Traveling to the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach in July 2020

My quilt “Meditation Light” is traveling to International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA July 9-11, 2020...or at least that is what I am hoping given the current coronavirus pandemic.

This piece was inspired by summer vacations on Kelley’s Island in Lake Erie.  

Lake Erie is one of the five Great Lakes. It shares an international border with Canada. 

Kelley’s Island is the largest island in the U.S. waters of Lake Erie. 

As a child, I learned to swim, fish, and canoe there.  My brother and I would hop on our bicycles in the morning and not return until sunset.

It was a carefree time. 

Nowadays I still go there, but much less often. 

When I sit on the shore I am one with the Universe marking the passage of time by the position of the sun setting on the horizon.

Work in Progress - "Morning Commute"

Happy New Year

Here we are in 2020. Who knew it would come so quickly when we were back in October!

In January of each new year I find a word the indicates what I would like to embrace for the coming months. This year my word is CONNECTION. I want to connect with friends who are on the same wavelength for fun and food.

Back in the studio at home I am finishing some projects including:

The binding is on the hexagon quilt I laid out in the Kaffe Fassett/Brandon Mambly class in October in Colchester.

Here it is at the end of the workshop, the turquoise blue will be the inner border and the spiral reds the outer border. 

I assembled a sampler of sorts from some orphan blocks. I think the binding and the black accents really kick this piece up a notch.

Over the balcony as viewed from below.

What would you like to learn or do in 2020? Do you pick a word to inspire you?

Mary Lachman is Sharing her Recent News

Can it really be more than 6 months since my last post?  There's a surprise. But then life gets in the way sometimes doesn't it?

A couple of exciting things have occurred.

First, I am one of two featured artists  in the "Uncommon Beauty" exhibit at Roche Diagnostics in Tucson, AZ from April-July 2019.  Here is a picture. One of my fiber art pieces is shown on the far right.   All in all I have five pieces in the exhibit.

Second, my first chapbook of poetry, Under Glass, is in press and will be delivered in early August to those who have pre-ordered.  But if you didn't get a chance to order don't fret. Based on the number of pre-orders the publisher will print 250 additional copies. So you can still pick up a copy.

Order online using a credit card or PayPal at https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/under-glass-by-mary-f-lachman/

And third, I have been doing a lot of knitting. Check back for a picture (because I cannot figure out how to load that image from my phone right now!

Quilting Arts Magazine publishes Mary Lachman and Other Artists

I am grateful to announce that Quilting Arts Magazine plans to publish my art quilt "Into the Cosmos" in the June/July 2019 issue!

"Into the Cosmos" by Mary Lachman - Copyright 2018

Congratulations to all of the artists listed below, who were also part of the Local Color 3: Inspired by Science exhibit and thank you Clara Nartey for promoting our artwork to Quilting Arts Magazine.

Artists:

• Christina Blais
• Clara Nartey
• Catherine Whall Smith
• Evelyn Knight
• Kate Themel
• Mary Lachman
• Judy Ross

Jan Doyle Interviews Mary Lachman on BCTV

In late July, Jan Doyle interviewed me and Christina Blais for her program Wyse Talk.  Filmed at Branford Community Access TV, Christina and I share information about the beginnings of SAQA and how it has grown in the past thirty years.  Viewers will learn how to join SAQA, what happens at regional meetings, and the benefits of membership.  (My husband, Dominick, manned the close-up camera. Jan said she wants to double his salary...he was a volunteer!) Here is the link: https://youtu.be/rTXxlNtFvDY

Christina Blais relaxing in the lobby

Dominick and Jan Doyle reviewing another photo shoot (they are both camera buffs)

Local Color 3 Catalog Available

Thank you to all my old and new friends who came out to the opening reception of the SAQA-CT Local Color 3 exhibit in Westbrook last week.

If you would like to have an exhibition catalog that has images of ALL the works, I have great news. It is now available to order on Amazon. It features full color images of each art quilt in the collection, detail images and artist statements. Participating artists include: Dawn Allen, Kathleen Bagioni, Hope Barton, Christina Blais, Meredith Brooks, Rita Daley-Hannafin, Cher Hurney, Cathey LaBonte, Mary Lachman, Barbara McKie, Clara Nartey, Evelyn Oliver Knight, Judy Ross, Phyllis Small, Kate Themel, Anna Tufankjian, Catherine Whall Smith and Diane Wright.

Here is a link:

https://www.amazon.com/Local-Color-Inspired-Science-Connecticut/dp/1983487074/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517753096&sr=8-1&keywords=local+color+inspired+by+science

You might even consider ordering two! One for you and one for a friend!   

Back in the Studio

Inspired by the story behind the Carrie Welton Fountain in Waterbury I started a new piece.  Carrie Welton was a well-to-do woman who, among other things, donated a substantial amount of money to the Connecticut Humane Society in the late 1800's and also left money to have a statue built to honor her horse, Knight. The statue stands on the Waterbury green.

Up until now most of my work has been abstract rather than representational so this piece is definitely a detour into uncharted territory.

I began by printing out a small image of the statue that I found online.

I drew an image of a horse on fusible web and began placing fabrics for the body. After tacking the fabrics in place with a hot iron I cut out the horse.

Using different hand-dyed fabrics I experimented, auditioning for the background. It's fascinating how different shades and colors next to one  another can subdue or enhance another color.

I settled on a selection of cream, orange, red and blue, a combination which made me smile.
I have a friend who says she always sees movement in my work and elements of water and fire. She thinks it is because I am a water sign.  Yes, LOL,  he still needs a tail!

What elements do you are repeated in your work? I would love to know. Leave a comment if you like. And check back to see how this is progressing. 

Flower Power to a Friend

Karen Belsky Loprete died two weeks ago, on August 1st. She was a creative woman with an incredible zest and flair for art. I cannot believe she is gone.

To all who knew her, let us embrace her spirit and joy. Let us sing higher, quilt vividly and stitch with abandon. Rest in peace dear friend.