SAQA Atlantic 2015 Retreat

Introducing Walt Malone, our feature workshop photographer for the 2015 Retreat

As program coordinator with Chris Nielsen for the SAQA Atlantic 2015 retreat I started contacting photographers in the Saint John area to offer us a workshop on how to get the best shots of our fabric art. When I chatted with Walt Malone on the phone there was an immediate connection. I told him what we had in mind and his enthusiasm came through with sparks of energy. Yes, this is the person we need. 

I mentioned that we would like to simulate a home set up using minimal props and lighting to photograph art quilts, something with lots of texture and various fabrics. When he said all you need is a pillow, a timer on your camera, waxed paper and a clothespeg - well, he had me at the word pillow.

Exerpt from his website http://www.timecapsulephoto.com/

"Walt Malone is currently the most nationally accredited photographer in Canada. These have been acquired in thirty separate disciplines. Accreditations are awards acquired when a panel of national judges reviews a submission of ten above average quality images within one photographic discipline. He also holds both his Craftsmanshop and Masters in photographic arts."

Walt will be offering a morning introduction and instruction class with handouts. In the afternoon there will be photography setups for participants to shoot one of their own art quilts with Walt's assistance. Participants must bring their own cameras.

The current trend for calls for entries into shows nationally and internationally is the acceptance of quality photos sent via email or Dropbox. All of you who have websites and blogs know how important it is to have the best quality photos to upload. This will be an EPDWE - educational professional development workshop extraordinaire. Don't miss this great opportunity! See you April 10th to 12th in Saint John, NB.

threadly yours,

Kate Madeloso

Please note! Walt has requested that participants bring their camera manuals with them to the workshop. As well, point and shoot cameras are perfectly acceptable.

Current Work - Susan Tilsley Manley, Westville, Nova Scotia

Universe Story

I got a call from a man seeking a fibre piece. He wasn't really sure what to call it (and still refers to the art quilt I eventually made as a runner, a tapestry and an embroidery piece). He knew however what he wanted in it.

Everything.

Literally, everything.

This was to be a creation piece. Life, the universe and everything. With sheep.

And he knew where it was to be displayed, on a wooden table, in front of one of the oldest stained glass windows in the world, in a stone abbey in the English countryside.

So, that's were we began. From the size of table came the size of the piece. He wanted it to not be directional as it would be viewed from all sides. He wanted landscape, and not landscape. Earth, air, water, space, the cosmos, creation, evidence of humans but not portraiture, and sheep.

So we sat down with a few art quilt magazines and paper and pens and watercolours and we worked out a design, a time line and a price.

The close ups show some of the solutions I had to devise; I printed a human hand print on the rock, and I had to learn how to stitch the french knots for the sheep (Thanks Kate).

It all came together eventually and did make the trip to England and it is loved in its new home.

The photo of the piece in Stoneleigh Abbey The Undercroft, England is by Robert Mitchell.

All others are mine.

Susan Tilsley Manley
www.susantm.com

Member Profile - LaVerne McCallum Deakin, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Growing up in Nova Scotia, I was always surrounded by needlework, something my Mother continues to this day. My maternal grandmother’s embroidery was so fine it could pass for work produced by today’s embroidery machines. It was under the tutelage of my paternal grandmother that I made my first quilt top, at age nine. 

Over the years, I continued to sew but didn’t get back to quilting until I joined the Fredericton Quilters’ Guild in 1982. Some years later, I started experimenting with art quilting and, after retiring in 2006, I realized . . . this is where my heart is! The urge to stroke and fondle textiles is never resisted and, like an old crow, I like bright shiny objects. My experiments with mixed media are a lot of fun and usually result in small pieces. 

"All That Glitters"

Following a pattern or design, even my own, is virtually impossible for me but, after designing a one-block quilt, I persevered and completed “Oceanscape” as a gift for my granddaughter, Rian. 

"Oceanscape"

Although I often do sketches of possible projects and sometimes even draw full-size diagrams which usually change during construction, most of my pieces just evolve as I work.

"Deco blues"

Current Work - Kathy Tidswell, Burtts Corner, New Brunswick

In this photo of Kathy Tidswell and her husband, Kathy is wearing a dress she painted and stitched with her depiction of the full moon she had seen on a previous trip to Antigua.

Going to Quilt Canada 2015?

If you are going to Quilt Canada 2015, and while you're in Lethbridge...

If you have an hour (or two) to assist Co-Rep Margaret at the SAQA Trunk Show F booth -- it would be much appreciated!  Trunk Show F will be appearing all three days; because the pieces are small and portable, it's important to have someone attending the table all day each and every day of the show.  Margaret is happy to be the one who puts in the most hours there, but she will need a few breaks to stretch her legs, refresh her coffee, attend to personal comfort (!) and perhaps browse the booths, connecting with quilters, merchants and presenters alike on behalf of SAQA.  So...if you are able to give a hand at the booth, please contact Margaret by e-mail at margblank@xplornet.ca.  She would like to arrange scheduling that will suit each volunteer.  

Thanks so much for your support!

Note, too, that Quilt Canada 2015 will be your last chance to see Trunk Show F in Western Canada this year.  On June 10 it's being shipped back to the U.S....and will be sent from there to other venues.

Keep Current! With Anne Morell Robinson, Margaree Valley, Nova Scotia

Keep up to date with Anne!  Check her out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingrossquiltsandfibreart

Website Launch! - Susan Tilsley Manley, Westville, Nova Scotia

Susan Tilsley Manley has launched her great new website!

Check it out at http://susantm.com

Way to go, Susan!