SAQA Ohio Parlour Meeting

Chase the winter chill away by attending the first SAQA Ohio Parlour Meeting of the year. The Parlour meeting is a joint meeting of Southwest and Central Ohio quadrants of SAQA Ohio and will take place on Saturday, January 8, 2011 in Beavercreek Ohio. Maria Elkins is hosting the event at:

Calvary Chapel of Dayton
4197 Dayton-Xenia Rd.
Beavercreek, Ohio 45432

Snacks and drinks will be served. Members should bring a few of their art quilts and business cards or postcards to share. The facility also has a digital projector available for anyone interesting in making a power point presentation or mini workshop. Friends are welcome. Please RSVP to Maria. Our last parlour meeting was very exciting, so you won't want to miss this event.

Ohio Member, Shelly Brenner Baird featured in Sightlines Exhibition

Our very own Shelley Brenner Baird is one of 10 featured SAQA artists selected to participate in the Sightlines Exhibition sponsored by SAQA. Her piece is also featured in the beautiful hard cover book of the same name, available at the SAQA bookstore. It is unique in that it features a "centerfold" of all the works in the exhibition. Keeping in mind that each piece of textile art is 10 feet in width, this was a necessary feature. You can view the exhibit and listen to artist's interviews, including Shelley's at this link:

www.youtube.com/user/saqachannel#p/u/EnZarD82aWE

Congratulations Shelley!

Art Quilts by Sue King Included in Columbus Exhibition

SAQA Ohio member, Sue King, has three pieces included in the "Small Works" exhibition at The Roy G Biv Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. The gallery will feature artwork that measures 12" x 12" or less from December 4 to December 18, 2010. Opening night coincides with the December Gallery Hop in the Short North and will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. The gallery is located at 997 North High St., Columbus, Ohio 43201. Tel 614-297-7694. Regular gallery hours are Wed to F, 3:00 to 6:00 PM and Sat 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

Les Animaux I: Emmy

12" x 12"

SAQA Ohio Regional Meeting Held November 20, 2010 in Westerville

Over twenty-five SAQA Ohio members and their guests gathered in Westerville, Ohio on November 20, 2010 for the Ohio Regional Meeting. Members were able to network, exchange ideas and business cards and view each other's work.



Homemade breakfast food was shared as a way to break the ice and get to know one another.
While participants relished these goodies, a Show and Tell Session took place and everyone was able to present their work to the group as well as give some background information about themselves and their art.


Through the generosity of our membership, three member/presenters spoke to the group on various textile related topics. Shelley Brenner Baird provided a very thought provoking PowerPoint presentation on her textile career, including a progression of her work spanning the last thirty years. She also brought examples of her art and discussed dyeing methods as well as the use of thermofax screening.


The group continued to get to know each other while eating box lunches catered by Panera Breads. The next presentation was given by Dee Dadik and Molly Butler, certified Textile Appraisers, on the importance of having art quilts appraised. They were also able to give members tips on safe shipping techniques and insurance.

Presenter Dee Dadik - Columbus, Ohio

*

The last presenter of the day was Terry Ann Hartzell who provided a power point presentation that focused on the use of technology in quilt design. The talk illustrated how to incorporate good design principles, use technology to catalog inspiration, and techniques for making patterns. Also covered were ideas to help artists organize their work and tips on preventing violation of the copy right laws.

Presenter Shelley Brenner Baird - Columbus, Ohio

The meeting ended with a plenary session. Members engaged in a brainstorming process to develop a 2011 plan of action. The top three interests expressed by the group were: 1.) holding quarterly meetings 2.) organizing a SAQA Ohio Exhibition, perhaps in conjunction with an adjoining state and 3.) organizing critique groups. Other ideas included sponsoring workshops and lectures, encouraging regionalized parlour meetings, working with colleges and museums to promote art quilts and studio tours.

Presenter Terry Ann Hartzell - Perrysville, Ohio and Peggy McDevitt

*

The meeting concluded with announcements and door prizes. Evaluations were distributed and the results, I am proud to announce were purely positive. Members seemed very excited about the opportunity to meet each other and are very much looking forward to our next get together. So, if you were unable to attend last weekend, plans are in the works for a second meeting to take place this spring. A big thank you to everyone that made this event a success, including those that brought food, helped set up or tear down, register attendees and of course a great big thank you to our presenters who graciously donated their expertise to the group. A special thank you goes out to Susan Holmes of theThe Nelsonville Quilt Company for donating a $20.00 gift certificate as a door prize and to Dee Dadik and Molly Butler who donated a free textile appraisal valued at $40.00

*

Members in Attendance

Liz DeBellis

Jancy McClellan-Ryan

Terry Ann Hartzell

Shelley Brenner Baird

Dee Dadik

Kris Worthington

Lisa Sellars-West

Maxine Thomas

Sara Deever

Deb Anderson

Beth Schillig

Lisa Quintana

Frauke Palmer

Martha Warshaw

Debra Bentley

Peggy McDevitt

Georgie Cline

Sue King

Guests

Molly Butler

Mary Ellen Echelbarger

Jessica Porterfield

and 0thers

SAQA Members Shine at Cleveland Show

Two SAQA Ohio members hailing from the Cleveland area, Helen Murrell and Carole Richburg Brown, were featured winners at The Reflections of Nature Quilt Show at Rocky River Metro Park in North Olmstead on November 13 and 14, 2010. Sponsored by The Cleveland Metro Parks, this annual event features quilts that focus on the beauty of nature.

Helen Murrell (left) was interviewed by the local public television station.

Helen Murrell's quilt, "Seedlings" won third place in the small quilt category. She stated that her quilt represents growth. It began in a class with quilt artist Carol Taylor and incorporated many of the new techniques she learned along with her own design elements. The green fabric in the center was her beginning inspiration and reminds Helen of new sprouting plants. During the quilt's construction, her 4 year old grandson developed a fascination for seeds and he kept Helen busy locating new seeds for him to add to his plant collection. This kept Helen focused on thoughts of new beginnings, growth and the unfurling of leaves in seedling plants during the construction of this beautiful work of art.

Carole Richburg Brown's quilt, "A Delicate Balance, "won the Judges' Choice Award.

Carole's quilt was created in conjunction with a project that involved the Textile Art Alliance. Artists were allowed to choose a small piece of fabric that was donated by The Cleveland Museum of Textile Art Division to use as inspiration in the creation of a new work of art. Carole incorporated an 18th century textile from China into her work.



The SAQA Ohio booth was manned by Terry Ann Hartzell, SAQA member from
the Loudenville area and Sue King, Ohio SAQA Representative from Lancaster.

The SAQA Ohio booth was visited by quilters and members of the general public who were quite interested in our mission. Four new memberships were sold and many visitors stopped by to learn about our organization.

SAQA Ohio Member, Beth Schillig, Featured in National Magazine

International Quilt Festival - Quilt Scene is a recently released magazine by Quilting Arts. It is the second annual issue showcasing some of the quilts in the special exhibits on display at the Houston show last week. The annual IQA judged show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty," is one of the most revered international quilt competitions. This year 665 quilts were entered into the 23 categories and 377 were juried into the show.



Out of those 377 quilts, twenty were chosen to be showcased in the magazine. Our very own Beth Schillig's work, JEEPERS...It's Jane! was among those chosen! Beth is a new member of SAQA and feels extremely honored to have her quilt showcased along with artists such as Ricky Tims, Denise Halan, Sharon Schamber, Gloria and Hansen and others. Congratulations Beth!! We are so proud to have you as a member of SAQA Ohio.

SAQA Ohio Member Wins Prestigious Award

SAQA Ohio Member, Sharon Bell of Shaker Heights, won the Friends of Fiber Art International Award at Quilt Visions 2010 for her work, entitled, Waterfall. The No Boundaries exhibition of art quilts is taking place at The Oceanside Museum of Art in San Diego. Congratulations Sharon! You make SAQA Ohio proud!!

Central Ohio Parlor Meeting Held October 30, 2010

Jancy McClellan - Ryan , Westervillle

*

Central Ohio SAQA members joined the likes of SAQA members in Washington DC and other regions by hosting the first ever SAQA Ohio Parlor meeting on October 30, 2010 in the home of Sue King in Lancaster, Ohio.

Kris Worthington, Columbus

*

Six SAQA members including Peggy McDevitt, Shelley Brenner Baird, Kris Worthington, Terry Ann Hartzell, Jancy McClellan Ryan, and Sue King enjoyed lunch and each other's company. Susan Warthman Nash and Beth Schillig were unable to attend but have promised to make it to the next meeting.

Shelley Brenner Baird, Columbus

*

Each person brought some of their work to share with the group, which caused much excitement among the other artists. Members networked, exchanged business cards and scribbled notes about new leads on fabrics, thread, dyes and professional photographers.

Kris Worthington, Columbus and Peggy McDevitt, Lancaster

*

Members were supportive of each other's style and even provided some mini-critiques upon request .

Terry Ann Hartzell, Loudenville and Jancy Ryan-McClellan, Westerville

*

The group decided this event was so helpful that they plan to hold quarterly Parlour Meetings, touring each other's studios and sharing potluck meals and inspiration. This is a fantastic way to meet SAQA Ohio members in your area. Why not call or email a few members in your quadrant of the state and host a Parlor Meeting. It is such a great way to inspire and support each other. Don't forget you have your membership list with the phone numbers and emails of SAQA Ohio members to help you get started.

Quilt and Oil Show!

I am involved in a 2 person show that is both ART QUILT and oil painting.  If you are in the Canton area please stop in! 

Domestic Observances: Experiencing the Everyday Sacred. 

with Liz DeBellis & Brittany Steigert 

Working in a variety of media ranging from fibers to oils to ceramics, 

these talented artists will reflect on notions of femininity and domesticity, capturing the magic 

and wonder in the mundane that a woman's intuition can help accentuate.

Anderson Creative

331 Cleveland Ave.

Canton, OH

Gallery hours 

Tuesday-Saturday 

12-5

& 1st Friday's 

http://andersoncreativestudio.com/

Quilt Show to Take Place in Cleveland

Cleveland Metro Parks presents

The Reflections of Nature Quilt Show

The Rocky River Nature Center

Rocky River Reservation

North Olmstead, Ohio

Saturday and Sunday, November 13 and 14, 2010

Experience nature through the fiber arts. Quilters and art lovers will enjoy the craftsmanship and the vision that the participants in the juried quilt show put into their quilts.

Presentations on Saturday and Sunday are as follows:

11AM - Karen Benke - "Flower Pounding"

12:30 PM - "I've Lost My Sewing Room... Again."

2 PM - Julie Bragg - "Making a Family Heirloom."

3:30 PM - Marj Girosky - "Shibori Dyeing & Gradation Dying"

Further information including an application form is available at the following link ( please note entry deadline is this coming Tuesday. http://www.clemetparks.com/ then go to the events section.

Three Great Shows in Columbus

SAQA Members may be interested in the following three shows taking place in Columbus and Central Ohio:

Cultural Arts Center 2010 Student and Faculty Exhibition

October 1 - November 13, 2010

Opening Reception, Friday October 1, 2010,

5 PM to 9 PM

Ths Columbus Cultural Arts Center

Downtown Columbus

*

Quilt Exhibition at The Church at Mill Run

Fishinger Rd near Lowes and Garden Ridge

50 quilts to be on exhibit

9 Am to 4 PM and some evenings

call for details

614-451-3736

*

"Columbus - Ohio's Hometown"

October 4 to 29, 2010

Lobby, Rhoades Office Tower

30 East Broad Street

Columbus, Ohio

Artists' Reception

Thursday October 14, 2010

6PM to 8PM

SAQA Ohio Regional Meeting - Time to Register

SAQA Ohio Regional Meeting

Saturday November 20, 2010

10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Westerville Public Library

Meeting Room A

126 South State Street

Westerville, Ohio 43130

Plans have been finalized for our first ever Ohio Regional Meeting scheduled to take place on Saturday November 20, 2010. Three of our very own SAQA Ohio members will be making presentations that you will not want to miss. They include:

Shelley Brenner Baird, featured artist in the October/November issue of Quilting Arts Magazine will present on her career as a textile artist, including slides and selected works that illustrate her personal style and surface design.

Dee Dadik, Certified Appraiser of Quilted Textiles, and Molly Butler have made appraisals of art quilts for such events as Quilt National and QSDS and will present on the importance of having your work appraised.

Terry Ann Hartzell, has her work on exhibit in numerous SAQA shows as well as the Rustex Show. She will present on the use of computer technology in art quilts.

In addition, there will be door prizes, time to meet and socialize with other Ohio SAQA members, Show and Tell and a forum on future events. Please join us in making this first event a big success. Friends are welcome.

REGISTER NOW

email Sue King at sKing @SueKing Arts.com

or call Sue at 740-687-6208

Notable SAQA Ohio Members

SAQA Ohio member, Shelley Brenner Baird, from Columbus was a featured artist in the October/November issue of Quilting Arts magazine. She had a six page color spread of her stunning work, as well as an in depth profile of her textile art career. You won't want to miss this wonderful article that focuses on the beautiful art quilts of one of our very own members. Congratulations Shelley!

Congratulations are also in order for Sue Cavanaugh, SAQA member, also hailing from Columbus. She will represent our organization in Quilt National 2010 with her quilt Ori - Kumi #2. What an accomplishment to have your work selected for show in this most prestigious exhibition. Way to go Sue!

SAQA Ohio State Meeting

Mark your calendar, you won't want to miss The First Annual SAQA Ohio State meeting scheduled for Saturday, November 20, 2010. The event will take place from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at The Westerville Public Library in Westerville, Ohio. You will have the opportunity to meet other individuals interested in the world of art quilts.

The town is quaint and charming, with lots of interesting little shops, and beautiful Inniswood Metro Park is nearby. If you are coming in from out of town, you will be happy to learn that it is only a short drive to Easton Towne Center, a leading shopping experience in the Columbus metro area. Maybe you would like to spend the night and do some shopping. I am able to accommodate several people in my home if anyone needs a place to stay, or I will be happy to provide a list of possible accommodations.

Dee Dadik, SAQA Ohio Member, and Certified Appraiser of Quilted Textiles, along with her friend Molly Butler, will be giving a presentation on art quilt appraisals. She has appraised quilts for Quilt National and QSDS, so you won't want to miss her presentation. In addition, there will be a show and tell session, plenary session and some fun give a ways. I am working on additional speakers, so stay posted for more details as they develop. Please let me know if you would like to volunteer, or have ideas that will make this a great event.

Sue King
SAQA Representative for Ohio
sKing@SueKingArts.com
www.SueKingArts.com

Art Quilt Exhibit at The Ohio Craft Museum

Ohio Desinger Craftsmen is currently featuring the art quilts of South African artist, Odette Tolksdorfe from September 12 to October 31, 2010. Also on exhibit, Dichotomies in Objects, Contemporary South African Studio Jewelry from the Stellenboch Area.

Ms. Tolksdorfe lives in Durban, on the East Coast of South Africa and states that her work,"is influenced by the multi-layered African environment and other personal influences." Her work is on exhibit at:

THE OHIO CRAFT MUSEUM

1665 West Fifth Avenue

Columbus, Ohio 43212

phone: 614-486-7119

Hours

Monday - Friday 10 to 5

Saturday and Sunday 1 to 4

Please check out my blog! :)

Hello all. If anyone wants to check out my blog, please do. I've recently started it to document my creations. Have a great day!
Juno
www.junostudioarts.blogspot.com

Jancy McClellan-Ryan to Exibit

SAQA Ohio Member, Jancy McClellan will be exhibiting her work at the O2 Heaven LLC Gallery in Westerville, Ohio through the month of August. The opening reception is Saturday August 21, 2010 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Let's show support for our members! Congratulations Jancy!!

SAQA Ohio Member to Curate Show

Member, Carolyn L. Mazloomi has been invited to curate an exhibition for the International Textile Show to be held in San Jose, Costa Rica in September 2010. The event is sponsored by the Iberoamerican Textile Network, and the Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center. The conference theme is "Textile Creativity: Sustainable Tradition and Responsible Innovation."

SAQA Benefit Auction

A big thank you to all of our members who contributed pieces to the auction. If you weren't able to send in a piece, you can still contribute in another way:

• send out announcements about the auction to everyone on your email list, now, then again in September as a reminder
• inform students in workshops you teach
• put up posters or notices at quilt, fabric and art stores
• place a prominent announcement on your website or blog
• send emails to quilt guilds in your area
• post announcements or images on Facebook or LinkedIn

The funds raised in this auction benefit all SAQA members, and the more bidders we have, the more money we will raise. The auction begins on September 20, 2010 and details can be found on the SAQA News portion of the SAQA website.

New SAQA Ohio Member, Beth Schillig Wins NQA Awards

Beth with her Ribbon for Most Effective Quilting - PEEK-A-BOO in the Sew Batik Challenge
*

Brand new SAQA Ohio Member, Beth Schillig, entered three quilts in NQA held in Columbus, Ohio this June and walked away with two ribbons. Congratulations Beth!!!

Beth with her Third Place Ribbon for SUNSET SERENADE



Detail PEEK-A-BOO


PEEK-A-BOO
20" Square
*

Beth states that this was the second year for the Sew Batik Challenge at the NQA Show. The challenge fabric was a green batik with leaves randomly spread all over it. Beth used a double batting and heavily quilted around the leaves, which made it look almost like Trapunto. The navy section of the background was quilted with green variegated YLI thread to look like lattice work. The flower is a purchased hand dyed wool.

Detail SUNSET SERENADE

SUNSET SERENADE

52.5 x 32

*

Beth loves batik fabrics. She collects them as often as she can and used about 90 different fabrics in this piece. The background was composed of traditional piecing and the flowers were paper pieced. Then they were embellished with Texture Magic, couched with the machine fringe foot and hand beaded. Beth's favorite thing is freehand quilting and she added lots of it to the background of this piece. She quilts on her home Bernina and also owns a George, which is a long arm head from APQS that is mounted in a cabinet. Beth is able to sit at the machine just like a regular home machine, but it has a 21" throat space.

SAQA Ohio Artist to Exhibit in Dublin

SAQA Ohio Member, Deborah Melton Anderson will be exhibiting at the Dulin Arts Council

from July 6, 2010 to August 20, 2010.

*

Opening Reception Tuesday, July 6, 2010

6-8 PM

*

7125 Riverside Drive

Dublin, Ohio 43016

614-889-7444

www.dublinsrts.org

*

Gallery Hours

Tuesday 10 AM- 7 PM

W, Th &F 10 AM - 5 PM

Sat 11 AM - 2 PM

International Expressions Quilt Art

For the first time in the United States, International Arts and Artists introduces the work of Quilt Art, a unique group of 22 contemporary quilt artists from nine countries whose work ranges from traditional quilting techniques to modern methods of photo transfer and improvisation. Quilt Art is Europe's leading advocacy group for innovative quilt making.

The "International Expressions" exhibition features more than 35 quilts that include landscape scenes, still lifes, geometric constructions and abstract juxtapositions of color and form. While each member brings a distinctive approach to the medium, a reflection of their home countries' culture, geography and design traditions can also be discovered in the work.

The Quilt Art group has established a reputation for being at the forefront of contemporary textile art by maintaining integrity of expression and quality craftsmanship. The group has exhibited extensively in Europe since 1987, and more recently in Japan and Canada. Included in this exhibition are works by Linda Colsh (Belgium) and Inge Huber (Germany).

The exhibition will be on display June 12 through August 28. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission for non-members is $5.

Minnetrista Cultural Center

1200 North Minnetrista Parkway

Muncie, IN 47303

(765) 282-4848

Current Textile Art Exhibitions of Note in Central Ohio

*

Kris Worthington in Collaboration with Rob Colgan, Letting Go and Taking Shape, Sharon Weiss Gallery, 20 East Lincoln St., Short North, Columbus, Ohio. June 2 - 29, 2010, Thursday 12-4, Fri & S 12-5. Sun 1-4, 614-291-5683.

*

Layered: Quilts by Tammy Perakis Wallace, Ohio Wesleyan University Gallery, Mowry Alumni Center, 16 Rowland Ave. Delaware, Ohio, Through July 2, 2010, M-F, 7:30AM-4:30PM .

*

FABRICations: Artistry in Fiber, High Road Gallery, 12 E. Stafford Ave., Worthington, Ohio, through June 26, 2010, Wed - Sat 12-4, 614-781-6454.

*

Surface Design:Wear it, Hang It, Collect It: Debbie Jackson and Jeanie Coy Auseon, Studios on High Gallery 686 N. High St, Short North, through June 30, 2010, Mon - Sat 12-6, Sun 1-6, 614-461-6487.

*

The Quilted Surface VI, The Ross Art Museum, 60 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, Ohio, through July2, 2010, Tues - Wed & Sun 1-5, Thurs 1-9, 740-368-3606.

Quilt Exhibition Athens, Ohio

The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens is presenting an exhibition entitled, Quilting Traditions: The Art of the Amish. This is a unique exhibition of traditional Amish quilts from the private Collection of Tom and Marsha French and features 66 quilts in various sizes, from crib to full.

The Dairy Barn Arts Center

8000 Dairy lane

Athens, Ohio 45701

740-592-4981

*

Summer Gallery Hours

Tuesday Noon - 5:00 PM

Wednesday Noon- 5:00 PM

Thursday Noon - 8:00 PM

Friday Noon - 5:00 PM

Saturday Noon - 5:00 PM

Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 PM

SAQA Ohio Member, Linda Teufel Wins Prestigious Award

Dragon Threads' Fibreart Montage Wins Prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award

Dragon Threads, publisher of unique and innovative textile arts books, has received the Independent Book Publishers Association's Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Craft Book for the book Fibreart Montage: Combining Quilting, Embroidery & Photography with Embellishments by internationally-renowned quilt artist Judith Baker Montano. The book features full-color, jaw-dropping photographs of the newest mixed media techniques perfected by Baker Montano, a leading expert on crazy quilting and embellishment.Named in honor of America's most cherished publisher/printer, the Benjamin Franklin Awards recognizes excellence by independent publishers. Publications, grouped by genre, are judged on editorial and design merit by top practitioners in each field. The Benjamin Franklin Awards are highly competive and are regarded as one of the highest honors in small and independent book publishing. More the 4,000 publishers submitted books to be considered for the Benjamin Franklin Awards this year. All three finalists in the Craft Category were quilting/needlework books. Linda Teufel, owner of Dragon Threads, was on hand to accept her award at the Benjamin Franklin 2010 Awards presentation ceremony held at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, on May 24, 2010. " I am thrilled about winning this award," said Teufel, "It is an amazing honor for me, Dragon Threads and author Judith Baker Montano!" Dragon Threads has been publishing sewing and quilting books since 1994. This has been an especially exciting year for the company as Fibreart Montage also won the 2010 International Book Award in the Crafts/Hobbies/How-To category, given by JPX Media. Fibreart Montage: Combining Quiting, Embroidery & Photography with Embellishments by Judith Baker Montano is available at www.dragonthreads.com. For more information about this book or Dragon Threads Ltd., contact Publisher Linda C. Teufel, 490 Tucker Drive, Worthington, OH 43085, phone 614-841-9388, email linda@dragonthreads.com

SAQA Ohio Member Exhibits Work

Our very own Susan Nash of Zanesville is exibiting her work at the Zanesville Museum of Art, now through June 19, 2010. The title of the show is Art Quilts and Textiles by Susan Nash. Susan uses hand dyes, batiks and a blending of other fabrics to interpret the natural world in her textile pieces. She also utilizes fibers, beads and found objects to help in the translation. There is still time to see this exhibit and a trip to Zanesville would be a great way to support one of our members.

The Zanesville Museum of Art

620 Military Rd.

Zanesville, Ohio 43704

749-452-0741

admission $6.00 adults

$4.00 seniors

free on Thursdays

Hours T, W, F 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Th 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM

Sat 9:00 to 5:00 PM

closed Sundays

Ohio SAQA Members, Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka Lecture on Batiks

Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka of Artisan Batiks, a division of Robert Kaufman Fabrics


On June 27, 2010 , Michael and Debra of Lunn Studios presented a lecture on the design and production of their exclusive batiks at Olivedale Senior Center in Lancaster, Ohio. Michael and Debra are internationally known batik artists who started up a batik manufacturing business on the island of Java in Indonesia several years ago. They design and manufacture approximately 600 batiks a year.

Michael Discussing Batik Design and Production in Java

Michael stated that it takes about 2oo weaving machines to produce enough cotton fabric each year to supply the production of Artisan Batiks. All of the batiks are handmade outdoors in the very hot and humid environment close to the equator, which actually helps to heat set the dyes. The facility employs well over 200 local workers and Debra and Michael take their commitment to the community seriously. They live, eat and work with their employees and attend ceremonial events such as engagement parties, weddings, funerals and other events. They have constructed a dedicated water treatment plant to ensure that they are not polluting the environment.

Michael Presenting Use of a New Line of Striped Batiks

In addition, they recycle much of the wax used in the production of their famous line of batiks. A strict quality control process is a part of the production, and fabric that does not meet their high standards is used to sew shirts for employee uniforms.

Lager View of Quilt Featuring Striped Batik

While the company manufactures one to two millions yards of fabric a year for shipment to quilt stores around the globe, Michael and Debra state that they are committed to giving back to the employees enaged in producing this cherished fabric. To that end, they have started up a non-profit lending library called Ganesa. Libraries and reading have not traditionally been a part of the Javanese culture, and Michael and Debra have the only library in the area. As librarians, the couple make book recommendations to even the most reluctant of readers. They are in fund raising mode in order to continue to add books to their current catalog of 3,000 titles. So, during the event, half yard samples of their fabric were on sale, with the proceeds benefiting the library. The couple met in a bookstore so it seems appropriate that they should undertake this endeavor. After talking with this amazing pair of artists, it is clear that they live passionate lives. Their zest encompasses their dedication to design, the Indonesian people and their culture and each other. So, the next time you take out your wallet to purchase this staple of the art quilter's supply chest, please take a moment to remember why it may cost just a little more and consider it a bargain.

SAQA 2011 Trunk Show

Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) invites all SAQA members to submit work for its 2011-2012 traveling trunk show. This trunk show is designed to showcase SAQA artists, to help educate the public at large about the art quilt, and to serve as a teaching tool for our members.*Theme:This is a Quilt! How do we as SAQA members explain what we do - create quilts - without people immediately thinking of a nine-patch that goes on your bed? By example, of course! SAQA defines an art quilt as "a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the wholerange of visual arts: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design,assemblage and sculpture, which retains, through materials or technique, aclear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends." This definition ispurposely broad to accommodate the wondrous and exciting art quilts SAQAmembers are creating.

General:Create one piece that constitutes an art quilt as defined above. All work will be photographed, matted, and prepared for exhibition by SAQA. The SAQA exhibition committee hopes to publish some or all of the quilts in a book exploring the diversity of art quilts. All quilts will be returned to the artist after thetravel schedule has ended.Size:Minimum 9" per side, maximum 11" per side. The pieces will be matted behinda 12" white or off-white mat with an 8" square opening in the center. Only 8" sq.of your quilt will be visible. Because the artwork will be behind a mat, the edges need not be finished. A very small number of three-dimensional pieces may be included. Please contact the curators for details.Statement: Write a statement to the curators explaining why, in your mind, this quilt fits the definition. Why did you choose to create this piece as an art quilt and not in adifferent medium? (200 words maximum). The statement will be attached to the back of the mat.Materials:Write a separate statement listing the materials and techniques used in thepiece.Submission: Send the piece to curators. Email the statement and materials list in .doc, .rtf, or.odt format to the curators. In your email, please include: your name, address including country, email address, and the name of your SAQA Region (ex.“Europe/Israel” or “NJ/DE”).Curators:Deb Cashatt (deb@pixeladies.com) and Kris Sazaki (kris@pixeladies.com)4061 Flying C Road, Cameron Park, CA 95682 Tel. 916.320.8774Dates:Jan 21, 2011 -Art piece due at address listed above Feb-Apr 2011 - Works mounted and made ready for travel May 18-22, 2011 - Works premiere at 2011 SAQA Convention, Denver, CO Through 2012 - Trunk Show travels to regions by request *To learn more about the benefits of bringing a SAQA trunk show to your region and usingit as a teaching tool, read the Winter 2010 SAQA Journal, pg. 14-15.

Welcome to Our New Blog

Hello! My name is Sue King and I am your SAQA Ohio Regional Representative. I live in Lancaster in the southeastern region of the state. This brand new blog was created with you in mind. I hope it will be a dynamic place for members to get to know each other and share their ideas and art. Ohio may not be the largest state, but it has wonderful diversity in culture and geography and it is the place we all call home. Our members also have diverse artistic backgrounds and styles. I hope this site will be a place we can celebrate and express our individuality as well as a place to share our artistic voice and spread our love of the quilt as an art form. It would also be a great place to post events in your area of the state so that our members don't miss out on an exciting show, lecture or seminar. I am open to suggestions on how to make this blog and our Ohio organization meet your needs.

When it comes to technology, I'm still in a big learning curve and undoubtedly many of you have valuable knowledge and ideas that would greatly benfit our group, so please don't hesitate to make suggestions or put forward ideas that would make this a better site. One such talented and generous member is Gisela Towner, hailing from North Olmstead. She has graciously volunteered to set up and moderate this blog as well as a new SAQA OHIO Yahoo Group. Thank you so much Gisela. You rock! So now that this blog is up and running, please don't be shy, we need your ideas to move forward. Let's start talking to each other and start setting some organizational goals. I am so excited to see how this blog and the organization develop in the coming year. Again, a big Buckeye Welcome to everyone and don't forget to join the SAQA Ohio Yahoo Group too. Cheers! Sue