With many members traveling, some post surgery,  and others caring for family members, we had five members present for the July meeting.  We did not have food nor did we exchange Christmas gifts in July as expected, but we had a great artistic time.  We had one of the longest meetings on record.  We started with Brooke's "in progress" pieces for her exhibit at the Emerson in Bozeman this fall.  Since she had shared the beginnings last month, these pieces have morphed in her special way although they are not near finishing.  Have you ever seen hand pieced tea bags before?  We played with placement of a movie set prairie dress that will be included along with repurposed fabric and tattered quilts.

Members also volunteered to cut hexies from Brooke's deconstructed cloth to help with the interactive portion of the Emerson exhibit.   This interactive portion led to a discussion of heritage, family beginnings, our nation's melting pot influences in art, and how all of this affects our art and our artistic bucket lists.

Cheryl Wittmayer shared a few (haha) of her new tops and discussed her objectives with each one.  The objectives that came after "just having fun sewing", of course.

There was more discussion on this year's art challenge.  It was decided in February, we would explore Neutral Colors.  For some this will develop into a series; for others, it will be a continuation of the Neutral Colors design shown earlier this year.  While not a locked in challenge, taking your earlier neutral colored design idea or just continuing your neutral colors theme, this is the challenge.  (1)  Define your parameters.  This is a thing that won't change as your design develops.  Consider your technique, size, colors.  Your choice on what you wish to focus upon. Pick something that will not change from the last piece.  (2) How did you use color, shape, texture and/or line?  How important or dominant part of the work are they?  What three things did you love about your design or use of neutrals?  What three things did you think you could do better?

The idea is to share this continuing challenge in the next meetings with a grand show and tell at the December meeting.  You can work on one piece or have many in this group/idea.  

See you August 16th. !!

April 19, 2015
There was more discussion on how we would like to approach this year's art challenges.  It was decided in February, we would explore Neutral Colors.  For some this will develop into a series; for others, it will be a continuation of the Neutral Colors design shown earlier this year.  While not a locked in challenge, members decided they would like a "nudge".  A different idea or Nudge will be posted each month.

Taking your earlier design idea or just continuing your neutral colors theme, this is the Nudge possibility for next meeting.  (1)  Define your parameters.  This is a thing that won't change as your design develops.  Consider your technique, size, colors.  Your choice on what you wish to focus upon. Pick something that will not change from the last piece.  (2) How did you use color, shape, texture and/or line?  How important or dominant part of the work are they?  What three things did you love about your design or use of neutrals?  What three things did you think you could do better?

In our April meeting, Cynthia St Charles showed two new creations in her wind farm series.  No pictures were taken as these will be sent to an invitational show soon.  She asked for our input on which one to send in, but no consensus was reached.  They were both beautifully different.  Cheryl shared three new quilt tops she recently finished, playing with designs formed from cutting up and reforming basic blocks.  I apologize for not taking pictures of these.  We discussed recent calls from our regional SAQA representative who is proposing a regional show at a gallery in Idaho.  More on this as it develops.  There was a lot of discussion on the Big Sky Quilt Retreat.  Thanks again to the Wyoming and Billings members who helped share wonderful art quilts with the attendees.

March 2015

While we didn't have a formal WAV meeting this month, we did get together at the Big Sky Quilt Retreat and Show in Billings. 

Women of Artistic Vision's (WAV) Stretching Boundaries exhibit looked wonderful on the stage at the Shriners' Auditorium in Billings.  Thank you to Linda J and her helpers for hanging and taking down the quilts.

The stage was shared with the Textile Artists of Greater Yellowstone (TAGY) group. Their challenge quilts filled a good portion of the stage.  

From the Big Sky Quilt Retreat and Show, the quilts were moved to the Plaza Diane Gallery in Powell, WY.  Below are some photos of the beautiful display.

The Stretching Boundaries exhibit was hung behind glass, and the TAGY exhibits were displayed throughout the gallery.

February 2015

 As decided in the January meeting, we began our discussion with examples of neutral designs.  Each piece was discussed and we talked about where we would go from here.  Should we add another color?  How should we quilt the piece?  Should we change anything?  Make a series based on this beginning design concept?

Since the battery on my camera died, I didn't get photos of all the pieces presented, and I apologize if your piece is not shown here.  Taneth's imprinted seashells in sand, and Marybeth's skeleton leaves come to mind.

Cheryl's piece (above right) is a beautiful example of using neutrals.  Brooke asked her to turn it over so the seams showed, and everyone loved the texture of the back side.




Another great example of using neutral colors is Linda J's "Fried Eggs".

Additional ideas are shown below.  Using neutrals is a difficult concept for some of our group who love color.


Brooke showed us her artist journal for the drawing class she is taking on-line, and some of the supplies she will be using in the class she is teaching a Big Sky Quilt Retreat next month.  She also passed around some beautiful silk pieces on which leaves had been applied and boiled in water to extract the details of the leaves onto the fabric.

For next month, we will all digest the ideas and input we received this month, and either incorporate them into the piece shown, or make a new piece inspired by our discussion.

January 2015

A New Year and a New Format for our WAV group. 

Seven members of WAV met on Jan 18th to make plans for the New Year.  We discussed the Stretching Boundaries canvas challenge and it was decided that it will show "as is" at Big Sky Quilt Retreat and at the Plaza Diana Gallery in Powell, WY, in March and April.  These will be the final showings of this challenge, and we will not take them to the Emerson this year.

Linda J and Brooke offered to have the group meet in their studios, when the building where we are now meeting sells.

There was an interesting discussion on how we would like to approach this year's art challenges and monthly meetings.  Several members said they liked the Color Concepts we did last year, but would like to take it further.  It was decided we would begin by exploring Neutral Colors.  At our February meeting we will show and tell our designs and have a discussion about them.  Then we are free to go back to this design, with the new ideas presented at the meeting, and work on it further.  Or we may decide to incorporate a new color to the palette.  Topics will flow from one month to the next, based on these discussions.

Since Big Sky Quilt Retreat is scheduled for March, we will not meet as a group that month.

In addition to the monthly learning series, we will have a Challenge which will be based on Calls For Entry that inspire us.  Linda M and Brooke told about the upcoming SAQA Challenges.  Kathy suggested we bring a list of interesting Calls for Entry, with details, to the next meeting.


It was decided to try a Christmas in July this year, with the theme "Recycle".  This will be our yearly gift exchange.

Cheryl showed us her latest creation where she is using up fabric scraps by sewing them into strips. She also passed out books that she thought would be of interest to other WAV members.

Kathy H is experimenting with fabric painting with dyes, and shared the two pieces shown here.



Brooke has be invited to be part of "Fiber for a Cause" this year.  Linda H has finished and submitted her piece for "Inspired by National Parks."