Saturday, October 31, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show # 9

When you have an event such as the Queensland Quilt Show linked into the Craft & Quilt Fair, of course there is a lot to see & do. But, this is my last post from the event for this year!
These are some of the beautiful art quilts made for the Bid 4A Cause auction raising money for breast cancer research. All pieces speak of the individually of the maker & are addressing the theme 'Goddess Roseus'. The blog button on my sidebar takes you directly to the Bid 4A Cause blog.



Friday, October 30, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show # 8

The Mt Isa Quilters group challenge 'Reflections' was on display at the quilt show. Congratulations to Debbie Alford the winner with her quilt 'Reflections'. Karryn Pogorelc was awarded Best Use of Colour for 'Galactic Orb' & my quilt 'Connect' at the bottom, was awarded Most Creative Interpretation.
It was wonderful to see the way in which the quilters had embraced the challenge of using the 3 supplied fabrics, with imaginative & diverse interpretations.










Thursday, October 29, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show # 7

Gail Chalker of Gatton had part of the Great Hexagon Challenge quilt on display at the quilt show. She is calling for hexagon rosettes to make the Guinness Book of Records with the world's biggest hexagon quilt.Join in to be a part of history.


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show # 6



The 2QAQ Live Art Project of the Christmas Tree outline covered in postcards progressed well over the 5 days of the quilt show. 40 postcards were added to the tree- a great effort by the volunteers.
The Project Linus corner was also staffed by volunteers under the watchful eye of Ruby Houston. Thousands of quilts are made & donated for children with cancer or trauma.






Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show # 5- Caught my eye

Late post today as we had a power outage & then no internet connection for hours. I felt very lost! Barbara loves watermelon themed things & wears shoes & vests she's made with watermelon colours & shapes. It was a delight to see her exuberant quilt at the quilt show. Detail of 'Minutemen 1 vs Watermelon' which depicts the watermelon exploding after the Massachusetts Colonial re-enactors have tested their gunpowder on a watermelon.
Congratulations to Lisa Walton for third in the Professional Art Techniques with 'Ocean Dream' detail here.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Australasian Quilt Convention

Workshop registration for AQC begins today at 9am Melbourne time or 8am Queensland time [ we don't have daylight saving]. I hope you can join me for a workshop. I'm teaching Monoprinting Magic, Oil Stick Intensive & Garden Trellis.
You can get to the site by clicking on the AQC icon on the sidebar of my blog.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show # 4- Caught my eye

'Aurora Australis' by Ailsa Koloi certainly caught my eye for the stunning effect of transparency & shifting light. Congratulations on second in the Professional Pieced category Ailsa.
Individual quilts which appear on my blog have the permission of the maker to do so. In this day & age of wonderful digital technology, it is important to respect & acknowledge copyright.
See you at the Quilt show today & tomorrow at the 2QAQ postcard demo table.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show # 3


Thread envy...hmm-Jane & Jan you both do fabulous work!
Congratulations to Stephanie Newman pictured in front of her quilt 'Megellanic Magic' which won Best of Show & Best Domestic Machine Quilting. And she is also a hand quilter winning Best Hand Quilting with her other entry.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show # 2

Thank you dear blog readers for dropping by & saying 'hello' at the quilt show yesterday. I'll be back there on Saturday & Sunday at the 2QAQ postcard making tables.
This lovely assortment of fabric & thread are my prizes for second- 'Anthills- Study in Gold' & third 'Grassland'. I'm thrilled!Thank you to sponsors The Thread Studio, Blue Willow Cottage & PK Fabrics for generously supporting the Queensland Quilt Show.



Jane Rundle & Ailsa Koloi are busy stitching postcards, which we are putting onto our Christmas Tree. This is our effort so far, with many more to come. Tulis Textiles, the Scissorman, Unique Stitching & Bernina have sponsored us by donating products to use in making the postcards- thank you.











Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Queensland Quilt Show

The Queensland Quilt Show opens today as part of the Craft & Quilt Fair in Brisbane. Thanks to Barbara & Faye the 2QAQ demonstration area is looking good.




We have Inchies & journal quilts on display & postcard

making demonstrations for the 5 days of the show. Drop by & say 'Gidday'.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Exploring the Art Quilt Practice

This is the title of the Ozquilt Conference being held in conjunction with the opening of the Art Quilt Australia exhibition [click on the button opposite] in Canberra on November 7. If you are interested in attending please register before October 31. The speakers are Valerie Kirk, Head of Textiles, ANU School of Art, Bea Brickhill, Director of the Australian Business Arts Foundation & Barbara Macey, Ozquilt Network founder & eminent art quilter. I'm looking forward to some thought provoking discussion from these speakers.

Monday, October 19, 2009

World Quilt in DUQ

The latest issue of Down Under Quilts No. 137 has a 5 page spread on the Australian entries in the World Quilt contest 2009. Linda Steele from Victoria was the winner of Best of Australia from these entries.
A smaller story on journals features photos by Bob of some of my visual diaries.


Saturday, October 17, 2009

Karuna Hospice & PPP exhibition

The talented members of the Paddo Purple Patchers have put together a wonderfully intriguing exhibition named 'Shadows' with many interpretations in cloth & mixed media. All the artwork is mounted on pre-stretched canvas. Chris Jones is happy to share her 2 pieces on my blog. The one below is from the Wholly Holes workshop.
PPP are raising money for the Karuna Hospice, a palliative care facility so if you'd like to support them go along to Gallery 159, 159 Payne Rd The Gap this weekend from 11am-4pm.
Did I tell you they have a lovely quilt as a raffle prize?



Friday, October 16, 2009

International Quilt Festival- Houston

Unfortunately I can't be in Houston this year, soaking up the atmosphere & sights, but I have clicked on the ruby slippers on the home page of Quilts Inc & been given a guided tour of the winning quilts. WOW! Congratulations to all the winners & Australians Linda Steele, Vicki Jenkin, Ruth Bloomfield & Jocelyn Leath who did us proud. Grab a cuppa & enjoy the show.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Down Under Textiles


Suzanne thanks for your comment. When I began blogging in January this year, I wasn't sure if I could sustain the practice for myself or a potential audience. It is wonderful to know you are out there & are still reading.
I have come to love the discipline of blogging each day, except 'computer free Sundays'.
The photo relates to the article I've written for an exciting new textile magazine 'Down Under Textiles'. From the same publisher as
Down Under Quilts & recognising the growing appreciation & interest in the non-traditional side of the quilt/mixed media art forms, Deborah Segaert is launching the first issue in December.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Studio reveal # 3

My fabric storage is in stackable colourful crates which once housed toys when the kids were little & in open mesh basket units from Ikea. These live behind the shutter doors of a built-in wardrobe.


My design wall on this side of the room has now been extended & gives me a good 2metres plus of width. It is floor to ceiling in height & covered in white felt. The final view is of what is behind my sewing table- another bookcase & my workshop boxes, making it easy to prepare for any workshop as samples, supplies & notes are in the one location. I hope you've enjoyed the 'sticky beak' [a look around] of my sewing studio.





Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Studio reveal # 2

This is the corner with the bookcase we were looking at yesterday. I have re purposed an old computer table on castors to hold things for sorting on the top shelf & projects to do in the yellow box at the bottom.
The small shelving unit to the left of the bookcase holds more thread & odds & ends.
My almost floor to ceiling window looks out to the street & the poinciana tree, not yet in red bloom.













Monday, October 12, 2009

Studio reveal

The extra design walls that I have been waiting for were put up over the weekend & I'm happy to show you the improved version of my studio. Also it will probably never look quite as uncluttered as now!
I have 2 quilts made by Mexette friends on the small right hand side wall near the door as you enter.
We will do a scan around the room in the next couple of posts.
This is a nifty kitchen hanging rail for tea towels from Ikea, re purposed to hold my most used, daily items- quilting gloves, scissors, notebook, pens, tape measure- now they won't be lost under quilts on the table.

When I moved my sewing table away from the wall, I freed up an area for a design wall. It is canite, a soft particle board which I've covered with white flannelette, just pinned on. The book case holds threads, yarns, buttons, Bernina accessories & books etc. The fan & reverse cycle air conditioner unit make my studio usable all year round.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Bernina Galleria book

This beautiful publication arrived in my mail box the other day. Galleria of Machine Artistry and Quilting, published by Jenny Haskins, features the work of Bernina friends who were asked to create a piece of work in their style for the launch of the Bernina 8 series machines. Kim Bradley was the winner but all the Australian entries are featured in the book with a pattern for the quilt on the cover.
These are my pages with my quilt 'Captiv8ing'



Friday, October 9, 2009

Gold Coast break #5

A power outage this morning left us sitting in the dark at the kitchen table chewing on our muesli without our usual hot cups of tea for him & Milo for me.
However I'll leave you with the final pictures of the Gold Coast & this delicious hot seafood plate from Saks Restaurant at Marina Mirage.










Thursday, October 8, 2009

Gold Coast break #4

Along the coastal areas the Pandanus is a common sight. From a small plant it grows into an interesting branching & twisted shape of long spiky edged fronds. The fruit is fibrous & woody but a great shape & texture.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Gold Coast break #3

Still "lost in the rainforest" & contemplating the variety leaf shapes with soft & delicate to hard & spiky.
I am quilting my first entry for STATE of the ART quilt 10 exhibition. The deadline is October 31 with an online digital entry format.
My composition has repetition & bold colour but I may just add some further variety yet.