Weekly Report 2015 - 2/13

Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci
The quilting is done. Now it
is time to turn to bead embellishment.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:


I left everyone on a bit of a cliff hanger last week. I can now share what the volunteer job is that I said yes to. I am the Interim Chair of SAQA's Exhibition Committee. SAQA is the acronym for Studio Art Quilts Associates. It has over 3,400 international members most of whom are fiber artists and the remaining members support or feel strongly about the field, such as business owners or collectors. SAQA's "mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development, documentation, and publications." There are currently ten exhibitions touring the globe and nearly an equal number in the pre-exhibition phase. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a committee to develop and manage the exhibitions from first kernel of an idea through returning the artwork back to the artist at the end of the exhibition. I am very fortunate to have inherited a talented committee with a strong range of skills to help make sure all aspects of SAQA's exhibitions run smoothly.

Detail from Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci
There will be two rows of beads along the feather's
spine on each of the quadrants in the white block.

I have spent much of the past ten days learning about my new job and taking care of the immediate business that needed to get done. However, I am determined not to give up my own work. I did manage multiple half days in the studio which was sufficient to make some personal artwork progress.

1) Night Vision 

a) Add the label - On hold.

2) Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci - (Due May 1, 2015)

a) Finish the quilting - Done

b) Remove the markings - Not yet 

The blue chalk that has always, always brushed off with no problem cannot be removed from the white fabric. Grrrrrr! I know, I know always test your marking tool before committing. My personal mantra is that "there are no mistakes in quilting. There are only learning experiences and creative opportunities. " I am doing what I always do when a flaw can't be removed. I am covering it up. :) Let's hear it for beads! The key when covering a flaw is to make sure that the coverup looks as though that was the original intent. 

c) Square up the quilt
d) Decide whether to bind or face it.

Zooming in even closer in another detail from
Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci. You can see the blue
chalk marking in the lower right corner before it is
covered with beads. There is the same amount of
blue chalk discreetly hidden behind the line of beads.

3) Free motion quilting practice. - Once again, I allowed my free motion quilting on Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci to fulfill this obligation.

4) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015 - 16.5/126

5) Perform a random act of kindness - Done!

I expect my work on the Exhibition Committee to continue to cut into my studio time for a while. My goal is to continue to work towards a more comfortable balance. When I do carve out studio time this is what I will be working on:

1) Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci - (Due May 1, 2015)

a) Continue beading

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015

4) Perform a random act of kindness

5) Night Vision - 

a) Add the label - On hold until I need a second label

I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.