Well Represented at IQF, Houston

The key mission of SAQA, as you know, is the promotion of the art or studio quilt.  And one of the great benefits of being a SAQA member is the multiplicity of opportunities members have to exhibit their work:

• There are juried shows;
• There are non-juried shows;
• There are Regional shows; 
• There are International or Global shows;
• There are shows that are for two-dimensional pieces only; and
• There are now beginning to be shows that include three-dimensional pieces (which are generally harder to store and ship).

You can make pieces that tour in the Trunk Shows mounted on a three-year cycle or donate them to the annual SAQA Benefit Auctions or Conference Spotlight Auctions.  Thus you can be a big fish in a smaller pond -- or you can make a larger splash with work that tours, including being shown at one of the biggest ponds wherein quilters gather: the Houston International Quilt Festival.

And SAQA Western Canada has been beautifully represented at "Houston" this year!  Not only did B.C. member Terry Aske have two pieces in the SAQA Global Exhibit, Dusk to Dawn -- and not only did these pieces find new homes -- but another B.C. member brought home a ribbon!

That member is Judy Leslie of Coquitlam, and she won Third Place in the "Naturescape" category!

When Ontario member Maggie Vanderweit posted the news of Judy's award on Facebook -- with a photo of the two of them together -- I just had to ask Judy to tell me more.  I looked her up in the Membership Directory, and dropped her a line.  Although I think she's still recovering from all the excitement a trip to IQF entails -- not to mention accepting an award!! -- she quite quickly sent me photos and wrote a few words about her adventure, which she shared with SAQA colleague Bonnie Rozander:

Bonnie and I had a wonderful time, especially meeting a number of SAQA members from various locations.  We volunteered to work in their booth for several hours and I had time to peruse Martha Sielman's new book 'Art Quilts Unfolding'.  Unfortunately it was too heavy to pack in our suitcases due to the weight of our other purchases.  It is expensive, especially in Canadian dollars, but it's beautifully crafted.

I was delighted to see Maggie.  She and I first met at CQA's 2010 National Juried Show in Calgary and we had a visit last year in Toronto.  She is very eager to encourage all SAGA Western Canadian members to attend the 2020 SAQA conference in Toronto.....

And now for the photos...

Judy -- all ready for the Awards Ceremony!

Receiving her award

Exuberance -- with it's ribbon

Exuberance - Judy Leslie
40.5" W x 31" L

Congratulations, Judy!  A well-deserved award for a lush and beautifully rendered piece!