Teacher Available for 2015-2016 Lectures, Workshops, Performances!

Promote Your Work Without Apologizing

This interactive empowerment workshop will look at our perceptions of ourselves. Valarie Poitier will offer tools to help participants strengthen their sense of positive self and their ability to talk about their work to the public, peers, and upper management.

Lecture: ‘Memory Loss and Fiber Works’

Motivational Speaker: Your Natural Gifts

Techniques: Basic Sewing and Quilting, Surface Design

Quilter Comedy Skit:  Ms. V Unpinned, Oh dear an Artist’s Life.

Jurying, Judging, & Curating:  Feeling rejected…don’t take your marbles and go home.  Get the facts in a light, funny, and highly effective workshop.  Tailored for small critique groups or large audiences. Guaranteed to shed light.

Ms. V’s Solo Act: A Quilter’s Life (rib-tickling & off the wall)

Each lecture and workshop was designed to appeal to a wide audience. 

·        PowerPoint presentation available with artwork, and/or a trunk show, they can also be given without using computer and screen.

·        Format of mini-workshops 1-2 hour, 1/2 day, 1- 4 day workshops, handouts, workbooks, with or without a kit,

Lectures and workshops can be adjusted to target specific groups, specific industries, at different levels (beginners-advance), upon request. Lectures can be adapted for general public, (non quilters).

Fees Average $450-$1500 per day plus travel expenses and meals.

Affiliations:

New England Quilt Museum Board Member

Guilds: Quinobequin Quilters, Wellesley MA; Quilters Connection, Watertown, MA
Guest Curator, New England Quilt Museum's 2013 Images Exhibition's Special Exhibit of MA/RI SAQA Members "Three Cohesive Pieces" Exhibit August 2013
Curator & Co-Chair SAQA-NEQM-2009-2011 Project "No Holds Barred"

SAQA Regional 

Annual Sale Coming...Weavers Guild of Boston Nov 4,5, 6, 7

Dear Friends, This is going to be wonderful...I went, (I am a member of the guild) last year and was thrilled with all the variety and craftswomanship I saw. Ms. V.  Read on...

With 1500-2000 exquisite juried handwoven pieces to view and handle (unlike an exhibit!) you are sure to find something that will inspire you, teach you, and maybe come home with you, perhaps as a special gift. [Tell your family this is a great place to buy you a present ;-) ] Items range from bookmarks, ornaments, and cards, to heirloom linens, hundreds of delectable scarves (many handpainted), one of a kind art garments, to rugs and tapestries. This is something to suit every budget.

Dates, Times, and Location 2011 Thursday, Nov 3 5:00pm - 9:00pm Friday, Nov 4 10:00am - 9:00pm Saturday, Nov 5 10:00am - 5:00pm Sunday, Nov 6 11:00am - 4:00pm Location: Josiah Smith Barn 358 Boston Post Road Weston, MA 02493 Google Map, Directions

Josiah Smith Barn

For directions and more information visit the WGBoston website:
http://www.weaversguildofboston.org/ExhibitSale.htm
Valarie Poitier, Weavers Guild of Boston

Memory, Love, Cousins, Forced Separation

There are days when the incoming news takes your breath away for a moment.
Days when you wish you could rewind.
Days when you wish other choices had been made.
And days when you know our higher power has invoked his, her, their will.
Sending out love and blessings respectful of how you pray, communicate, acknowledge, or not, asking for:  Peace to those who need it.
A Time to heal for those who are in the tunnel and not aware that there is a process before you come to the end or the opening, or the beginning of the next phase.
Love, warmth, hugs, tears, screams, sighs, back rubs and pats, watery smiles, and tearful kisses.
Moans and clarity, anger and surrender, confusion and giving up, Love when you need it most, silence and remembrance.
Above all peace and understanding.
In memorial we stand hands held, hips and shoulders pressed together to keep each other lifted up.
One more missing from my eyesight forever.
No answer why, no satisfaction in the silent moments spent alone, no sound of that beloved voice in my ear, smiling into my face, hugging my body with such a strong hug and such a loving goodbye.
Separation only for a moment of God's time.
 Beloved son, dearly loved cousin, there are not enough words to tell you how much you are missed right this moment.
If it be so, if it is possible, if all that we have been taught is true, you are with our other beloved family members and friends.
I love you and will keep the memory of you alive all my days, in my stories, questions, art works, and heart.
Cousin Val

When is taking medicine just too much? or When I finally get to Quilt

Today was the first day in seven when I was able to get up and around, even outside for a bit. I have to wonder if the meds are going to keep me stymied for another year or if my prayers for a solution to the 'very' thing that has caused this 'state of being' to be resolved will be answered, in the near future. So today I gathered the last of my postcard pieces and should be able to get the MLK cards out tomorrow. That is if I can stay up all day working. It is not an arduous task to complete the final steps rather staying up is the arduous portion of the project. Some days I am able to dream of project after project...and that is a far cry from last year at this very moment. Is it asking too much for a complete recovery with no medications necessary in order to function. Absolutely not. I feel like my Amaryllis. This is the second blooming. The first was at work when the light was poor and watering it was done a bit too much, we were just getting to know each other. I feel like that is where I am with my meds. I am using less and less and trying to find just the right amount is becoming quite a chore. If I use too much I stare at the ceiling and get little done. If I use too little I hurt all day and yet my thinking is clearer and I can imagine project after project. I am finding the middle a little better everyday. This amaryllis is in it's third blooming process for me. The first was in the winter, the second was also. But right now it is in my yard and the leaves are spread fifteen inches or more from the center...four strong leaves drinking in just the right amount of water and sunshine, breeze and shade. I watch that plant and I believe it is giving me the road to follow. Look at the fullness once the first of four bloom sprung! They are so strong and bright. Each area doing it part. Each stem strong and fit. I found just the right balance of dirt, warmth, nourishment, water, and light last winter, I will find it this fall for myself. Thank you Amaryllis for showing me the way. I do believe this plant deserves it's own quilt

Regards,

Ms. V

Afro Pick

Actually the picture below is from a study I did of a statue. I drew on cloth, later painted then quilted it. It was during a time when all the work I did had lots of details closely drawn or closely quilted. I have since begun to open up the areas that are not quilted and am thinking of quilting the piece based on the manufactures instructions. Like for instance 'this can be quilted every three to four inches'. That might be liberating for me especially as the size of my work has grown from 8 1/2 x11 to eight by ten feet wall hangings. I'll let you know what happens when next I take on a larger work.

I visited a GYN Doctor once...need I say more?

This picture was painted just after I visited a doctor who told me about a procedure that would help fix a problem they discovered. I was not having any part of it...It really expresses how I felt. Stretched out to the limit, eyes nose and mouth pressed flat. Throat and body scared by the exam. Had I as many legs and this comb has teeth I would have run away. As it was I refused the procedure and in time the problem has resolved itself. Now that works for many things but not teeth. So do not go thinking my problem will work itself out too...if it is in your mouth. My problem, or their diagnosis, was located somewhere else. And it and I am just fine, thank you. LOL. Ms. V

Summer prayer 2009

This year in Massachusetts we have been getting lots of rain and stormy, cloudly days. Where is the summer weather we all waited through the long dreary winter for? There must be a reason Lord. So I will not complain that I can not go to the pool and wade in the water, or sit outside on the ground an plant a few more flowers. I will instead, wait, wait on you Lord and seek a reason for this weather, for the slowing down of our usual summer persuits. Oh, I know there is a reason and if I read the papers or watch the news Lord I know what is down or low for this time of the year.

There is always a reason Lord and I will seek within myself for it. I hear you but I am not sure what the message is. I will use the quiet time and the rainy days to reflect on all that is going on in my life and I will wonder at your magnificence. The answer is there, in you, in me, for all to see.
Thank you for this day and the tool of the computer.
Thank you for bringing me this far, it's funny Lord but at one time I had no idea what that meant but sang the words..."We've come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord", and I had no idea then what was to come.
Thank you for giving me that song. It has continued to be a theme in my head and heart.
Thank you for bringing me through the storm to today.
I wait for the sunny days, but not of my life, this is one, any one I can open my eyes and breathe and pray is one.
Thank you for this Massachusetts summer.
Amen
Ms. V