Another Great Year

We had our annual holiday gathering at Marilyn's house.  She goes all out decorating for Christmas, so the atmosphere is always festive.  In lieu of a gift exchange, we each chose to donate money to an organization with textile related projects or loans.  We all agreed that each of had indeed enough fabric, paint, thread, beads, etc. etc. but there are many women not as fortunate as us who could use that $25 we had spent on each other in the past.  So a new tradition is born.

And a new look at our smiling and festive faces, with special thanks to Marilyn's daughter Adrienne for being our photographer.

Pacific International Quilt Festival

PIQF is the one big international quilt show in the bay area.  It's held every year at the Santa Clara Convention Center near the middle of October.  Often our whole group goes, but this year because many of us are going to Houston, there were fewer.  But there were plenty of winners in the group.  And everyone who went to the show enjoyed it, were inspired and some managed to come home with fabric as well.

Joyce Paterson got an Honorable Mention in the category Wall Quilts for her quilt "The Songbirds Garden Duet", below.

Ann Horton was awarded a blue ribbon for Best Sewing Machine Workmanship in the category Mid Century Modern for her quilt "Shelter", below.

Laura Fogg had three quilts in the show.  Below is "American as..."

 

  This is Laura's "Fig Feast"

 

And her "Impressions of  Patzcuaro"

Grace Hudson Museum Show

Due to the efforts of Holly Brackmann, the Mendocino Quilt Artists have been given the opportunity to show our quilts during National Craft month. They will be up until the beginning of November.  I hope many people will get to the show - it's a good one.

Here are some photos of part of the show and opening, thanks to Renee Gannon.  Please note that there are many more quilts not visible in the photos.

Winners at AQS Lancaster

Our group is always so proud when members win a ribbon at a show they have entered.  This year Ann Horton and Joyce Paterson entered quilts and both won ribbons.  Congratulations to both of them and what an inspiration for all of us to continue to enter quilts.  Sometimes quilts don't win at one show but will at another, so don't give up!

Ann Horton's Poco Loco won at Lancaster a 2nd place in the Crazy Quilts.  But this quilt has also won 2nd at Road to California and Best Embellishents at PIQF.

Joyce Paterson's Confetti won a 1st place ribbon in the Wall Quilt category.

MQA Holiday Party

Every year we gather at Marilyn Simpson's beautifully decorated home for our annual holiday party and gift exchange.  Actually the food is as important as the gifts, and this year didn't disappoint.  Adrienne Simpson skillfully photographed and photoshopped our group, looking splendid, I think.  It's become an annual tradition.  One of these years, I'll try and post as many of these as I have - the age progression might be too daunting though.  Never mind.  Another time.  But here we are in all our glory.

From left front: Joyce Paterson, Vicky Groom, Laura Fogg, Leila Kazimi, Dede Ledford, Deanna Apfel.  Back row from left: Holly Brackmann, Renee Gannon, Mary Ann Michelsen, Betty Lacy, Ann Horton, Marilyn Simpson.