Banksia

I wish I had bought one of those 'apples' to try- next time! Now I know what this is- a big bad Banksia man. Have fun in February.

Colour & shape

These caught my eye in the USA. Can anyone tell me if they are apples?

Jan, the cushion is being donated to the Sewco Flood Sewing Day.

Shrink Magic

Texture can easily be achieved by using the product Shrink Magic from Logan's Patchwork. I pinned the 30% Shrink Magic to the back of this fat quarter & stitched the two together in a random wavy pattern.

Use a steam iron above the surface of the fabric & watch the magic happen. I won't tell you how long this product has been in the cupboard, waiting!

Texture

This historic patched & reworked wall, the cactus & gravel were so attractive to me at the Alamo, San Antonio because of the various textures.

Australia Day

Happy Australia Day to Aussies everywhere. I stayed up watching the Australian Open Tennis last night while stitching the facing on 'Fiesta de los Muertos'. Beading to follow. These are in progress photos of the quilt taken during the artist-in-residency in Texas, last November.

Mosaic art

This is a small detail of the end of the mosaic chair in memory of Bernard Lifshutz on the San Antonio Riverwalk, Texas. I love the whimsy of this, while more exacting mosaic art is found in other areas of the walk.

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?!

Raining Green

After all the rain we have been having, my garden is dressed in many shades of green & while I' not known for using a lot of green in my work, I love the freshness of lime green. Variety with varigated green & varied leaf shapes adds the contrast needed.

This quilt, titled 'Raining Green' was made a few years ago after it was thought the drought had broken in some areas of Australia.

Lyndall Phelps

I had the pleasure of meeting Australian born, England based artist Lyndall Phelps recently. Lyndall makes site specific & context art works, which are beautiful, expertly executed & evocative.  Her work from The Pigeon Archive will be shown at the Lismore Regional Gallery, NSW in February.

The road ahead

Thank's for your positive comments yesterday Gerrie & Judy, about my small Colour Patch Series quilt. I have found they give me a great deal of joy in the printing & making & I guess it is this sense of exploration & adventure that propels me forward in my studio work. It's a little like walking down an unfamiliar road & stopping to look back.

Then turning to look forward & continue the adventure. May you all have many adventures in your art making.

Colour Patch Series- White & Orange

This quilt only measures 9 1/2" square & has been sent to SAQA for the next travelling trunk show. A mat will cover the edges & reveal only an 8" square of the quilt.

Tweed River Art Gallery

I'm inside the Tweed River Art Gallery, near Murwillumbah, situated on a hillside with great views of the surrounding mountains. We didn't see them as it was a rainy, cloudy day. 

These basalt sheep gamboled outside- 'Pursuit' 2004 by J. Petrie. Diane did you visit the gallery on your jaunt around the Tweed?

Mooball

Mooball, a small town in the Tweed Shire of the Northern Rivers District of New South Wales has branded itself! There is a patchwork shop as well, but we were too late as it had closed for the day.

Premier's Flood Relief Appeal

The Premier, Anna Bligh launched the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal some time ago now & generous donations have sent the total to more than 54 million dollars. If you are overseas & would like to donate you can do so via the link. The money is needed throughout our vast State to help the recovery of lives, businesses & infrastructure.

Woolworths are currently matching, dollar for dollar, any donation made at the supermarket checkout, with 3 million raised so far. The dollar matching will end at midnight on January 20. This money is going to help the efforts of The Salvation Army to support Queensland families affected.

Please be generous, if you can be. Thank you.

Painted bags

Thanks Rayna & everyone for your concern during this large scale natural disaster. My family & I are all well & I'm not in a flood zone. Bob is in China & has been throughout the Brisbane crisis. Mother Nature has been unstoppable & my thoughts & sympathies go to many who have lost loved ones & the shelter of their homes.

While visiting Sue last weekend, a small group of us got together for a craft day & dye painted canvas bags. The dyes ran together, creating blends & we laughed as unplanned blobs happened, working around them.

Floods have peaked

The Brisbane River peaked at 4.46 metres, 1 metre below the 1974 flood. Many homes & businesses are under water & the clean up will take weeks. Today is sunny & so far, without rain showers. Diane thanks for your comments.

These 2 Corellas had a feast in Sue's bird feeder.

High & dry

The flood disaster continues to unfold & worsen here in the South East corner of Queensland. My city of Brisbane is bracing for a river peak higher than the 1974 flood, which was massive. It is a frightening, worrying & stressful time. We are thankful our house is not in a flood zone & our family members are safe.

These fish are high & dry at Sue's beach house. Thoughts go out to all those affected.

Texture

I have been visiting my friend Sue at her beach house, where she has wonderful groupings of 'beachy' things. Here are some banana trash & palm baskets.

Today our thoughts & condolences go to the family & friends of people killed by overnight flooding in the Brisbane Valley. Rain continues today with heavy falls predicted.

Beaded shoes

Thanks for the hat comments. I have to hope for a cold Winter in subtropical Queensland or take it to the southern, much colder city of Melbourne to wear it. It is so beautifully hand made, it reminded me of the combined practicality & beauty of these beaded shoes at the Mesa Verde Archaeological Museum in Colorado.

The hat

Francie, I have discovered it is very difficult to take a picture when wearing a hat, as one has to angle one's head, use glasses to look at the digital image & hold one's hand steady! The hat, being round, can be orientated with the spikes going in any direction for a jaunty look!

Silk

This beautiful selection of silk also came home with Bob from Mongolia. I'm not sure what I'll do with the pieces, but love the lustre & patterns. And here is my new Winter hat.

New bag

This lovely big bag was a  Christmas gift from Bob. He bought it in Mongolia from the Mongolian Quilt Centre. Selenge contacted me about the centre, just as Bob was about to board the plane to Mongolia. They have had a great deal of help from Maggie Ball to set up the centre which helps women to earn an income through their patchwork & quilting.

Oak Sunshine

This is a view of some printed fabric pieces on the design wall at the Franch, where I was artist in residence last November. I'm happy to say I have finished 'Oak Sunshine' 19 3/4" w x 29" long.

It is still work in progress in this photo. I'm hoping to get lots of stitching completed in January during the annual Summer break in Australia.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa

My daughter thanks you for the yellow nail polish, named 'Honolulu', that you slipped into her stocking. Of course I had to try it too!

Santa, I have to say I much prefer the orange one, named 'Crazy', which you left for me! Have a good year Santa & I look forward to hearing from you later this year.

cheers, Sue

Happy 2011

Wishing you all a very happy, creative & fulfilling 2011, wherever you are in our wonderful world. I have resurfaced, tired but enthused after the family visit & Christmas fun. These 2 totem poles in our garden,  freshly painted by Mister 8, who had the ladder & Miss 6, will greet visitors at the front gate.

The widespread flooding in Queensland is devastating many communities, homes & lives. My heart goes out to the families caught up in this natural disaster. Hope you are dry & safe.