Here we are - all dressed up and nowhere to go... but the studio!

By now, we all know that this year's moSAiQA conference in Toronto will be a virtual event. Lisa and I should be landing in Toronto about now. Instead, we're at our respective homes, diligently practicing social distancing.

Clearly, I'm being facetious. It's early in the social distancing period to go to pieces. And there's a great deal to be thankful for. Most importantly, we're doing the right thing. Also, because the SAQA Board and staff are so incredibly dedicated and are truly at the heart of our community, they're working at warp speed to regroup and bring us all a conference experience. And right now, the reduced fee of $200 to attend is a great deal. If you can't for some reason attend live, I understand that a recording of the sessions will be available until June 30th. Anyone who signs up will have access from now until then.

In the meantime, if you're not one of the people on the frontlines still leaving the house, you know that quality time awaits.

This period of isolation is not forever. Let's create, be grateful for the technology that allows us to connect virtually, and enjoy the little things in life that we overlook when our schedules are full and the pressure is on. Better days are coming.

 We'll get the color back in our lives. Be well, be happy, and wash your hands.

Here's to a Happy 2020!

Happy New Year, SAQA WA Peeps!

I love this snowy scene - a glimpse of a bend in a cross-country ski trail in Mezama where I was lucky enough to spend a blissful afternoon with my family  during the 2019 winter holiday season. It's pristine and white - an alluring trail that MUST be explored and enjoyed. 

Hopefully, that's how 2020 looks to you. There's a lot ahead of us, and you'll see more in our Regional newsletter later this week. But for now, here are some upcoming highlights for this year:

•  Spotlight Auction deadline is February 1: Submit images of your 6" X 8" piece for auction at this year's conference, moSAiQA in Toronto, Canada.
•  Travelling this spring? If you'll be in Chehalem, OR in March, catch the opening of our seven region show at its next venue. For the full schedule of this marvelous exhibit's travels, see our page on the SAQA website.
•  Did you love seeing that exhibit at the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum last summer? And don't forget our previous regional exhibit, "The State of WA(ter)" in 2017. Want to see another great Washington region exhibit and have a new chance to exhibit your work? Soon we'll be convening a Zoom meeting to talk about our proposal for a 2021 exhibit in the same great venue, where we're again penciled in for a late summer slot, thanks to wonderful co-rep Lisa Jenni. And if you'd like to help with any part of the preparatory work for this exhibit, well - we just love you. More soon.
•  This is the final year of rep-dom for me and probably for Lisa. We need new blood to help continue to shape this region. It won't be a revolving door, either - we're both committed to helping out, and I'll be a full partner to my replacement for at least three months. Please think about taking on a volunteer job with a wonderful organization where you'll have a chance to work with great people at the mothership, get to connect with the wonderful SAQA WA members, and help make your dreams for this region materialize.

More soon!

Best, 

Carolyn 

SAQA WA, it's on:

Last year, we had our first-ever regional exhibit: The State of WA(ter).

This year, we're gearing up for another first: a seven-region exhibit featuring the work of artists from the Pacific coast, from Southern California all the way up to Alaska including Western Canada and Hawaii. Read about it here. Then get to work!

Submissions are due on November 30th. We wish everyone well! Let's make the juror's job (Ann Johnson) the toughest yet.

Happy New Year, SAQA WA Peeps!

We had a great success with our first ever regional exhibit last year; let's keep going! In fact, we hope that you are starting to think about ideas for Shifting Tides: Convergence in Cloth - a seven-region exhibit, of which we are one. You can find the Call for Entry details here.

To warm up, consider making a small quilt for this year's Spotlight Auction. Details are here. Deadline is March 1st!

As always, please contribute to our Facebook group or to this blog if you wish. Email Carolyn Higgins (carolyn.higgins125@gmail.com) if you have ideas or need help posting.

Happy 2018!

Exciting News! If you've missed SAQA WA newsletters, our Facebook group - all the ways we try to reach out - you may not know that we are happily anticipating our first regional exhibit: The State of WA(ter). Learn more about it here. Entries are due May 19th. Several quilts have already been entered. We look forward to seeing yours!

The exhibit will open at the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum (formerly the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum) on August 2nd. More details soon! Please keep the late afternoon/early evening of August 2nd reserved on your calendar for a delightful evening in La Conner on the first Wednesday in August.

SAQA WA peeps - Have you seen Martha Sielman's call for 2017 Trunk Show pieces? Let's see how many we can enter from Washington State.
Details are here.

New Co-Rep for SAQA WA: Lisa Jenni

It's such a pleasure to have Lisa Jenni as our new co-chair. Read about Lisa's background and see her art on the SAQA website.

Lisa has been a big part of planning our first regional meeting and our 2017 exhibit (August through October) at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum. More details about that are coming soon.

We hope you'll be at the WA Regional meeting on September 11th to get to know her in person.