SAQA Texas Retreat at the Great Expectations Creativity Center

16 members of SAQA Texas met at the Great Expectations Creativity Center in LaGrange, Texas, last weekend to work on entries for our upcoming show, A Texas Experience.  And it's a cliche, but a great time was had by all.  Really and truly, it was a fun and productive weekend.

The Center itself is wonderful -- it's beautifully equipped, well lit, and set on a hill in the gorgeous countryside between Round Top and LaGrange.

Great Expectations Creativity Center

We had planned the weekend to jumpstart the upcoming traveling SAQA Texas show.  Members can submit a 12" x 12" quilt with a Texas theme.  If the member wishes to list his or her quilt for sale during the show, he or she must submit four quilts (so we can replace his or her quilt in the exhibit).  It was so much fun to see everyone's ideas take shape. 

There were several projects that were at least completed tops by noon on Sunday.  Kim's Brazos River landscape, Sara's cow, chickadee and Texas flag (improv style), Janice's denim and diamond piece,  Suzanne's checkerboard background.  My pieces are the four on the upper right.

A few of the projects in progress

On Friday night, we at Mexican food at Las Fuentes in LaGrange, and then returned to the Center in time to see a fabulous sunset.

My pieces don't really shout "Texas," do they?  I decided to go abstract for several reasons.  First and foremost, I am an abstract art quilter.  It's where my heart is.  And although I was a quilter before I moved to Texas (30 years ago!), I discovered art quilting here.  I found my passion.  Each small piece has three of what I call "belly button blocks" (rimmed squares) to represent the three cities I have lived in in Texas.

My 4 little quilts for the exhibit - still need some work...

If you are a SAQA member and live in Texas, check out our "Call for Entry."  Entries are due September 1.