Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Caprock Circle Report


The Caprock circle met Saturday November 10 during rain, a dust storm and a cool evening.  Isn’t West Texas great – never boring.  We had a wonderful morning workshop working on collage quilts with photos, torn fabric, embroidery bits and pieces, cheesecloth (which we colored with paint), earrings, etc. . No sewing, just quilt it all down.  Everyone shared their bits and pieces and I think we went home with more than we came with.  We also had demos on gold leaf and an edge finish with yarn.  We gained two new members.  Janet Moran drove 3 hours to meet with us!
After lunch, we elected a new Vice President – Sandra Stephenson, and I was reelected as President.  Then we learned about the Life and Quilts of Valerie Hill.  She is having a one woman show soon, and she is in production mode.  Ellie Kreneck, along with her husband Lynnwood, are having a show in Carlsbad, NM next week.

It was a wonderful day of sharing our art and quilting passion.

Report prepared by Jean Grimes.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

San Antonio/Austin Circle Report


It was a great day in New Braunfels!  Kim Buchannan was our gracious host.  Sherri McCauley, Pam Lowe and I came down from Austin; Vou Best came in from Seguin, and Mary Jane McCollum of New Braunfels came to her first Circle meeting.
Kim gave a fabulous presentation on perspective - one, two, and three point (we all lost count when it got to work by M.C. Escher) and aerial perspectives were all reviewed.  Kim had lots of examples, used her computer to show the horizon line and vanishing points, and Vou brought a piece under construction she thought could use better perspective.  We all left with a great set of notes and lots of ideas.
Show and Tell was wonderful, as always, and the food was great, too.  I was able to update everyone on the "doings" in SAQA and SAQA-Texas, including:
Plans for an all-Texas event in 2013 - Heather, Suzan and I (and maybe Kim) will be meeting with Karey Bresenhan on December 3 to visit her Creativity Center and talk about what kind of event we could hold there.  Pam Lowe and Kim Buchannan have agreed to help work on that project once we get some particulars in pace.
Plans for a Texas Mini-Quilt Trunk Show - Vou Best is working on a Texas Trunk Show for 2014.  We are working out some details - what size piece; whether they will be for sale; etc., but the important thing to know is that we will have the trunk travel around Texas.  Suzan is looking for a spot in Houston; Heather is planning a site in Dallas/Fort Worth; I am committed to having the trunk in Austin in Sept. 2014.  More details will follow.
Website info - We went through the calls for entry listed on the SAQA site.  If you have not checked out the site; go to www.saqa.com then login (if you do not know or remember your login info, please contact one of the Reps).  Once you get to the Member Home Page, you can get to the SAQA Entries Info from either the Table of Contents on the left side OR the Quick Links in the body of the page.  Check it out!  There are several interesting exhibits being put together, including one for members who have NOT been part of a SAQA exhibit in the last three years.
Texas Blog - We also talked about the Texas Blog (http://saqa-texas.blogspot.com/).  Check it out if you have not visited lately.  We are working on a new feature - a Members Gallery.  We don't have all the bugs worked out yet, but some test pieces are up for sharing.  (We are using some new software and need to add identifying info, like the names of the artist and the piece, so it is not there yet, but it is coming along....)  Suzan Engler is the real moving force behind this, so say thanks next time you see her.  She has learned how to add a watermark, but we have not decided on whether that is the best way to go - it is a bit distracting.
I AM SAQA - Anyone who stopped by the SAQA booth in Houston may have noticed the "I am SAQA" postcards.  This is a new project that you will be hearing about.  SAQA is working toward making postacrds available to all members - so we can each have some advertising.  More will come directly from SAQA.
That's the rundown for now.  Hope to see you at one of our 2013 meetings!!!
Lynne Allen
NEXT MEETINGS:
I would like to set up the meetings for 2013 in advance.  So far I have 4 volunteers - Kim (New Braunfels); Sara (north Austin); Sherri (Lakeway); and me (south Austin).  It would be great to have a meeting or two in San Antonio.  In any event, it is time to let me know if you are interested in hosting, and when.  We meet either the first or second Saturday in January, March, May, July, September, and November.  The Saturday chosen depends on two things - holiday/conference schedules and the host's preference.  We will work out topics/activities with each host. Send me a note (lynne.esq@gmail.com) or give me a call (512 305 3278) to hold up your hand!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Houston Circle Meeting Report - November 2012

The Houston SAQA Circle Circle members took advantage of the glorious Texas fall weather and spent half of the November meeting in Ruthann Fox's backyard.  Suzanne Kittrell taught us various techniques for applying foil to fabrics.

Gold leaf applied to a quilted and beaded piece (Suzanne Kittrell)

Suzanne Kittrell demonstrating the use of adhesives, stamps, stencils, brushes and fusible web.

Gold Leaf over stitching (Suzanne Kittrell)

Fusible interfacing strips and fusible thread ( Kate Owens)

Brush stoked highlighted by foil ( Suzanne Kittrell)

We also planned out several meetings for the coming year.  In January, we are going to bring/discuss books that have changed our artistic lives (with the possibility of an in-depth study of one or more later in the year).  With creativity exercises in March and then color theory in May we will be off to a great year.

Suzan Engler
Texas Co-Representative



Monday, November 5, 2012

Reminder - SAQA Houston Circle November 10

Date: November 10, 2012

Time: 10:30 – 2:00

Location: Ruthann Fox’s home

Topic: Foiling Techniques

We will learn two different foiling techniques; one with adhesive and one with fusible. You will be pleased with the excellent results that can be achieved with these techniques.

Supply list for workshop:
1. 2 or 3 pieces of tightly woven COTTON material in a dark color, about 8"x8", more if you wish
2. a small piece of fusible web, such as WonderUnder or Steam-A-Seam 2, at least 10" square
3. any small foam stamps you may wish to use
4. a small foam brush or two
5. pencil and paper for sketching a rough draft
6. your own personal scissors for paper, preferably small for cutting intricate shapes
7. your imagination
8. your lunch

Suzanne and Ruthann will have the foiling material that we will iron onto the fabric and other needed supplies such as an iron, parchment paper and adhesive tape, containers for foil adhesive, newspapers, a hair dryer and a few books for inspiration.

If anyone wants to read up on the approach for this workshop, members can go to this website: lauramurraydesigns.com Look for the FREE Instructions (PDF) on the left side bar under Foil. This is where Suzanne purchases her foiling materials.

Please, please, please RSVP to houstonsaqa@gmail.com if you are planning to attend! Location directions will be emailed to all who plan to attend.

Hope to see you all there!

Suzan Engler
Texas Co-Rep

Saturday, November 3, 2012

News from SAQA Member Gay Young:


My piece PORTLAND REFLECTION was awarded second prize at Quilt Expo in the Pictorial Quilt Category, and is currently included in Quilts=Art=Quilts. My GROWING SEASON has been accepted into Fiber Art 2013 at the Copper Shade Tree Gallery in Round Top.