August 2015 Newsletter

August 3, 2015

Hello there, one and all!  Welcome to the most bizarrest summer of all!  Hope you are enjoying it.  The happiest plants in my garden are the weeds.  But life goes on, and we just keep quilting.  The July meeting was very nice, with some beautiful show and tell, as always.  Thank you, ladies, for being so prolific!  Linda D. had a piece accepted at the Argon friend's and family show!  You go, girl!  :-)  Sadly, it is not open to the public.  :-(  Katherine Redford has a show in Portland showing her African embroidery as well as all her work.  I have no info on that, sorry to say.  Congratulations, Katherine!

Quilt show entry forms:

You will be receiving an email with the entry form attached.  These will be due by the September meeting.  For me, to fill out this form with uncompleted work is a gamble.  But I know that it is highly practiced by most quilters, so go for it!  This early entry form will allow us to gage how many pieces will be shown as well as sizes, so thank you for your many entries in advance!

Quilt Challenge:  Elements - earth, wind, fire, water

I originally started this out with only 3 elements.  I found the 4th element, but I'm going to leave my next bit in here anyway....  Well, you get the idea.  And if you don't, check previous newsletters!  There's a 4th one, but I have no brain.  You'd think I'd be studied by science, yet no one has knocked on my door other than to interview me about the 17 year cicadas several years ago!  They asked because I had netting wrapped around a new tree.  The crew was there for about 90 minutes, asked questions, and I actually said some very well informed comments about them!  Alas, my big moment arrived, my 15 seconds (if that) of fame, and they chose my telling America that

"They're just bugs!  They aren't strangers trying to take your kids away in their cars!"

Well, doesn't that sound just like something I'd say!?  My neighbor's son lives in Arkansas.

It came on the news at work during lunch, and he calls out that I'm his old neighbor!  When it was done, they asked if everyone up north is nuts!

Okay, back to the challenge.  Remember, this is a perfect quilt for the show!  They will be hung in their own little grouping!  You'll be famous!  Like me!  hahahahahahahaha
     Here are some sites that may help you with the fen shui side of the elements:
http://fengshui.about.com/od/thebasics/qt/elements_shape.htm, 
fengshui.about.com/od/thebasics/qt/fiveelements.htm

‎

Dorothy mentioned that there was a pre fen shui movement that discusses what would represent the elements, but I do not know what that was called.  If anyone knows, please get back to us.  Thanks.

Curved Surgical Needles:

What the....!?  We were discussing how to sew a finished quilt onto a "background quilt".

Say you have a finished piece that just seems to be lacking something.  You are able to stitch that to a larger quilt as a framework or border.  The trick is trying to actually sew it without making yourself crazy.  Sharon Malec suggested curved surgical needles.  They are thinner than upholstery needles, and are available online.

http://www.neogen.com/AnimalSafety/pdf/Catalogs/SurgicalNeedles.pdf,

http://www.dentalcorp.com/regular-surgeon-needle-1-2-curve-cutting-edge-size-7.html?gclid=CKqpgrS8jccCFdgRgQodjJoKAg.  Okay, there's a start, and I'm sure you can find more that might help you.  If you have another site, please let us know.

UVA fabric spray:

"Rayblock" has a uva fabric spray to protect your fabric from fading.  Oh, the magic of chemistry!

Show at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center:

The Fine Line has got a show that will be up until August 7th.  "UnpredicTable", which evokes the mood created when people gather together to dine, artwork representing things found at the table, including tableware, provisions and decorations will be featured in this juried mixed media exhibit.  Dorothy said it was very interesting.  They are open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.

http://fineline.org/

Adios!

That's it for now, folks!  Keep working on your quilt show pieces.  Keep weeding your gardens.  And I look forward to seeing you on Monday, August 24th at 7 pm at the Naperville Art League.  Remember $3 gets you through the meeting, please and thank you.  And please mark your calendar with August 24th, and disregard any false dates I'll pass out later because, again, I'm dealing with that brain thing!  Keep enjoying your summer.

xo,

Laurie

July 2015 Newsletter

July 2015 Newsletter:

Well, ladies,...it's July and I have more than 24 mosquito bites on my legs and feet!  All I was trying to do was enjoy the few rain free days we have been given.  But the mosquitos see me as a buffet of sorts, rain or no rain, so I am fair game to them.  Bat rastards!  Of course, this hasn't stopped me from enjoying my life, sitting around the fire in the backyard at night with as much of me covered as humanly possible!  Last night I had my jeans tucked into my socks.  Dan asked that we not walk to the front yard to check something out until after it got darker!  He just doesn't get it because mosquitos consider him to be icky-bad, and don't bother him much.  When he does get bit, I can hear tiny little coughing noises nearby as they try to get rid of that taste!

Denise Havlan's Surface Design Workshop:

The Naperville Art League is hosting a workshop to be given by the world famous Denise Havlan on October 31st, 2015 from 9 am to 4 pm.  (www.denisehavlan.com).  Samples of what we will be doing in this class were shown at the meeting.  It's basically aspen tree trunks on a background.  She will have us fuse the trees on, machine stitch them down, then use textile paint to make the piece your own.  Joan also brought one she had done with Denise.  They were each amazingly different, and one was more beautiful than the other.  I wrote my check right on the spot, and I suggest you do the same!  As you have heard, Divas get the first spots, but that time is running out.

The class fee is $75 to be made out to the Naperville Art League.  At the class, there is a $12 lab fee payable to Denise directly.  This is for textile paints.  There is also a $35 offering that would eliminate the $12 lab fee, and would include the textile paints as well as all the fabrics you would need.

I looked at her site, checked her class listing, and didn't see this offering.  As a result, I couldn't show you a sample on the site.  Sorry about that.  (her site is listed above)

Anyway, Denise is a wonderful, calm woman who is ubber talented.  She will definitely give you another tool for you to use in your work, and help in the advancement of our art quilts.

PAQA's Midwest Show at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum:

PAQA is having their art quilt challenge quilts shown at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum from June 27th to August 1.  The Reception will be on July 19th between 2 and 5 pm.  There are 25 quilts exhibited at 18" square apiece.  (It's interesting.  Their challenge size is usually 18" square because they then send them off to different venues, and this makes for easier shipping!  Something to keep in mind should we ever decide we'd like to move in that direction.)  Anyway, there work is always fun to see, and would be a fun little field trip!

http://www.bloomingdaleparks.org/facilities/bpd-museum/exhibitions.htm

Show of Nature Artist's Guild Work at the Wasco Floral Shop and Nursery:

This show is from September 6th to October 27th.  The site below will give you more info.

One has to love nature!  Okay, not the mosquito factor, but the rest is good.

http://www.wasconursery.com/upcoming-events.html

Wasco Floral Shop and Nursery wants to host a show of our work!!!!!!!

The Wasco Floral Shop and Nursery in St. Charles has an art gallery section, and are interested in showing our work!  Geez that sounds familiar.....  Anyway, our show will be in July 2016, and will hang for one month.  They will be in charge of hanging our pieces, hosting the artist's reception, and taking the show down.  I assume advertising as well, although we can certainly help out there which would maybe get us a chance to show there again!  Now, here is the really REALLY good news:  We do not have to exhibit strictly new pieces!  That means we can pull from the past, have a full show (or at least as much as the gallery can handle), and not be in panic mode!  Personally I HATE panic mode!!

Way cool!  (Yes, I'm living in some sort of time warp!)

http://www.wasconursery.com/upcoming-events.html

sewsweetness.com:

Check it out, ladies!  Nice site for free patterns and tutorial videos!  Some very nice things there.

Challenge:  Elements!  Fire, Earth, Water

Let's not forget about our challenge!  There's a 96" perimeter guideline, which can be added up in any way you'd like.  Square, rectangle, trapezoid, circle, oval,....  There are no restrictions, so go for it!  This is due by our October quilt show at the latest.  Enjoy!

We have a winner in our midst!

Joan Bratton has been a very busy little bee this year!  She has a wool applique piece, "Summer Garden", that has been accepted into the non-juried show in Quilter's Affair in Sisters, Oregon.  

In addition, her "Autumn Grasses" has been juried into the Professional Art Exhibit at the Illinois State Fair!  Way to go, Joan!  Knock their socks off!  (That will be hard to do if their jeans are tucked into them!...just sayin'....)

Renwick Inn, a crafter's sanctuary!

This is a B&B that is set up with crafters in mind.  There is room for 12 guests, and they have crafting areas set up for your convenience.  Gotta love a place like that!  It has been tried by one of our members, and passes muster!  Did I mention the food?

http://renwickinn.com/

July 27th, 2015 is our next meeting:

See you there at 7 pm at the Naperville Art League, hopefully with some show and tell, and maybe some demo ideas!  $3 to cover room rental charges, please.  Hope to see y'all there!

xo,

Laurie

http://renwickinn.com/

April Newsletter Corrections:

Doh!  Thank goodness we have alert members who double check what I've written!

Challenge Info:

It is actually Fire, Earth, Water and Air (or Wind).  I stand corrected.  So, now that we're all on the same page, I'm sure we'll definitely have a lot of entries for the show in October!

Quilt Show Update:

Denise Havlan will be joining us with part of a traveling exhibit from SAQA, not PAQA.  Old habit die hard, and therein lies my mistake.  I've seen a portion of this exhibit at the show in Rosemont, and it was really very nice.  You will truly enjoy it.

Well, it's been nice.  Until next time.

xo,

Laurie

April 2015 Newsletter

Hello everyone!  Welcome to springtime in the greater Chicagoland area!  We had a nice little meeting in March, with some very nice show and tell.  Hope to see you all at the next meeting.  So, here you go, a brief synopsis of our discussions:

Quilt Show Talk:  The dates for our next show will be October 14 - 24, 2015, at the Naperville Art League.  Set up will probably be on October 13th.  We will again be asking you to have your work at the Art League by a specific time.  It is too hard to set up a show without being able to see what exactly is going to be hung.  We would appreciate your cooperation on this matter.  If you are unable to get your work there by the designated time, please have someone else deliver it to us.  Take down will be on October 24th beginning at 4 p.m.  Take down, unlike set up, is a very fast operation, very pain free.
     Denise  Havlan will join us at the artist's reception with pieces from PAQA (professional art league alliance).  It is a traveling exhibit, and will be there only for that one day.
     We also discussed the possibility of hanging roughly 15 pieces (20" x 20") from the Riverwalk quilt guild's challenge.  Their theme is the Naperville Heritage Days.  This may also be just for the day of the artist's reception.
     Also, keep in mind the possibility of your giving a demo at the artist's reception.  Don't be shy, or think people won't be interested.  Last year I was hand appliqueing and was amazed at the reception I got!  So don't feel it needs to be anything too extraordinary.  People are always interested.
     Some questioned the fact that the Faithful Circle Quilt Guild Show will be on October 9 & 10.  This will not interfere with our show, and you may hang work in both shows without a problem.

Challenge:  Fire, Earth Water.  That is the theme for the challenge which will be due by the October show at the latest.  There are no restrictions as to your creativity.  The size restriction is a 96" perimeter.

That will allow you to do anything from a circle, to multi faceted sides.  Have a ball, ladies!  There are so many options here.  And just think how nicely it will look hanging in the show!

Carol Bryer Fallert-Gentry exhibit:  Carol will be exhibiting 48 pieces in a show at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, open through April 8th.  Sorry, sort of dropped the ball here.  I didn't realize it was ending so soon.  http://www.bryerpatch.com/news/news.htm#WMWFA2015

This will get you to her site and the info needed.  Even I can't make it within the next 2 days.  I am SO
sorry.

I also apologize for the weird line spaces.  I have a wonderful alliance with computers...NOT!

Annual Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art:  The Nature Artists' Guild of the Morton Arboretum will be hanging their exhibit at the Thornhill Educational Center of the Morton Arboretum (4100 Illinois Rte 53, Lisle, IL  60532).  This years featured artist is Nancy Halliday.

The show will be on Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The artist's reception will be on Friday, April 17 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and is open to members and guests.  There will be over 200works of art celebrating nature, many inspired by the Arboretum grounds.  There will also be demonstrations by Guild members. 

http://www.mortonarb.org/events/nature-artists’-guild-spring-exhibit

Demo Ideas:  We are still looking for demo ideas for both the meetings, and again, for the artist's reception in October.

PAQA Midwest Challenge:  The Bloomingdale Park District Museum will be hanging the PAQA Midwest Challenge sometime in July.  I checked their website, but no info is up yet.  We'll have to keep our eyes peeled for this one.  It's always very nice.

Woodland Ridge Retreat:  Located in Downsville, Wisconsin.  I met the owner of this fine establishment while at the Quiltfest in Rosemont last week.  Not only can she accommodate 24 guests in eight deluxe rooms, but she is set up with workrooms  She discussed how she also has classes scheduled with prominent quilters.  (I met her through Freda Anderson, who had taught there and raved about it.)  I will be sending you a copy of the postcard, but in the meantime, her web site is www.woodlandridgeretreat.com   Check it out!

Next meeting info:  That's it until next time.  I look forward to seeing all of the wonderful things that are going on in your mind, and emerging through your fingertips.  Our next meeting will be the 4th Monday of the month, April 27th, at 7 p.m., at the Naperville Art League.

NOVEMBER 2014 newsletter:

Our last meeting was on October 27th, and was a very nice one.  Glad you were there/sorry you missed it!  Pick the one that fits!

Quilt Show:

We discussed the quilt show in depth, making note of what changes need to be made, and what to keep on because we are just so excellent at this kind of thing.  The Naperville Art League staff is very pleased that we have received so many guests (145 as of that night),...more than they normally get for their shows.  Woo-hoo for us!  Keep on producing, ladies!  Show 'em what we can do!

In the meantime, the pieces that hung were most excellent.  Several sold, which is always a happy thing.  Thank you for participating.  A special thank you for those who worked so hard.  Members were there at times when no staff was there to man the show.  There were those there to hang and take down, keys to take care of, etc.  Without there help and enthusiasm, there would be no show.  So, thank you, ladies, from the bottom of my heart.

New Challenge:

Water - Fire - Wind/Air - Earth.  And there in lies the theme for this challenge.  Go at it, have fun with it, be creative, and knock our socks off!  We decided to measure this one differently.  The maximum size will measure 96" perimeter-wise.  So all sides (note that I didn't say 4 sides?) will total 96".  Pretty cool, eh!?  This challenge is due at the August, 2015 meeting.  Plenty of time for you to get this going.

I look forward to seeing what this group will produce this time.  It's always amazing.  And always,...not that I know anything (this has been proven on numerous occasions!), but some of my most favoritist pieces were challenge pieces.  They force us to think outside of our comfort zone, and therefore make us into more creative beings.  Celebrate that!

Next Meeting and December:

Monday, November 24th, 7 pm is the next meeting at the Naperville Art League (508 N. Street, you guessed it, Naperville).  Three dollars is the meeting fee to help keep a roof over our heads, please and thank you.  There will be no meeting in December, as usual.  Our January meeting will be on the 26th.

I hope you all have wonderful holidays, nap a lot, eat too much, laugh a bunch, and be jolly in general.

xo,

Laurie

For the Love of Fiber - Fiber Art Divas show

October 15 to 24, 2014

Naperville Art League 

508 N Center St. Naperville IL 

Show hours:

Wed and Fri - noon to 4 pm

Thurs - noon to 8 pm

Sat - 10 am to 4 pm

Sun - 2 pm to 4 pm

Artist's reception: Sunday October 19 -  2 pm to 4pm

Artist Demos - Refreshments - The Fiber Shop (fiber art supplies and more)

October 2014 Newsletter:

Fiber Art Divas presents "For the Love of Fiber" Fiber Art Exhibit, 

from October 15th to the 25th, 2014, with an artist's reception on Sunday, October 19th from 2pm to 4pm.  This is an exhibition of original art quilts and mixed media works.  Not to be missed!  The artist's reception will include demonstrations by, obviously, the artist's!  There will be refreshments!  We all love food and drink!  And there will be things for sale at the reception beyond those available throughout the show!  Woo-hoo!  The Fiber Shop will have fiber art supplies and more for you to buy and expand your artistic horizons!!!  The show hours are Wednesday & Friday - noon to 4pm, Thursday - noon to 8pm, Saturday - 10am to 4pm, and Sunday, 2pm to 4pm.  We look forward to seeing you at the show.  And...thank you in advance for joining us.  There are several bonuses involved here: it's free, it's fun, it's inspiring, and there are possible holiday gifts available for sale (so think ahead!),...and if you come to the artist's reception, you get to eat and drink things!  One has to love a gathering like this!

September's Meeting:

This was a wonderful night.  I was actually there, which was a gift to me!  There was a nice group of women there sharing their work.  All excellent pieces shown, and a variety of fiber forms.  The wonderful thing about this group is their willingness to share their work, their experience, their craft, their enthusiasm for what they are doing as well as what you are doing.  The problem that comes from cherry picking the meeting you'd like to come to (as in "is there a demo?" or "is there no demo?") is that every meeting has something wonderful to offer...different techniques not seen before, info on tools they have used, shows that you need to go see, moral support for whatever problems you may be having either in your fiber world or your personal world.  The support that a group like this gives on every level is commendable.  I thank each and every one of you for being there for me, as well as for the others.

The Lady Challenge Night:

This was the night to bring in our challenges.  We were given pen and ink drawings from an artist who had women dressed in flower and leaves dresses.  One was more interesting than the other.  The idea here was to be inspired by the drawing, and produce a piece.  There was everything from a fall obelisk to quilts.  It was amazing to see how everyone interpreted their particular drawings.  These will be exhibited at the upcoming show, so

come and see what we did!

Derwent Inktense:

Two member was nice enough to bring in the pieces that they made in a class recently.

It involved using Derwent inktense.  These are either pencils or sticks, can be used on fabric either wet or dry, and are available at Blick's in sets or purchased singly.  Go to

www.inktense.com to see for yourself the possibilities with this product.  They were beautiful.  Thanks, ladies!

Artistcellar:

Cheryl came with a few pieces using wacky tobaccy skeleton stencils by Artistcellar.

(That is not their real name, so don't look for the product like that!)  It is a new design they are offering.  Go to www.artistcellar.com to find out about their products, but hit stamps and stencils if you'd like to see the skeleton stencils that she used.  Way cool way to kick start a small piece.  Also very good for paper art, etc.  Thanks for showing your mini skeleton crew quilts!  (These were samples requested by the Artistcellar company!)

Upcoming Meetings:

October 25th is the next meeting, 7 pm at the Naperville Art League.  This meeting will also be used as the time to take down the show.  We are hoping that someone would like to demo something for the group that night.  Anyone?  What was that?  I can't hear you?  Remember,...what seems old hat to you may be new hat to others.  Thanks for thinking about it.  Let us know if you are interested.

The November 24th meeting is coming up as well.  That is just before Thanksgiving, and we'd be thankful if you joined us!  And as usual, there will be no meeting in December.

Closing now:

Well, it's been wonderful, as always.  Thanks for reading the ramblings of the somewhat insane,...me!  Until next time, enjoy the upcoming fall colors, and dream in color at night.

xo,  Laurie