New Book by Judi Blaydon

Judi's vision is now a reality! COLLAGE+CLOTH=QUILT is finally a book.

C&T did a fabulous job with the book design and photography. Included in the book are photo montage collages that inspired the quilts made by Judi's students from both the east and west coasts - - - as well as some of Judi's own work.

Judi's book shows techniques you can use to create an endless array of adventurous quilt designs inspired by your favorite photos. You'll discover simple ways to transform your photography into collage-inspired quilts that speak to your soul and you'll see your fabric stash in a whole new light!

If you would like to have an autographed copy, send a check for $27.95 plus postage (total check for $30) to:
Judi Blaydon
555 E. Commerce
Milford MI 48381

Congratulations, Judi!

Busy Summer for Laurie Ceesay

Our own Laurie Ceesay has been having a pretty good summer!

Her art quilt "1974"Good Hair" was juried in the wall quilt-pictorial category and will be on display at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI, Sept. 9-11.2010. You can check out the show at www.wiquiltexpo.com

Another one of Laurie's art quilts, "Geisha", has been selected to be part of the traveling exhibit for the 2010 Hoffman Challenge. This quilt will travel the rest of 2010 and through next summer at various quilt venues.

And one more piece of good news for Laurie, her art work has been selected to be on the website, ArtShow as an associate artist. So congrats, Laurie for a great summer! You can see more of Laurie's work on her website.

'1974 Good Hair'

40.5" x 33"

'Geisha'

Upcoming Exhibit & Reception

Looking for something to do this weekend? How about starting it out by attending the opening reception for one of our SAQA members and your Co-Rep for the Michigan region! Mary Andrews is having a show at Gallery 194 in Lapeer. The show runs through September 4th with an opening reception on Friday evening, August 6th from 6 to 8 PM.

The exhibit, "Glass and Fibre", will also feature hand blown glass by David Hilte along with the art quilts by Mary, which were inspired by Chihuly glass from the Botanical Gardens in Arizona. This is a great way to start your weekend out or just add to your 'places to go' sometime in the month of August! The gallery is located next to the Pix Theater at 194 W. Nepessing, Lapeer. For more information, check out the Gallery 194 web site: http://www.gallery194.com/.

Drum roll, please!

And the winners of our give away this month are:

Donna Hamilton &

Ruth Anne Olson!

Congrats, ladies! Your catalog, SAQA: Creative Force/2007, will be in the mail this week! Don't forget to keep watching our blog for SAQA member updates, exhibits and our next give away coming in September!

August SAQA Michigan Profile

August SAQA Michigan Profile:

Gretchen Jackson
Ann Arbor, Michigan

How long have you been sewing and when did you begin to make art quilts?

I began sewing while in Junior High School and made my clothes and those of my family for many years. I hand pieced my first bed quilt at age 16, using scraps from my sewing and I continued to do traditional functional quilts for many years always using traditional patterns. Following my retirement in 2000, I decided to see if I could create my own designs which gradually led to art quilting.

Describe your art and its inspiration.

My art and its design takes many forms. Some of my pieces are quite contemporary and abstract. For others I draw my inspiration from nature. Recently I have been dyeing much of my fabric, often utilizing various Shibori techniques. This has led me to a number of pieces that employ hand dyed fabrics in simple designs which have been heavily stitched and embellished with beading. Even though my current work is more contemporary, I still hand quilt all of my pieces.


Where do you do most of your artwork?

My studio is a small room at my home and this is where I do my design and construction. My dyeing is done in the basement and my hand quilting, stitching and embellishment are done on the sofa while I watch movies on TV!

What are your goals?

My goals are to explore many different techniques and styles, to entertain myself, to share my work through exhibits both locally and nationally. I am blessed by not having to support myself or even the expenses of my work – having a very supportive husband. So while I do occasionally sell a piece and/or do a commission, this is not my focus.

Where can your work be seen?

My work can be seen in various locations in Southeast Michigan. I occasionally have a one-person show, but also exhibit through two fiber groups of which I am a member: Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild and Paradigm Art Quilters.

What are your interests outside of art?

My education and early professional career was in music where I was an organist, church choir director and public school music teacher. Music continues to be important to me and I attend concerts regularly. I have also restored 5 old homes that had been badly neglected as well as created extensive perennial gardens for each of them.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Gretchen and look for her work in venues throughout South East Michigan. Here are two of Gretchen's art quilts for you to enjoy.

URBAN ABSTRACT

STOPPING BY THE WOODS