Wednesday, October 26, 2016

October 2016 Newsletter

October 2016 Newsletter

Hello one and all!  Happy Halloween almost!!!  This is one of my favorite holidays.  And if you'd see my house you'd see that there is no shortage of skulls, skeletons, bird wings and tails around year round.  I am strange, and have managed to raise two equally strange daughters.  (You're welcome, girls!)  (I guess....)
Monday nights meeting was a nice one, although only about one hour long.

Our Joan!

Joan has a quilt in Gwen Marsten's new Madeline Island quilt book!  Yay, Joan!!!  I checked online, but could not find any info or site to lead you to.  It might not actually have been released yet. Although it won't be evident to us, but the powers that be placed her quilt on it's side!  Argh!  VERY frustrating and easily avoidable what with a label on the back and all.  Congratulations, Joan!

Quilt Show:

Our quilt show is going along just fine!  Please remember to continue to pass on our show fliers to keep visitation up, as well as word of mouth.  It truly is a wonderful show, and it would be nice to introduce more people to what we do, and perhaps get some new blood in our group.  (Sounds very appropriate considering it's almost Halloween!)  I tried to attach our poster, but couldn't.  Here's the info:
Fiber Art Divas present...
"Elements of Innovation" Fiber art show and sale
Oct 12 - Nov 5, 2016
Includes:  All original art, Literally Fiber challenge, award winning art quilts, and the Professional     Quilt Alliance Explorations guest trunk show.
Naperville Fine Art Center and Gallery at 508 North Center Street, Naperville, IL  60563
www.napervilleartleague.com
Hours:  Wed thru Friday, noon to 4.  Saturday 10 to 4.

Quilt Show End and Pickup Info:

Our quilt show ends on Saturday, November 5th at 4 pm.  Pick up will be at 4 that day.  If for some reason you are unable to pick up your work, please set it up for someone else to get it for you.  To keep things on a safer level, please contact Yvette with your pickup person's name so we don't go handing off your work to total strangers.  Please and thank you.

Challenge Ideas:

We have decided that 2 challenges a year are a bit taxing for the average Diva.  We'll now be limiting it to one.  Any ideas?  Bring them to the next meeting, or send them out to the group in an email to be considered.  Having said that, I will say this:  I have done many challenges over the years, and I have found that some of my favorite quilts have been a direct result of them!  They have forced me to work and think in ways that I normally wouldn't have, and the results always amaze me.  So be amazed, and participate in the next Divas challenge!

Demo Ideas:

We are always looking for new demos, so if you have learned anything that you'd like to share with us that would be great!  Or maybe you just love what you're doing, and no one else in the group is doing it, or maybe you like what someone else is doing and would like more info....  Put your little thinking caps on, and we'll be rolling.  (Thank you, Mrs. Tinklenburg for introducing me to "thinking caps"!)

A Different Box of Crayons:

There's a shop in Glen Ellyn that was discussed on Monday.  A Different Box of Crayons.
http://www.adifferentboxofcrayons.com
It's interesting that the web site doesn't give the address for the store.  The hours are hit or miss.  The owner is actually a designer, and has some fun designs on her site.  Heavy on Halloween, her favorite holiday.  And her fabrics are supposed to be great.  IF you can get in there, or even find where it's at!
There is a phone number on the website.  Sounds like a fun field trip, but be sure to call ahead!

Lenore Crawford:

Joan brought up that Faithful Circle Quilters in Downers Grove will be having Lenore Crawford as a speaker and hosting one of her workshops (Shredded fabric art quilts).  She is a fuser, and leans towards a sort of impressionist painter approach for this class.  http://www.lenorecrawford.com/index.html
O.M.G!  I just checked her website!  You'll recognize her work immediately.  She does very painterly type work (think David Taylor), as well as impressionistic pieces.  You can view her work, as well as see the sample on the class she will be teaching.  I believe Faithful Circle has some openings for the class, so consider taking it.  She's mind blowing!  Oh, this is DEFINITELY a speaker worth seeing! She'll join Faithful Circle on Wednesday, November 16th at 7 pm.  There's a $10 guest fee.
Again, WORTH IT!!!!!  I've attached the Faithful Circle web site so you can get more info.  The class is $45 for members, $55 for non members, and will be on Thursday, November 17 from 9 am to 3:30 pm.  Way cheaper than at a major show, and a much smaller class size so more personalized attention. Think on it!
http://www.fcquilters.com/index.html

Naperville Art League Fine Art Center & Gallery - Holiday Show & Sale,

Gallery of Gifts.  November 11 through December 23, 2016.  The opening reception will be on November 11th from 6 to 8 pm.  Holiday hours are November 13, 12 to 4.  Wed and Fri, 12 to 4, Thurs, 12 - 7, and Sat, 10 - 4.  There will be showing/selling jewelry, ornaments, wearable art, wall art, decorations and more.  More info at www.napervilleartleague.com
Please be sure to support the place establishment that is so willing to host our meetings, as well as our annual quilt show!  

The end:

Okay, then.  That about wraps it up.  Our next meeting will be November 28th, the Monday after Thanksgiving.  The Naperville Art League will be having their holiday show, which will be way fun to see (and maybe buy some Christmas gifts!).  We have opted to have a pizza party that night!  First time EVER!!!  It's a BYOB event (bring your own beverage).  How fun is THIS!?
As always, there will be no December meeting.  Our January meeting will be on the 23rd.
Okay, so back to November 28th,...7 pm at the Naperville Art League, address above with the Divas show info.  $3 for the meeting, bring your beverage and any show and tell to share.
Happy Halloween!
xo,
Laurie


Monday, September 5, 2016

September 2016

...and here we are once again!  Hello one and all!  We are rapidly approaching our next quilt show (thank you very much, Naperville Art League!), and I'm sure we're all working hard to finish up our entries.  I know I am...for a change!  I am basically an unregemented, unorganized, unmotivated sole.  In my next life I will know how to make better use of my time.  That said, I hope that you all are better than I am in all of the areas mentioned.
I apologize for no newsletters for the last few months.  I was unable to attend, and had no notes to pass your way.

Quilt Challenge due this month!  "Literally Fiber"

I'd like to take this time to remind you that your challenge is due at the next meeting.  This can be used as one of your entries for the show!  Woo-hoo!  I'm sure you never even thought of that!
96" maximum perimeter.  Based or inspired by a book, either it's title or it's content.  This could be VERY interesting.  I look forward to see the fruits of your labors.  Sounds like a cookbook....  You will need to have the name of the book and what your inspiration was ready.

"Elements of Innovation" quilt show - Oct 12 - Nov 5

Our show will be at the Naperville Art League from October 12th to November 5th, 2016.  Fiber art drop off will be from noon to 3 on October 11th, and it will then be set up.  As before, please have your pieces there on time.  If you are to be out of town, please pass it to a friend who can drop it off for you.
Show hours:  W, Th, F - noon to 4, Sat 10 - 4
Artist's reception:  Sunday, Oct 16 from 2 - 4
We have 2 people ready to do demo's and are looking for more for the reception.  Maybe a make and take event at some time during the entire show time.
We've discussed business cards, postcards and submittal forms.

...and that's it!

Our next meeting will be on Monday, September 26th at 7 pm at the Naperville Art League, with a mere $3 meeting fee.  I'm excited to see the challenges!  You go, girls! 
xo,
Laurie


Friday, May 13, 2016

May 2016 Newsletter

May 2016 Newsletter

Hello one and all!  I have finally been allowed by my computer to write this newsletter.  Sorry about that.  All I can say is that computers and I don't always see eye to eye,...I can hear them laughing as I walk past, even at the library!  They are very rude.  But I'm a big girl, and I keep trying.  So, here we go:

Challenge:  "Literally Fiber"

96" perimeter is the maximum size, and this should be based or inspired by a book (title, contents,...).
This piece is due at the September meeting, and will be hung in our show in October.  Be ready to explain the name of the book and what the inspiration was.  We all look forward to seeing how literature moves you!

Marianne R. Williamson's Textiles in Motion:

Marianne's work was seen at the IQF show in April over in Rosemont.  She paints on her work, and it tends to have an impressionistic quality to it.  Definitely worth checking out.   Check her out at: http://www.movinthreads.com/

Quilt Show Banner:

We're still looking for 5" square "quilts" with some kind of finished edge that would exemplify our work and styles, new techniques, etc.  This banner is hung at all of our shows, and being updated is always fun.  It's the first thing people see when they enter, and it shows that we are far from being a stagnant group!  Thanks for helping us out here.

Our Quilt Show in Wasco:

We've discussed this show in the past, and I want to remind you that they need to be delivered to our June meeting.  The show will hang for the entire month of July.  Entries should involve nature, and nothing can be larger than 2' x 2' or 2' x 3' due to the size of the gallery.  It is believed that the commission on pieces sold will be 20%, so mark your work accordingly (selling is an option, not a requirement).  The maximum number of pieces to be hung will be between 30 to 32 pieces.  All of them should have a sleeve AND a rod, with a split in the center to hang your work from.  This is a nice opportunity to exhibit your work, and get some "face time" for your quilts!  Thanks for setting this up for us, oh powers that be!

May 23rd is our next meeting:

We normally do not have a meeting in May due to Memorial Day.  This year they do not coincide, so be there or be square!  Naperville Art League, 508 N. Center Street, at 7 pm. with $3 in our grubby little hands to cover the cost of the room rental.  Please feel free to bring show and tell, at any stage is welcome, especially if you need advice or just want to show off your new project.  Also, if you happen to have any ideas on demo's, please let us know.  We are always interested in hearing or participating in new techniques!  I am a dinosaur, and don't have the money or room to indulge in all that's involved with new techniques, I'm sorry to say.  As a result, I don't have anything to demo!
Argh!  See you soon, and enjoy this ever changing weather.
xo,
Laurie