Stacking the Deck

SAQA Touring Trunk Show February 2027 - December 2029

The raven was known for always holding the winning card. Others called him lucky, but they never saw what came before. He listened more than he spoke, watched what others missed, and trusted his instincts. Each lesson, each challenge, and each thoughtful choice became another card added to his hand.

When the raven finally revealed the Ace of Spades, it wasn't because fortune had smiled on him—it was because wisdom, strategy, and resilience had quietly stacked the deck in his favor.

The strongest hand isn't dealt. It's carefully built.

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I'm honored to share that Stacking the Deck has been created for submission to the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Trunk Show. The SAQA Trunk Show is a traveling exhibition designed to showcase the diversity of contemporary art quilts. Collections of approximately 25–30 small quilts travel to quilt guilds, museums, galleries, conferences, and educational venues around the world, giving visitors the unique opportunity to experience textile art up close. Each quilt includes the artist's statement, materials, and techniques, encouraging viewers to explore both the artwork and the creative process.

About the Quilt

Title: Stacking the Deck

Size: 10" × 7"

Materials: Cotton fabric, acrylic paint, batting, fusible web, cotton and polyester thread.

Techniques: Raw-edge fused appliqué, acrylic fabric painting, thread sketching, free-motion quilting, and machine quilting.

The raven has long been a symbol of intelligence, mystery, and intuition. In Stacking the Deck, the raven holds the Ace of Spades—not as a symbol of luck, but as a reminder that life's greatest advantages are earned through wisdom, preparation, and resilience. Every layer of fabric, paint, and stitch was carefully chosen to create depth and personality while transforming traditional quilting into expressive textile art.

Until next time - Keep Creating ~ Angela McPherson