Colour matching

In my stash I've found a few fabrics in the colours I need but I'm not 100% happy with these choices. I will be dyeing more fabric this week! The beautiful silk jewellery sitting on the fabrics are the colour inspiration points for a new design reflecting my time in Beijing last October at the international invitational quilt show. My thoughts and options are swirling round. Too many choices!

All things Chinese

My local neighbourhood celebrates Chinese New Year with colour and noise!

And I never tire of seeing the lions dancing.

As well we are treated to traditional Chinese crafts and the embroidery with fine silk thread is glorious.

I asked permission to photograph and captured this moment of intense concentration.

Many pieces were for sale, kept safe in plastic sleeves.

Textiles at the Beijing show

Interesting to see the what was displayed in the booths and what the trends might be in Chinese patchwork. It was as varied and diverse as an Australian show with traditional and art quilting plus bags which are very popular. Above is a selection of dyed fabric from a booth. The fabric was sold as yardage for your projects.

Indigo was featured at a few booths that carried ethnic minority made items. In the past it was the colour of workers garments so is not as popular as it is in the West. Above photo was taken with permission from Wei Xianglong who has an online store wutuwusheng.taobao.com

Now if only I could read Chinese!

More lovely jewellery items using old embroidered textiles.

 

 Old pieces from another booth. Just not enough time to study it all and get sufficient information on origin.

 

 

 

Royal banquet

And let the feasting begin! Chinese food is so delicious and there are many new dishes to try. Our Welcome Banquet was a Royal banquet with dish after dish brought out to the round table's lazy susan.

Tofu on glass noodles

Tender pork and vegetables, just a couple of the dishes.

Yuanshan and Misik discuss a dish.

Even dessert- but this is one we can't recommend as it was very dry.

 

 

Beijing adventures

Had a whirlwind week of fun, friends old and new, food and quilts in Beijing! Arriving at the hotel after midnight and an early start the next morning meant I ran on adrenaline for most of the week- also the sheer excitement of what was happening!

Catching up with friends from Taiwan 2012 was a thrill L-R Jin Yuanshan- China, Mary Pal- Canada, me and Lin Hsin-Chen-Taiwan.

Set up day with help from my lovely translator Jessica. She was a student and a great help throughout. Impossible to do these things without a translator.

The Chinese ladder, what an amazing feat to climb, straddle it and then walk it like stilts! Lighting set up in progress in my 3metre square booth.

Looking good now in the booth. Great to have the large sign above announcing Australia!

Mary was to the left of my booth.

Lots of photo opportunities for the international artists L-R Misik Kim- S. Korea, Desiree Vaughan- USA, Lin Hsin-Chen- Taiwan, pat Gould- USA, Mary Pal- Canada, Sue Dennis- Australia in Hsin-Chen's booth.

 

 

Beijing bound

I am in Beijing, China this week for the 2015 China International Patchwork Invitational Tournament and Patchwork Arts Show. I'm not sure about all that I will see and do but am looking forward to this amazing experience. Blog posts and Facebook will be back on track when I get home. Some of my packing above.

A gift

Bob was in China for work and when he returned home had a gift from his hosts. I liked the bag immediately with the lovely tassel.

And the box inside was interesting from the artistic prospect of a rubbing of the seal.

Three tea caddies are nestled in the gold  cloth. I haven't tried the tea yet as I am currently drinking another green tea, that had the most exquisite flavour and comes from Yunan Province. Will open one soon.