NorCA-NV SAQA enjoys Evening with QuiltCritique.com

Our region spent a lovely Monday evening with the fine ladies of QuiltCritique.com.  Six artists volunteered to have their quilts critiqued online by Sandra Sider and Lisa Chipetine.  We spent an hour on the quilts - about ten minutes per quilt.  All members of the region were invited to be silent participants.  The six artists could speak with each other during the session.  The hour ran very smoothly as the critique is well organized.  Sandra would show the original quilt, discuss it, and then show some changes she would have the artist consider.  The suggestions often helped the artist better articulate her vision.  At the very least, they spurred interesting conversations about the artist's creative process.  QuiltCritique.com offers various levels of participation.  You can check out their offerings by clicking on the link above.  It will be well worth your time!

Linda Gass's Open Studio this Sunday

Member Linda Gass is participating in Holiday Open Studios at Cubberley Studios (4000 Middlefield Road) in Palo Alto on Sunday Nov 22, 2009 from 2:00-5:00 pm.  Linda will be showing twelve new works in addition to framed and matted prints, and small eco-friendly gift items for those who are looking to do some holiday shopping.  If you can't make it Sunday, look for her work on exhibit in the first floor lobby of Palo Alto City Hall through Dec 9, 2009; "On the Edge" in the new Lafayette City Library (3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard); in the exhibit Still Water, through Nov 22, 2009 at the Dalton Gallery, Agnes Scott College, Atlanta, GA; and in the book, The Map as Art: Contemporary Artists explore Cartography (Princeton Architectural Press).

Carla Barrett's Online Machine Quilting Course a Hit!

Regional member Carla Barrett's online quilting design course, "The Quilt Whisperer," is already sold out so the smart people at Machine Quilter's Resource have added another session, which will run for three weeks starting January 11, 2010.  Click on the link above for more information.

We're Invited to SFDC this Friday

Laurel Sprigg has invited our region to a special San Francisco Design Center "Fall into Fabrics 2009" event: "Behind Closed Doors:  Textile Conservation at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco DeYoung and Legion of Honor" with Sarah Gates, Head of Textile ConservationFAMSF, and Beth Suzhay, Conservation FAMSF.  There is no charge for this event!
Friday November 20, 2009, 11 am
De Sousa Hughes - Showplace 299
2 Henry Adams Street SF CA 93103
Rsvp Kitty@desousahughes.com

SAQA Donation in Memory of Emma Allebes

Cal Expo Anniversay Quilt (2008)

Our region collected $506 to donate to the CREAM fund of SAQA in memory of Emma Allebes, who passed away October 6, 2009 from acute myeloid leukemia. The Cathy Rassmusen Emerging Artist Memorial (CREAM) gives awards to emerging artists at Visions, Quilt National and ArtQuilt: Elements. Why SAQA? Emma was a true supporter of SAQA and had renewed her membership up to 2012; she donated to SAQA at the Donor level; she regularly attended our regional meetings and was committed to broadening awareness of the art quilt. Why the CREAM fund? Because we don't know many area quilt artists whom Emma did not mentor or foster in some way. She was very interested in new techniques, the diversity within quiltmaking, and helping emerging artists find their voice. Thanks to all who donated and to Noelle Tamborini-Olson, who coordinated the donation.

Merle Axelrad Sirlin's Open Studio

NorCA-NV regional member Merle Axelrad Sirlin will be in her studio during this month's "Second Saturday" art event in Sacramento.  The local public TV station, KVIE, features her and "Second Saturday" on its program, "Viewfinder."  Stop by and visit Merle on Saturday, November 14, 6:00-9:00 pm.

November Regional Meeting in Half Moon Bay

Thanks to all who attended our meeting Saturday. It was a beautiful day of viewing quilts and visiting with our fellow members. Many thanks to our location scout Win Dell'Ario for arranging the meeting place. A big thank you to our presenter, Carol Larson. Carol spoke about her Tall Girl Series of quilts and the book she self-published using blurb.com.
Here are some of the highlights of Show and Tell:

Denise Oyama Miller and Nancy Ryan will be in the show "Landscape Impressions" at Alexander Fine Art on Main Street in Pleasanton on January 15 and 16, 2010.

Judith Content had a photograph in the "Eye of the Quilter" exhibition of inspiring photographs at International Quilt Festival Houston.  Judith will also be giving on talk on November 14 at the San Francisco Design Center.

Jenny Lyon's garment "Quiet Waters" was also displayed at IQF Houston.

Barbara Beatty and Deborah Beatty are working on a book entitled "Digital Puzzle Piecing" about their new art quilt technique using photo editing software.

Paula Chung's quilt, "Japanese Anemone," received a 2nd place in Japan's Quilt Nihon and will also be displayed in Art Quilt Elements.

Jean Jurgenson's quilt "Hong Kong Taxi" won 1st place in the Innovative category at Pacific International Quilt Festival XVIII.

Bobbi Bullard's garment "Eastern Sunset" and Robin Jack-Brown's quilt "Desert Dreams" also received awards for their work in PIQF.

Carol Suto's quilt "Neighborhood Blues" received a juror's choice award in the 2009 Small Quilts Exhibition in Groton, NY.

Denise Oyama Miller's diptych "Roadside Poppies" and "Just(ice) in Time" by the Pixeladies (Deb Cashatt and Kris Sazaki) have been selected for inclusion in "500 Art Quilts" by Lark Books scheduled to be published Spring 2010.

Please send cards to Eva Henneberry (recovering from brain tumor surgery) to the new address: c/o Phyllis Cullen, P.O. Box 429, Chico, CA 95927.

See you at our next regional meeting, Saturday, February 6, 2010 in Elk Grove (just south of Sacramento)!