Gulf States Quilting Association Quarterly Meeting

Packing for the trip

I was privileged to be the speaker for GSQA's quarterly meeting in New Orleans April 30. The meeting was hosted by Mes Amis Quilt Shop and The Stitchy Fingers and Cotton Pickin' Quilt Guilds. These groups furnished delicious breakfast snacks as we arrived, as well as a huge spread for lunch of meats, sandwiches, salads, and even Cajun Gumbo.

We had equipment failure which prevented the PowerPoint pictures, but I had lots of real quilts and fiber art to show. I told the group that I owed a debt of gratitude to GSQA for hossting the many educational seminars and bringing in great national teachers I had learned from over the years. It was after GSQA's first seminar in 1984 at USM Long Beach that four of us in Hattiesburg formed Pine Belt Quilters. . . and the rest is history.

In spite of thunderstorms moving across the area, there were about 165 quilters present. 

Lunch at the GSQA Quarterly Meeting

In addition to the pieces I brought with me to show, I told them about my 2013 trip to China as a guest of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, South Arts (Atlanta), and Arts Midwest (Minneapolis) for the opening of The Sum of Many Parts: 25 Quiltmakers in 21st Century America. The exhibit visited museums in six cities, and I attended and gave talks in Dalian and Beijing. My quilt, "Rise and Shine, Inner City," was one of the 25 pieces in the exhibit and was shown on the cover of the catalog. This large poster in front of the museum is a replica of the catalog. Mid-America Arts Alliance picked up about half the exhibit and toured locations in the U.S. following the China exhibits. My quilt is scheduled to come home this summer.

Poster outside Dalian Modern Museum

Among my favorite pictures are the ones of the crowds getting up close to see the quilts after I spoke.  I had an interpreter with me at all times, but many of the students asked questions in English and understood much on their own. I donated one of my pieces, "Butterfly Crossing," to the Dalian museum and enjoy thinking that the people will enjoy seeing it and remembering the exhibit.

Gift of "Butterfly Crossing" to Dalian Modern Museum

Students getting close

   

Presentations About Art Quilting

I enjoyed sharing my love of art quilting with a Mississippi guild, the Brookhaven Piecemakers, this week. The library where they meet had AV equipment, which allowed me to show Powerpoint slides of how I get inspiration for my work. I brought along many quilts to show, but it was most helpful to tell the back story and show my patterns and steps to completion. My good friend Ollie Jean Lane rode with me and helped hold and fold pieces. It is so much fun to hear quilters say they are eager to get home and create!


Brookhaven Piecemakers Guild

Showing details to Cindy Hebert

Last week I spoke to a group at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Southern Miss about my trip to China for The Sum of Many Parts: 25 Quiltmakers in 21st Century America exhibit.

 

OLLI offers non-credit educational programs designed especially for members age 50 and older. Philanthropist Bernard Osher has made grants to more than 120 universities and colleges in 49 states and the District of Columbia, and Hattiesburg and Southern Miss are fortunate to be the recipients of his generosity. OLLI has 10-week classes, one-time seminars, as well as trips and social events.
In fact, I'm in a watercolor class myself! No pictures needed here.