch Chicks Quilt Shop

LECTURES / TRUNK SHOWS in the MAIN BUILDING, SECOND FLOOR:
11:00am  SAQA Trunk Show - Hope Barton
11:45am  Modern Quilting -  Rita Hannafin
1:15pm    Quilts for Change -  Allison Wilbur
2:00pm   Mill Girls Painted Quilts - Barbara Barber
2:45pm    Anatomy of a Quilt Appraisal - Lois Palmer, Certified Quilt Appraiser

Additional Info:
There will be food available for purchase at the museum.
Willimantic has several good restaurants within walking distance of the museum including interesting ethnic choices.
Stop by the Swift Waters Artisan Coop at 866 Main St and the Kerri Art Gallery.
Pick up some organic groceries at the Food Coop on Valley St.
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As always, thank you for your patience, your enthusiasm, and your passion for art quilts. Can’t wait to see you again.

Textile Trio events at the Windham Textile Museum

Mark your calendars for this fantastic three-Saturday event! The Windham Textile Museum is hosting Textile Trio 2016, three days of amazing workshops and vendors. June 11 is Quilting and Fiber Arts - which includes SAQA members: Melanie Johnston, Joan Blade Johnson, Carol Eaton, Allison Wilbur, Michele Palmer, Catherine Smith, Hope Barton, Barbara Barber, Rita Hannafin, and Lois Palmer! This is also your chance to view the SAQA-CT Trunk Show and the WTHM/SAQA-CT Spool quilt. June 18 is a celebration of Worldwide Knit in Public Day, and June 25 features weaving and spinning. I hope you'll make the trip for some textile goodness.

Oh wow!

Clara Nartey also had two pieces juried into the Current exhibition at the Brush Gallery, as well as a piece into the New Legacies Contemporary Art Quilts Show in Fort Collins, CO! Rather than write up the details here, go see it on her blog - along w a great video showing her process in creating "Whirlwind Thoughts", the work in the New Legacies Show.

Currents exhibition

CT co-rep, Christina Blais, had a piece accepted into the SAQA-MA/RI exhibition, "Currents", and it will be on display at the Brush Gallery [256 Market Street, Lowell MA]. It opens Sunday August 7, 2016, with an artist reception from 2:00 to 4:00, and will be up until September 18.

Did you know that you can be a part of a second region? Being able to take part in another SAQA region doubles your contact with members and their ideas and work AND gives you bonus opportunities to enter pieces into regional exhibitions! Log in to your membership profile at SAQA.com and go to "Manage Your Account" to add your second region!

SAQA CT April 9, 2016 Meeting Minutes

Another fantastic meeting! This was the first regional meeting for Christina and me to “fly solo” as your new co-reps, and we thank you for your patience with us. As I stated repeatedly over the course of the meeting – you are an amazing group of women [and Dwight] and we are so very lucky to be working with all of you.

Wanda Seldon, member of the CT-FAC and a board member of the Windsor Art Center, opened out meeting by welcoming the 38 of us to the exhibit and space, with an additional encouragement to become a member of the Windsor Art Center, especially with a Members’ Exhibition coming up!

We had a brief overview of the SAQA conference in Philadelphia. Highlights were:

- The opportunity to meet art quilters of all different levels and styles, along with their varied life stories and unique perspectives is absolutely invigorating.

- The encouragement that the “big names” in quilting have rough spots and have to just keep working at it, just like the rest of us.

- The idea to work BIG and the value to working in a series. Working in a series can mean many things: one thought is to make a piece, then change just one thing [color OR line OR shape OR scale OR…] that wasn’t working and try it again. Then change a different thing and try it again. Then change a different thing, or go back and if you chose A instead of B, go back and choose B this time.

At which point, Christina put out a call for a regional Visioning Project to work in a series. Anyone looking to work in an encouraging small group setting [and especially anyone looking to volunteer to wrangle such a group] toward a goal of pushing your work forward through working in a series should email Christina.

We also posed the call for a large open space for our summer regional meeting – we’re hoping to have a vendor/tag sale/stash swap day, by request from the membership. We have had a few of you mention some ideas – but are always open to more options for this and other meetings in the future.

Betty Warner is still open to accepting more pieces for our regional Trunk Show. Pieces should be 6x10 and will be mounted to a black backing board and inserted into a clear sleeve. Details are on the Trunk Show tab of our blog.

Cathy Smith mentioned the upcoming Quilting and Fiber Arts one day event, June 11^th from 10a-4p at the Windham Textile Museum.

As usual, we saw some stunning pieces from many members during everyone’s favorite, Show and Tell. A few notable links are:

-Barb McKie was published in a fantastic multi-page spread in issue 17.5 of the Australian Patchwork and Stitches Magazine and will be exhibiting in the International Quilt Invitational Exhibition at the Brigham City Museum, UT from June 17 – August 31, 2016.

- Barbara Dieroff mentioned “Connecticut Scissorhands”, the Connecticut chapter of Surface Design Associates exhibition at the Gallery on the Green [Dowd Avenue in Canton CT], from April 22 through May 22. The gallery is open Fri, Sat, Sun from 1-5p.

- Dawn Allen has her first solo show, “Larger Than Life Flowers”, at Black Birch Vineyards in Southampton MA for August and September [opening reception Aug 5th], and showed her new technique of digitally printing colorful flower petals she contructed and manipulated on the computer, through Spoonflower.

- Dwight Lopes showed off some fancy marbling using Golden fluid acrylic, and pieces then constructed using Sew Easy curves quilting method .

- Mickey Lawler recently filmed an online class. It’s not live yet, but keep an eye out for it on iQuilt.

- Cathy Smith highly recommended the viewing of the SAQA exhibition, Stories of Migration, at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC.

-Someone mentioned Brookside Quiltworks, a quilt shop in Egremont MA as a interesting place to exhibit.

A few other links to consider – CAFE for calls to entry,  Fiber Art Calls for Entry, Fiber Art Now is looking for Emerging Artists [working in fiber less than 5 years], and Laurie Russman mentioned her success with Quilt Canada.

Thank you so much to the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective for a beautiful show and energizing Artists’ Talk.

- Diane Cadrain discussed about her experiences in Thailand, represented in “Buddhist Temple II” and “Buddhist Temple I”.

- Carol Eaton mentioned her process of “Walking with Sharon” in producing “Leaf Study I”.

- Karen Loprete showed us “Jazz It Up”.

- Carol Vinick explained “Roots and Wings”, a representation of her two daughters, with a beautiful hidden image of her and her husband.

- Linda Martin spoke of her collaged portrait of a Native American, “Righteous Spirit”, made up of over 1,000 pieces!

- Christina Blais gave us chills with her discussion of her Rosa Parks piece, “Determination”.

- Mary Lachman briefed us on the evolution of her work “Spiraling Out”.

- Wanda Seldon explained the joy and jubilation of her Soulful Journey, as depicted in “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”.

Final notes: the CT Piecemakers Quilt Guild show was stunning, especially the SAQA-CT invitational exhibit. Thank you to the members who had pieces in it. We had a wonderful cross-section of styles represented, and viewers gushed about how much talent you all possess. I was SO proud of you! And an additional thank you to Laureen Pekar and Barbara Dieroff for inviting us and helping coordinate the efforts to get us together and hung.

Lastly, as mentioned a few times before, I am in the very slow process of reworking the SAQA-CT blog. So far, I’ve updated the tab of current members. Double-check that you are listed, spelled correctly, and your website or blog is linked. If any of these is off, let me know! It’s likely that your membership has expired and/or your information as it is in the SAQA database is incorrect or incomplete. Also - if I listed you as a second state and you are only a CT member, I went solely on mailing addresses thus far and have not gone back with due diligence to confirming official status. In any case, email me any changes, and I’ll make corrections.

Thank you again to all of our regional members, for your passion for art quilts and your enthusiasm for SAQA. You are such a joy!

Working in a series?

Over the next month, Lisa Call, a SAQA member in CO, will be posting on her blog about...wait for it...WORKING IN A SERIES. So if anyone is interested, here's the first of her posts: http://blog.lisacall.com/2016/04/structures-1-informs-171/

CT-FAC on WFSB!

So proud of Diane Cadrain, Linda Martin and Karen Loprete for this wonderful interview with Scott Hainey for the CT-FAC Soulful Journeys exhibit at Windsor Art Center!
http://www.wfsb.com/clip/12373367/turning-quilts-into-works-of-art

Working big?

This post http://alisaburke.blogspot.com/2014/10/go-big-tips-and-trick-for-painting-large.html was mentioned amongst my blog readings this morning. She's a painter, not an art quilter, so some of her tips may not apply, but her enthusiasm and encouragement to work big might be helpful to those of you looking to try it!

Finish those edges!

Just came across this pdf article published by Quilting Arts Magazine with quite a few different tutorials for finishing the edges of your art quilts: http://theartquiltassociation.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/QA-Quilt-Binding-Methods.pdf

Reminder - regional meeting!

Don't forget - our next regional meeting is THIS coming Saturday, April 9th, starting at 10a at the Windsor Art Center. We'll be viewing the CT-FAC's "Soulful Journeys" exhibition and hearing their Artists' Talk! Hope to see you all there!

SAQA-CT television celebrities!

Check out Jan Doyle and Diane Wright talking art quilts in a two-part interview for CTV!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-WK-lQCIcg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qspK1Wk8pSU

Opening pics and a teaser

Here's a post from Mary Lachman's blog with a few photos [and a teaser of a few pieces!] from the opening reception for the CT-FAC's "Soulful Journeys" exhibition that we will be viewing at our next regional meeting on April 9, 2016: http://marylachmandesign.blogspot.com/2016/03/windsor-art-center-hosts-new-exhibit.html

March newsletter

Happy March! Have you been thinking about your artistic voice since our last meeting? Elizabeth Barton’s book “Visual Guide to Working in a Series” was recently recommended for such a journey – I’m hoping to check it out soon. Let me know if you’ve read it and what you think!

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NEXT REGIONAL MEETING: April 9, 2016 at the Windsor Art Center (40 Mechanic Street, Windsor CT), starting at 10am.

          •  We will be viewing the exhibition, “Soulful Journeys” and at 1pm, some members of the CT-FAC will be giving an artists’ talk about some of their work in the show.

          •  Please keep your Show and Tell to one or two items so that we have time for everyone, and be sure to keep private conversations to a minimum during that time so that we can hear what everyone is up to.

          •  Sign up for lunch ($10) by emailing Christina by April 5th. If you do sign up, please make every effort to show up and pay in small bills/exact amounts, so that we can keep our pricing down. If you order a lunch and will not be able to make it to the meeting, please notify us ASAP so we can make adjustments.

          •  Don’t forget to bring your door-prize donations!

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Last chance to register for the SAQA conference in Philadelphia!

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Remaining SAQA-CT Trunk Show entries: Bring your piece to the April meeting!!! Details and specs are available on the SAQA-CT Trunk Show tab on our website.

Entries to the SAQA-invitational exhibition at the CT Piecemakers April show:  Please bring your piece to the SAQA regional meeting on April 9th, if you have not already made other drop-off arrangements. An email from Laureen Pekar will be forthcoming.

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As always, don’t forget to follow the SAQA-CT blog at http://saqact.blogspot.com and tag your Instagram pics with #saqact!

And if you are a member and did NOT receive this information in an email, please contact one of your reps so we can make sure you are getting all the SAQA-CT news that's fit to email!

Animals?

Another call for artists: Animals in Art - Our Partners on the Planet at Mills Pond Gallery in St. James, NY. Entry deadline is June 3, 2016.
http://www.stacarts.org/exhibits/show/96

Aqua-themed work?

Just saw this call for artists from Norwalk Parking Authority's Art in Public Places, in case any of you have some water-themed work at the ready. Applications are due by March 25, 2016.
http://www.norwalkpark.org/callforart

"And Still We Rise" exhibit at the Bruce Museum

A potent exhibition is now up at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, through April 24:
https://brucemuseum.org/site/exhibitions_detail/and-still-we-rise-race-culture-and-visual-conversations

Fantastic political use of quilts

A really decent LA Times article about some really powerful quilts:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-gun-violence-quilts-20160220-story.html

Meeting minutes 2/20/16 at Guilford Art Center

Another fantastic regional meeting on the books! On Saturday, Feb 20, 2016, 41 of us met at the Guilford Art Center (411 Church St, Guilford, CT), in conjunction with the first showing of our second regional exhibition, Local Color: Connecticut Stories. Diane Wright opened our meeting with a brief overview of the jurying process for the show and a summary of the reception the night prior. Outgoing CT co-rep Barbara Adams presented our Exhibition Committee leaders Diane (and Kate Themel  in absentia) with small tokens of our appreciation for spearheading this wonderful opportunity for our region.

Next, Betty Warner, as part of our regional Trunk Show committee, discussed the hopes to have a minimum of fifty pieces collected for the exhibition. Due to feedback from the group, it was decided to extend the deadline to our April regional meeting.  Note:  Please do not mail your pieces to Betty; bring them to the April meeting or mail after April 1.

As our dear co-rep Cathy Smith has retired from her position, we took a moment to thank her for her service and presented her with a thank-you gift of hand-dyed fabric created for her personally by Carol Eaton.

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 This meeting’s agenda highlight was a small panel on the SAQA Mentor program:
·          Jan Doyle spoke with enthusiasm and finesse about her experiences with her mentor, Linda Anderson  She briefly described how SAQA pairs you with a mentor based on your interests and how much time you are willing/able to invest. Some resources mentioned during this time were the Spoonflower website for print-on-demand and custom photo fabrics and the Dreamscape app to turn photos into artist-stylized images.
·      Carol Capozzoli started as a Mentee with the goal of entering the SAQA call for Turmoil. Her mentor, Phillida Hargreaves from Kingston, Ontario, offered gentle guidance via Skype and email, to edit her work down, further and further. Some tips Carol offered included – Don’t take it personally. Go with the flow. Always say what you need to say. She revealed her piece, Cancerous Turmoil, to much admiration and discussion from the crowd. One notable link from her discussion was http://www.terryaskeartquilts.com/Studio/tips-tutorials-and-more/my-new-favorite-quilt-facing-technique/ for a great how-to on facing your quilt, rather than binding it.
·      One major point that both mentors seemed to really push was “What are you doing NEXT?”.
·      Cathy Smith spoke about how working with her mentor, Sharon Bass  helped her prepare the application for Juried Artist Member of SAQA. Some tips were to keep good records of everything you do (whether that be on a website/blog or otherwise), to preview the application beforehand so that you can prepare and work toward it, and to prototype/thumbnail 10 pieces together so you can see if you have a cohesive body of work. This turned into a fantastic discussion on finding your voice as an artist. Takeaways included the importance of working in a series and that while it is vital to find your voice, your voice can also evolve over time.

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After a delicious lunch, we handed out a few large door prize sets of varying goodies generously donated by our members. Then we turned the show over to everyone’s favorite, Show and Tell.   A few links from that time include:
·      Cathy Smith mentioned advertising in Art New England Magazine, which publishes an artist directory two times a year.
·      The Windham Textile and History Museum will host a series “Textile Trio 2016” in June.  On Saturday, June 11 from 10-4 there will be a series of talks and demonstrations featuring at least eight CT/SAQA members.  Check the website www.millmuseum.org for more details.
·      CT Fiber Artists Collective will have an exhibition called “Soulful Journeys” at the Windsor Art Center March 12 to April 23.  As part of the corresponding programs, there will be a fabric collage workshop led by Carol Vinick and Linda Martin on March 19 from 10 to 12 and a “Felted Labyrinth” workshop led by Diane Cadrain on April 16.  Workshops are $30 each; see www.windsorartscenter.org for more information and registration.

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Be sure to follow the regional blog at http://saqact.blogspot.com - but bear with us as it is slowly undergoing a makeover. One thing to note so far is the addition of an Instagram feed – tag your Instagram photos with #SAQACT for them to show up on our site and let other members see what you’re up to!

Our next regional meeting will be April 9, 2016 at the Windsor Art Center (40 Mechanic Street, Windsor CT) We will be generously hosted by CT Fiber Arts Collective to view their “Soulful Journeys” exhibit. Hope to see you there!

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Bonus note: Members, have you been receiving our newletters and updates via email? Be sure that SAQA is on your safe sender list [esp if you use gmail!] - directions to do so can be found in the website/technical questions section of the SAQA FAQs here. Email Kelly or Christina if you are not getting our notices!

Brief reminders

OUR NEXT CT-REGIONAL MEETING is Saturday Feb 20th, from 10am-2pm at the Guilford Art Center. Email Kelly [art@kellyissuperneato.com] for lunch sign-up BY FEB 16TH. And don’t forget to bring those door prize donations!

The deadline for our REGIONAL TRUNK SHOW has been extended to Feb 20th. If you have not already entered a piece, bring it to our February regional meeting or contact Betty Warner. Details and participation forms are on the Trunk Show tab of the blog: http://saqact.blogspot.com/p/saqa-ct-trunk-show.html

Also - the registration deadline for the Connecticut Piecemakers invitational SAQA exhibition is MARCH 1st.  Details and the registration form are on the Shows to Enter tab of the blog: http://saqact.blogspot.com/p/importan.html Questions can be directed to Christina [christina.onebobbin@gmail.com].

Lastly, due to classic New England winter unpredictability, the reception for our SAQA regional exhibition, Local Color: Connecticut Stories, is now on Friday, February 19th, from 5-7pm at the Guilford Art Center.

Hope to see you all very soon!

Arts of Tolland Open Juried Art Show

The 13th Arts of Tolland Open Juried Art Show is now accepting entries. Art collection dates are Monday, March 28, from noon to 3pm, and Tuesday, March 29, from 4 to 6pm. The entry form can be downloaded from artsoftolland.org, or you can send a SASE to Arts of Tolland, PO Box 163,   Tolland, CT 06084.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call or email them (860-871-7405; artsoftolland73@gmail.com). There are $1700 in prizes up for grabs! Good luck!

Regional Trunk Show

Just a reminder that the deadline for entries to our Connecticut regional Trunk Show has been extended to February 20th. Send your piece to Betty Warner or bring it to the regional meeting at the Guilford Art Center. Forms and other information can be found on the Trunk Show tab.

Slater Museum exhibition

Floral Departure by Barb McKie

Congratulations to Barb McKie on her acceptance into this year's Connecticut Artists Juried Exhibition at the Slater Museum in Norwich. [Diane Cadrain also has work in this show - and won FIRST PRIZE!] The exhibit will be up until March 18, 2016. Details can be found on the Slater's website: http://www.slatermuseum.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=694.

Revamped workshop at Stony Point

Sandra Sider will be holding a weeklong "Creativity Workshop: Art Quilt Inspirations" at Stony Point, September 25-29, 2016. Limited to a maximum of twelve participants, the workshop will allow Sandra to spend considerable amounts of time each day working one-on-one with quilters, evaluating their work and suggesting possible directions for developing each quilt. She will also teach the basics of monotype printing, stamp printing, and photo transfer, as well as cyanotype on fabric if we have a sunny day. The final morning will consist of critiques, with participants sharing and discussing their works in progress.

For more details, see the Stony Point website:
http://stonypointcenter.org/get-involved/latest-news/222-quilt0116#.VrdetPFs1jo

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Local Color Opening Reception POSTPONED

Unexpected weather... It is New England, after all. 
The Opening Reception for "Local Color: Connecticut Stories" will be postponed due to excessive snow and possibly unsafe road conditions.

We invite you to join us for the Closing Reception on Friday, February 19th!

Local Color: Connecticut Stories!!!

Diane and Kate hang Cathy Smith's piece, "Storm Coming"

Join us this Friday, February 5th at the Guilford Art Center from 5-7pm for the opening reception of Local Color: Connecticut Stories. Food, wine, and entertainment have been graciously coordinated by Sisters in Cloth, and it should be a fantastic time! Catalogs of the exhibition will be for sale in the gift shop.

A special thank you to Kate Themel, Diane Wright, Barb Adams, David Wright, and Roger Adams for their hard work in hanging the many beautiful and varied pieces for this show.

Unique opportunity in New London County

Cindy Barry, the Market Manager for New London Field of Greens Market, is looking for a fiber artist [or maybe a few?] with interest in joining some farmers markets in New London County. Some ideas might be a special family day demonstration of fiber art or for an artist to have this venue to sell their work.

For more information, contact:
Cindy Barry, Market Manager, 860-625-4896
www.fog.newlondonfarmersmarket.com
www.facebook.com/NewLondonFieldofGreens

On exhibit at the Slater

The prize-winning Coastal Heath

Congratulations to Diane Cadrain, not only on the acceptance of two of her works, Coastal Health and Streetside Lace, into the Connecticut Artists exhibit at the Slater Memorial Museum, but for winning FIRST PRIZE in the entire show!!!! What a beautiful piece and an amazing honor.

Streetside Lace by Diane Cadrain

Online article on Cathy Smith

A wonderful online article from the Courant, highlighting Cathy Smith and her quilt, "Grab and Go", now showing at the New Britain Museum of American Art: http://www.courant.com/community/chaplin/hc-wm-chaplin-award-winning-quilter-0128-20160122-story.html

The Nor'Easter exhibition will be up through February 14, 2016.

Congratulations, Cathy, on both the show and the press!

Local Color show teaser article

A fantastic article about our upcoming Local Color: Connecticut Stories exhibition at the Guilford Art Center [Feb 5-21]. It even has interview excerpts with the inimitable Diane Wright: http://www.zip06.com/living/20160120/from-a-long-tradition-maximum-creativity

Invitation to SAQA Members: Special Exhibit at the CT Piecemaker's Quilt Show

SAQA Members, you are invited to exhibit your work in the CT Piecemakers (CTPQG) Spring Shower of Quilts 2016.

DEADLINE to submit the registration form is FEBRUARY 16, 2016.

Read on for important updates from Laureen Pekar and Barbara Dierolf:

Dear SAQA Members,

The CTPQG Quilt Show is just around the corner, and we look forward to receiving your entry in the SAQA invitational event. I am pleased to announce that the size requirement for art quilts has been eliminated.  Please get your registration form in asap to secure your space.

I plan to attend the April SAQA meeting and will gladly collect any registered invitational entries for the show. This will eliminate half the travel for participating SAQA members.

Also you can choose to pick up your quilts on Sunday evening, April 17, 2016 between 5-6pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Southbury, CT or at my home in Stratford, CT on Monday or Tuesday April 18 or 19, 2016. We can confirm the day and time after registration.

All art quilt entries are fully insured. I’m looking forward to working with you and displaying your beautiful art quilts at our show.
You can contact me at LNPekar@optonline.net if you need any information or a registration form.

Laureen Pekar

A Note from Barbara Dierolf, Chairman of the CTPQG Quilt Show:

The SAQA invitational event has been well publicized along with our quilt show publications. CTPQG is a large quilt guild; with over 200 members, both female and male from CT and other states. CTPQG has a benefactor fund, allowing us to hire professional teachers to speak at meetings and teach classes. Participating in our show gives you the opportunity to advertise your art work, which may lead to the prospect of a sale or being invited to teach.

Click here to see the exhibition poster

Yoyo quilt tops?

Mickey Lawler has mentioned that an elderly friend has several yoyo tops that she is reluctant to send to Goodwill. If you want them, please contact Mickey at skydyes@comcast.net

Slater Museum Open Call

CALL TO ARTISTS, as posted here
 
​Submissions to the Slater Memorial Museum's 72nd Annual Connecticut Artists Exhibition will be received Saturday and Sunday, January 23 and 24 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Entries will be received in the Atrium (adjacent to and to the north of the SMM, enter through glass doors and follow signs). Please click here to refer to the prospectus for full details.
  
Now in its 72nd year, the Annual Connecticut Artists Juried Exhibition features paintings, drawings, mixed media, sculpture, graphics and photography by resident artists of Connecticut. Please join us at the opening Reception Sunday, February 7th in the Converse Art Gallery from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. The opening is free and open to the public, all are welcome.