SAQA auction quilts

SAQA is an international group of quilt artists that I belong to.  Each year, we create small (12" square) quilts to be auctioned.  Some of the members are curating small collections of 6 pieces that are related somehow.  Here is a  collection based on depth.

Artists are: Rebecca Douglas, Georgia Heller, Karol Kusmaul, Gail Kotowski, Ellie Kreneck and Lynn B. Welsch 

To view many other auction pieces, please visit: www.saqa.com and click on Artwork, then 2014 Benefit Auction.

Tweaking features

Have been adjusting features on these girls.  Trying to make the one on the left smile!  Need to check my collection of green fabrics to add detail to the one on the right.  Getting there.

Making faces

Spent some time today adding facial features for this piece.  They both still need tweaking, but it's a start.

Crafts and Mentors

My craft group made small felted wool critters this month.  Here is a photo of the ones I made.  We had a grand time sitting together and stabbing at little balls of wool, trying to avoid hitting our thumbs.

 

I also snapped a picture of quilted art pieces that I purchased from two of my favorite teachers last month.  The larger one is by Susan Shie, and has lots of her words of wisdom written on it.  Beautiful thoughts about peace and kindness - very inspirational.  The smaller one is Pamela Allen's guinea fowl.  I love her funky approach to the world, and have admired her work for a long time.  I also received prints of other pieces from both teachers.  I will cherish these works, but even more, I love that I have had the opportunity to spend time getting to know and love both of them as regular people as well as the rockstars that they are!!!

 

Camp projects

 

I wrapped up my time with the camp girls this morning.  They will need more time to finish their projects, but I think they can help each other to finish what they started.  Here are more photos of our progress.  It was a joy to work with them.  So peaceful when they were all sitting and sewing. . .

Art quilts at Camp

I have been visiting a camp near my home, to help some young girls learn to make art quilts.  We did a group project together to get started.  We brainstormed themes, and agreed on 'make up'.  Here is the piece we made so far:

  I love it.  Not bad for a first effort! 
Then, each camper (and counselor) started her own piece.  We are learning about composition and some hand sewing skills.  The girls are excited about the work, and are fantastic about cleaning up the resulting mess.  They have the weekend to work on sewing down all the pieces, and Monday, we will add backs and finish up.  Here are a few more photos:

This was a retirement goal of mine, and I am loving sharing the joy of sewing and creativity with these girls.

Darn! It fits!!!!

This keeps happening to me.  I go to the thrift store in search of interesting fabrics to cut up for my art quilts.  Invariably, I find plenty of great prints on shirts, skirts, dresses, and sometimes pants.  I get home, wash and dry the clothing, and as I fold, I am finding that the clothes sometimes fit me

perfectly.  Then I'm not sure whether to be glad or disappointed.  Here's the newest one.  It may be my Easter dress.  Very nicely made and fits beautifully.  But I wanted it for my art quilts. . .