February 2017 Newsletter

Hello one and all!
It's an amazing "sprinter" we are going through!  One minute you're seeing snow flakes, the next you're cooking on the grill and watching your plants come up!  Oh, so weird, but oh so happy to participate,...even if it's happening for all the wrong reasons.  Just trying to find the bright side!
We had a very nice meeting last month, and here's all the info I have for you:

Our latest Challenge

A Different Point of View:

Due date: Our September meeting, to be hung at the October show

Maximum size: 96" perimeter

You have several options on this one, so pick the one that makes you happy.  Remember, the whole idea behind a challenge is to challenge yourself.  Go figure!  So don't necessarily choose the one that will make you the happiest.  Also, if there's another one that I somehow forgot to add in, please hit reply all and write it up.

Option 1:

We'll all be given the same quilt block (not yet chosen) to abstract in some way.

There will be one color (listed below) that will be the theme fabric for both options.

You may add as many other colors as you'd like.

Remember, you are abstracting this block, not just making a bunch of them in

different colors.  This is not to be a traditional quilt.

Option 2:

Recently I sent out a website that had some interesting challenge ideas.

They had taken 2 images and combined them into one.

So, for example:  a bird in one shot, a photo of seeds in another.

Now it's a bird made of seeds.

This could be very interesting, and very much a challenge!  

You get to choose whatever images you'd like and work from that.

Again, you'll need to use the one color (listed below), but can add other colors.

Website for this concept: http://imgur.com/gallery/tUQ99

Yes, this was probably done on computers, but depending on which images you choose, it's still doable in fiber. At the bottom of the first page there's a spot to hit to see more images.  One in that set shows cubism, for

example.  Very easily done in fabric.

Color: Greenery 

Found at: www.pantone.com      (I imagine you can print it)

click on COLOR INTELLIGENCE

click on Color of the year

click on 2017 Greenery

So, there's your heads up.  Put your thinking caps on, and make this the most bestest challenge ever.  And again, I have to admit that my challenge pieces are some of my favorite pieces ultimately, and that was because I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone.

Also remember that you have the option of bringing your work to our meetings for help, suggestions, and fresh ideas.  This is not a blind challenge because we're all working towards our own personal goals.

Sharon Malec's upcoming show info:

Nature in Fabric, featuring the artwork of Sharon Malec.  May 4 - 28, 2017 at Gallery 200

(103 West Washington Street, West Chicago, IL  60185).  Opening reception will be May 5 from 6 - 9 pm.  I sent this information, complete with scanned images of the postcard last month to you individually.

#Silly Seriousness

I also sent you all as an email the entry form for the upcoming Naperville Art League's 14th annual public art competition.  If you can't find the email, it's www.napervilleartleague.com.  The entries are due on Saturday, February 25 by 4 pm.  $10 to $15 application fee (member/nonmember), with prizes ranging from a ribbon up to $350 for best of show.  It would be nice to have some fiber in their show!

IQF Show in Rosemont, open studio info:

Contact Cheryl Sleboda if you are interested in being an open studio demo person.  She can get you in touch with the person in charge.  She thinks they are for 2 hour stints.  Oh!  You can be famous!

Thanks, Cheryl.  

Speakers?  Demos?

We're tossing around the idea of contracting speakers and/or maybe having demos that would be open to the public.  This would help to displace the cost, and give us the chance to edumacate our members as well as the general public!

On average a 6 hour workshop can cost $400 to $600 (obviously these would be local artists).  If you had a class of 20 students, that works out to be roughly $20 to $30 per person, not including any rental fees for the room, etc.  Something worth thinking about.

If you have any suggestions, concerns or comments, come to the next meeting and we'll discuss this further.  Personally I'd love to have someone teach design!  Think about it!

Bring your work in progress to the meetings:

Please remember that we are here for you!  If you have any questions about the progress of your work, what to do next, techniques, color,...and the list goes on,...bring it to a meeting and ask for help!  We've all been in that spot, and continue to be.  The most wonderful thing about this is your ability to mentally tell us where to go when we give our comments!  No one has to know that you are mentally rejecting us!  Ultimately, the end decision is yours, and our comments are opinions only.  Opinions!  Everyone has one!

But seriously, you never know where your next idea will come from, what ideas we can throw your way that might help.  There are years of experience in this group.  And we're willing to be used.

Wait.

What?

Next meeting and Adios:

Our next meeting will be this coming Monday, February 27th at 7 pm.  Be there or be square!

Same place as always.  Although it's expected to be 70 today, you may need your snow boots on Monday, so be sure to check the weather report!  It will be nice to see you all.  (Bring your $3!)

xo,

Laurie

January 2017 Newsletter

January 2017 Newsletter

Happy New Year one and all!  I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays, and are happy and healthy.

We last met on November 28th, and had a very nice meeting with lots to talk about.

Future show ideas:

We discussed the fact that each piece will be made more interesting to the viewer if we had explanation cards similar to a regular quilt show.  Artist's name, name of the piece, technique info, and "x" number of words allowed to define the piece (your feelings, your inspiration or whatever moved you).  I used Jan R's fall risk pieces as an example.  I explained to my guests her inspiration (having been a fall risk in the hospital), and all of a sudden Jan's pieces came alive to them, and way more interesting than they already were.

So, look forward to this improvement to the show this fall!

We also discussed paying someone to judge and critique the show, as well as the addition of ribbons, etc.  It was decided not to do this for several reasons. One is money.  Second is that there are so many different styles of fiber involved that it would be very hard to judge.  Nice idea, but too many variables involved.

Critiquing our work:

It was decided in November that many of us would be interested in having our work critiqued by the group.  This will be done at every meeting, but only if the artist asks!  We all have times when we question what we're doing, the direction a piece is going, perhaps a new technique to enhance the piece.... This will be your time to get input from the many people present with all of our different approaches and experiences at your "fingertips".  We've always done this anyway when people have asked, we're just encouraging it now as a way to grow.

Challenge ideas:

We are heading towards narrowing down our next challenge, which if done, will give you at least one piece for the upcoming show!  One suggestion was to do an abstraction based on one traditional quilt block, everyone given the same 2 colors to include in the piece with the addition of other colors of your choice. Another suggestion was to find a photo that you like, and make a piece using that as the inspiration.  The photo would be shown next to your finished piece when hung, as would your traditional quilt block and 2 colors if the first option is chosen.  (I sent out a site to the group showing the examples of the 2nd piece involving photos.)  Please bring block suggestions to the January meeting, and maybe photos as well.

So lots to think about.

The usual parameters would apply:  no size minimum but 96" perimeter measurements as the maximum.

Bo-Nash Bonding Powder:

Bo-Nash Bonding Powder was brought up as a wonderful fusing option.  I have attached their website for you to check out.

http://www.bonashstore.com/

Sobo Glue:

This was a glue suggested to use rather than Aileen's (probably spelled wrong).

Dries faster and is still clear.  I checked, and it's available at just about any craft store.

Old cards on hand?

St. Jude's Ranch for Children repurposes the face of old greeting cards that do not have any notes written on that inside left side.  Here's the website:

https://www.stjudesranch.org/contribute/recycled-card-program/

Catherine Redford's Modern Machine Quilting book!

Catherine Redford's new book has arrived.  If you go onto the website below,

then click on the book itself, you'll be able to see the first few pages.  Very nicely done, Catherine!  You go, girl!  You are certainly a perfectionist, which shows in your work!  So check it out, one and all!

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Machine-Quilting-perfectly-finished/dp/1440246319/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483638195&sr=8-1&keywords=catherine+redford

Monday, January 23rd:

That's our next meeting date.  7:00 as usual at the Naperville Art Leagues building (address in other newsletters), $3.00 fee.  I look forward to seeing you there, as well as your show and tell!  I'm sure that none of us were that busy in that area considering the holidays, but one never knows!

xo,

Laurie

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

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

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

December Newsletter

December Newsletter

Happy holidays to one and all!  The season started off with a blast of snow.  There's a part of me that knows that it's much needed to keep us from a drought, but there's another part of me that prefers not to shovel!  Our snowblower was in the shop!  Argh!  But I lived to tell about it, and am now here to tell you about the meeting that I missed.  Thank you, Linda, for providing me with notes.

How to inform the guild:

For those of you who would like to inform the guild of anything,...an upcoming event, about the next meeting, looking for something or info....  It's really not a hard thing.  Keep a recent email that has been sent to the group on hand.  When you need to contact the group, open it up, hit REPLY ALL, and it will go to everyone with email addresses.  It's that simple.

The reason I say this is because that as a general rule, I check my email pretty regularly.  But there are times when I'll go for days without, and it never fails that this is when someone will send me something urgent.  So, I encourage you to bypass me, and just talk to the group directly instead.

Another option is to set up your own Divas mailing list by entering the addresses in the directory that I sent to you a month or so ago.  Easy peasy!

Challenge Info:

Our latest challenge will be very interesting, thank you, Joan.  Choose a title of a book, and go from there.  Find inspiration from the title alone, or perhaps the content of the book!  Dimensions are as simple as a 96" perimeter maximum.  There are more details in the previous newsletter.

Wasco Show in June:

The Fiber Art Divas have been invited to submit garden/nature related works of small to medium size for the gallery in the garden center.  There will be more details coming in January.  It seems that all of us are inspired by nature, so this should be a very easy show to fill!  How exciting!

Burning Bush Gallery in Wheaton:

This gallery is exhibiting fiber art work, some of which are by Sharon Malec, Cynthia Boudreau, Natasha Lehrer Lewis, and Lela Luetger.  The gallery is located in the Gary United Methodist Church, 224 N. Main St, Wheaton, IL  (630-668-3100).   The gallery hours are Sundays 10-12:30, Monday - Friday 9 - 4, or by appointment at 708-705-8669.  I do not have any info as to the length of the show, only that the reception was November 29th.  (My bad!)

Naperville Art League's Gallery of Gifts holiday sale:

Is running from now through December 19th.  Lots of unique items, reasonably priced, include jewelry, ornaments, cards, fiber art, decor, wall art, and more.  Open Wednesdays through Sundays.  Check out the hours at www.napervilleartleague.com.

That's all the news that's fit to print!

There will be no meeting in December due to the holidays.  Our next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on January 25th, 2016.  Three dollars will help us continue to cover the cost of the room, please and thank you.  I wish you all a very merry winter, an extremely happy new year filled with all of your dreams come true.  Thank you for being a part of this group.  You all add so much to what makes us Divas!

xo,

Laurie

November 2015 Newsletter

Well, hello there, and happy fall to you all!  It's a blustery day out there, but we'll all live to tell about it.

The Quilt Show:

Well, the results are in, and we had yet another successful, well attended show!  Congratulations to you all!  We are discussing what adjustments we'll be making for next year, and what has worked so far.  If you have any input on this, please let us know.  Next year's show may possibly be October 10 - 24, 2016.  Still in the "checking it out" phase.  Thank you to all who made this a success, worked in all of the areas such as set up, take down, advertising, go between with the art league, demos, etc.  Many hands make light work!

Latest Challenge:

We are looking for ideas for our next challenge.  Joan gave an excellent suggestion:  Choose a book title as inspiration, and go from there, with a 96" maximum perimeter measurement.  Don't quote me on this yet, but I BELIEVE this is the next challenge.  We're looking for a catchy title for this challenge.

Madeline Island School of the Arts:

We discussed how much fun, and how educational this school is.  They cover many subjects over the year, and fiber arts is taught during the summer.  Go to http://www.madelineartschool.com/ for more information.  This school is in La Pointe, Wisconsin.  Several of our members have attended and rave about it.  Check it out!

Denise Havlan's Class:

I was fortunate enough, along with several other Divas, to be able to attend Denise's class.  Oh, what fun!  Although we were all given basically the same materials (backgrounds differed), they all came out so amazingly different and beautiful!  This was the aspen class that she teaches which incorporates colored pencil, ink and fabric paint.  Can't wait to see them all finished.  When that happens, I'm sure Denise would love to see a photo of it.

Signing Out:

Okay, this is short and sweet.  Our next meeting will be on Monday, November 23rd at 7 pm at the Naperville Art League (508 North Center Street, Naperville) with a $3.00 "cover" charge.  Bring your show and tell, please.  Also, ideas for demos whether they are ones you'd like to see, or ones you'd like to demo for us.  Thanks.  Makes it more interesting and educational.

There will be no meeting in December!

Happy holidays.

xo,

Laurie