Art Quilts Off The Wall

There we were, right there on the first page of Front Porch News section in the Record-Journal, Sunday, May 23. Sisters in Cloth had been asked by Program Chair Sandy Parsons to provide the evening's event...it's what we humorously call our Dog and Pony Show...for the Heritage Quilt Guild.

This was the third time regional quilt guilds have asked us to come and show them the what's and why's of "art" quilts. And we are ever so happy to have the opportunity!

In a happy coincidence the evening was also their celebration of their 25th anniversary and the revealing of their Twenty five years/Twenty five pieces Challenge. As we knew they would be focusing on their challenge we brought some of ours, specifically the Photo Challenge that was exhibited last year at the Guilford Art Center and later at the Guilford Library.

We started the talk with one of our first challenges. Inspired by a gorgeous quilt hanging in Yvette Howard's entry Hidden Wells, we all made one...or many...Hidden Wells, a Mary Ellen Hopkin's specialty some time ago.

I don't know the names of their makers but here are two good examples of the MANY members who participated in their Challenge. It was just wonderful that such a huge percentage of their membership joined in!

This woman had designed this "25" VERY effectively.

Barb Adams was the only other Sister who could attend the evening with me. She, naturally, was a big hit...she is very comfortable in front of a crowd and they loved her. She brought her beautiful journals that she makes for her trips....and her new stash of them that she has made for her church fundraiser.

Extravaganza 2010

Sisters in Cloth annually hosts a day of all things "quilty" that we have dubbed an Extravaganza. This year Betty Warner (www.bwarnerdesigns.blogspot.com) who is a very talented, knowledgeable and amusing teacher agreed to corral the independent, high-spirited group and demonstrated several hands-on techniques.

I think the jury is still out on whether she'll agree to return. Let's just say it was a lot like herding cats to get us all "attending" to the task at hand. It was just that kind of joyful day.

Of course there is always Show and Tell. Again, more high jinx with wonderful, artful pieces shared by all.

Here's Janine showing us her results of our class with Melanie Testa (melanietesta.com).

Two treats at the Show and Tell were the work of guests Rosalind Spann and Toni Torres. Below is Toni telling about her Black Mermaid piece (her second quilt!). Both she and Rosalind are among the artists whose work will be exhibited at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival (piccolospoleto.com and northcharleston.org) through June 13.

(

Pictured below is Linda Zimmerman

(zimmermandezigns.com), Marie Shepherd along with guest Judy Ross who are admiring the work of artist and vendor Karen Loprete (karenloprete.com). Also vending were our own Ruth Anne Olson (fiberartbyruthanne.blogspot.com) and Carol Ludingtion with her scrumptious hand dyed threads. Jan of Delectable Mountain Cloth (delectablemountain.com) in Brattleboro Vermont had driven down for the day with a carful of gorgeous silks/buttons/laces/velvets...yummm.

Other vendors who sent hand dyed fabric were Laura Wasilowski (artfabrik.com), and Malka Dombrowski (stitchindye.blogspot.com). Needless to say by afternoon we were all a bit giddy from being overstimulated: good food, good friends, good fabric...excellent show and tell.

Our last Show and Tell was the group's presentation of our Farewell Quilt to our Sister Linda Sexton-Patrick (lindasextonpatrick.com) who is in the throes of relocating from her home in New London to North Carolina. It's not quilted YET (it will be shortly) but we didn't want to miss the occasion with all her Sisters and friends to say good-bye.

Thank you to Yvette Howard AKA Incredible Hostess, Barb Adams who organized the delicious lunch and all who help invite, organize, set up, vend, clean-up. It was very much a team effort. Well done, Sisters!