We Have a Winner!

Quilt Canada, the highlight of the year for the Canadian Quilters' Association, is -- as most of you know -- on now in Vancouver.

And this morning, via Facebook, SAQA WC member Terry Aske of B.C. has shared the first *win* that has come across my awareness!


CONGRATS, Terry, for winning the TrendTex Challenge with her piece, Tally to Thirty. For those of you who don't (yet) follow Terry's blog...she's written about making this piece HERE.

Tally to Thirty - Terry Aske, 2018

Now...I know that Quilt Canada's National Juried Show has been a showcase for SAQA members' winning art in recent years...so please, more of you!  Brag on yourselves -- or let me do it for you by e-mailing me particulars, photos, links or whatever details you choose to share with your SAQA colleagues.

Remember that this blog is followed by other Canadian SAQA members, and by many colleagues in the U.S. and overseas.  Let's share our successes!

More Exhibits -- This Month and Beyond

In early March I mentioned that a number of SAQA Western Canada members had been accepted into the Canadian Quilters' Association National Juried Show.

Those names have increased by one, as Margaret Inkster of B.C. e-mailed me to say she too was in the exhibit.  Congratulations to Margaret -- and to all whose work will be on display at Quilt Canada 2018 in Vancouver -- May 31 through June 2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre's West Building, 1055 Canada Place.

Next weekend, a very special one-day-only showing of SAQA WC's "Burgess Shale" exhibit will be held at the Banff Trail Community Centre.  I know I posted about this earlier -- but I decided to send a reminder out as it's up for only one day.  If you blink, you'll miss it!

Also next weekend, the City of Lacombe, Alberta is having its 19th Annual Encore! Art Sale and Celebration of Creative Expression -- in the centre of town at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.  

Yours truly has had the pleasure of being juried into this show for a booth consistently since 2011, so I hope you'll drop by to see my new work as well as that of featured artist, water colourist Sandra Bingeman, the Student Art Exhibit and Competition, and the delightful "Sip & Shop" from 6-8 p.m. Friday and 2-4 p.m. Saturday. 

LACOMBE MEMORIAL CENTRE

5214 50 AVENUE, LACOMBE

April 20 & 21, 2018

Friday, April 20

1 pm – 8:00 pm
General Admission $5
under 12 free

Saturday April 21
11 am - 5 pm
 Admission $5 
under 12 free

Here's a sneak peek at what you might see at my booth...based on a photo taken by a dear friend, and used with his permission:

After the Storm: Granada
8" x 10", mounted on
painted stretched canvas
12" x 12" finished

Finally, last weekend, I ventured to Red Deer for the 27th Annual Central Alberta Quilters' Guild Show.  This is one of Alberta's largest shows, and it is pulled off with aplomb every year.  There were two featured quilters -- Marie Barkley, a senior who creates traditional quilts exquisitely, with a particular eye for colour in her interpretations, and Jasmine Travers-Charbonneau, a 34-year-old who's been quilting for only five years; her style is Modern.  Her quilt, "Brassica" was selected for exhibit at QuiltCon 2018!

But aside from the Featured Quilters and the terrific vendors (Hamel's Fabrics, the Superior Thread reps, 

and a wide range of shops from around Alberta and Saskatchewan), I enjoyed most meeting up with SAQA colleagues -- and former ones, such as former Co-Rep for Alberta, Patti Morris.  She's still quilting, but too busy with family (aging parents, a new grand-baby) to keep her membership, but she sends along her best wishes to the Region and was thrilled to hear about the 2020 Conference in Toronto.

And I had a great chat with Alberta member Wendy Greber of Red Deer, who took a ribbon for this delightful piece:

Little Red Wagon
First Place, Challenge Quilts

In her statement about the work, Wendy wrote that she designed it in response to the Guild's Quilt Challenge to make a piece inspired by a song.  She chose a Country song entitled "Little Red Wagon" sung by Miranda Lambert.  She said it reminded her of the little red wagon she had as a child, and concluded, "...now this one has a new purpose in life".  😊

In addition, Wendy took a second ribbon -- for this fun piece featuring wonky trees!  She wrote that she designed it following a technique described by Australian quilt artist Jan Mullen, but using her own layout and lively colour selections.

Inferno Trees
First place, Small Quilts

Congratulations on your prize-winning work Wendy!

And in other news...B.C. member Susan Purney Mark, who in early May of last year was one of our terrific workshop leaders at our first Regional Retreat, is currently trundling on foot along the Camino de Santiago in Spain.  If you're curious about her journey, she is posting fairly regularly on Facebook.  Best wishes for a safe and memorable pilgrimage, Susan!

Remember, if you have exhibit information to share with your SAQA colleagues in Western Canada, across Canada and world-wide (yes, members in other Regions read this blog!), please e-mail blog editor Margaret Blank.

On and Off Our Walls: Cathie Ugrin

It's been over a year since I posted under this banner, and I'm delighted to do so again!

Cathie Ugrin, a SAQA member from Manitoba, recently reported that her piece, Listen Softly, has been accepted into the Canadian Quilters' Association 2016 National Juried Show.  When I congratulated her, I asked her to share with us a bit about the piece, and here's what she wrote:

Thanks for asking me to send you info on 'Listen Softly'. 

It was created as a bit of respite after a very busy time for me; CRAFTED show at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in November and participation in one of our local studio boutique's December/ January show of 12 Small Pieces by 12 Artists for which I made 20 pieces just in case. 

I love the feeling of being sheltered and alone in our local forest in the middle of winter on a snowy still day so that is what inspired me. I am also always aware that the frozen ground I am walking on is just a blanket covering all that rich organic life lying dormant underneath. Basically, these concepts are what make the two parts of the piece. Then I added hundreds of small snowflakes throughout the light section of the 'phantom wood' and a glittering starry presence at the top. As I was making Listen Softly, I realized it met the criteria for SAQA's Tranquility and Turmoil exhibit so I did enter their Call for Entry as well as Quilt Canada's. Unfortunately, it was not accepted by SAQA but I am so pleased it is going to Quilt Canada.

Here's a photo of the piece plus a couple of detail shots:

Listen Softly

Back detail

Front detail

Cathie's Artists' Statement for her piece reads as follows:

Tranquility lives within the quiet still spaces of nature. Here among the trees of a phantom winter wood, a wondrous and mysterious presence glimmers down from above whilst the dormant layers of a vibrant, living earth lay below, sleeping under a dense, snowy blanket. Inspiration flutters down like countless luminescent snowflakes as imagination stirs. There is room here to shift the tensions and turmoil of life and breathe fully. A place to rediscover the innocence of peace. Freedom to pause and listen softly.

Congratulations on answering more than one Call for Entry with this lovely piece, Cathie, and for your acceptance at the NJS.  Best wishes for continued success!

What's happening On and Off Your Walls?  If you're working on a special project, or have exciting exhibit news to share, please contact Margaret (see sidebar), who's the current Blog Editor.  Thank you!

Congratulations are in Order!

I came home from the Portland Conference to find that SAQA Western Canada members are well-represented in the winning ranks -- as winners or finalists -- of Grand National and Quilt Canada 2015.

Congratulations to the following members:

Quilt Canada's National Juried Show Finalists:

• Helene Blanchet, Alberta/Nova Scotia;
• Alison Cowitz, Alberta;
• Wendy Greber, Alberta;
• Jaynie Himsl, Saskatchewan;
• Paula Jolly, Saskatchewan;
• Patti Morris, Alberta;
• Jenny Perry, B.C; and 
• Susan Purney Mark, B.C.

And

Grand National Quilt Show Connections Award Winners:

• Margie Davidson, Edmonton, AB - The Janome Award of Excellence for Not Everyone Has a House.  Note: This piece is published in SAQA's Portfolio 21: The Art Quilt Sourcebook. You can see it in my copy of this publication if you visit the SAQA Trunk Show exhibit at Quilt Canada in Lethbridge, June 4-6.
• Alison Cowitz, Calgary, AB - An Award of Merit sponsored by Friends of the Grand National Quilt Show, for Green Piece.

And...

An up-date on the touring SAQA exhibit, Radical Elements, which includes Calgary member, Karen Jurek's piece, "CU Around".  This exhibit opens at the National Academy of Sciences, 2101 Constitution Ave, Washington, D.C. on May 18, 2015 and runs through October 19, 2015.  Note: you can see this piece -- and all the pieces in this exhibit -- in the catalogue for Radical Elements which will be available for viewing at the SAQA Trunk Show booth at Quilt Canada in Lethbridge.

Stay tuned for more posts about the Conference.  Meanwhile, I leave you with the Annual Crazy Canucks Conference Photo, courtesy of Maggie Vanderweit of Ontario.  She claims this was the best of the ones taken with her camera!

(L) to (R): Margaret Blank, AB; Ellen Bourassa, B.C.;
Tracy Lawko, Ontario; Maggie Vanderweit, Ontario;
Andree Fredette, B.C.; and Teri Donovan Springer, N.S. & Michigan

Spring Shows to See - Part II

Synesthesia 24: Golden Yellow
Lesley Turner

In addition to "People & Places" showing in Manitoba, I know of at least three shows in B.C. that have opened this month.  All have been listed on the "Networking" page of this blog, but here are a few visuals:

Synesthesia 4: Spring Green
Lesley Turner

In addition to her participation in "Edge of the Forest", B.C. member Lesley Turner is showing several pieces in an exhibit entitled "Small Expressions" which opened March 4 at the Tulista Gallery in Sidney, B.C. under the auspices of the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Penninsula.  The show runs through March 29.  If you're in the area, do treat yourself to a viewing of her little gems.


Meanwhile, B.C. member Catherine Nicholls is involved in three exhibits!  The first is "Mended", a group exhibit presented by the Surface Design Association - B.C. and The Yukon -- which includes work by several SAQA members:

Participants who are SAQA members include:

• Anni Hunt
• Linda Ingham
• Barbara McCaffery
• Catherine Nicholls
• Susan Purney-Mark
• Kristin Rohr
• Jill Sullivan
• Lily Thorne
• Patt Wilson

"Mended" opens March 17 at Il Museo, part of the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver; from there it travels to Fibreworks Gallery on the Sunshine Coast (August 20 - October 4) and next year, to the Place des Arts in Coquitlam, B.C.

At the same time, Catherine has a solo show opening March 17 at the City Atrium Gallery in the North Vancouver, B.C.  Note that it runs through May 11, and that Catherine will be giving an Artist's Talk the afternoon of Tuesday, March 24:

AND....at the end of March, some of Catherine's work will be included in the exhibit, "Cherry Blossoms: A Textile Translation", opening March 31 at the Silk Purse Gallery in West Vancouver.

I await Catherine's permission to post particular photos of her work on this site, but meanwhile, you can catch up with her on her own blog HERE.

P.S.  Special thanks to members Terry Aske, Karen Johnson and Jaynie Himsl who are going to be at Quilt Canada 2015 in Lethbridge, AB (June 4-6) and who, though they are volunteering at the Fibre Art Network booth and elsewhere, have offered to spell me off a bit at the SAQA 25th Anniversary Trunk Show (Section "F") booth.  I will be "personing" the booth most of the time between June 4 and June 6...If anyone else would like to volunteer to ensure I don't starve, thirst (coffee!) or otherwise injure myself (ahem!)...please e-mail me at margblank@xplornet.ca.

And thanks for your support!

On and Off Our Walls: Terry Aske

Recently, B.C. member Terry Aske posted on her blog the delightful news that one of her pieces has been featured on the cover of the Spring 2015 issue of The Canadian Quilter, a publication for members of the Canadian Quilters Association.  I asked Terry if she would share with her SAQA colleagues. Here's what she wrote:

When I was invited by the Canadian Quilters’ Association (CQA/ACC) to donate a 12 x 16 inch quilt for the ‘It’s Time for Colour!’* traveling quilt show, I had several ideas for colorful subject matter - tulips, fall foliage and sunsets all came to mind.   But I decided to create yet another version of one of my favorite themes – Rainy Day People.

I live in Vancouver, B.C. which is located in a spectacular scenic location between the ocean and mountains. With a temperate sea climate, we have mild but very dark, wet, dreary winters. After weeks of gray rainy weather, I’m always cheered when I see a pedestrian carrying a brightly colored umbrella. The idea of a quilt featuring people with bright umbrellas percolated in my head for a long time before I finally incorporated into my fiber art.  

In 2012, I created the first of my Rainy Day People series (the title ‘Rainy Day People’ was inspired by a wonderful song by Gordon Lightfoot, a great Canadian singer-songwriter).

To date, I have created 6 pieces with this theme, all featuring dark pedestrians carrying colorful umbrellas - including one for the SAQA 2013 online auction, and one for the SAQA 25th Anniversary Trunk Show.*   More information about the series can be found here in my blog.

For the 'It's Time for Colour!' exhibit, instead of dark adult pedestrians, my art quilt features two small girls with huge adult-sized umbrellas (based on photos I took of a little girl last year).   I dressed them in bright, cheerful colors to contrast with the rainy gray background, and added colorful reflections on the wet ground.

I was thrilled when the editor of The Canadian Quilter magazine asked if I would like to have my 'Rainy Day Girls’ on the cover of the Spring issue - now they are Cover Girls! 

Terry's "Cover Girls"

In addition to being on the cover of this Spring 2015 issue, Terry's quilt appears again in Laine Canivet's article about the "It's Time for Colour" exhibit, page 48 -- and in the same issue, an article about the Fibre Art Network's exhibit, "Abstracted", for which she partnered with her sister to create a realistic and an abstracted piece -- "Solitude I" (Terry's) and "Solitude II" (her sister, Anne de Verteuil's).

Congratulations, Terry! 

*"It's Time for Colour" has been travelling through Canada in two shows of 19 pieces each under the auspices of the Children's Wish Foundation.  Those of you who are attending Quilt Canada in Lethbridge, AB this year (June 4-6) will have an opportunity to see all 38 pieces of this exhibit at the end of it's one-year tour.

**Terry's contribution to the SAQA 25th Anniversary Trunk Show is touring as part of "Trunk Show B", currently travelling in the Alabama/Arkansas/Mississippi/Louisiana Region through the end of March and going from there to Southern Indiana (April) and from there to the Catskill Mountain Quilters Hall of Fame and the Calico Geese, Liberty, New York (May 11).

If you're part of an exhibit, if you've won an award, if you've been published, if you're having a creative adventure of any kind -- please share it with your SAQA colleagues!  To tell us what you've been up to, contact margblank@xplornet.ca -- and we'll work out the details!

Going to Quilt Canada?

Are you attending Quilt Canada 2015 in Lethbridge in June?  If so, now's your chance to take a class (or two!) with SAQA members on the Faculty at the Conference -- and both have been winners of the CQA 'Teacher of the Year' award in their careers!

Kathy Tidswell of New Brunswick -- SAQA Atlantic Canada member and CQA Teacher of the Year in 2005 -- will be presenting a one-day workshop on "Painting Flowers with Thread", and a two-day workshop on "One-of-a-Kind Wearable Art".

Meanwhile, SAQA Western Canada member, Margie Davidson of Edmonton, AB --  CQA Teacher of the Year in 2013 -- will be presenting a one-day workshop entitled "Painting with the Colour Wheel" (June 4) and a two-day workshop, "Paint and Piece" (June 5 and 6).   Margie recently contacted me to share her enthusiasm for the topics she is presenting, even sending me photos to whet your appetite for colour and paint on textiles!


Are you eager to learn more about surface design?  Or do you know someone who's ready to further explore the world of colour and fabric?

Using fabric paint -- and inspired by the colour wheel -- create this luscious collection of fabrics!

Painting with the Colour Wheel

And/or...combine paint and fabric to print and piece something like this!

Paint and Piece

For more information, you may contact Margie directly (info@margiedavidson.ca), via her website, or through the Quilt Canada 2015 website.

And while you're in Lethbridge...

If you have an hour (or two) to assist me (Co-Rep Margaret) at the SAQA Trunk Show F booth -- it would be much appreciated!  Trunk Show F will be appearing all three days; because the pieces are small and portable, it's important to have someone attending the table all day each and every day of the show.  I am happy to be the one who puts in the most hours there, but will need a few breaks to stretch my legs, refresh my coffee, attend to personal comfort (!) and perhaps browse the booths, connecting with quilters, merchants and presenters alike on behalf of SAQA.  So...if you are able to give me a hand at the booth, please contact me by e-mail (margblank@xplornet.ca).  I'd like to arrange scheduling that will suit each volunteer.  Thanks so much for your support!

Note, too, that Quilt Canada 2015 will be your last chance to see Trunk Show F in Western Canada this year.  On June 10 it's being shipped back to the U.S....and will be sent from there to other venues.

Trunk Show F at Sylvan Lake Guild - Dec. 9, 2014

So Canadian, eh?

Cruising down my Facebook "home" page and what do I see?

A blurry photo of SAQA member (and Canadian SAQA pioneer), Anna Hergert.  The report?  She was accepting the award of "Teacher of the Year" from the Canadian Quilters' Association at its annual conference, Quilt Canada -- this year being held in St. Catharine's, Ontario.

Anna is a former Alberta resident (who launched the art quilting career of many of us, thank you!) who now lives near Moose Jaw, SK...and she was initially the only rep for the Western Canada Region of SAQA...until she made our American friends see reason (grin).  She convinced yours truly to join SAQA in 2008...and my life has never been the same since!

CONGRATULATIONS, ANNA!!

Upon checking out the CQA site, I tripped over last year's winner -- yet another SAQA Western Canada member, Margie Davidson of Edmonton.

Whoa!  Are we great, or what?!  ;-)