Show and Tell for October 2017

You know what struck me during October's Show and Tell?  Not just the wide variety of work, but how many good ideas people have.  Did everyone leave the meeting inspired? 

So what did the ladies bring in for us to see? 

 Barbara kicked things off with her Bodacious Bloomers.  I believe she raw edge appliqued the fussy cut flowers to fabric and then mounted it to a frame.

Here Barbara had a focus fabric which she framed with fabric, ribbons and other things onto washout stabilizer, sewed it down with interesting thread and washed it out, then embellished.

 

Her second piece is a flower and leaf appliqued table runner.  So pretty!

Next up is Patty VanOrt.  She brought in her Christmas tree which was a print which she colored in with crayon. How pretty it turned out.

 Patty also brought in another print she colored in and I think she added a bit of patchwork.  A nice effect.

Now.  I wasn't quick enough to catch Jan Kalian with both of her glasses perched on her nose.  You godda be quick!  She was working on this millifiore.  It is going to be something!  She has a lot of patience.

Melanie Wilson brought in numerous hand copied coloring blocks.  I was wondering if she was wishing Margaret Abramshe had given her presentation about photocopying onto fabric before her family reunion.  She handed them out to the children at the reunion to create their own art.

 Here is what one child came up with.  She is going to take all their work. make a quilt and auction it off to a family member. 

 Nickie Heying brought in her first prize winning piece she entered into the Peach Day Challenge - via the Zion Piecemakers.  There is a lot going on here!  I think I see that she used the selvedges as a background, applique, painting, various quilting methods and a bloom in relief.  Nice work Nickie and congratulations!

Charm Crumrine brought in a photo of her granddaughter that she had transferred to fabric on Spooflower.  How prescient was she to bring this in that evening!  I bet she left with some good ideas for what to do with Regan.  I think she mentioned having her walk on clouds, but don't hold her to that.  Cute idea though!

Darlend Mann brought in a crayon watercolor of Fall leaves.  I think someone asked how permanent the crayons are...

Sue Gilgen offered a definitive answer.   At least 70 years.  Her father drew this in 1947 and colored it with crayons.  Later Sue finished it and quilted it.

Sue also brought in an award winning (first place) quilt she did after a long hiatus from quilting (she was living overseas for a while).  She didn't know if she still had it in her to create beautiful things.  Turns out she still had it. I can't remember the show she entered, but I do recall that she said it was a more traditional leaning group and those traditional ladies chose her quilt as their favorite.  Never box in a quilter, much less a big group of them.

Sharon Friedman brought in a long labor of love she is calling “Metamorphosis” .  She changed up the pattern by making a standout medallion on point for her center.  The quilting and applique on this quilt is gorgeous.  She will be entering this in a show and we all wish her luck!

Caroll Lee Stoltz brought in two watercolor landscapes which she thread painted.

Last but not least Cheryl Styler brought in a work in progress Barbara Olsen inspired bloom.  Starting was the hardest part, but she had a ruthless taskmaster spurring her on.  It is coming together Cheryl!

See ya in November ladies!

The Metaphysical Quilter - Margaret Abramshe

Margaret - a self portrait

Hi ladies,

I know everyone got Margaret's email with the PDF of her presentation (thank you Margaret), but I thought a little recap to memorialize it would be nice.

 First, BIG thank you to Margaret for such an excellent presentation that was so interesting, informative and entertaining.  There was a general sense in the room that we need to broaden our minds about what exactly an art quilt can be.

To refresh your memory, she showed her art's progression and how she found her "voice" in her work.  Currently she is doing some really fascinating work thru manipulating photos, having that image put onto fabric and then really bringing it to life and making it unique through artistic embellishment.

I am going to include a couple pictures and the links she provided for the tools she uses and to her website. 

*Do I need to say I am no photographer?

Spoonflower (commercial fabric printed from your image.) 

Spray Adhesive  (to spray on paper for printing on your home printer)

Definition of an Art Quilt (from SAQA, the organization that defined art quilting)

Margaret's Website (You can read her blog, check out quilts, and find out more about what she does!)

Selections of her work on Pinterest  (why not follow her?)

It was delightful getting to know you through your work Margaret!

Meeting Minutes for October

Hello Ladies,
Hope the week since we met has been a fruitful one in craft and in life.
Until I can sort out linking PDF's from Googledocs to our blog, I am going to simply going to post the meeting minutes.  Hope that's OK.

So without further ado (Thank you Sharon for taking such terrific notes and sending them out not on a PDF):

Fiber Arts Rebels

October 3, 2017 Minutes 

6:00 - Welcome by Cheryl

• Sign-up Sheet for “Teaching Opportunities”.  If you would like to teach a class at our upcoming meetings, please sign up.  This form was passed around during class.
• Pot luck dinner will be in December.
• November meeting will be taught by either Char or Carol Lee.  TBD
• January meeting will be Thread Painting, taught by Sue Gilgen
• Carol Lee Stolz volunteered to by Cheryl Styler’s assistant

6:10 - 7:00  -  Presentation on Art Quilts by Margaret Abramshe (the Metaphysical Quilter)

Margaret shared some of her award-winning quilts, and did a power-point presentation that took us through her creative process.  Her resume is extensive and includes her work being featured in many quilt shows nationally, her teaching background, as well as her authoring a book on the subject of art quilts.  This presentation will be sent out to all via e-mail, but the highlights of the presentation include:

Definition of art quilts:  A creative visual work that is layered and stitched.  (Emphasis:  No batting necessary.)

Reasons for creating:

• Exploring stories starting with a photograph
• Documenting one’s life in an art quilt
• Allowing deeper thinking about life, as well as finding joy

Process:

• Sent to Spoon Flower, who prints your photo on Kona Cotton, or other selected fabric, for a fee of approx. $15. - $20., depending on size
• Use dyes, pencils, acrylics, your choice of mediums, and “paint” then “stitch the heck out of it!”
• Use unstaged, photos, not portraits
• Use Photoshop to “clear your foundations,” add color, etc.

Tips: 

• Thread adds texture, color, value, so don’t be afraid to use it
• Write down tension for every kind of thread you use
• Bottom-line thread by Superior is always used as bobbin thread.
• “Champagne” Bottom-line thread best color to use in bobbin.
• Paper is cotton, can be sewn into quilt
• DIVE IN!  Don’t be afraid to try anything
• Quilting Arts magazine an excellent source of inspiration and examples
• Best way to get a project into a show:  A great photograph (might want it professionally photographed) 

How to Make a Project at Home:  Directions for process will be e-mailed

7:00 - 7:10  Break

7:10 - 7:15  Announcements and Concerns

• Shannan Shaw would like to put information, ideas, etc., on blog, so please sent information to her.  No one has sent anything yet!  If you see something interesting, send it to her.  Also, if you have not received an invite to be on the blog, let her know and she will send it to you and help get you on.  Her e-mail address is deleted from the blog (😇)
• There is a request to change the name of our group.  Sue Gilgen pointed out that a group name should reflect what we do and who we are.  After a brief discussion, Cheryl asked that we e-mail suggested names for the group to her before Oct. 17.
• An embroidery class will be taught by Carol Lee Stolz.

 7:25 - 7:55 - Show and Tell - That is for an upcoming blog post.

7:55 - 8:00:  Closing remarks by Cheryl Styler

• Reminder about Mesquite Contest
• Joe the Quilter.com—please go online, and check out his web site.  We’re considering bringing him to St. George to teach a class.