November 2017 Newsletter

November 2017 Newsletter:

Hello, boys and girls!  Welcome to another update to the Fiber Art Divas.

Recent quilt show thoughts:

~It was agreed that this was another very nice quilt show.  We do need more pieces in the show.  I think the count was just under 40 pieces.  As nice as it is to have a gallery look with lots of space, people come to what is basically a quilt show expecting and hoping to see more.

~We all felt that the description cards were a nice addition to the show.  Thank you, Yvette, for taking care of that for us.

~The artist's reception was very nice, and the demo's attracted many of the visitors.  Lots of questions asked and answered.  Thank you for volunteering for that.

~We discussed perhaps asking PAQA or SAQA if they'd like to have a small traveling exhibit hang with our work.  That would help to take the pressure off of our trying to produce more, or get more members to participate.  One can only produce so much in any given year, individual circumstances being a large factor.

~Someone mentioned that people were asking about local quilt shops.  Apparently they were looking to spend some money!  Last year a member had kits available to sell.  Maybe something along those lines?  

~Another option is to enclose more pieces to sell.  One year many of us covered 8" x 8" canvases, donated them to the art league as part of a fund raiser.  They sold well.  Perhaps we can think about something along those lines.  In this case, you'd keep the money (minus the very reasonable 20% for the art league), and they sold for over $40 apiece!  If something like this is to be considered, 6" x 6" may be an easier size to find.  Any ideas are welcome.

Quilt show 2018:

Dates to be announced.  Next year's show will probably be around 2 weeks long, rather than the 3 weeks of this year's show.

Naperville Art League's Gallery of Gifts:

http://www.napervilleartleague.com/

That's the site for info about the art league's holiday show and sale.  There are some very nice pieces there,...we got to take a peek last night!  You are able to sell your work during this show by joining the art league.  I'm sure that info is at this site as well.

Challenge ideas:

We are hoping everyone will arrive at the January 2018 meeting with some challenge ideas, and a name to go with it. So please give it some thought, and we can see what works best for us.

Dues increase?

I would like everyone to consider raising the dues from $3.00 per meeting (which it has been since we started at the art league around 10 years ago) up to $3.50 per meeting.  As it is we average 10 people per meeting.  At $3 per person, that brings in $30, which is the exact amount to cover the rental space.  When we are short, Dorothy is covering it out of pocket, which is not the way it should be.  (And Dorothy, I'm hoping that you reimburse yourself when possible!)  We do not make any money with this group.  What comes in at a meeting is left that night for the art league (unless it's over $30!). 

If we have a slow night attendance wise, we aren't reaching the $30 mark.

If we increase the dues to $3.50 per person x 10 (the average attendance), that makes the income for the night $35.00.  That is an overage of $5 which may help to cover the cost of a meeting that doesn't make the $30 mark.  Fifty cents will not make or break most of us, and is not an unreasonable amount to ask for.

If you are concerned about the overage getting to be too much, it can go towards guest speakers, classes, or an educational movie.  The key word here is towards because there is no way that any overage will amount to much.

So, please think about this increase of fifty cents per meeting.  It will help take the burden off of Dorothy who has sat quietly all of this time without complaining.

Cheryl Sleboda!  Sew Much Cosplay:

Cheryl came to last night's meeting with lots of fun info and stories.  She is a fine example of when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!  After loosing her job in the comic book industry, she has moved into sewing costumes for comic book hero costumes.  That moved her towards products that help the costume makers with things like stand up collars, etc. She continues to do the quilting circuit, classes, lectures, etc.  But this is a new sideline that

is very exciting and interesting.  Check out her website at www.sewmuchcosplay.com.  At that site you'll find her blog, product line, etc.  Very exciting, and we're proud to have you as a member, Cheryl!

Also, she's been asked to run the blog for two magazines:

Machine Quilting Unlimited, and Modern Quilts Unlimited.

Be sure to check these sites out.  This is the future of quilting, and these are all things that will gather more than we "gray haired quilters" into what could possibly be a failing craft and art market.   We need new, young blood!  May the force be with us!!!

Happy Holidays, and until next year...

Happy holidays, and until we meet again next year.  We never meet in December, so our next meeting will be on January 22nd, at 7 pm at the Naperville Art League.  I don't know if our dues will still be $3 or will increase to $3.50 at that meeting.

xo,

Laurie