Is it in the Mail Yet?

Or were you able to deliver it at the Conference in San Jose last week?

To what am I referring?  Your 2019 SAQA Benefit Auction quilt -- that's what!  😊

Yes, it's that time of year again.  The Call for these pieces seems to arrive earlier every year, but that's due in part to the fact that opportunities to show them at Houston or other special venues have earlier deadlines.

There's only one deadline left now, though: the June 1, 2019 received by date.

Looking through the quilts collected so far, I see that in SAQA WC, Jaynie Himsl is an early bird, with her piece, Pansy Patch:

And Karen Johnson is too -- with her piece, Skinny Strips #6:

Then there's our Rep, Jennie Johnston's piece, Ragged Soul, featuring one of her signature ravens:

while Judy Leslie has submitted her work, The Open Door:

Karlie Norris McChesney has contributed another one of her colourful geometrics, MO 4:

And Debbie Plett has submitted Moon Birds Dance, evoking West Coast native heritage:

Terry Rammell's piece -- for me, resembling sun and shade -- is entitled Traces:

Nancy Riemersma has chosen to remember those who have died in war, with her piece, We Remember:

Susan Selby has created this colourful and textural autumn piece:

Nine early contributions!  That's a great start!

Mine went in the mail this morning; it's from my Scotland Series:

Mac's Garden: A Tribute
to Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Margaret Blank   (c) 2019

There's still time -- one whole month -- but remember: it's a received by deadline and there is that Customs and Border Patrol to consider. 

What are you waiting for?!  😉

Are You Up for a Challenge?

New from SAQA WC member, Val Wilson!

A free 5 day Challenge - Create a Dynamic Fabric Portrait by Focusing on Value

Click the link above to take this journey with Val, wherein you'll...

• Learn about value and its importance in fabric portraits.
• Gain confidence in choosing skin tone fabrics that look blended, rather than patchy.
• Understand how the use of value creates the contours of the face.

Starts Friday, April 26!

Congratulations, Jaynie!

This was shared on FB earlier this evening. 

In a nutshell, SAQA WC member Jaynie Himsl of Saskatchewan has been selected as "...one of 35 crafters whose works will be included in an upcoming exhibit by the Saskatchewan Craft Council, 'Dimensions’."  The show will run from May 4 to July 6 at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery in Saskatoon.

I don't know how else to share the article here...except with  this link, so click it for full details. 

Her striking, graphic piece, Listening (shown below), will be part of the exhibit.  

Listening - Jaynie Himsl

Congratulations, Jaynie!

What's On? What's Coming?

SAQA WC member Lesley Turner recently posted about her contributions to an exhibit now on at the Portals Gallery, located in the lobby of the Islands Saving Recreational Centre of the  Cowichan Arts Council in Duncan, B.C.

The Articulation Textile Group, of which she and SAQA WC member Wendy Klotz are a part, attended the Artists' Reception on April 13 for the Group's show, Forest and Sea and the Place Between, on NOW through April 19.

At left is a detail from one of Lesley's pieces in the show, entitled "Cedar Wind Drawing".

The Group's next planned exhibition -- Icelandic Culture in Gimli -- will take place July 1 through August 31 at the New Iceland Heritage Museum, Gimli, Manitoba.


Meanwhile in Calgary, Spectra Textile Arts Group is showing their work at the Fish Creek Public Library -- on NOW through April 29:

SAQA WC members in this group include Ilse Anysas-Salkauskas, Joyce Brown, Margaret Jessop, Marie McEachern, Beverly Patkau, Linda Van Gastel and Barbara J. West.

And in central Alberta, SAQA WC member Margaret Blank has been juried into the 20th Annual ENCORE! Lacombe Art Show & Sale, taking place at the Lacombe Memorial Centre, Lacombe, Alberta, on April 26 and 27.  This is Margaret's eighth year participating in this event, which includes work from a variety of art and fine craft artists.

A Reminder: Mary Pal's Coming to Calgary!

Morning Conversations - Mary Pal
A portrait of the late Peter Gzowski

Yes, there are still tickets available for artist Mary Pal's Trunk Show in Calgary on the evening of Thursday, May 30!

Location: Foothills Mennonite Church, 2115 Urbana Road N.W., Calgary.

Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

For info and tickets, contact Margaret Jessop.  It's bound to be an inspiring evening!