In the studio

Have been working as much as I can in the studio trying to get ahead of deadlines for next year. While that may sound like a few months away, it will creep up much faster for me with the Christmas round of festivities soon to begin. Also my sewing machine is going in for its yearly service [a tad overdue] while I go on holiday to India next week.
I dyed and printed this fabric during wattle flowering season and am continuing with my wattle themed quilts. Having fun quilting outside of the lines! Usually I outline the leaves  precisely.

Would love to work some of this hand dyed sari silk ribbon into the piece, but just auditioning at this stage.

In the studio

I've found some time this week to quilt this hand dyed and printed piece. This is a photo of the part-way-through-do-I-like-it stage. Love my Bernina of course, which needs a service soon. Why does the 'clean me' icon keep coming up so fast?

Ali Open Studio day

When I was thinking about my blog posts for this week, I realised that there are a few 'first time' moments in what I'll share, so I have 3 new experiences [new for me] for the start of the week, to share with you. First one is the Open Studio day visit to Aliquilts.

We went out on Saturday and the weather was glorious.

Great studio spaces had been set up with wonderful, textile displays.

Mel  Forrest L and Ali.

Chris Jones had her Flood Art Postcards and quilts on display. A wonderful day out for us and very exhausting for these 3 creative, inspiring artists.

Lovely picnic lunch in Ali's garden. Sadly for us it's all over until next year.

Open studios

Open studios this weekend in the Boonah/Aratula area include the fabulous rural studio of my friend Ali George of Aliquilts at  169 Niebling Rd, Tarome. She will be demonstrating, along with friends Mel Forrest, Chris Jones and Sue George who will share their beautiful work. Open from 9am- 4pm on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a day in the country.
 

A sad day

It was a sad day when my beloved Tefal iron died!

It had been through a lot of pressing, fusing, heat setting and general hard work. Over the years I've had quite a few brands of iron, but this is my preferred brand for the moment, so I  have switched to using Bob's Tefal. Because he doesn't like oil paint stick on his shirts I rushed out and bought him a newer model.

Not a rusty sole, just full of character from hard work!
 

In the studio

I did get a lot of quality studio time yesterday, after dealing with a blocked drain, that was a job for the plumber. I was machine quilting Jali.

It is fairly small at 60cm wide by 100cm long. The rusted fabrics were rubbed while on tour in India.

This was the only machine quilting on it when I began yesterday.

These snips are great for trimming threads.

This is the top section and I used a repeat design, reminiscent of interlocking lace.



 

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today is the last studio we'll visit in Oceania. Sue Domeney lives in Tasmania and shares her working space with us. I have enjoyed seeing the studios of our members; the big studios, the small studios, the views, design walls, storage areas and everything in between. We love making our art and no matter what the size of "our" space, we love spending time in it.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today Jenny Bowker from Canberra shares her studio with us. Jenny is well known for her wonderful Egyptian inspired quilts and working with the Cairo tent makers.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today we take a look into the private world of Alison Laurence, an Oceania member from New Zealand. Her studio is hosted by Ali George and worth a visit for the view alone.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

I don't know how Brenda Gael Smith gets any work done in her studio, with the view that she has in this idyllic location in New South Wales. Enjoy!

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Felicity Clarke is hosting a studio visit today. Felecity is a Brisbane based mixed media artist and is well known for her mastery of the embellisher.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today we will visit the studio of Pam Holland. Pam is a well known internatioal teacher, author and wears many hats in her professional life.
Welcome to my new blog followers and of course I'm very happy to have all followers who have been with me over the years- thank you for your support.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today you are able to visit the studio of Ali George,  one of our co-reps for Oceania. Ali lives in the countryside, not far from Toowoomba or Brisbane. I have been enjoying my trip around our country to these creative studios.

More of Melbourne

The ambiance in this Melbourne cafe, Madame Sous Sous in Brunswick was very Parisian. No complaints about the yummy food.

Around a corner or 2 and we are greeted with this.

Don't forget to visit Sally Westcott in her studio today. Did you go to Canberra on Sunday to visit Beth Miller? Her studio is being hosted on Brenda Gael Smith blog so go to the Sunday May 13 post please.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today you can look into the studio of Dale Rollerson in Perth. I'm enjoying this invitation to visit the Oceania studios and see where our artists create their work.
On Friday join Averil Stuart-Head in her studio in Italy. Averil is a New Zealand member who divides her time between the 2 countries.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today you can visit Lisa Walton's studio. Isn't this a great way to see the creative spaces of so many of our Oceania members?
On Monday Linda Robertus from Brisbane will feature her studio.

My studio- SAQA Oceania studio blog hop

Welcome to my studio which was not purpose built for me, but rather I have re-purposed rooms in our family home. I'm happy thinking, designing, creating, surface designing, stitching and doing office work in these studio spaces.
My design studio, once the dining area & still used for special occasions, has my large Horn cutting table, generally covered with current projects and items waiting for filing or storage. The table is on wheels so is easlily moved around if I need more floor space.

I had 3 cutting mats of various sizes so taped them together to create 1 large cutting mat. The floor to ceiling cupboard in the background, was purpose built during renovations a few years ago and stores my finished quilts, batting, fusibles, files, beads and other supplies I need in this downstairs area. All my rulers are held in a grooved wooden holder and it sits on my cutting table.

This 'Big Emu' pen is highly visible and easy to find when fabric covers the table. I jot down ideas and modifications in my visual diaries which also live on this table.

Looking across to the right from the cutting table, you will notice the quilt on the tiled floor. The tiles are great for straightening long edges, as the grout line allows the scissors to glide along. The dining table accommodates the embellisher and other projects in various stages. I have lifted the table with a wedge under each leg. I wheel the office gas lift chair in when I embellish.

My outside studio in under the back patio. Yes, I'm also sharing the area with the puppy now! This old mapping table is the correct height for my surface design- printing, mono printing, rubbing, dyeing and also spray basting my quilts.
I store my dyeing supplies, paints etc in a garage cupboard. This is a small area and works well for me, but is open to the weather!
The clamps on the edge of the table are great to hold fabric in position.





Welcome to the upstairs sewing studio, originally a small bedroom. This window gives me a lovely view into the upper branches of the poinciana tree on our footpath. My largest design wall is on the left as you enter. The built-in cupboards store my fabrics, yarns etc.

To the right is the sewing table. My Bernina is not set into the table, but a large perspex extension table [available for Berninas and other brands] gives me a comfortable work area for quilting. A multi-spool holder on the back of the machine is essential! Threads are in the boxes on the bookcase and stand. My second, smaller design wall is on the right. From my chair at the machine I can easily see both walls. My daylight lamp is perfect for good, extra light at night and on gloomy days.

Behind my sewing table is a bookcase of inspiration and history plus the boxes which each house a different workshop that I teach. The small black table top pushed up against the sewing table, helps hold larger quilts when I'm quilting. It was originally a computer table. My gas lift chair raises me up to the correct height for stitching and the machine foot pedal is raised on a fruit box.

Thank you for visiting and please visit the other studios on show this month.

NAME	DATE	BLOG ADDRESS
Mel Forrest	1st may	http://mixedmediabymelforrest.blogspot.com.au/
Sue Dennis	3rd May	http://www.suedennisartquilts.blogspot.com
Lisa Walton	5th May	http://www.fibreinspirations.blogspot.com
Linda Robertus	7th May	http://lindarobertus.blogspot.com/
Dale Rollerson	9th May	http:/www.downunderdale.blogspot.com/
Averil Stuart-Head	11th May	http://www.avesrave.blogspot.com
Beth Miller	13th May
Sally Westcott	15th May	www.sallydunn.blogspot.com/
Ali George	17th May	www.aliquilts.blogspot.com/
Pam Holland	19th May	www.pamhollanddesigns.typepad.com/
Felicity Clake	21st May	http://bearlytherecreations.blogspot.com.au
Brenda Gael Smith	23rd May	http://serendipitypatchwork.com.au/blog
Alison Lawrence	25th May	http://www.fibreinspirations.blogspot.com
Jenny Bowker	27th May	http://www.jennybowker.blogspot.com
Sue Domeney	29th may	http://quiltstodyefor.wordpress.com

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today is the launch of the SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop which gives you a chance to see where 14 of the Oceania members work and create. Mel Forrest has the first studio to visit. It's a great compact space that works well for Mel and being in sunny Queensland, is blessed with good weather most of the year.

Audio books

This pod is my sewing studio CD player, only a new addition this year. A very old radio is still there too. Audio books, borrowed free from the library, are my way of staying in the studio, attached to the sewing machine. The long hours, with frequent breaks for stretching, are filled with many adventures!

Nia [last week's book cover comment] Setacolour & Lumiere are the paints I use for the covers- nice & shimmery.

Paper fabric

I thought it would be a good idea if I tried a few new techniques on my computer free Sundays. This is my first attempt at paper fabric using Beryl Taylor's instructions from a Quilting Arts DVD. It is stiffer than I thought it would be but have filed it away for future use.

Thanks for the garden comment Ali. There are lots of weeds hiding in the vegetation too, but I think they add interest?!