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.