
BeeArtful
November 2024
A letter from our leader Janice
On My Mind
I've been thinking about our up and coming sewing retreat at the Wylie Lakemont Fire Station November 11 thru the 15th. I have also been reading TURN by Annie Truitt. The book is her journaling from 1982 to 1984. It's been a tough read. I tried hard to find a commonality between her experiences and mine. Three quarters of the way through the 213 page book, I finally found a description of a group of women artists she met who lived and worked in Italy that resonated with me.It reminded me of our retreats. The Italian women met at the same cafe each day for morning coffee, then returned for lunch and finally dinner. In between their visits to the cafe they went back to their places and worked on their art. They shared their thoughts and activities during the cafe breaks. All this was repeated day after day. What a treat! The author saw the specialness in it and wrote " they are always busy explaining themselves to one another with the kind of exhaustive coziness I have observed only in congenial southern families in the United States." That's what I am looking forward to and I hope you are too, a healthy dose of 'exhaustive coziness."
Keep sewing,
Janice
2024 Meeting Schedule
November 11-15 Fall Retreat at Fire Station
December 10 Christmas Party and KISS it goodbye swap instead of presents.
November Retreat
Link for signing up for lunch items at retreat!
Bring a shirt to give to Gini to be embroidered with our Bee Artful logo!
October 2024 Bee Artful Meeting Highlights
More August Challenges using kits provided and other sustainable materials
Susan Barrett's outstanding challenge piece 😍
Janice redid a quilt "folder" from the kit provided!
Another view of Janice's quilt folder
Bring your finished project to the retreat so we can display them together!
More beautiful Show and Tell
Carol's version of Geri's flower bowl witn cool magnetic pin bowl in the center
More Geri paper pieces for sale!
Nancy's collage piece 😍
Jan made some art from the white board under her silk scarf project!
Janice's quilt for her grandson made from a photo then printed by Spoonflower
Adorable children's book Laura found
Another Spectacular Bev quilt 😍😍😍
Laura's show at the Sautee Nacoochee Center starts Oct 18 thru Christmas!
Linda Barron shared this article:
Reference Items
Website for ordering custom dies for your AccuQuilt machine
Sisters (and brothers) in art quilting in northern CA. Field Trip anyone?
Podcast on "Tales of Textiles"
Podcast with local flair!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-thread-podcast/id1508572777?i=1000663499933
Her upcoming book is: Marking Your Time by Tommye McClure Scanlin
Marking Time with Fabric and Thread: Calendars, Diaries, and Journals within Your Fiber Craft https://a.co/d/71Q7u8N
Thanks for sharing this Linda Barron!
Need the password for member section for the guild (www.mlqg.org) website? Contact Linda Barron (linda.barron@gmail.com)
Bee Artful quilting thread recommendations
Silke uses Superior thread 100 weight (micro quilter)-blends in well.
Kathy I. uses 100 weight silk thread by Yli (order from Amazon or another vendor online).
Improving your hand jobs - tips and techniques
Since we’re all at various levels when it comes to hand stitching, learn, refresh or improve your hand embroidery skills with tips and techniques from Bee members. Some of the experienced stitchers in Bee Artful are ready to share! Each month you can come with a sampler of some kind (cloth, hoop, needles, floss, and/or Perle cotton (see photo for a sampler idea) and learn some new stitches.
Critique Documents for reference
https://www.janedunnewold.com/resources/critiques
One is a checklist that can be used as a guideline when looking at a quilt - this is published on her website as part of her creative strength training class.
The second is a detailed essay she wrote concerning the process.
I hope that these documents will help the Bee Artful group conduct critique sessions that are productive.
Letter from the editor
It is hard to believe that the retreat is only a few weeks away! If there is anything I have forgotten on the retreat document, please let me know. I am hoping we get some time with Lynda Doll who continues to improve. Geri will do her demo on thick dyeing on Thursday and we will play with stamping fabric on Wednesday afternoon. Bring fabric you might want to add some painted stamps to. Please double check "everyone should bring" section of the retreat document so you have all the items necessary to have the most fun and creative retreat EVER!
I am happy to convey all of these wonderful "goings on" via this newsletter. Try to get things to me in advance of the end of the month via email (mandmoliver@gmail.com) or text. If you put the word "newsletter" somewhere in the message line I will be able to find it easier (if using email). See you soon.
Melinda