BeeArtful

Bev recently completed the above pictured flower piece. She showed it and several other similar pieces during our December BeeArtful meeting. All the pieces were the same size, using primary colored solid fabrics and needle turned appliqué. Bev was particularly pleased with this piece.

AI calls a series "an ongoing discovery - a refection of how artists explore and reimagine what they think and feel about certain subjects over time." I have just started my third piece in a series. Prior to that I had resisted series. I took a class in series. I did 3. I ended up trashing the third one. And I still like 1 and 2. Gini Cawood just did a series of 4 1/2 inch squares and created a king size bed quilt. It is stunning and a favorite. That's the beauty of a personal series. You get to choose your favorite.

We all have a new series coming up. 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days. Whatever you use to start your series, time, fabric, techniques or the same size background, my wish for you is that your 2026 series becomes a favorite.

As always, keep pedaling!

Janice

Jan 13 Work on December projects and/or help hand-quilt a comfort quilt

Feb 10 Bev will lead us in Fabric weaving

Mar 10 Geri will teach us about overdying

April 12-17 Spring retreat

May 12 Carol will lead us in Trapunto

June 9 Kathy and Melinda will lead a program on self-portraits

July 14 Gini will lead a show and tell for table toppers

Aug 11-14 Summer retreat with Jan leading us in making Artful Birds

Sept 8 Caroline and Bev will lead a program on vintage design

Oct 13 Open sew

Nov 10 Bev will lead 12x12 refrigerator quilt

Dec 8 Christmas party and KISS it goodbye

• Bring lunch
  
• Work on project of your choice AND/OR
  
• Help hand-quilt piece Jan has for a comfort quilt (see below). Pat Statler will be there to help us get started.

Jan visited Silke in December at her home in Atlanta. They had a nice visit and Silke is looking quite smart with her blouse coordinating with the wallpaper behind her! Keep sending Silke and her daughter Allison good wishes as we move into 2026.

Kathy I., Linda C. Gini C. Susan B., and Janice C. enjoyed meeting with the Piedmont University Art Club students. Drema Montgomery, their advisor, provided a lively atmosphere for an exchange of ideas. The BeeArtfuls each showed their own creations made with recycled or repurposed fabrics. At the end of the presentation, the group provided fabrics for the students to take home to use in the students' own projects. We are looking forward to another meeting in the near future.

Quilt behind the student's is Carol's scrappy recycled materials quilt.

Quilt behind is Gini's 41/2 in square series made into a king size quilt.

Pressing Matters (fused applique, cotton)

Have you noticed the changes in fusible web over the years? The consistency of the glue changes, the paper changes, and companies go out of business. For 20 years or more, I recommended using Pellon Wonder Under #805. This recommendation for a dry glue transferred to fabric with the heat of an iron is in my books and online classes.

But now I have my reservations.

Recently, the glue formula for #805 has changed, as has the paper backing the web. The glue is thicker, and the paper only has silicone on one side.

So I’m recommending Misty Fuse for fusing my fabrics. It’s lightweight and easy to hand-stitch through. There is also a new product called Gentle Fuse that closely resembles the old #805 and Soft Fuse that I loved. Both Misty Fuse and Gentle Fuse are available online, and I’ll be purchasing them from now on.

Get Gently Fuse here: https://www.equilter.com/search?p_filter_keyword=Gentle+fuse&p_search_type=all&p_func=live

Another idea for hanging : metal furring strip from Home Depot attached to wall with Command strips - then either magnets in sleeves or as shown magnets on furring strip then metal pole in sleeve.

https://nancysnotions.com/add-hand-embroidery-to-clothes-and-shoes-its-easy/

How to Have More Meaning Conversations About Quilts

By Frances O’Roark Dowell

https://www.quiltingdaily.com/talking-about-quilts-how-to-have-more-meaningful-conversations-about-quilts/

Quilting Arts (Where We Work):

https://www.quiltingdaily.com/where-we-work-quilting-arts-podcast

New Haptic & Hue podcast link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/haptic-hue/id1530400722?i=1000682370590

Podcast with local flair:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-thread-podcast/id1508572777?i=1000663499933

Her upcoming book is: Marking Your Time by Tommye McClure Scanlin

Marking Time with Fabric and Thread: Calendars, Diaries, and Journals within Your Fiber Craft https://a.co/d/71Q7u8N

Podcast on Tales of Textiles:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/haptic-hue/id1530400722

Need the password for member section for the guild (www.mlqg.org) website? Contact Linda Barron (linda.barron@gmail.com)

Silke uses Superior thread 100 weight (micro quilter)-blends in well.

Kathy I. uses 100 weight silk thread by Yli (order from Amazon or another vendor online).

https://www.janedunnewold.com/resources/critiques

One is a checklist that can be used as a guideline when looking at a quilt - this is published on her website as part of her creative strength training class.

The second is a detailed essay she wrote concerning the process.

I hope that these documents will help the Bee Artful group conduct critique sessions that are productive.

Here we are in the "between times" between Christmas and New Year's. Many people say that this is a time of not knowing the day, time etc as we are suspended between holidays. I hope everyone had a peaceful and joyful Christmas. I hope 2026 brings some respite for Silke who is battling health issues as well as peace for Lucia after losing her sister and husband too close together. Everyone is feeling the march of time but we can still show up for each other as we always do and keep creating beautiful things to brighten our lives. I am looking forward to a wonderful year for Bee Artful complete with new techniques to learn and new relationships with Piedmont Art Club, etc. Enjoy your newsletter!

I am happy to convey all of these wonderful "goings on" via this newsletter. Try to get things to me in advance of the end of the month via email (mandmoliver@gmail.com) or text. If you put the word "newsletter" somewhere in the message line I will be able to find it easier (if using email). See you soon.

Melinda