Dear Friends,
October 2023 will mark our 20th anniversary as the Pixeladies. What an amazing journey it’s been. We’ve traveled near and far, had our work exhibited in places we right now can only hope to visit, taught hundreds of students about Photoshop Elements, and met many lifelong friends. We are so proud of the work we have created together and the message of social justice we’ve woven into so many of our pieces.
So it is, with a tinge of nostalgia buts lots of excitement for the future, that we announce the Pixeladies’ retirement. We will spend 2023 doing what we’ve been doing, just for the last time. Please join us when you can during this final year of the Pixeladies.
So what will become of Deb and Kris? Deb has already found her independent creative voice. Look for her work in Quilt National ’23: The Best in Contemporary Quilts. Kris wants to return to writing, her first passion. And we will remain the best of friends, traveling together, visiting museums, and continuing our eternal search for the best gelato in the world.
With love and gratitude,
Kris and Deb, the Pixeladies
Below is the list of our activities for 2023 as it stands now. We’ll keep you updated on any major changes.
Women’s Voices, Women’s Votes, Women’s Rights
Through Apr 20, 2023 • Little Rock, Arkansas
“Mrs. Hamer” is on exhibit at the Clinton Presidential Center. We’ll be attending the Women’s Voices Summit there on Dec 2, 2022. Maybe we’ll see some of you at the summit. Click here to read about the creation of “Mrs. Hamer.”
Photoshop Elements Classes
Beginning Jan 9, 2023 • Online
Our last series of classes will begin on Jan 9. We will teach all three classes one more time. It’s time to redeem that gift certificate, retake a class, or finally see what a Pixeladies online course is like! Registration starts Dec 9, 2022. Click here for more information. We’ve loved teaching all these years and will miss our students. Please stay in touch!
Commentaries in Cloth
Jan 27 – Apr 6, 2023 • Folsom, California
We are sharing our final exhibition with our dear friend and sculpture artist, Susan Else at The Gallery at 48 Natoma. View our latest pieces as well as some old favorites. The opening reception will be held on Fri, Jan 27, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00pm.
Furoshiki Demonstration
Feb-Mar 2023 • Rancho Cordova, California
In conjunction with the exhibition, “Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and WWII,” we will demonstrate how to wrap items in cloth. The exhibition and demonstration will be at the MACC (Mills Station Art & Cultural Center). The exact date will be available in December. We wrote a book about the Japanese art of furoshiki in 2012 and love giving furoshiki demos, so it’s one thing we will continue to provide, even after retirement!
4 Women – 4 Stories
March 16, 2023 • Online
The Oakville Quilters Quild in Oakville, Ontario, Canada will be hosting our final lecture about four portraits we created: Faith Ringgold, Mitsuye Endo, Katharine McCormick, and Fannie Lou Hamer. Since this will be an online presentation, you can all attend! We’ll post registration details at a later date.
SAQA Conference
Apr 27 – 30, 2023 • Toronto, Canada
How cool that our last SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) conference as the Pixeladies is being held outside the US. We hope to see many of our SAQA friends there. SAQA will always hold a special place in our hearts.
SAQA Benefit Auction
Sep 2023 • Online
We have donated over 10 quilts to this, our favorite charity auction. We’re keeping mum on what we’re creating this last time, but we’ll let you know when the date nears. There will be lots of pieces available, so we hope you’ll find one you want to take home.
Retirement Party
Oct 2023 • Date and location to be determined
We want to gather with family and friends to celebrate this milestone. We hope you can join us. Details will follow in a future email.
29 responses to “2003-2023: Celebrating 20 Years of the Pixeladies”
So happy knowing you both, meeting for lunch once in a while, having some of your pieces in my home, but most of all being your friend. Best wishes as you create in the future.
Thank you so much, dear patroness! By the way, our retirement in no way diminishes our ability to meet you for lunch!!
I have always admired all you two accomplished together! I’m sure your friendship will continue to flourish and grow.
See you in Toronto!!!
Looking forward to it! We still have to find the perfect gelato, so we’ll see other a lot. 😉
Congratulations! I’m so glad I have one of your pieces!! I can’t wait to see what’s next in 2024.
Thanks, Lisa. We’re glad you have one of our pieces, too! We looking forward to what the future brings, too!
Congratulations on all your creative years together. Soon you’ll discover just how busy life can be once you retire. Let the fun begin!
Well, the Pixeladies are retiring, but Kris and Deb are moving on! No retirement in sight for either one of us!
Congratulations to both of you on 20 years! Pixeladies creations will be missed, but I look forward to seeing your individual creations and hearing about your continued joint travels. Now, I must get in all the classes! I know you are both tired of me bugging you for dates! Best wishes ❤️
Thanks, Ellen! The dates are listed on the website. We can’t wait to “see” you there!
Amazing – Pixeladies will go down in the annals of quilting history. You are both superstars together and separately and I look forward to seeing what you do next.
That’s so kind, Lisa. We have met the best of friends through quilting, you at the top!!
Thank you for excellent classes, I wish I could have a lifelong access to them! I’m very fond of Deb’s symbographic art quilts and to find her work in progress on IG always makes my day!
Whish Kris all the best in her writing career!
Thank you, Vera! Keep in touch. just drop us a line if you get stuck in Photoshop.
End of an era! I will miss seeing your brilliant, thought-provoking joint creations, but expect equally brilliant independent success for each of you. Would love to collaborate on some of the gelato research….xx
Thanks, Martha! Since you have already contributed to some of our gelato research, we plan on making sure you are there on future assignments. BTW, let’s try to get one going before the new year!
Congratulations on your retirement. You’ve certainly influenced my journey. I’m glad this kind of retirement doesn’t mean we won’t continue to see each other at quilting events!
Thanks so much, Susanne. We expect our paths to continue to cross in the future. Hope to see you in Toronto!
Congratulations Kris and Deb, thank you so much for your classes, they helped me so so much in finding my way as an artist.
Chris, that is so wonderful to hear. Thank you for being such a good and inspiring student!
Deb and Kris, you two are the greatest! Your art and your teaching are stellar. I can’t wait to see you both in Toronto. And, alas, I guess I’ll have to stop recommending your classes.
Thanks so much, Dorothy! Please don’t stop recommending our classes until after we teach the last one in the spring!! Can’t wait to see you in Toronto!
The Pixeladies have been incredibly influential artists and teachers. Wishing you delightful new adventures on your independent journeys!
That’s so kind, Dolores. We’re still laughing about our time in San Diego. That was a hoot. Here’s to more adventures with you!
Congratulations on your 20th PixelVersary! You brought a lot of joy and creativity to fiber art, inspiring makers and those who admire beauty and meaning…thank you, thank you!! I will peer over your shoulders to see the good things to come. And the gelato.
You two will be going ‘out’ with a zing. Congratulations on maintaining such a wonderful friendship and collaborative work life. I’m happy to be one of your many friends. SAQA has woven so many of us together! All the best to you both.
Wow, such a special partnership and accomplishment together, can’t wait to see what you do separately. Thank you for helping me learn PSE and upping my game considerably! We have not met often, but I expect we will cross paths, and I just want to wish you both health and happiness. “Retirement” as they call it, is just great! PS I had a pretty darn good gelato near Ponte Vecchio in Florence, but can’t remember the name of the place! Keep searching.
Congrats! I’m sure it took just as much courage to retire as it did to start and stay the course. I have been following you for years and have learned quite a bit along the way. Thank you for sharing your journey with us! I am so excited to see what is next! I’ll be watching!
Thanks so much, Valarie!! We hope to see you sometime in 2023.