Hidden Gems

My quilt, "Edge of Information:  A Cityscape of Paper & Cloth", is part of an online mini-exhibition on the SAQA website during the month of August.  Stop on by for a peek!
http://www.saqa.com/gallery-mini.php?ID=74

Therapeutic Mats

One of the best discoveries at the Long Beach quilt festival was UNIQUE Therapeutic Mats.
I have been considering the idea of purchasing one or two long "chef" mats to arrange on the floor on either side of my print table, as my feet/knees often complain about a long work session in the studio.
The expense and weight of these mats has stopped me from purchasing them.

At the Long Beach festival I spotted the Therapeutic Mats booth and went over to chat with the owner, Tim Tompkins, from Minnetonka MN,

These mats are absolutely amazing!  They are the PERFECT solution for anyone who want a bit more cushioning underfoot in their studio.  The company has quite a diverse array of products so there is a configuration for any workspace.  I chose to purchase two sets:  2 2x8 runners for my print table in the wet studio, and a set of 3 3x4 foot mats that can be used all together or separately.  I plan to give my husband one of these mats, but the other two will stay in my home studio.

They are much lighter weight than the chef (gel-type) mats, so they are easier to move around.  The surface is coated with the same material as is used inside pickup truck beds, so it is tough.  I can't explain how great these mats are!  I've been standing on them all day while I tape silk screens, and I'm very comfortable!
Ahhhh!
Here is a link to his website:  http://www.groundflr.com/products-therapeutic.html

Long Beach photos

The following are photos taken in and around the International Quilt Festival, Long Beach.  These are in no particular order.

The signage posted on the show floor for our exhibit

Our sponsor (who has offered to sponsor the 2011 exhibit in Long Beach!)

Jamie and I are interviewed for a vid-cast!

(Friday morning prior to the show floor opening)

BTS dinner.  I'm chair-standing to talk about all the 

amazing comments and feedback the exhibition is getting!

It is an old Art Cloth Studio/Jane Dunnewold tradition.  I can't help myself.

Here are my pages in the BTS book!

My quilt, "InVitro:  Microscopy" (on left) graced the MistyFuse booth

next to Jane Dunnewold's lovely piece.

These people look quasi-normal....

...what happened?

Surviving the runway for CPS, that's what!

We were cheering people on in an effort to get everyone into the crazy spirit of things.

Sunday afternoon:  exhibit take-down.

Tired feet!  We thought it would be fun to hold the "no photography" signs.

Still lots of "stuff"heading home.  Sigh.

Arriving in Long Beach: hanging Beneath The Surface

Jamie and I arrived in Long Beach this morning to hang the Beneath the Surface exhibition.  Between the personal luggage, the workshop/Open Studios supplies, and the quilts for Beneath the Surface, we got our money's-worth from the bellmen.  Here we go!

Do you think we have enough stuff??

Our fearless hanging crew (l-r):  Pamela Kleibaum, Jamie, Jayne Larson, Leslie, Sherry Kleinman, & Loris Bogue (Joanell Connolly was part of the crew but left before lunch)

Thank you all!

L-R: Iris Karp, Judy Coates-Perez, Jamie, and I

Notice Iris trying to get in the reflection??  Too funny!

Join the Alliance For American Quilts!

AAQ Summer Membership Drive: Help Us Grow! Seed Our Mission!

Summer is a time for growth and the Alliance for American Quilts is holding its Summer Membership Drive. New members joining between June 1 and August 31 will be eligible for some great prizes provided by AAQ Business Members, AccuQuilt, Moda, Simplicity Creative Group and Gutermann Thread (one winners will be chosen for each prize). All members will also receive a Summer Quilt Guide full of tips on documenting your quilts, saving the stories of quiltmakers in your community and how the Quilt Index (www.quiltindex.org) can help you plan your vacation (or your staycation) this summer.  The best incentive to join is that you’ll be helping to ensure that quilt history is documented, preserved and shared for generations to come. Annual memberships start at just $25. To join or purchase a gift membership, just visit www.AllianceforAmericanQuilts.org/support. You can join online on our secure site or download a mail-in membership form.

Book Excitement!

"Beneath The Surface"

exhibition catalog with artist-interviews

Shout it from the rooftops!  Our book, "Beneath The Surface", has been published as a Blurb book. 

Jamie Fingal and I will be offering  these beautiful books for sale at the Long Beach Quilt Festival.  As we get nearer the festival we will post times that we will be available in the Beneath The Surface exhibition to sign purchased books.  In addition to the catalog of quilts in the exhibition each artist has answered ten questions that we think you will find intriguing. 

Thanks to Loris Bogue for editing this little gem.  Additional thanks go to Suzanne Staud and Iris Karp for the cover art.  

Jamie and I are very excited!  See side link for access to the Blurb website for ordering.

Kathy York's new fabric line!

Kathy York standing next to her new line of fabrics

at The Quilt Store in Austin TX

I can't imagine the feeling of standing next to your very own line of fabrics in the familiar environment of your favorite hometown quilt store, but if the smile my friend Kathy is wearing in this photo is any indication, it is a great feeling!  Please follow the link to Kathy's blog for her description: www.aquamoonartquilts.blogspot.com