Jacaranda

With Jacaranda trees in full bloom at the moment, I decided to experiment with the flowers for printing. My morning walk gave me the opportunity to collect what I needed. As I went through my stash of hand dyed fabric I found many pieces that fell into the jacaranda colour range.

I tested various print methods on a piece and noticed the fresh flowers left a brown stain on my fabric. The pressure of the brayer made them 'pop' and their bell shapes were flattened.

It was an interesting experiment.

Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition 2012

Sorry to only show the details from these quilts but TIQE 2012 have worked very hard to put this international exhibition together and I don't want to steal any of their thunder. Above 'Flood #2- Under Leaden Skies' and below 'Flood #3- Flotsam'. A full list of artists is on the website and there is a translate button.

All three quilts use mono printing techniques, an area I wanted to explore more of this year. Have you ever quilted with a twin needle? I haven't tried it yet, but was asked that question when the quilt above was viewed, as I deliberately wanted semi-parallel lines to replicate the lines in the print.

Some times...

Some times things don't go according to plan or turn out as I had pictured. This was the case yesterday when I worked on my Viewpoints 9  18" wide by 24 " long quilt.

I got out my paints and set up for some mono printing. While the samples looked good, when I did the design on my coloured background, I was disappointed.

Will be starting again.

Monoprint enhancement

Thanks to Chriss and Bridget for allowing me to show you their finished collaboration. They were in the monoprinting workshop in Florida and Chriss used a wonderfully textured base cloth. Bridget enhanced the design with threads/yarn and stitch & ta dah! I'm always happy to share your wonderful finished work on this blog.

Diane gum tree trunks are endlessly fascinating.

Clean-up cloth

I'm still monoprinting fabric for a new series of quilts that have various January & February deadlines for juried exhibitions. As I'll be in India on a textile tour for most of January, I thought I'd better get them started and finished before I go! One side result is the 'trash to treasure' status of the clean-up cloth. Here there's also a narrow strip of wadding that got the paint treatment.

I have 1 quilt basted, waiting for stitching, I quilt top ready to baste, fabric ready to be cut & pieced into another quilt top & the fourth that is fabric on the design wall on the moment. This last one is going through rearragements, the digital photo design stage & a lot of 'what if's'. Bob has been away so I have made the most of the quiet time!

Mangoes and monoprinting

No, I have not been printing with these mangoes, but eating them! What a bargain the box of 14 Calypso mangoes were at $7.50. They are not as big as a Bowen or as sweet, but a delicious start to Summer.

Reflecting on the Brisbane & Queensland floods of last Summer, I have begun a new series using monoprinting in some of the panels.

My clean-up cloth is taking on a nice patina.

Chris, I wish I could grow ginger like the cone flowering ones, but can't, so have a varigated pearl flowering ginger which the birds love.

Monoprinting Magic at Florida World Quilt Show

I'm having fun teaching at the Florida World Quilt Show Francie. Monoprinting Magic students produced great pieces for future reference & use. Andrea above & a few more individual photos, below the group shot. Thanks for a great day ladies.

Ann

Judy

Tanja

Lynn

Monoprinting Magic at PIQF

As a tutor, it's very rewarding to see the work of students as it is pinned up during the day. Monoprinting Magic is the first of 3 workshops I'm presenting at PIQF [Pacific International Quilt Festival], in it's 20th year. What follows are some photos of the great work done in class.

Judy

Diane & Marie

Carol

Christina

Nancy

Leslie

Thanks for a great day everyone.

Pacific International Quilt Festival- USA

I'm very happy to be returning to teach & judge at the Pacific International Quilt Festival held in Santa Clara, California October 13-16 2011. PIQF is celebrating it's 20th year & will have  many great quilt exhibits, booths & workshops. I'll be teaching 3 workshops, the popular Oil Stick Intensive, Mono Printing Magic & Opal Fever. These are all 1 day, no sewing classes, so hope you can join me for some fun. Above, an example of mono printing from my Colour Patch Series.

This number plate & the background was rubbed using oil sticks & is a detail from my quilt 'Rusty'. Last year Francie enrolled in all 3 of my workshops & wrote this in my comments book- 'These 3 days with your classes have given me one of the best experiences I've ever had at PIQF and I'm a 13 year "veteran" of this festival. I look forward to using all of my newly learned techniques in future quilts!" Thanks Francie & see you soon.

Denise at the Queenstown New Zealand, Remarkable Symposium with her Opal Fever quilt top. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

'Destination USA' exhibition

The latest issue of the Australian Textile Fibre Forum magazine No. 102, features a story about my upcoming exhibition 'Destination USA'.

I'm a page 28 girl! And I was thrilled when Janet De Boer, editor of the magazine & CEO of TAFTA invited me to be one of the 30 tutors for the new CONTEXTART Forum taking place April 2012 in the Blue Mountains. This is a great opportunity to participate in a wide range of workshops which cover textile art, jewellery, wood carving, shoe making & sculpture to name a few.

Hope you can join me for a 2 day Surface Design Entree or 4 days of fun in Textile Souvenirs. Above is an example of the technique of mono printing covered both workshops. The entry form and details are on the TAFTA website & please feel free to spread the word about the CONTEXTART Forum 2012. Would love to meet you there!

Colour Patch Series- Yellow & White

While my work was not selected for the Quilt National exhibition in Athens, Ohio next year, I'm very happy to say that 'Colour Patch Series- Yellow & White' is the chosen image for the Ozquilt Network invitation to the Australia Wide Two exhibition, opening on October 22- December 5 at the Fairfield City Museum & Gallery.

Monoprinting Magic workshop

My students were happy to share photos of their work with you, so enjoy this overview of some of their wonderful monoprinted work.

Merle.

Kirsten.

Jill.

Jenny.

Nicole.

Janet.

Wendy.

And Stephanie with her silk scarf transformed!

Monoprinting Magic workshop

This is a view of my Monoprinting Magic classroom before the tables were covered in their red vinyl tablecloths & students arrived.

At the end of a very productive day of play with paint, the room was filled with beautiful colour & designs. Great work ladies!

Monoprinting Magic

Kate & Jan, thanks for your best wishes regarding the Remarkable Symposium. As yet I don't know which workshops I'll be teaching, but I've been having some fun monoprinting samples for this new workshop that I'm launching in 2010.

I love the hand of the maker being apparent in this technique.