Another meeting has come and gone! We went over the survey and discussed some group matters. We also answered a question from the jar and as usual had a marvelous show and tell.
NOTE: Please Check Your email Contacts List to make sure you have the correct Southern Utah Fiber Artists email address: fiberartistrebels@gmail.com. Please add this email to your contacts to ensure that you will receive our emails.
Next meeting, Tuesday, October2, 2018, 6:00 PM
Presentation: Doris Claude will discuss her technique for Miniature Mosaic quilting, and Mylar Melting For Surface Design.
SUFA Collection Funds
There is money in the collection fund. A discussion about that money collected from here forward indicated that the group would like to keep collections “casual”, in other words, do not open a bank account, nor do formal accounting. Should members continue to contribute on a “casual” basis (put what you can into the collection jar)… or have a given amount of dues each meeting? Although no definite decision was made, the leaning of this group seemed to be “put in what you can each meeting; $1.00 if that is what you have, or more, depending on your coin purse”. Our Secretary, Diana, is currently keeping the money jar, but the group did not particularly want an official accounting. Perhaps Diana could include a tally of current collections in the blog.
What to do with the funds collected? Any member who has expenditures made for the group, i.e. photocopy paper, ink, etc. would be reimbursed from this fund. Some of the money could be used to bring in outside professional teachers. Fees for them can run high, as usually travel, food and accommodation expenses are usually required. Members would need to sign up and pay for most of the teacher expenses, but the collection funds could go toward that once a year, or so. Let’s continue discussions on this.
“Lucky 13” Exhibit
Carroll Lee offered the information for the 13”x13” exhibit for Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. The application deadline is Monday, October 1, 2018. The exhibition dates and rules are available online at www.mesquitefineartscenter.com. Application may either be made online or via paper application. The paper application form can be downloaded at the same address above. Nice cash prizes are being offered. SUFA members are encouraged to enter.
Pantone App
You can download the app and explore the possibilities. If you are using an iPhone, the app is ‘Pantone Studio’ (Free - additional tools not free). If you have an Android phone, the app is ‘Color Grab’ (free - app purchases). Another great app to use is called 'Adobe Capture' (Free). Those who have used it find the app to be extremely helpful in understanding colors in a particular photo. There are many options out there and the best thing to do is download and play around.
Survey Results
Rosemary conducted the meeting with a discussion of the survey which had been previously emailed to SUFA members. Although not all members returned the survey, of those who did, the following are the findings: The italicized notes after each section are resultant of comments in this meeting.
Number of people who responded were 27 of 51 members.
A majority of respondents wanted to keep the same meeting time and place. A third (30%) would like a different time and 22% wanted a more central location. Considering the 23 members who do not attend, the question is: ‘Is the time of our meetings preventing them from coming? Is the place an obstacle?’
A discussion ensued place and time. The general consensus was that as long as we can stay at Janey’s clubhouse, we will do so. At a time when Janey can no longer accommodate the SUFA group, the issue will be re-evaluated. Places to consider should be able to accommodate room for the members plus any type of demonstrations that might take place. The Library is not a consideration because a reservation cannot be made on the space. The Senior Center may be a consideration, if they will allow evening meetings. The topic is still open for discussion.
In general, the current meeting time was agreeable to the members in attendance.
A small number of respondents are snowbirds (16% who take the summer months off. Almost 1/3 of members (27%) come sporadically and 58% of respondents plan to come every meeting. We have a pretty solid core group.
Half of respondents do not want snacks, and 42% are willing to bring snacks.
Annette Williamson has agreed to coordinate snacks.
Only 30% of respondents check the blog, and 70% do not check the blog. The blog has not been updated since February and many people do not know how to get to the blog.
As of this writing (9/5/18) the blog has been [partially] updated and Alicia is working hard to get it completed. The information to access the blog is stated in this report. Please don’t be discouraged from looking at it. A lot of hard work has been, and is being done to make it a top-drawer form of information and communication for all the SUFA members. *Note from Alicia: The blog had been updated at this point, I was unfortunately not able to be there to inform the group of the update. However, some additional changes are still in the works.*
The question that is the most interesting asked respondents to pick 2 items. Those who filled out the paper often just wrote that they liked everything. (In the future, I would not use this question format again). The results, however, indicate members like demonstrations (80%), followed by presentations (40%), and lectures (40%). Only 7% were interested in a paid teacher. Show-and-Tell was interesting to 22% respondents. Show-and-Tell may be running too long to generate a more positive response.
The discussion about paid teachers resulted in a good show-of-hands for those interested in bringing in professional teachers, and most were willing to pay for a good teacher. (There is more on the subject of paying for teachers in the topic “Funds”.) Although the survey indicated 63% were NOT interested in pay-for teachers. It was agreed that some of the local teachers, even some in our SUFA group, should be allowed to conduct a pay-for class, only not on regular SUFA meeting nights. Classes could be scheduled for the Senior Center, much like Dixie Quilt Guild does.
Also showing a large number of hands was the topic of “Who likes Show-and-Tell”. Contrary to the survey results, this particular group seemed to really like it.
Make-and-Take projects were listed by 70% of respondents as the least interesting.
Most comments leaned toward members not wanting to bring and set up sewing machines, etc.
The top two topics of interest were art quilting (67%) and art in general (56%). Mixed media (30%) and embroidery, applique´ and beading (22%) were other areas of interest.
Attending members discussed continuing having these types of skills demonstrated at regular meetings, like having been done up-to-now. Not all demonstrations need to take up a full meeting. Any demos from 10 minutes, to an hour would be acceptable.
Most respondents (82%) work on art quilts at home and traditional quilts (74%). Embroidery (33%), mixed media (33%), and functional items (25%) were projects that respondents are working on their own.
The great news is respondents are willing (10 respondents) or might be willing (15 respondents) to share a project.
Question Jar
With a few minutes before time to adjourn, Rosemary turned to the Question Jar and pulled her own question about sewing machine needles. A lively discussion on the topic ensued and it was very informative.
Members attending meetings are encouraged to write a question on the paper provided and drop it into the Question Jar. When there is a few extra minutes in a meeting, questions about any topic of interest or curiosity about our love of art quilting will be answered when a question is pulled from the jar. Remember, no question is too “silly” or embarrassing. You wouldn’t need to sign your name if you didn’t want to.
SEPTEMBER SHOW-AND-TELL:
Cindy Oxley
Cindy brought a new finding. They are watercolor pencils by Arteza, and cost approximately $14.00. They can be ordered directly from Arteza, or Amazon.
Other members said Arteza makes several types of products that can be useful in manipulating fabric.
Cindy showed a beautiful and most colorful quilt she made from her own design. So Charming!
Charlotte Gary
Char brought 2 gorgeous landscape pieces she is working on. They are taken from photographs her nephew takes for you to use in her artwork. Her process is built up from a watercolor on fabric, with applique, couching, drawing and hand embroidery (and sometimes much more) added to enhance the pieces.
Doris Claude
Doris brought a book that has inspired her work. It is "Radiant Landscapes" by Gloria Loughman. It is about making fabric tiles on a quilt that add so much interest and dimension. She recommends the book to all. 
Melanie Wilson
Melanie brought 3 quilts made from the same process … although only one is shown here. Hers is a simple and fun technique to create a landscape background which can then be enhanced by the addition of other objects, created in a plethora of styles and ways. It looks like a lot of fun!
Lynn Greenleaf
Lynn offered a showing of a technique she has been playing with. This process is done with Solvy, and added artful fibers. She showed a couple of pieces and a purse made with her technique. (The purse is not shown). 
Lynn has also been doing some weaving. She made her own loom and said it was easy to make. The piece is beautiful and organically artful.
