Cat Larrea and SAQA's exhibition Food for Thought

Cat Larrea’s piece “Clam Chowder: Step 1” has been selected to be part of SAQA's traveling exhibition Food for Thought

Here is what Cat has to say about the piece-

While digging in the mud for razor clams with a hundred or so other like-minded folk, I never worried about losing sight of my friend in the crowd because of her bright orange gloves that somehow managed to stay mud free.  The relative greyness of the day and shimmery mud was the perfect neutral background for the bit of color in her clothes and those amazing gloves.”


The Food for Thought Show Schedule is international.

National Quilt Museum, Paducah, Kentucky – April - June 2015
Festival of Quilts (FOQ), Birmingham, England – August 2015
The Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London, October 7-11, 2015
The Knitting & Stitching Show, Dublin, Ireland, November 12-15, 2015
The Knitting & Stitching Show, Harrogate, November 26-29, 2015

Congratulations Cat!

If you have news, please do share by contacting AK SAQA member Maria Shell at mariashell4@gmail.com 

February 2015 Informal Meeting

Last Tuesday, February 3rd, the Alaska SAQA members informally gathered at thh Kaladi Brothers on Brayton for coffee and conversation. 

Members Gail Ramsay, Diane Melms, Cat Larrea, Amy Meissner, Julie Drake, Faye Stiehm, and Maria Shell were at the coffee shop, and Nan Thompson called in for the conversation.

We discussed art quilt news and reviewed an assortment of fiber periodicals that might be of interest to our members including UpperCase, American Craft, and The Professional Artist Magazine.

We had a really amazing show and tell. Here is just a sampling of what our members shared.

Julie Drake is taking an online Design Principles class with Lisa Call. 


Faye Stiehm shared the unusual and beautiful color palette she has been working with.


Diane Melms is busy taking repurposed textiles to a new level,


She is also thinking about buttons.


We discussed with Cat Larrea her current challenge of creating a commissioned work based on textiles from Burma.


Amy Miessner is working on new pieces for her solo exhibition at the Bunnell Street Arts Center this coming June. Her current work isn’t portable, but she shared some online images. 

Gail Ramsay demonstrated a handy new drafting tool she discovered while at the American Quilter’s Society show in Albuquerque, New Mexico

It’s called a Roll-n-Ruler . You find out more about it here. 

We hope you will join us in March for some coffee and quality conversation.

Here is the message about our next informal meeting from our SAQA Co-Reps Gail Ramsay and Diane Melms-

“We've scheduled our next informal gathering for 5 March, 10:30 - 12:30.  This is a Thursday.  We will still meet at the Kaladi Brothers on Brayton.  Please let me know if you WILL attend.  We changed the day of the week and tweeked the time and I want to be sure it works for most people. For those of you not in Anchorage, please let us know if you want to skype or facetime in and we will work it out.”

Email Gail at gsramsay@me.com to let her know you will be attending.


And as always, if you are a AK SAQA member with news to share, email Maria Shell at mariashell4@gmail.com

Nan Thompson's Solo Show at Great Harvest Bread Company

We'd like to invite all of you to join AK SAQA member Nan Thompson for the opening of her solo show EXPLORATIONS  at Great Harvest Bread Company this Friday evening February 6th from 4 - 6 PM.


Nancy's abstract work is a colorful feast for the eyes.


Most of Nan's work is improvisationally cut and pieced.


The work will be on display for the month of February.


If you miss the opening there is still plenty of time to enjoy Nan's work.


The Great Harvest Bread Company is located at 570 EASt Benson Boulevard, Anchorage, Alaska. They are open Monday through Saturday from seven in the morning until six pm.


If you are an Alaska SAQA member with news or events to share, please email Maria Shell at mariashell4@gmail.com