The Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) big annual fundraiser is the SAQA Benefit Auction. Members are encouraged to donate a small 12” x 12” quilt to be auctioned off in a reverse auction. The price for each piece on the first day is $750. Over the course of a week, the prices drop steadily until the last day when the auction price is $75 a quilt.
I have been a big fan of this auction for years and have acquired many beautiful pieces. I spend time looking at the pieces and visiting artist websites. It is a great way to see what other artists are doing. It is also a fun way to win a piece by an artist whose work you love. It is a bit like the NCAA tournament for me. I keep track of whose work went early and what pieces I still afford. My collection is primarily based on works by newer artists. I love selecting a piece by a lesser known artist and then watching that artist’s career grow over time. It makes me feel like I picked a winner.
Last year, was the first year I made a piece for the auction. Because I am a piecer, I find it very hard to work small. Then I hit upon the idea of making minis. I wrote about my first minis last month. The short version of that story is that for each Color Grid I make, I also make the following.
A Mini- which is a 12” x 12” version of a Color Grid.
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- Mini-Trance
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- Mini-Jimi
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- Mini-Habanero
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- Mini-Get On Up
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- Mini-Blue
A Solo–which is a sketch of a Color Grid. These are approximately 18” x 18”
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- Solo-Jimi and MIni-Jimi
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- Solo-Habanero and Mini-Habanero
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- Solo-Trance and Mini-Trance
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- Solo- Get On Up and Mini-Get On Up
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- Solo-Blue and Mini-Blue
A Party-which includes 9 sketches.
This is what I am working on right now. I’ve got to create two more Solos to finish this party!
Then of course the Color Grids. I like doing this. I like repetion and making these quilts in different formats and sizes is appealing to me.
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- Habanero as MIni, Solo, and Grid
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- Trance as Mini, Solo, and Grid
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- Get On Up as Mini, Solo, and Grid
This past week, I was working on the “Party” and I decided I might as well make the Minis too. And so I did.
Here are all my minis together. This, of course, makes me want to try and make minis for every Color Grid I have made.
I now have five minis. Which one should I donate to the SAQA auction? Do you have a favorite?
Note- I’m linking this post to Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Fridays. Check it out to see what other fiber artists have been doing this week.
ohhh I love your contributions! I have so much fun looking at all the donations every year – so much inspiration!
Wow–these are great. Love to see the mini and solos next to each other. My favs are Habanero and Trance, though I’d be happy to win any:)
Thank you Elizabeth and Nina-Marie. I’m glad you stopped by.
I’m a piecer, too, and have hesitated to make such a small piece for the SAQA auction. The minis are a great idea. And they are beautiful!
Heather- I would love to see what one of your auction quilts would like like!
Fun! I love looking at the subtle variations between each piece in a group. I think Get On Up has to be my favorite. I will be looking for one in the next auction.
Thank you Sharon. I’m glad you like Get On Up.