New Fiber Artist Meeting in Alabama

May 13, 2016

Fifteen (15) Art Quilters in Alabama met on May 12, 2016, at Jill Dailey’s home in Moody; for the purpose to start an Art Quilt Group in Alabama.  Attending the meeting was Marjorie Post, a SAQA member, from Portland, OR.  Marjorie displayed her lovely landscapes to the group.

Julia Graber, SAQA Representative AL/AR/MS/LA, presented to the guests the advantages of Studio Art Quilt Associates and it’s encouragement  for a state wide art quilt group. Many attendees signed up for SAQA membership.

Each guest introduced themselves and presented a sample of their passion in their art quilt medium.

Julia concluded with her quilt experience and showed the Mississippi Pod 8” by 11” finished quilts; sheathed in clear plastic envelopes and mounted on black board.  On the back of the blackboard, the artist‘s name and interpretation of the theme.  Julia shared the theme of the Mississippi pod challenge if the Alabama members choose to “catch up”.
                                                       Green and Sorrow
                                                       Blue and Bird
                                                       Yellow and Catastrophe
                                                       Royal Blue and Light Bulb

The persons attending the meeting unanimously agreed to meet on the third Thursday every two (2) months. The attendees living in the Birmingham area were commissioned to research an appropriate “free” meeting place that could eventually accommodate 40-50 people, with kitchen facilities, and room for workshops. All members would share expenses if there is a rental fee. Consideration for “easy accessibility” from major highways was requested by out of town members to accommodate quilters from southern and northern Alabama.

The following people volunteered to support the group at this meeting:             Julia Graber, SAQA Liaison; Molly Washburn, Email List; Loretta Strouss, Facilities Manager; and Anita Haddad, Communications.

We will need someone to volunteer for President, Group Art Project Facilitator, and Exhibit Chairperson.

Please come prepared to help birth this group at out next meeting, the third Thursday on July 21, 2016 at 1 pm.

MS Pod - Southern Fiber Artists

Rita Warnock, our President, called our meeting to order and welcomed everyone. Volunteers accepted as leaders this year are as follows: Marilyn Dedeaux, Exhibit Chairperson; Cathy Reiniger, Group Art Project Facilitator; Julia Graber, SAQA Liaison; and Jackie Watkins, Secretary.

Rita led a discussion on a name for our group and the final consensus was Southern Fiber Artists. After a discussion of future meeting places, the artists decided that a central site seemed best since members are coming from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Meetings will continue to be at the Electric Power Association in Ridgeland, MS when the space is available. You will be notified of a change. Other options will be Crafts Center or members homes.

Marcus Weekley reminded us of the call for entries about strong women and the things they have accomplished since obtaining the right to vote in the U.S. In 1920. Contact Marcus for more info.

Cathy announced that this years group project, Mississippi Ag Museum in Bloom, will be entered in the Old Man River Quiltfest and Pine Belt Quilt Shows in August and October.

Eight challenge quilts on the Yellow/Catastrophe theme were shown by seven members.

Our next challenge is Light bulb/Royal Blue. Create an 8 by 11 piece for our next meeting. 

Julia will take our challenge quilts on the road to the June and October meetings of MQA and to the Alabama SAQA pod meeting to show what Southern Fiber Artists are creating.

Julia announced a SAQA Call for Entries for a 12 x 12 donation quilt, a 10 x 7 for a trunk show that will travel, and a call Treasures Within and Treasures Without from SAQA AL/AR/LA/MS members for a show in Little Rock. See website for details.

Nancy Losure was our guest speaker on "Compounding Interest." She talked to us about adding interest to our quilts. How do we make quilts more interesting? Is interesting the same as beautiful? How do you increase interest in design? Think color, texture, movement, symmetry, flow, intricacy. Know when to stop! What makes a quilt worth a second look? Perhaps it is the makers hand, what the quilt does or does not do. Many examples were shown of quilts that had added interest. Southern Fiber Artists were good critics.

At Show and Tell, Cathy presented a wedding ring quilt of blue background with yellow and orange rings. It goes to her daughter. 

Martha Ginn showed her Challenge quilt from a selfish round Robbin where each participant made an 18x 24 center block and added borders. Shape Challenges called for redesign of each step. Quilt won Viewers Choice and 2nd place, after a tie-breaker, in a quilt show. She also showed a quilt made from Rhonda's surface design painting class, 

plus her Altered Book Project, where she made the cover and others supplied unique pages.

Sue Roundtree showed her Lily Quilt made in Julia's class.

Susan Manno shared her beads and cats, paper mache, challenge made in wool. She had a two color challenge of blue, orange and black, not a color. This was a backyard quilt with, of course, cats.

Marcus showed several quilts he will have for sale at a quilt show at the end of July in Gulfport to raise money for his anticipated move to New York, where he will be a successful screen writer and director. We will miss him here.

Debbie show us her loom and weaving project.

Our next meeting is August 6, 10:30 am at Electric Power Assn. building, 665 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS.