For the first time, I finished my quilt for the 2016 Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Benefit Auction early! Usually I’m struggling to get it in under the wire.

The auction is an annual fundraiser for SAQA and the money raised goes to SAQA mission to promote the art quilt through education, exhibits, and publications, including show catalogs and two quarterly journals. The group started out in 1989 with 50 members and has grown to over 3000 today. I have benefited greatly through my involvement with SAQA and I’m proud to be a member of the group.

My donation, Center Stage II,  is part of a series I’ve been working on that features one improvisational log cabin block set asymmetrically in the composition. The negative space surrounding the block is broken up with dark blue lines and each quadrant is defined by a different color and stitch texture.

Each donated quilt measures 12″ x 12″. It’s a reverse auction held entirely online in three separate sections beginning September 19. The price on the first day is $750, and it drops each day at 2 pm EDT. The second day price is $550, the third day is $350, the fourth day is $250 and the fifth day is $100. So you have to decide if you want to buy the piece you have your heart set on for a higher price, or wait until the price drops and risk someone else taking it home! Another twist is that all the quilts in all three sections will be available on Friday, September 16 for $1000 each.

The auction is a good way to start a collection or add to one you already have. I enjoy donating my work each year and also buying at least one quilt to add to my collection of artists whose work I admire. I’ve become friends with some of the artists this way too! You can see my collection here.

New work is coming in every day, until the donation deadline on June 1. You can see the quilts here and start the process of picking out your favorites.

Here is my upcoming schedule:

Upcoming Events
Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, May 21-22, 2016, Reston, VA
Old Town Art Fair, June 11-12, 2016, Chicago, IL
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair – The Original, July 21-24, 2016, Ann Arbor, MI
Upcoming Workshop
 
I hope to see you at one of these events!