Congratulations to our Texas member Gay Ousley whose quilt “Portland Reflection” is featured on the Photo Finish page (next to the back cover) of the February/March 2012 edition of Quilters Newsletter Magazine.  It is a beautiful quilt and we’re so happy that Gay’s talents are being recognized.

"Emerging" by Marla Ferguson

The $100.00 deposit fee for the Rosalie Dace workshop is now due by February 1st.  If it is not paid by then, your reservation for the class will be cancelled.  So – don’t let this wonderful opportunity pass you by.  Your best bet is to pay (if at all possible) the fee at this Saturday’s AQuA meeting.  Please pay Kathy Schattleitner tomorrow or mail it to her.  The final payment of $150 is due at the April 21st AQuA meeting.  No money will be refunded after May 1, 2012.

The class description and supply list is posted on this website under “Upcoming Workshops.”  The workshop will be held at The Holiday Inn, 2751 Crossroads Boulevard, Grand Junction from 9 am to 4 pm, June 14-17, 2012.

Posted by Rita Faussone 1/20/12

The 2012 Members Exhibit will open February 3, 2012 and run through February 24th.  If you are a member please consider entering some of your work in the show.  Members are allowed to enter two pieces.  If you are not a member, please join now—the cost is very reasonable.

The First Friday opening is February 3rd from 7 pm to 9 pm and every gallery will be filled with member work.  Prizes will be awarded to “Best of Show” and three other categories.  Both members and the public will vote.

You must drop off your entries on Tuesday, January 31st along with your entry form.

Please read more about this show  here.  Please click here for the entry form.

"Klimt - Soap Bubbles" by Daniela Schupp

Posted by Rita Faussone 1/5/12

Evolution Quilt Challenge

"Somewhere My Love" detail by Pat Plandel

Posted by Rita Faussone 1/5/12

 

The price for the workshop is now $250 (formerly $300) … YAY!  Remember that a $100 deposit to hold your place for this class is due at the January 21st AQuA meeting.  If you won’t be at the meeting, please be sure to get your check to Kathy Schattleitner by that time.  Don’t lose the opportunity to spend four creative days with Rosalie as she shares with us “Promises & Possibilities:  Design in Action.”   As a reminder, the class is June 11 through 17, 2012.  Please look under “Upcoming Workshops” for a supply list.

"Celebrating the Curves" by Carol Wilson & Emmalee Blender

Posted by Rita Faussone 1/3/12

Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope that 2012 brings you wonderful health, great happiness and amazing inspiration for beautiful new fiber works of art.

"Earth Mama" by Trina Stancil

Posted by Rita Faussone 12/29/11

How to Photograph Fiber Art

As someone who has been looking at quilt art and photos of quilters’ art for more than a decade, I can tell you that it’s not that easy to get good pictures of fabric and fiber.

A wall quilt, even an embellished one, tends to look flat in photographs. A lot of that delicious texture we love so much gets lost among the pixels.

Another problem is color. Photo flashes and poor ambient lighting can alter the hue and intensity of the colors. Flashes wash the color out and electric lighting can add unintended cool or warm undertones.

In Quilting Arts Magazine, we solve these problems by hiring professional photographers who have tons of special equipment.

But if you are photographing your own fiber art to submit to quilting contests, a gallery, or a publication, or you are selling your art online, you probably don’t have access to this kind of paraphernalia.

Light bounces off this embroidered quilt art by Ellen Anne Eddy, revealing
the textured stitching.  Fortunately, there are some tricks of the trade that can help you, even if you’re photographing your work at home. And you don’t need much, if any, special gear.

Here are some tips specific to shooting fabric-based art, from The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos: The Best Techniques for Showcasing Your Handmade Creations, by Heidi Adnum.

To show the detail and texture of fabric, choose one soft light source that enters the shot at an angle to your product, anywhere from 0 to 45 degrees.
You can use an artificial light or off-camera flash positioned on the table near your product, or sunlight when the sun has started to set and isn’t any higher than 45 degrees from the horizon. If your light source is too high, there won’t be enough shadow to show fine detail. This is one of the main reasons why a direct flash flattens a photograph.
In addition, point your camera lens at an angle to your product. Shooting from an angle can capture the effect of the light and shadows on the fabric at its best.
Using a camera angle such as this for your composition also helps to fill the frame with only your artwork, without any distractions. However, if you want to show the scale of your work, photograph it with some of your tools like thread spools, a tape measure, or with an item where your product will be used (like a pillow on a sofa or a wall hanging above a sideboard).

The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos also includes advice on choosing appropriate backgrounds to tell the story of your art and help it sell better; how to choose a camera and other equipment; and how to size, alter, and catalog your photos. It’s a great resource for any artist.

With Thanks to “Quilting Daily” from Interweave Press.

Posted by Rita Faussone 12/4/11

"Sea Turtle" by Elizabeth Bottorff

THE CITY OF FRUITA

through its Arts and Culture Board http://www.fruitaart.com/events.html   is seeking artists to submit works for exhibit at the Fruita Community Center. The pieces are to be placed in the Community Center in 90 day increments. The artist must consider the space desired in drafting the proposal.

¨           The December to February theme will be “Food as Art”. Submissions must be tuned in by Monday, November 7, 2011. Selections will be made at the Wednesday, November 9 Arts and Culture Board Meeting. Artists must be able to hang art work on December 1^st or 2nd.  They prefer to have the artist available for a “Meet the Artist” event on the evening of December 14th at 6:00pm (after the A & C Board Meeting).

¨           Artists are asked to submit proposals to the City of Fruita, Parks and Recreation Department, 324 North Coulson Street, Fruita, no later than 4:00 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011. Proposals will be evaluated by the Fruita Arts & Culture Board. Click http://www.fruitaart.com/fccregistrationform.html  for printable two-page registration form. The second page gives detailed information on how to submit entries.

¨           No fee to enter and no commission on sales.

¨           Art quilts are accepted. Large ones are okay, as they have four large wall spaces (10’x 20’).

¨           Artwork is selected by the Fruita Arts and Culture Board, and photos of artwork must be sent in/turned in on a disk or emailed with the registration form before Monday, Nov. 7th.  If you’re selected, you can put a card on the corner listing the title, artist name, artist contact info/phone, and price

¨           Artwork is featured for 3 months at a time, with the next exhibit beginning Dec. 1st.

There is a second opportunity at the FRUITA CIVIC CENTER.  Through the Parks and Recreation Department, local artists can display their artwork in the lobby of the Civic Center. Artists are encouraged to contact the Fruita Parks and Recreation Department to schedule a month they would like to display. The year 2012 is filling up fast.  This venue is well suited to smaller pieces such as 9”x 9” or 12” x 12” would be best.

Thanks to Renee Herring for providing this information.

Posted by Rita Faussone 10/28/11

"Ziggy" by Gjeneve Hopkinson

When is a Grand Junction Garden Center an Art Gallery?  When Meadowlark Garden in Grand Junction asked the Art Quilt Association to display their artwork for their Pumpkin Festival, October 22 and 23, 2011.

Many members brought their artwork to be displayed on lattice walls and garden furniture for this short two day show, and with a collection of scarves, hand dyed napkins, small artwork from the Glenwood Springs show earlier in October, and some larger quilts from earlier show, this group did well in the sales.  Over $600!

See the photos below to see how nicely our artwork displayed in a greenhouse setting!

Eldrid Schafer's "Geraniums in Watercolor" was the largest piece sold at the Meadowlark Gardens show!

Posted by Kathy Pfeufer, October 24, 2011