By Way of Introduction....

The new year, for me, has always seemed to begin in September. I know I’m not alone in this feeling: the anticipation of new classes, new subjects, new projects; the hope that everything will go well – and maybe a bit better than last year; and of course always the anxiety that comes with trying something new.

My new activity this September is acting as SAQA co-rep for Michigan, along with Laurie Ceesay who introduced herself on this blog in August. Now it’s my turn to write and introduce myself, and believe me, there is plenty of anxiety associated with that new task!

My name is Anne Hiemstra, and I’m now a fiber artist living and working in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and (for several lovely months each year) in Fort Myers, Florida. I have lived in Michigan all my life and attended the University of Michigan. I practiced law, specializing in commercial real estate, until I retired in 2006.

So you may be wondering where in that background there was any training in the visual arts. Well, there wasn’t much. I was one of those kids who couldn’t draw a straight line (although I was very good in geometry), and I didn’t take any kind of art class beyond sixth grade. But I did love fabric and yarn and textures, so I sewed many of my own clothes in high school and college and also learned to knit and embroider.

I also have always loved quilts. When I was growing up,we used quilts made by my grandmother and aunts. I wanted to learn to quilt, but somehow got the idea that all piecing and quilting had to be done by hand, and I was convinced that I would never have the time and patience to learn all that stitching, much less make a whole quilt!

But in 2000 I took finally took the plunge and enrolled in a quilting course that included piecing, applique, English paper piecing, and quilting, all by hand. I was completely hooked – although it didn’t take me long to buy a sewing machine and learn to do the piecing and quilting by machine. Hand applique, however, remained one of my great loves.

I enjoyed making traditional quilts but I never felt that I was making my own quilt, even when I devised my own patterns. “Quilting Arts” magazine introduced me to art quilting, and two workshops with Pamela Allen at Fabrications (2006 and 2007) convinced me that this was what I wanted to do. Since then I’ve attended workshops with Laura Cater-Woods, Fran Skiles, Cherilyn Martin and Els Van Baarle, and Laura Wasilewski. I’ve exhibited at a number of shows across the country, and even tried my hand at teaching a few times. I’m a member of Running With Scissors here in Michigan and of Art Quilters Unlimited in Florida.

I make art quilts because I love working with fabric and thread. I love texture and color and learning about design and composition. I love free motion work but also hand stitching. I don’t have any good explanation of my work - artist statements are always agony – so I’ll just show you two of my favorite pieces (both made, coincidentally for the Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational) and let them speak for themselves.

I look forward to serving as a representative for SAQA. Let me or Laurie know if we can answer any questions about the association.

The Art of The Kitchen: Michigan Quilt Artsits Invitational

I am sharing information about an art quilt exhibit which begins in Flint MI and then travels throughout Michigan into 2012. The group is Michigan Quilt Artists Invitational and was created by Mary Andrews and Marty Calhoun. Each year there is a theme and this years theme is "Art in The Kitchen." I have been part of this group for two years so I am familiar with the rules. The quilts need to be sized to 20 x 24 either horizontal or vertical, any color or style, any embellishments need to be containdr because of travel and the pieces are available for sale. There will be an opening reception on Friday, September 9, 2011 at the exhibit location Greater Flint Arts Council Gallery in Flint MI from 6-9 EST. If you live near Flint or are in the area check it out because the exhibit is amazing. It's fun to see how aproximately 60 fiber artists interpret the theme of the invitational. Contact Mary Andrews for the complete traveling schedule.

Perhaps there is some crossover between the SAQA MI members and the MQAI members. If you are one of these artists and are willing to share your piece on this blog please e-mail me at ceesaylaurie@yahoo.com and I will post it. Don't be shy and share for the people who may not attend the exhibit.  Thank you!

Have a creative and abundant day, Laurie

SAQA Michigan Profile of the Month: Lauren Strach

The SAQA MI Member Profile of the Month is Lauren Strach. Please take the time to view Lauren's work, her perspective on her art and it's processes and her goals for the future.

Lauren in front of "First Snow" 2011. 60 x 55.

How long have you been sewing and when did you begin making art quilts?
I started taking traditional quilting classes about 13 years ago when my late husband became terminally ill. I was home with him, and two small daughters, and quilting became my release. After he passed away, and I went back to my career as a college professor of marketing, I didn't have time to quilt, but continued to buy patterns, books and fabric, and I would plan the quilts I would make when I had the time. That is all still in a corner of my studio, untouched, but at the time, it was an important artistic outlet!
As my girls got older, my interests in the type of quilts I was drawn to started to change. Then I picked up "Thread Magic" by Ellen Anne Eddy, and my creative world changed. I discovered that Ellen lived only an hour away from where I lived, and that she did private tutoring in her studio. I called her, signed up, and never looked back.

MAAC Solo Gallery Show

Describe your art and its inspiration.

My inspiration, like so many other quilters, comes from nature. I am a Master Gardener, and am lucky enough to have an extensive garden, with two water ponds, and many perennial beds. I live on a ravine, with a creek at the bottom, so I am daily surrounded by inspiration. Nature has always been an important part of who I am and it is an important part of the creative lens that I view my world through. So, it is only natural that that the vocabulary of my work comes from this inspiration.



Where do you do most of your artwork?

I am lucky enough to have a third floor studio space, with large dormer windows, overlooking my garden. I can look up and see the sun and the clouds and all the drama of the sky, I can look out into the branches of the trees and watch the squirrels and the birds, and I can look down, and see the tiny koi swimming in the water.


What are your goals?
My goals are to continue pursuing this artistic journey as fully as possible. I continue taking classes, learning new textile techniques. I am also expanding and developing my skills in other areas of art, such as pastels, drawing, photography (which I use to constantly document the changing garden landscape), and watercolor painting. I believe that if I continue to work hard, show up, and be dedicated, that there is a reason I have been given this passion.　

Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your artwork?
Not at this point. I took an early retirement from my teaching position, so I have already had the experience of teaching professionally. I am still focused on learning and developing as much as I can.

Where can your work be seen?
I have had pieces accepted at the International Quilt Show in Houston for the past three years, and have two new pieces that I just mailed off for the 2011 show. I have also had quilts accepted into the AQS show in Paducah, the Minnesota Quilters Show, and various Mancuso shows. My quilt, "Saguaro Familia" won a third place ribbon at the Pacific International Show, and "Abundance: Pumpkins and Vines" was a finalist in the $100,000 Quilt Challenge.
I have also entered quilts each year in the local Michiana art competition at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan. I have won "Best In Show" twice, which has been a great honor.

What are your interests outside of art?.
My other main interests are gardening and photography and garden photography! All of which feed directly into my art quilts! And, I love to travel, and taking quilting classes around the U.S. has given me the opportunity to spend time in many beautiful and interesting parts of the country. And, of course, my family is a blessing as they support my continued devotion to my art!
The SAQA MI member profiled this month is Lauren Strach. Please take the time to view Lauren's beautiful and colorful work and learn about her, the art processes she uses and how she is inspired.

"Flora in Wonderland" 2011. 55 x 69

"Flora in Wonderland" Detail

New Work "Spring Botanica" 2011. 18 x 42

New Co-reps for Michigan

My name is Laurie Ceesay and I along with Anne Hiemstra are the new SAQA Michigan Reps.

Robbie Payne and Mary Andrews have finished their "tour of duty" and fulfilled their time as the Michigan Co-Reps for SAQA. We will be posting on the MI blog and managing what needs to be done for the MI area of SAQA. Anne and I will take monthly turns with postings-I have August  and Anne has September. I see there are 60ish members and only about a 1/4-1/3 of the members follow this blog. Are some members not signing up and pop in now and then? If you know members that are not followers could you recommend this blog to them? I am a bit competitive since I noticed the WI/IL blog has lots of followers-we can do better than them!!!

I have lived in  Michigan 4+ yrs. after living in Appleton, Wi forever. I live in Menominee, in the UP, and am not real familiar with the state and I have never been to Lower MI so learning all the cities the members live in will be a learning experience. I joined SAQA two yrs. ago and chose to take on this position to get more involved in this group which is so informative and has awesome opportunities. Are there any other members from the UP?

A few of my goals is to post upcoming call to entries, acknowledge members and their accomplishments, possibliy have a MI art quilt challenge and/or a mini seminar. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated!!

I have included a photo of myself so you know who I am.

Thank you, Laurie Ceesay, MI Co-Rep
www.laurieceesay.com
www.artsychickquilts.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/artsychickquilts

Jim Hay Workshops

By Jim Hay

The Dennos Museum Center is presenting two workshops with artist Jim Hay this September.
For The Love of Cloth Quilters Workshop

Dates: Saturday, September 24, 2011, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

and Sunday, September 25, 2011, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $75 for Museum members, $90 for non-members
To Register: Call Diana Bolander at (231) 995-1029, payment due upon registration. This workshop is open to beginners, intermediate and advanced artists.
Forget patterns, forget rules. Get your creative juices flowing.
"Give me your tired...yearning to breathe free" Statue of Liberty
This workshop will open doors to YOUR personal creativity. Each person's artwork will be an individual expression; your artistic vision, your interpretation of a subject, your use of materials. Making art is a path to awareness, a finding out who we are as individuals connected to all.

The Luck of the Sew Quilters Workshop

Dates: Monday, September 26, 2011, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $75 for Museum members, $90 for non-members
To Register: Call Diana Bolander at (231) 995-1029, payment due upon registration
Open to intermediate and advanced artists – it is recommended that you take the For the Love of the Cloth workshop with Jim Hay before this fun and challenging workshop, but not required.
A Game of Chance – Expect the Unexpected – Numbers being Actions
The Luck of the Sew is a play on words from “the luck of the draw” referring to card games.” Numbers beings actions refers” to 1234567, people, monkeys, dogs, etc. and actions are walking, running, driving, etc.

A little about Jim Hay...

"I am an artist first, a maker of quilts second. Cloth can be folded, stored and shipped. This is an advantage over other sculptural materials as well as large stretched canvas paintings. I taught myself how to use a sewing machine and have never attended a quilt class or workshop. The first time I went to a quilt festival was to accept a prize and I have been going to accept prizes ever since. These are not "Your Grandma's Quilts"; no maps, no patterns, no sketches. They are journeys of improvisation, full of energy, surprise and personal discovery. The sewing machine foot pedal is my gas pedal as I race around."

Diana Bolander
Curator of Education and Interpretation
Dennos Museum Center
Northwestern Michigan College
dbolander@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1029
www.dennosmuseum.org

Congrats, Gera!

We'll be mailing out the SAQA catalog 'sightlines' this week!

Extension

No we aren't into showing how to do proper extensions but we are extending our Give Away this month.
Appears some folks have had problems leaving comments so now you have until Sunday, June 26th to post a comment to possibly win a copy of the SAQA catalog 'SIGHTLINES'!

Remember to leave your comment on the post here and not on this post!
Good luck!

Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational 2011

Jello Anyone?

by Laurie Ceesay

"Jello Anyone" is one of over 50 quilts that will be on display at the Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational, 'Art of the Kitchen' exhibit. The opening reception will be on September 9th from 6 - 9 p.m. Mark your calendars so you won't miss seeing some of these wonderful art quilts!

In case you can't make the opening, here is the schedule for the Art of the Kitchen exhibit and last year's South of the Border, which is still traveling.

Sept - Greater Flint Arts Council
Oct 15 - Nov 30 Ann Arbor Library
Dec - Southfield Library
2012 Schedule
Jan Ortonville Library
Feb-Mar White Lake Library
Apr-May Menominee Library
June - Marquette Library
July - Aug Les Cheneaux Historical Museum

South of the Border Exhibit Schedule remaining:
July-Aug Les Cheneaux Historical Museum
Oct - Marquette Library
Nov - Dec 1/2 exhibit to Menominee Library
Nov - 1/2 exhibit to Livonia Civic Center
2012
Jan - Flint Schools
Feb - Mar Oakland County Government Center
Apr - June U of M Hospital
July- Aug Charlevoix Library

Summer Give Away!

Well, it's almost summer and therefore we'll start off the season with giving away a copy of the SAQA 'sightlines' publication. The exhibit 'Sightlines' premiered in November 2010 and contained art work from 14 world renowned artists from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United states.

This catalog contains 64 pages, hardcover, with 6-page gatefold that opens in the center illustrating the entire exhibit.
Each artist has a four-page spread with an image of their installation, detail image, artist statement, and artist bio and also includes a curator's introduction from Virginia Spiegel.

Just leave a comment (on this post only!) and you'll be entered in the drawing to win a copy of 'sightlines'! You can enter more than once but make sure to leave your email address (in addition to your name) if you don't have a blog or website that provides your email. You have until Tuesday, June 21st@ midnight - start of summer! Winner will be announced on Thursday, June 23rd! Good luck!

SAQA Michigan May Profile

May SAQA Michigan Profile

Gwen Jones
Bridgman, Michigan

How long have you been sewing and when did you begin making art quilts? I have an MFA in painting, printmaking and drawing, but though I taught some in the art area, I kept getting hired in Libraries. While getting my MLS I worked for the ALA (American Library Assn.) and the AHA (American Hospital Assn.) and ended up working for 20 years as a Medical Librarian while continuing to do artwork. It helps in this respect that my husband had rented out a large loft space and ran a gallery and rented out work spaces to artists. But someone in the family needed to provide the medical insurance for our family of 4. I saw my first art quilts out East at an exhibition of Japanese Art Quilts seventeen years ago and it opened up a new media to me. I had a lot to learn before feeling confident and joined the Illinois Quilter Inc. and enjoyed the monthly speakers for years. We are both now retired.

Describe your art & its inspirations I want to move the viewers eye and am often interested in having an irregular edge to the pieces I make. "Arroyo" is one of these pieces (see picture below). It was made while in our Arizona home which has a lot of ravines throughout the town. At times my art piece is inspired by the fabrics, and I feel very strongly that it is important to keep your fabrics around where they can be seen and not carefully stacked away. The piece Jane's Garden at Twilight (picture on Gwen's web site) was inspired by some fabric designed by Jane Sasseman that was given to me. The twilight part came from living in Michigan where we often walk down to Lake Michigan's shoreline to see the sun set over the Lake. I received a "special award" with $100. at the Senior Network Art Exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center's Renaissance Center in September and I received a second prize on this same piece at the Member's juried show at the Sedona Art Center in Sedona, AZ this March.

Where do you do most of your artwork? I work in my studio space, which in Arizona is in our guest bedroom. In Chicago, it has been in a large attic with a very high ceiling. Now I am moving to a 19' x 19' studio in Bridgman, MI, which is finally, nearly finished, with the exception of the ceiling lights and moving everything over from Chicago. It is a terrific space with nice window lights and I will not have to take the stairs to the attic. When I travel to Arizona, I take along fabrics and threads, but I have another machine, and cutting board there.

What are your goals? I want to exhibit more. This is a hard economy for art and there are a lot of "artists". I have studied the color, design of art and worked at the craft of fabric artwork for years now and finally I am seeing more fabric art accepted in fine art shows. I plan to keep exhibiting.

Do you teach, lecture, or have a business of your artwork? No

Where can your artwork be seen? I have work in Gallery 225 in Gilbert, AZ. I will have 3 pieces in the MAAC juried show coming up at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan which opens on June 10th. I was also part of "Art Attack" showing with 10 artists at the Burnison Gallery in Lakeside, MI.

You can see more of Gwen's work on her website: www.GwenJonesArt.com

Arroyo

33" x 51"

Earth Journey with Chinese Turquoise

Newest SAQA Michigan member

Burning Bush

Fabric Collage by Gwen Jones

30" x 42"

Gwen Jones is a SAQA PAM member who is in the process of moving her studio from Chicago to Bridgman, Michigan. Her "guest house" is currently being renovated to be her new studio. To see more of Gwen's work go to her web site here.

Welcome to Michigan, Gwen! Spring is coming!

Most of you are familiar with Ami Simms and her AAQI project. For those who are not, and for those who are!, check out the current YouTube to see the panels From Heartbreak to Hope premiered at the Hands Across the Valley Quilt Show in Amherst, MA last month. And while you're at it, check out some of the donation quilts that you could bid on each month or purchase and own one right now!

April SAQA Michigan Profile

SAQA Michigan Artist Profile

Carol Tamasiunas

White Lake, Michigan

How long have you been sewing and when did you begin making art quilts? I have been sewing since I was a teenager. I started by making clothes for myself. I made my first quilt when I was in my 30’s. It was squares sewn together with an army blanket as the batting. I remember my step-daughter & I sitting in bed with the quilt laid out before us while we hand tied it. I didn’t make my first art quilt until 20 years later. I found it totally nerve wracking to work without a pattern at first. Describe your art and its inspiration. My work is pretty representational. I started out doing appliqué, but transitioned into painting most pieces. I like the freedom of creating my own “fabric”. I’m inspired mostly by what I see. One of my favorite pieces “Crocotile” was inspired by a mosaic done by a child. I’m currently doing work for an exhibit called “Inspired by the Masters”. By studying those artists I come up with ideas to incorporate into my work though we work in entirely different media. My van Gogh (see picture below) was a painted portrait of my mom to which I added hand stitching to imply van Gogh’s heavy paint strokes. I’m also inspired by my friends. They all do beautiful handwork which adds so much texture to their work. My latest pieces both had a lot of hand stitching which took me longer than the painting. Where do you do most of your artwork? My quilting/piecing is done in my “office”. My painting is done in the family room where I have a space with a table and cabinet. My husband trusts I won’t make too much of a mess since I have to tote all my water/paint pans up and down the stairs. What are your goals? To learn to add more depth and texture to my work, continue to explore other art avenues to open my eyes and add other techniques to my skill set. Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your artwork? I don't teach or lecture but I do curate the Inspired by the Master's exhibit, which is shown at different venues in Michigan. Where can your work be seen? My work is traveling in several exhibits. Inspired by the Masters, has five of my pieces. I've also participated in the Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational for the past eight years. What are your interests outside of art? I’m a book lover who is currently work part-time at Borders. Spending time with my family & friends is a priority especially if it involves dessert. I enjoy my garden, museums, and attending concerts.

Hot Spot

20" x 24"

2010

"Hokusai"

16" x 20"

2010

"Mom Van Gogh'd"

16" x 20"

Carol's Mom and Carol

2010

New Websites

Not just one but two websites are up and running for two of our members!

Check out Marilyn Prucka's new site here
and
Judi Blaydon here.

You may remember both Marilyn and Judi were each an Artist Profile on our blog. Now you can check out more of their work and what they're up to on their web sites.

The Winner Is!

Our Valentine SAQA catalog winner is:

Mary Vinovskis! You may remember Mary from our December Artist Profile. You can reread that post and see who won our catalog here!

Congrats, Mary! Your catalog will be sent out this week sometime!

February 2011 Artist Profile

Beatrice Hughes
East Lansing, Michigan

How long have you been sewing and when did you begin making art quilts?
Sewing was part of my rearing. I used my mother’s fabric scraps to make doll clothes for my and my niece’s dolls. Home economics formalized my sewing and quilting sprang upon me when I discovered and purchased a box of sewing notions and Mountain Mist quilt batting at an estate sale. Once I found that batting with a Lone Star quilt pattern wrapped around it, quilting gradually grew into a passion. Yes, my first quilt was the Lone Star and I made two—but oh, the centers, how they peaked! Now that I’ve been sewing for over 50 years, my centers lay flat. I am both an art and traditional quilter. My first “art” quilt came together in 1990 and my philosophy is that a well made traditional pattern is also a piece of art.
Describe your art and its inspiration.
My art is inspired by graphic design, in which I have a degree. I like line and texture and love color. Many of my designs begin by using computer graphics, where I can test shapes, colors, change arrangements and print patterns. Photos also play a part in my work and I take most of the photos that appear in my books.
Where do you do most of your artwork?
I have been blessed with and appreciate space dedicated to quilting, sewing and an occasional craft project. There are no picturesque views or finished ceilings but my well lighted large basement area houses myriad fabrics, tools and supplies. My old model 2010 electronic Singer sewing machine and my new 2010 Janome Memory Craft model 11000, which includes quilting motifs, get along fine. I now realize how much I like having two machines. An 8’ x 8’ pin-up board is an important spot where I pin quilt designs before sewing. The 4’ by 8’ work table, covered which cutting mats, facilitates cutting, piecing and design layout. Other quilters also gather from time-to-time to work on projects. A 2’ x 5’ ironing board, which my husband made (he has helped quilting friends make a similar board), is ideal for ironing a full width of fabric. An office upstairs is where I physically draw, design, and publish on computer and work on business related tasks. It has a pleasant view where I can watch birds at the feeder.
What are your goals?
Striving to improve my quilting and computer skills is an ongoing goal. I am still thinking about 2011 quilting resolutions and usually vow to complete a project that is in the design stages and sometimes I get that done. My next quilting book, which is in progress, will continue to keep me busy. That can take so much time that art and traditional quilting both take a back seat. And of course this year, I want to get my recent, “Crazy for Lemoyne,” quilting book into more hands. The web site, FullCirclePublications, features this book. Creating a photo gallery of my quilts to post on a web site is another task on my to-do list. Learning more about digitizing is another goal so that I can create and stitch my own quilting motifs.
Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your artwork?
For many years teaching has been a part of what I do. Four wives of Japanese visiting professors were my first students and I taught basic quilting skills. Each student got a “quilting diploma” to frame after finishing their project. At least one of these women went on to teach in Japan. In 1991 I began co-teaching a group of MSU women who initially came together to make a scholarship raffle quilt. After completing that project, we continued on to learn new techniques and to make and donate quilts to International Aid and MSU Safe Place. That group has grown to about twenty members. I continue to belong to this group and teach on occasion. I have also taught at local quilt shops and at the MSU Adult Evening College. In 2009 I gave a trunk show and slide presentation to the Roanoke, Virginia Star Quilters.
Where can your work be seen?
Lou Anna K. Simon is the 20th president of Michigan State University. To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of MSU and honor women, like her, who contributed to the development MSU, I steered and worked with women in the MSU quilting group to make the photo quilt that hangs outside the president’s office. The foyer of MSU Safe Place houses another quilt. More recently I had a quilt in the SAQA “A Sense of Humor” travelling show with venues in places like Houston, California, Chicago and New York. This quilt can be seen in the SAQA publication that features all the quilts in that show. Three of my quilts can be seen in my book, “Crazy for Lemoyne.” And some are featured here.
What are your interests outside of art?
I just finished a wood working project (with a little help). I have strips of fabric in a rainbow of colors that were part of past quilting projects. I made a decorative wall-mounted hanging board with 7 long dowels. I now have my fabric strips hung by color. I also play trumpet in the Meridian Community Band, at church and sing in choir.

My best wishes to all quilters, Beatrice

Nebulae

80.5" x 85.5"

Broken Hearts

45" x 45"

Ties at the O ffice

29.5" x41"

Crazy Patch Lemoyne

52.75" x 52.25"

We hope you enjoyed meeting Beatrice and seeing some of her work! Be sure to check out her book 'Crazy for Lemoyne' which can be purchased here.

If there is a SAQA Michigan member you'd like to see in one of our monthly artist profiles, just email us at robbiespawprints@aol.com.

Valentine Give Away!

Sure, you'd like to have some chocolate for Valentine's Day but how about one of SAQA's catalogs instead!
Our February give away is the SAQA catalog, Transformations 2008: Icons & Imagery.
The following is a description from the Transformations 2008 exhibit:
Each of the artist members of Studio Art Quilt Associates who are represented in Transformations 2008: Icons and Imagery used the idea of an icon, with its ability to elicit symbolic meaning beyond the object represented, as a starting point for the quilts in this exhibit. German textile expert Rudolf Smend, who served as the sole juror of Transformations 2008, chose work he felt "focused primarily on artistic originality, perfect craftsmanship and innovation," while providing a new take on the meaning of iconography through the use of fresh imagery and interpretations. Transformations 2008: Icons and Imagery, is composed of 32 quilts from nine countries, traveled to South Africa and the United States after opening in the UK.
This catalog contains 72 pages including the juror's essay, full and detail images and artists' statements. You'll find some great inspiration from this catalog.

Just leave a comment on this post only. If you don't have a blog or website, you can select 'Anonymous' in the comment section and leave your name and email address. You can enter more than once but make sure to leave your name along with your email address!!

You have until Friday, February 11th @ midnight! Winner will be announced on Valentine's Day. Good luck!

Bonnie Peterson: After the Glaciers Exhibit

Bonnie Peterson developed an early passion for the outdoors while skiing on Wisconsin's glacial moraines and sailing with her Dad on Lake Michigan. She lived near Chicago and the lake so close and vast, that she didn't give the other Great Lakes a thought beyond memorizing the acronym HOMES (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior) in grade school. She finally saw Lake Superior while kayaking to Raspberry Island in the Apostle Islands where she heard stories about her great-great-grand uncle Francis Jacker who was a Raspberry Island lighthouse keeper in the 1880's.

Bonnie's Exhibit will run from January 19,- March 11, 2011 Monday through Friday 8am - 5pm in the Besse Center Galleries. The gallery is located at the Bay de Noc Community College, 2001 North Lincoln Road in Escanaba, MI 49829

Jim Hay SAQA Japan Rep

Jim Hay, SAQA Japan representative, will be having an exhibit at the Dennos Art Museum in Traverse City. The exhibit opens January 16 and runs until March 27. This is the first time that the international award-winning "Five Natural Elements" series has ever been seen in one place. Jim plans to be at the museum around March 18-27 time frame. You can check with the museum for exact dates. There will also be an opening reception on January 15th. To see more of Jim's work go to his website here.

You can click on the picture to read more about this exhibit and see some of Jim's artwork.

January Artist Profile 2011

Artist Profile for January 2011:

Judi Blaydon

Milford, Michigan

How long have you been sewing and when did you begin making art quilts?
I guess my first quilt would be classified as an "art quilt" [only because it was non-traditional], but certainly not because there was anything particularly artful about it. It was so unskilled, anyone else would have said "nice try" and taken up tennis or sumo wrestling instead. I'm amazed that I made any more. Really!

It was very encouraging when the next quilt, "Hot Mobius", won a Merit Award in Quilt National 1981 - - - but when I made that first quilt in 1976, I had done everything wrong and nothing right - - - no intersections intersected and no points were pointed . . . . . and no one has seen it since Ami Simms talked me into showing it in an exhibit she curated. If you can recall the most inept quilt you have ever seen and multiply its faults a thousand fold, you'll understand why no one will ever see it again.
Describe your art and its inspiration.
For a long time, my quilts were always about something I wanted to record and remember or celebrate. My quilt "The Mountain and the Magic: Haiku Moon" is an example of that approach, recording memories of teaching trips to Japan.
Currently, I've been focusing on the process that's described in my recent book, "Collage+Cloth=Quilt: Create Innovative Quilts from Photo Inspirations" / C&T 2010. [There's a nice book review on Barbara Brackman's Material Culture website [August 20, 2010] and ordering information will be on my website: http://www.judiwarrenblaydon.com/ - - - which is coming soon.
I begin by exploring experimental collage compositions using fragments and elements gathered from photographs I have taken - - - layering, combining and re-arranging them so they function as 'sketches' for abstract quilts. It's kind of like a work-wall on a small scale. Although the designs are inspired by photos, they are not in any sense 'picture quilts'. When I have an abstract composition I'm drawn to, I’m ready to enlarge the design and interpret all the colors, patterns and textures in the collage, transforming the 'paper quilt' composition into pieced fabric, to make a quilt that reflects the design elements and visual content of the collage. The quilts are very personal, because personal photographs are the inspiration. The collage serves as the "map" of the quilt.

What has resulted is a series "Sub Rosa" quilts that make reference to an abstract horizon line that allows me to suggest imaginary landscapes where things happen 'above' and 'below' that line. The "Sub Rosa" series got me out of a comfort zone of left-right symmetry [which came very naturally to me] and sent me in a new direction that always challenges and surprises me.
I use commercial fabrics, and combine them with Skydyes, Lonni Rossi, Judy Robertson, and Laura Wasilowski fabrics. (You can see pictures of this series of Judy’s quilts at the end of this profile.)
Where do you do most of your work?
I don't have a swanky studio with skylights and a view of the garden - - - - I have half of the basement of our house, with an inspiring vista of the washer and dryer. But there's lots of fluorescent lighting, a Bernina for dark value thread and machine quilting, and a 1960 Singer sewing machine [always filled with light value thread. I work at a 4' x 8' architect’s drawing table, an 8’ x 8' flannel-covered work wall and another 4' x 8' panel that I can move around the room . . . and most of my students have larger fabric stashes than I do. I also have a separate room beside the studio for doing my Stitched Paper prints, which are off-shoots of my quilted Icons.
What are your goals?
To learn something from each new quilt and then make the next one. And the next one. And to make every day count. . . .
Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your art?
I teach and lecture, mostly doing 5-day Color and Design workshops for guilds and quilt conferences. At the end of January, I'll be offering a new workshop at Monarch Quilts in Brighton, Michigan. In the coming year, I will be teaching for East Bay Heritage Guild in Berkeley CA, at Katie Pasquini-Masopust's Alegre Retreat in Colorado and 2-weeks at Quilting By The Lake in Syracuse NY. What I love most about teaching is the chance to meet so many fabulous, funny and industrious women.
Where can your work be seen?
There will be a retrospective collection of my work in The Gallery section of my up-coming website; and my quilts are also in several books, including "Uncommon Threads: Ohio's Art Quilt Revolution" by Gail Pritchard; "The Art Quilt" by Robert Shaw" and "88 Leader's of the Quilt World Today" published by Nihon Vogue. "The Mountain and the Magic: Night Lights" is in the permanent collection of The National Quilt Museum in Paducah KY.
What are your interests outside of art?
Spending time with my husband Frank, [a retired architect and restorer of sports cars]; I love being with my children and my funny wonderful grand-daughters, The Detroit Tigers, reading, writing, Lake Michigan, and keeping in contact with old friends and fellow quilt artists.

Haiku Moon

84" x 73"

Sub Rosa: Aquifer

52" x 52"

Sub Rosa: Portal

53" x 70"

Sub Rosa: Venice II

54" x 54"

Jurors Choice Award

Quilts=Art=Quilts / Schweinfurth Art Center 2010

Sub Rosa: Venice I

47" x 38"