EBHQ Voices in Cloth

Last year, East Bay Heritage Quilters asked us, the Mendocino Quilt Artists if we would like to be one of the special exhibits at their show, March 22-23, 2014.  We jumped at the chance and emailing of jpgs flew until they had decided which of our quilts to show.  We had asked for no photos of members' newest quilts, but they ended up just posting NO Photos on the entire exhibit, so you'll have to settle for these two, compliments of Renee Gannon.  And BTW that's her quilt, front and center, Rainbow Bridge.  Well done Renee, and Congratulations to us for a wonderful Special Exhibit of our group winners: Shall We Dance, and Bed Quilts, as well as new quilts relating to a theme of Life Marks.

The show is held every two years and this is the second time it's been at the Crane Pavilion in Richmond.  As you can see from the photos, the venue is spectacular.  We would like to give special thanks to Dana Prichard, who suggested us to the EBHQ committee and to Mindy Niualiku for getting it done.  I wish I could have been there, as planned, but a family emergency kept me at home.

Deanna

International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene Magazine

Quilt Scene is published yearly by Interweave Press and the 2013-2014 issue features "33 World Class Quilts".  24 of them are from this year's show Quilts: A World of Beauty.  Now for the best part, "Worn and Mended",  a quilt by Renee, was selected as one of the 24 quilts accepted into the show.  Her quilt has a full page in the magazine, but here it is in case you don't subscribe to the magazine.  Note that that is a lot of hand stitching.

Houston International Quilt Festival

The Houston show is coming right up.  Six or seven of us will be at the show this year, and several members of our group have quilts in the main competition at the show.

Here is Ann Horton's Life Everlasting with more of her incredible machine embroidery work.  This quilt has already won ribbons in other shows.

Joyce Paterson's Artie Facts is also in the show.  This quilt was a winner at Road to California earlier this year.

Pacific International Quilt Festival

Ann, Joyce, Holly, Dede, Leila, Marilyn, Renee, Vicky and I all made our annual pilgrimage to PIQF.  We arrived about 11 am and were met by Leila who had come earlier from Berkeley and seen part of the show and was able to tell us that Ann had won two blue ribbons!!  Way to go Annie.  Ann has really mastered incorporating machine embroidery into her pieced and pictorial quilts.

La Serenata – Best Use of Color, Innovative Category  (scheduled for cover of Quilters Newsletter Magazine – Feb/Mar 2014) also won 1st Place – Innovative Art & Best Use of Thread at Pacific West Quilt Show – 2013

The Birds' Perspective: Life at the Water's Edge won Best Wall Quilt.

MQA at Pacific Textile Arts

Vicky and I, Dede and Laura and Leila went to the opening of a show of some of our smaller art quilts for first Friday in Ft. Bragg at Pacific Textile Arts.  If you're in Ft. Bragg, you can catch the show through June 12.



Another successful Retreat

Steps lead down to this gorgeous beach

All twelve of us enjoyed the beautiful house we rented on the Mendocino coast.  This year our theme is Life Marks, open for each of us to interpret in our unique ways.  We had great food, as always, fun, & games - thanks Ann and Joyce for being our gamesters for Scattergories.  Lots of laughs, eating, wine, and walks on the beach.  Everyone made a good start on their quilt. 

Working, working, working

Annie with her Pit Boss

Renee and Marilyn cook up a storm

All of us

Holiday Party

This year was no exception to a lot of fun, good food, and good-natured present stealing.  Marilyn hosted us, as always for this special party, in her beautifully decorated home.  They really do it up right for the holidays with garlands, wreaths, and decorations everywhere.  A few of us showed quilts completed or in process.  Ann suggested that we use one of the new books that came out recently and do the design exercises at the end of each chapter, starting in 2013.  2013! how time flies.  Many in the group liked the idea and decided on Sandra Meech's book, Connecting Design to Stitch.

Also coming up on our schedule will be a joint meeting with the Ragtag Quilters.  Everyone is encouraged to bring a recent art quilt.  MQA will provide refreshments and we'll meet at Marilyn's on January 31st.

And here are all our smiling faces.