Karla will tell us the story in her talk, “A Challenging Study in Color” at 7:00 p.m. at Landmark Inn in Staples, Minnesota.
Karla Overland, owner of Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics in Brainerd, will give a presentation about the little contest idea that has gone global – The Cherrywood Challenge. Cherrywood invited artists from all over the world to take the challenge to create small quilts using the same fabric, same color, same size and same theme. The variety and inspiration that blossomed from this simple idea has been nothing short of amazing in the quilting world and beyond. Hear the interesting story behind the challenge that led Karla to collaborate with Wicked, Disney Theatrical Group and Bohin France.
In 2015, she opened the challenge contest with the Wicked theme utilizing shades of green and black in her trademark sueded cotton cloth. The response was wonderful with over 100 entries. The top quilts toured the country and spent time in an exhibit on Broadway while the play, Wicked, performed there. The next year, she upped the ante and contacted Disney to work with their Lion King theme. This time the colors were shades of gold. The number of entries tripled and once again, the top quilts toured the country. This year, Cherrywood’s theme is Van Gogh with shades of blue. 465 quilts came in! what a job to jury those quilts!
Artist Reception – Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.
Meet the members of the Weaving Waters Fiber Arts Trail at the Artists Reception which preceeds Karla’s talk and begins at 6:00 p.m. We’ll have wine, local craft beer, appetizers and music to entertain you! A local blue grass band called Hans Blix and the Weapons Inspectors will play starting when the doors open and continue after Karla’s talk.
Hans Blix and the Weapons Inspectors
Hans Blix and the Weapons Inspectors is a 5-piece acoustic string band that plays an eclectic mix of music ranging from bluegrass to old-timey to folk to Irish fiddle tunes and more. There’s something for almost every taste. The band expresses its regrets to disco and hip-hop enthusiasts.
The band is named after a Swedish diplomat and his team of United Nations weapons inspectors who were kicked out of Iraq in the early 2000’s. This led to the beginning of the Iraq war and a band name too good to pass up.
The Grateful Dead has its ‘Deadheads.” Jimmy Buffett has his “Parrotheads.” Hans Blix has its “Warheads” and they have seen the band perform at the Moonshine Lounge, the Last Turn, and Roundhouse Brewery in Brainerd, Harpo’s in Merrifield, the Castaway Bar and Grill on Lake Alexander, Lucky’s Tavern in Pequot Lakes, the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, Zorbaz in Detroit Lakes and Grand Rapids, the Butler Opera House in Aitkin, the KAXE Music Festival in Grand Rapids, the Little Falls Dam Festival, the Pine River Bluegrass Festival, and at area resorts like Madden’s, Cragan’s and Lost Lake Lodge.
Hans Blix is made up of five good friends who share an appreciation for eclectic but traditional sounding music that’s fun to play and just as fun to listen to. Four of the five have day jobs in the field of conservation, so not only are they proficient with their musical instruments, but they also know their way around a wetland, a hardwood forest, a sensitive shoreland and an invasive species. The fifth member is an attorney, which the band felt was a good strategic move should they ever need legal representation. Plus, the guy plays a mean bass and banjo. Other interests of band members include raising sheep, horses, chickens, dogs and kids, brewing beer, maple syruping, bicycling, canoeing in the Boundary Waters, taking on massive home remodeling projects, coaching cross-country skiing, throwing great parties, and writing the next great American novel.
Kristen Blann sings and plays fiddle, flute and accordion. Mike Duval sings and plays rhythm guitar, harmonica and zither. Kent Montgomery sings and plays mandolin. Laurie Chamberlain sings and plays stand-up bass and banjo. Phil Hunsicker sings and plays lead flatpick guitar.
In addition to hitting the right chords and not forgetting lyrics, the band’s objective for every performance is that the audience has as much fun as they do. For bookings, please contact Phil at 218-825-9215 or at phunsicker@q.com.
Venue
Landmark Inn 631 3rd Ave, Staples, MN 56479
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.