Sisters in Cloth Meeting - April 4, 2014

There was a lot of great energy in the room today at the Sisters in Cloth weekly meeting. Here are a few pieces from our "show and tell."

Autumn Years Squared  by Diane Wright for the SAQA Benefit Auction to be held in September. She is totally prepared for this one!  The background is a black linen napkin and the tree was made with her own stamp design. Machine and hand quilted.

Carol Ludington is working on a yummy wool appliqué from Wooly Lady. The wools are rich and warm and her work is second to none!

Barbara Adams is working on a baby quilt to be auctioned with other baby goodies at the SARAH auction. Her fabric combinations are terrific and so fresh!

Debra Bento just completed commissioned toddler size quilt. It consists of mostly oranges and yellows from one of her favorite designers, Lotta Jansdotter. 

Class with Kate Themel Part II

After the post from our first session in Kate Themel's class, I thought I'd share some pictures from yesterday's workshop. We all improved our free-motion quilting skills. In fact, it was a new skill to some.

Kate explaining the process for the day.

 Kate demonstrating the method.

 MaryLyn doing her first free-motion quilting.

Very impressive indeed.

 Diane totally engrossed in her work.

 Carol hard at work stitching.

 Alice working on a practice piece in order to hone her skills.

 Barb contemplating the next step.

 Betty Warner doing a smaller piece before tackling a large one with many magnolias.

 Gina, Janine, and Robin.

Ruth Anne trying to work around the tension issues of her machine.

It was fun to be working together on a lovely project. We all jumped at the chance to take a class with Kate. 

Vivika's Largess

Janine, friend Claire, Marie and Debbie on all fours

Our fellow Sister Vivika decided to clear out her fabric stash.  I just love when this happens….there are SO many smiling faces digging into the bins.  It's not like any of us 'need' any more fabric.   Heck, 'need' hardly ever plays a part in our love of fabric.

Marie and the usually very restrained Carol

Happy Campers.  Fortunately I convinced everyone I was THE photographer, thus shielding evidence of my plunder

Thank you, Vivika!!  You know we will put it all to good use…and/or admire your beautiful contributions to our stashes.

Preview of SAQA/CT's "Local Color"

Our group was over the moon when the acceptances of SAQA/CT's were released by the jurors for Local Color!  Eight of us received the 'fat envelope'!!

Gail Kotowski's Metropolis

I have images of four:  

My Town Green

Barb Adams' Winter Marsh

This group entry (Diane Wright, Gail Kotowski, Barb Adams, Linda Zimmerman, Yvette Howard and Robin Wolek) was especially fun for us.  We love working on group projects: Whoever can, participates.  We always know that life gets in the way for us all, so it's usually 6-8 members who are available at any one time.  This time it was 6.

Hartford's Colt Dome

We had decided that we wanted to find a 'ultra' iconic image.  After not hearing from the Colt Dome Trustees for permission to use their online image, I decided to do the Little Red Hen thing and do it myself.  Well, myself with my husband David, the designated photographer.  While I was the designated driver, and he the photographer, we picked a clear day and made many 'passes' on I91 to capture images of the Hartford skyline that included the Colt Dome.  It was at times like this that you wish you had a helicopter.

Carol Ludington, and Ruth Anne Olson  also had entries accepted.  What fun!

The Hits Just Keep on Comin'

First, the postman brought a wonderful surprise with this most recent issue of Quilting Arts' Gifts.  Wow!  Four of our Sisters' had projects featured:  Barb Adams, Deb Bento, Vivika DeNegre, and Carol Ludington.  They all had been quiet about their participation and surprised us all.  Each offered a project that  we all consider their 'own' to be sure.  In our group, Barb has always described her many trip in terms of her gorgeous journals.  Deb's notepad holders have been one of her most sought-after items in the Guilford Art Center's Gift Shop.  Carol Ludington has been a dyer of note...and local instructor...for ages.  Her trademark (IMHO) is her crystal clear ice dyed fabrics.  And, Vivika...gosh, where would I begin?!

  THEN, Gifts was followed shortly by the Oct/Nov 2012 Quilting Arts issue.  Lynn Krawczyk interviewed four quilt groups from across the county...Sisters in Cloth among them...on how to start your own fiber art group.  A subject near and dear to my heart.

The opening photograph shows seven of the twelve members at one of our regular meetings...a critical mass, per usual, but hardly ever a full complement.  Carol Ludington (see above), Liz Shore, Robin Wolek, Debbie Bento (see above), me, Janine Anderson-Bays and Marie Shepherd.  One of the cool parts of this is that the photo represents the total twelve years that we have been in existence.  Liz, Robin, Deb, Janine and I were there in the beginning when we were first formed from the Guilford Newcomers' Club.  (interestingly, Liz had dropped out a few years ago to return to employment and has just recently re-joined the group).  Carol and Marie joined later as the group morphed from Newcomers' to wider membership.

This photo was taken at one of the installations of Double Take, our exhibit that traveled to several venues around the area.  It was a collaborative effort, joining our work with that of photographer Rosemary Delucco Alpert.  This page features Yvette Howard (another one of the Newcomers) and Deb, along with a childhood friend of hers, Debbie Kouzoukian, enjoying the opening reception.

The last photo in the article is that of Linda Zimmerman's wonderful interpretation of one of Alpert's photographs, Pink Hydrangea.

I am so proud of my friends' successes in their journeys as artists.  It has been such a wonderful meandering, joyful trip!

What's Going On Here?

Road Trip!  Diane couldn't help herself - after a few hours basking in the luxury of a well stocked quilt store (Sew Inspired), Diane and Carol were So Inspired upon seeing the man hole cover that they ran back into the shop, bought a package of paint sticks, and rubbed some images from the ground.  Now that is a sure sign of a good day.

Lots of fabric came home with the group, of course, as did a slew of new books, ideas for a day of bleaching and discharging fabrics.  Most of us ended up with lighter wallets, but healthier stashes.

Lastly, a pizza and salad at the neighboring restaurant made us all feel ready for the hour long drive home.

We are so lucky to have Sisters!

Carol Ludington's Grandmother Quilt

We thought it was important to get this quilt to Carol, even though the label is not yet made, before the twins could crawl!  Carol's been through a lot this year, not to mention that her daughter gave birth to twins about a month ago.  Our group loves to make a "grandmother quilt" for the first grandchild to enjoy with his or her grandmother.

We wish Carol many happy hours of grandmother time...

Friday Quilting

The most important thing that keeps our group cohesive and productive is our Friday morning meetings. Fridays are sacred to us: we gather at one of the members' home for an hour or two of critique, support, planning, and COFFEE. Diane, our fearless leader, keeps the calendar full of events, trips, venues and opportunities to share our work. There is always a "Challenge" in the works or on display (the latest, Photo Challenge, is hanging in the Guilford Art Center until the end of the month) and a progressive quilt to be passed to the next quilter. "Fridays" are a gift to us all...

Carol's In the News

Carol Ludington, our West Haven Applique Maven, has had her masterpiece, Here Comes the Sun, featured on the front page of the Connecticut Post's March 5, 2009 issue. Click here http://www.connpost.com/ci_11836363?IADID=Search-www.connpost.com-www.connpost.com for a story about the Southport Congregational Curch show, "Fabrics and Fabrications".