Posies at Gallery 65 on William

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Salley Mavor

pages 48/49 from “Pocketful of Posies”

On Monday, we hung 28 original illustrations from Pocketful of Posies in Gallery 65 on William in New Bedford, MA. The show begins tomorrow and closes on March 29 (please note: During March, they are open Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, 11 am – 5:00 pm). I’ll be giving a lecture at the closing reception on Sat., March 29, 3-5 pm. It’s a delightful cooperative gallery in the cobble-stoned historic part of the city, which is operated by a group of local artists and craftspeople. I met one of the coop members, Nicole St. Pierre, at a Surface Design Association meeting last year. She invited me to show my work in a space at the back of the gallery set up for revolving “guest” exhibits. We picked March because it was during “fiber month” in New Bedford and there was a gap in the Pocketful of Posies touring schedule.

With the 4 year tour winding down, I am making the work available for sale. All of the 28 pieces in this exhibit have a price listed, ranging from $2,500 to $6,500. The other 23 pieces have either sold and gone to new homes or remain in my collection. Interested buyers may call or visit the gallery (508) 994-1595 during open hours, 11:00 am – 4:30 pm, Thurs, Fri and Sat.

Maker’s in Business interview

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Salley Mavor

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Liz Smith for her cable program, Makers in Business, which is taped in Lowell, MA. I heard about the show through my friend Mimi Kirchner, who was a guest on an earlier episode. Liz’s welcoming style, along with her knowledge and insight made for an enjoyable conversation. The series is focused on the business side of art, so in addition to giving some background information about what I make, I talked about my different experiences in the market. Thank you Liz, for having me as a guest on your show!

You listen to an audio version of the program here.

Speaking to quilters this month

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Salley Mavor

This February, I’ll be speaking to quilters at different locations in eastern Massachusetts. I love the guilds’ regional names; Cranberry and Bayberry. It’s always fun to talk to these groups, because they “get” what I’m doing and have a personal interest in sewing and making things. The presentations are open to the public for a nominal fee, so you don’t have to be a member of the guild to attend. I will give a slide talk, sign books and bring along some original pieces. “Birds of Beebe Woods” will come along this Thursday to Carver.

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, 10 am, Plymouth County Cranberry Quilters, Carver Public Library, 2 Meadowbrook Way, Carver, Massachusetts. Members free; guests $5.00.

Bayberry Quilters, Tues., Feb. 25, 2014, 7:00 pm at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, MA and Wed., Feb. 26, 2014, 9:00 am at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Rd., Brewster, MA. Members free, guests ~ 5.00. http://www.bayberryquiltersofcapecod.com/

next stop on the “Posies” tour

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Salley Mavor

Gallery 65 on William, in New Bedford, MA is the next location for my Pocketful of Posies exhibit. The work will be on display at the gallery Feb. 27 – March 29, 2014. I will be giving a talk at the closing reception on Saturday, March 29 a 3:00 pm. Please note: I will not be able to attend the opening on March 8th. We’ll be traveling (with Polly, of course) – location announced later, with lots of pictures.

I’m also happy to report that the exhibit at the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, MA has been extended until Feb.16th.

Celeste the dancer

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Salley Mavor

Last month, during Holidays at Highfield, my friend Celeste and some other lovely young dancers spent an afternoon in their Nutcracker costumes, circulating among the visitors. Here she is, posed in front of my doll house and Pocketful of Posies tree. I’m happy to have Celeste back on this blog. She’s has been featured before; Celeste’s class visits Highfield, Dolls from Istanbul, Wee Yo Yo Ma.

Scheduled presentations in 2014

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Beginning this coming Saturday, I will be giving several talks about my artwork in 2014. Some presentations will be to quilting guilds and others are in conjunction with art exhibits. I hope that many of you who live close enough will attend an event. As well as telling the story of my artistic development, I plan to bring along my Self Portrait: A Personal History of Fashion. See the current schedule of events below:

Keep up with my schedule on the Events Page.

Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, 2:00 pm, In conjunction with her exhibit, Pocketful of Posies (11/9/13 ~ 2/16/14), Salley Mavor will give an artist talk, “Once Upon a Thread” at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, Massachusetts.

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, 10 am, Plymouth County Cranberry Quilters, Carver Public Library, 2 Meadowbrook Way, Carver, MA. Members free; guests $5.00.

Tues., Feb. 25, 2014, 7:00 pm Bayberry Quilters ~ Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, MA and Wed., Feb. 26, 2014, 9:00 am at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Rd., Brewster, MA. Members free, guests $5.00. http://www.bayberryquiltersofcapecod.com/

March 29, 2014, 3:00 pm ~ Closing event and talk at Gallery 65 on William, New Bedford MA. Pocketful of Posies Exhibit is on display Feb. 27 ~ March 29.

Friday, May 9, 2014, 7:00 pm In conjunction with her Pocketful of Posies exhibit (April 5 – May 27), Salley Mavor will give a presentation about her work at the Cotuit Public Library.

July 4 – August 16, 2014 ~ Salley Mavor: Expressions in Stitches: Then and Now Falmouth Historical Society, Falmouth, MA. Opening reception and artist’s talk ~ Sat., July 12, time to be announced.

Posies exhibit, continued into ’14

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Salley Mavor

The 3 year Pocketful of Posies Traveling Exhibit was originally scheduled to end at the end of 2013, but I’m happy to say that it has spilled over into 2014. Sold pieces will go to their owners, but I’m holding onto about half of the collection, so that they can continue to be exhibited.

“Hickety pickety my black hen” detail 2010

detail from “Pocketful of Posies” 2010

Little Boy Blue

detail from “Pocketful of Posies” 2010

“Pocketful of Posies” detail 2010

“Pocketful of Posies”

I just got word today that the show at the Cape Cod Museum of Art has been extended 3 more weeks, until Feb. 16th. Here’s the current 2014 schedule:

Nov. 9, 2013 – Feb. 16, 2014 at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, Massachusetts (25 pieces shown) Saturday, January 4th, 2:00 pm ~ Artist’s Talk, “Once Upon a Thread” by Salley Mavor.

Nov. 21 – Dec. 29, 2013 at the New England Quilt Museum, classroom gallery, Lowell, Massachusetts (25 pieces shown)

Feb. 25 – March 29, 2014 at Gallery 65 on William, New Bedford, Massachusetts (20 pieces shown) Saturday, March 29, 3:00 pm ~ Artist’s Talk by Salley Mavor to be followed by a closing reception. Right down the street, Birds of Beebe Woods will be exhibited in Fiber in the Present Tense 2014, at ArtWorks! during the same time.

April 5 – May 27, 2014 at the Cotuit Public Library, Cotuit, Massachusetts (20 pieces shown) May 9, 7:00pm ~ Artist’s Talk by Salley Mavor

July 5 – August 17, 2014 at the Lexington Public Library, Lexington, Kentucky (20 pieces shown)

More locations will be added as venues and dates are confirmed. Are you interested in hosting a future exhibit? Inquiries are welcome from museums, art centers and libraries with funds for shipping and insurance. (weefolk@cape.com).

visit with Mimi & Rising Star Quilters

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Since I was in her neighborhood yesterday, I dropped in on Mimi Kirchner. We had a cup of tea and chatted in her studio. If you haven’t seen her stuff, take a look at her blog here. She’s been really busy making her wonderful dolls and tiny world pin cushions. I loved seeing all of her half finished projects lying around.

Then I headed over to Lexington, where I spoke to the members of the Rising Star Quilt Guild. I love meeting and talking with quilters because, not only are they generally nice people, they get the fabric and sewing thing. Here I am, signing books after my presentation.

Posies Tree @ Highfield this season

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Salley Mavor

I am pleased to announce the the “Pocketful of Posies” tree has returned for another season–this year it is set up in the front entrance of Highfield Hall in Falmouth, MA. The tree, which is decorated with nursery rhyme themed ornaments/vignettes based on my book, Pocketful of Posies, will be on display during Holidays at Highfield (Nov. 29 – Dec. 8, noon ~ 4pm). My dollhouse and 5 original fabric relief illustrations from my book, In the Heart are also on display.

I made the ornaments for last year’s Family Trees event at the Concord Museum and I was happy to bring them back for this year’s event at Highfield Hall.

Here are closeups of some of the ornaments/vignettes.

The 10 day event got off to a great start, with lots and lots of visitors stopping by Highfield on Friday. The building is beautifully decorated upstairs and downstairs. I feel honored to be a part of such a fun and lively event!

dollhouse decorated for Holidays at Highfield

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Salley Mavor

My circa 1975 dollhouse is getting spruced up for the holidays. I was asked to bring it over to Highfield Hall and have it on display during their 10 day Holidays at Highfield event (Nov. 29 – Dec. 8, 2013). It’s been a while since the house has been out in public, so I thought I’d fix it up for the occasion. I added some green shutters and trim and decorated the plain pink triangle under the roof with a painted foliage design.

I made this dollhouse one summer vacation, between years in art school. Following a plan in a book, I cut the wood pieces and constructed it in my father’s workshop in our basement. I can remember being so engrossed in the project that would lie in bed at night thinking about how I would decorate the rooms. I remember feeling guilty, because I thought I should be focused on finding a boy friend, instead of dreaming about a dollhouse! Years later, I’m still dreaming about making art.

It was so much fun to make back then and it’s still fun to work on now. The doll house family is new–they will be included in my new book, Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures . As I’ve written before, I can’t show detailed photos of the dolls until 2015, when the book is published and my designs are protected by registered copyrights.

I’ve added evergreen garlands and Christmas lights to the house and the Small family is busy decorating their tree, cooking and wrapping presents. To keep little (and big) hands away, the rooms will be covered with Plexiglas. To see more decorations and who’s come to visit, scroll down to the end of this post.

My Pocketful of Posies tree (see a post about it here) will also be on display during the 10 day event. I hope that some of you will be able to join the festivities at Highfield this season!