notes from April 2023 meeting

 Laramie Art Quilters Meeting Notes for April 15, 2023

Business

Dye Days is scheduled for July 13-15 in Ashley’s studio on campus. On Thursday and Friday, we can park on 22nd Street; on Saturday, we can park in the lot behind the Visual Arts Building. There is an outdoor spigot for rinsing. Ashley has powdered fabric dyes that we can use. If anyone wants a particular color of dye, let Mary K know by the end of May, when she will place an order to Dharma for dyes and other supplies. In the meantime, save those yogurt and snack containers! Large tub containers and black plastic trash bags are also good for transporting your dyed pieces home. LAQ will provide gloves, but remember to bring your own masks for mixing dye powder.

Michaella suggested that LAQ consider having a retreat next year -- a day, perhaps out of town, where we bring our machines and just sew and talk and have a potluck lunch. This would be a way to help re-establish the camaraderie we had before the pandemic -- as well as providing an opportunity for addressing those pesky UFOs.

In the ensuing discussion, we thought it might work to have a mini-retreat at our June meeting as we are finishing projects for the show. Ashley offered her space for that purpose.

August show

While the sign-up sheet for pieces to be entered in the show went around, we brainstormed titles. At the last meeting, we thought the word “threads” was central. At this meeting, 13 names were suggested and voted on. The winner was “Uncommon Threads” / “(Un)Common Threads” / “Un/Common Threads.” Barbara will work with a graphic design student on creating a poster and postcard.

The Fiber Guild will likely submit a group-created piece for the show; they have offered to share some of the publicity costs with us.

Moment of Inspiration

“What inspires you?” The answers were predictably wide-ranging: the natural world, texture, color, music, other people’s work, materials themselves, water, birds, being “in flow”, “this group”, views from our windows, seeing all kinds of fabrics while shopping, old buildings and walls, classes, images that tap into the unconscious. What a wonderfully creative bunch we are!

Brett reminded us of her “diversion list” practice: when she gets distracted while working on a project (“ooh, I want to try that”), she puts the distraction on her “diversion list” for later.

FMQ class / Show and Tell

Several members of this spring’s class brought samples of their work to show. For show and tell, Ronda showed her latest ice-dyeing results. Jodie was carrying a bag that her mother had made from fabric scraps. Debbie brought in examples of her recent glass fusing experiments. And Brett showed her latest crocheted felted “vessels.” Barbara displayed a piece she calls “Veils” made from lace and sari silk strips.

Other business

Judy raised an interesting question about pre-printed panels: are they acceptable to submit for a show? In the lively discussion that followed, the consensus was the type of panel was not original art, although the embellishment on them certainly was.

And, thanks, Judy, for the wonderful apple cake you brought!

Upcoming Events

Laramie Pop-Up Art Show in various businesses in the downtown area is April 26-30.

Sale of Kathleen Clymer’s enormous crafts and fabric collection is ongoing on weekends in April and May (and possibly beyond). 5325 Chaparral (take 287 south to Howe Road, turn east, then south on Chaparral).

The Laramie Sewing Guild sale is set for September 16. If you have items to donate, contact Mary K.

Next Meeting Saturday, May 20 at the Fairgrounds