Nerdy for Nature

“Nerdy for Nature” Small but mighty (6” x 8”). 2026 SAQA Spotlight Auction

My 2026 SAQA Spotlight Auction Piece

Each year I like to submit a piece to the SAQA Spotlight Auction. The call for entry usually goes out in February, with the auction itself happening in March or April. The piece is small, only 6” x 8” and some of that is hidden by a border. Don’t let the small art quilt fool you… it still took many hours to make.

This year, though, I’m ahead of the game. In fact, I made two pieces! My daughter immediately claimed the first one, so I went back to the sewing room and created another.

I started with a background from a SAQA Conference that we created with scraps. I saved the piece knowing it would be used for a Spotlight auction. Then I started on the design. First I thought about what colors theories went well with green… hence the yellow duck and red. (Analogous).

The design started in a fun way—I asked ChatGPT to make me a coloring page of a duck with glasses. I must have asked it to tweak the drawing a dozen different times before I got something I liked. Then, to be sure it was an original idea and not borrowed from somewhere else, I did a quick Google search for similar images. Once I knew the concept was mine to play with, I dove in.

Here’s a look at some behind-the-scenes photos of the process. I hope you enjoy seeing the journey as much as I enjoyed making it!

Assistance from Chat GPT (paid subscription)

Printed drawing, Uni Ball Fine Point Pen, PFD Fabric, Water Soluble Clear Stabilizer, Cut Away Stabilizer

Taped down to prevent slippage while I traced it.

Then I started thread sketching using my 3 passes technique. I stitched over the same line three times to build depth and definition.

Close up to my thread sketching. I try to look where my needle is going not where it is.

I love using Hemingworth Embroidery Thread and an embroidery needle (90/14).

I remove water soluble stabilizer at an angle from the side - this reduces stress on the threads.

I remove as much of the stabilizer as possible - this lifts away the ink and prevents it from bleeding onto the fabric. Spritz with water and dab dry to lift ink. Do not rub. If you are impatient like me I use the hair dryer to quickly dry my fabric so I can start watercolor painting it.

I added color with Watercolor Pencils (Zenacolor found on Amazon) and Aloe - test before applying, and extend color past the outline to avoid white edges after cutting.

I added fusible web to prevent movement while stitching.

My next step was to press fusible web to back.

I love the Karen Kay Buckley Scissors for cutting out appliqué because their teeth really help grip the fabric while I’m cutting.

Tada!

Next, I played with the placement using an acrylic template a friend made for me especially for the SAQA Spotlight Auction mini quilts. This template ensures that my wonderful art will be seen by the viewers.

After playing with the placement of the duck I felt it needed something more. I went back onto Chat GPT and asked that it add a book the duck. Then I continued the process of stitching and coloring the book. I even added a picture page. I was pretty proud of myself since at this point that book is tiny.

Here I was playing with placement again before I press the pieces to the background fabric. I love how I can cut out pieces of my art work and audition them before I make up my mind.

Here is the back of my mini art quilt. I do not tie off stitches - I stitch over the first few stitches to form a knot. This is an artist choice and note I’m impatient. ;)

My finished piece which I hope brings the SAQA a decent chunk of change to continue to support artist like me.

Oh and here was my first piece that my daughter claimed. This started from a copyright licensing purchase clipart. I love the messy feathers and I’m so proud of my background mini quilting!

Be your own kind of beautiful!

Angela McPherson

Fiber Artist

If you want to check out SAQA here is their link: https://www.saqa.com/