Quilt Show

The annual Queensland Quilters Inc show begins today at the Convention Centre at Southbank. It is part of the Craft and Quilt Fair and open from 9am- 4.30pm each day to Sunday. Yesterday Chris and I set up the 2QAQ area ready for demonstrations by our members.

 

2QAQ

The 2QAQ [Queensland Quilters Art Quilters] group had a great demonstration by Lajla who showed us how to make yarn bowls on the sewing machine, using those acrylic and other yarn balls left in the cupboard or bought because it was a good idea at the time! Here I'm speaking from experience!

The makings.

Finished bowls in the background.

Chris being clever with an insert section designed by Lajla.

 

Tempting you

Today I want to tempt you to consider a couple of things. At the Queensland Quilt Show last week I spent a couple of days volunteering at the 2QAQ table explaining that the art quilt group is part of Queensland Quilters [2Q] and membership of 2Q has many benefits. The photo above shows the bookmarks promoting 2Q and they were part of the table display I set up.

So if you are new to quilting joining a group or guild is a good way to expand your knowledge and one of the biggest benefits is the friendships developed with like minded people.

Part of the display of the 2QAQ 2014 Calendar Challenge on the back wall. The other thing I want to tempt you with is travel and more specifically, travel on a Down Under Quilts fully escorted, small group [maximum 16] tour to South Africa ending with 4 days at the biennial South African Quilt Festival. We will also go on safari and visit many worthwhile projects making a difference to lives in this country. Full details available from the Active Travel button on my blog side bar.
And now the temptation of my new quilt is drawing me to the sewing machine!


 

Queensland Quilt Show

This week the quilt show is on at the Brisbane Convention Centre at South Brisbane and I was happy to be awarded an Highly Commended for Not your usual Souvenir- Hawaii a quilt made from fabrics printed in Hawaii at the studio of Phyllis Cullen. I visited Phyllis on the Big Island in January and we had a lovely arty time together.

Another of my quilts Holiday Flags is in the State of the Art quilt 14 display. This touring exhibition promotes 2QAQ, the Queensland Quilters Art Quilters of the guild. I have been volunteering on the 2QAQ table and catching up with lots of friends and meeting interesting new people too.

I get to play on a Bernina 550 sewing machine so do drop by and say hello- I will be there today.

Brenda Gael Smith is also giving a great floor talk about the Living Colour exhibition, each day at 1.30pm. Here she is talking about Caroline Sullivan's work.

The very talented Jane Rundle is also demonstrating machine quilting on a Bernina. Jane was awarded the Best Modern Quilt prize for Grated, detail below.

And this is another of her gorgeous quilts, made using an old linen, embroidered tablecloth.


 

2QAQ meeting

The first 2QAQ [ Queensland Quilters Art Quilters] meeting for the year was held last weekend and it was lovely to see textile friends again after the long Summer break.

Lajla had a fun quilt which said  "if it wasn't for the last minute I would get nothing done". Each letter was pieced, not appliqued.

Desley brought in the AQIPP catalogue Water; warp & weft, and her quilt from the exhibition. Next meeting is March 29 at Wellers Hill Bowls Club.
 

Best of Show

Congratulations to all the prize winners and to Pam Hill who is the 2013 winner of Best of Show for the Queensland Quilt Show. On the Wing is painted, machine quilted and embellished with crystals- a crowd favourite!

Bernina is the major sponsor and each year supply a couple of machines as prizes. I got to catch up with lots of people I know and work on the Queensland Quilters Art Quilt table with below L-R Jane, Lois and  Lajla. State of the Art 13 quilts are in the background. This is a juried exhibition for Queensland Quilters members.

Unfortunately all did not go smoothly today, with the theft of a prize winning quilt! If you see the quilt Feathers Unfolden by Brenda Wood please contact Queensland Quilters. It is less than 1 metre in size.
 

STATE of the ART 13

Visited the STATE of the ART 13 exhibition at the Redlands Art Gallery in Capalaba, tucked in between the library and Council service centre. What a lovely fresh space and such a wonderful exhibition of art quilts by Queensland Quilters members, to fill it.

Here are some glimpses of the work selected for this touring exhibition.

Detail of Linda Robertus's Make Coffee Not War using hessian and stencilling.

The quilts flowed along the white walls and into the 2 small gallery spaces as well as along the main walkway, picture above.

Detail of Garden Path by Lajla Nystad. If you have time this exhibition is well worth a visit- on until September 28, Noleen St Capalaba. As always seeing the work in person adds so much more to the experience and appreciation of textile work.
 

Paper

Artist Robyn Woodrow uses recycled paper for her exquisite creations which she shared with us at the 2QAQ meeting.

Recycling a satin wedding dress into a frilly, paper covered creation.

Such an interesting texture with the shredded paper.

A floral bouquet for the bride.

And perhaps an interesting head piece too, finishing the outfit off with a pair of gold slip-ons.

Robyn can be found at www.RedZebraDesigns.com.au

 

STATE of the ART quilt 13

Very happy to have had 2 quilts selected by juror Lisa Walton, author of Beautiful Building Block Quilts, for the Queensland Quilters STATE of the ART quilt 13 exhibition. These exhibitions began 5 years ago. I curated the first 3 and it was always great to see the quilts on display in the varied venues- art galleries, textile art festivals and special events. It all continues under the expert guidance of current curator Suzanne Marshall.

FLOOD #2 -Under Leaden Skies has not been seen in an Australian venue, as it was made for the TIQE12 exhibition. The recent heavy rain and debris floating down the Brisbane River brings back memories of the January 2011 floods and the destruction of lives and property.

This is a detail from Shake the Tree. 34 entries were received and 20 quilts selected. Congratulations to those selected and to those who didn't make it this time, please keep creating and enter again. The first viewing of the touring exhibition is at Gallery 159 April 14-27.

Working with alcohol

Well you may imagine from the title of this blog that I have been 'drinking' the alcohol! No, using it for some art work of course.
Merody had a mini- tutorial at the 2QAQ meeting last Saturday and we worked with textas and marking pens. They come in all sorts of brand names- look in the cupboard you may already have some to use. On cotton fabric I draw freely with the markers and then I sprayed the design with 'rubbing' alcohol.

The alcohol makes the pens 'bleed' so the colours spread out and intermingle. You can also work into the wet areas or come back and add more when it dries.

Sherrill Kahn has written a book, Magic with Markers about the method. It was very easy to get a great result.

Welcome to Autumn. I think the first week or 2 may be wet and humid, continuing on from Summer rains.
 

Rubbing plates

As a volunteer on the 2QAQ table at the Queensland Quilt Show, yesterday I decided to work with textile paint and rubbing plates. It is such an easy and quick way of transforming fabric into a wow!

The plate goes under the fabric which is then brushed over with a foam brush that has some paint on the tip.

You can layer as many designs as you like and when dry heat set and use.

Queensland Quilt Show

The Craft and Quilt Fair is on until Sunday at the Brisbane Convention Centre, South Bank and Queensland Quilters hold their annual show as part of this event. I was demonstrating some painting techniques yesterday at the 2QAQ table and so were Linda Robertus L and Jane Rundle. Behind them are the quilts from the challenges we have had at 2QAQ this year.
Congratulations to all who entered the show and to all the winners, well done.

There is a stunning display of red and white quilts, Infinite Horizons from the Mt Isa region.

The STATE of the ART quilt 12 is also on display.
 

Another new top

My black top required some imprinting with my trusty foam roller, Seta colour shimmer paints and 2 metal trivets I couldn't live without, bought a few years ago from a garden centre. I didn't realise when I got Bob to take the photo, but the oval trivet, in this position, looks like a head.

A few beads sewn to the V neckline and voila!
Yes, Jan I've already worn the cream top and will bring to the 2QAQ meeting. Annette, Dye-na-flow is a product I really enjoy working with- instant gratification.

Portrait continued

I have completed my 14" square portrait quilt, except for the earring, which I will search through my beads for. Rather than put a binding or facing on the edge, I used 2 strands of novelty yarn and machine stitched them in place.

I love the added fluffy texture. Preprogrammed machine stitch in the background and colourful buttons tied on with embroidery floss are added details.