Wadding

I am using a wool wadding for the baby quilt, but needed to join 2 pieces to make the correct size. The cut edges are butted together & stitched using the walking foot. In the sample photo above I've stitched with a contrast thread to show the three step zigzag stitch that I prefer for this job.

The loft of the wadding buries the stitches nicely & once the quilt is fully quilted these joins are invisible.

Baby quilt

I have been battling the flu this week, so creativity has been a 'no go' zone. However yesterday I felt better & enjoyed putting together this quilt top for my niece who is expecting a baby next month.

It is 37" wide x 58" long & made using Saffron Craig fabrics with the addition of the green spot & violet sashing strips. I let the fabric dictate the design, which revolved around the printed deer/elk panel which I had fallen in love with.
Thanks for the feedback re the 'This is a Quilt' trunk show Diane.

Studio Art Quilt Associates

Two things which I'd like to draw your attention to at the Studio Art Quilt Associates website are the "This is a Quilt!" touring trunk show & the upcoming Auction beginning in September.

Above is 'Colour Patch Series- Orange & White' which is travelling in Trunk D. Linda Robertus is travelling in Trunk F. Time to grab a cuppa & put your feet up for a lovely browse of amazing art quilts by SAQA members.

Olympic pennants

I love to introduce my Grandchildren aged 8 & 6 to art projects. With some hand dyed fabric in blue & Pental Fabricfun pastel dye sticks, they were able to design & color a pennant for the Quilts 4 London appeal, which is hoping to give a pennant to each participating Olympic athlete.

The closing date for pennants is December 2011 & 14,000 are needed.

Fusion Exhibition

If you are in Sydney this weekend you may like to attend the Fusion Exhibition by the extraTexture group at the Balmain Watch House 179 Darling St Balmain. The 7 artists will be presenting an exhibition & sale of their work.

Down Under Quilts

I love to blog, so was delighted to write a story about blogging for Down Under Quilts magazine Issue 148. You can read my story 'Blogging- the New Age Diary' on pages 78-79.

A time of reflection

As our family & extended family members & friends gather today, we will lovingly remember & celebrate the life of Dot Dennis, 95. She is pictured her with late husband Sam, in front of Sam's Quilt made to celebrate his Air Force service & their shared years.

DESTINATION USA opening

Mexette friend Marg & her husband Roger visited. He was wearing a jacket that needed to be photographed.

Gallery 159 views

I took a few photos of the work in situ at Gallery 159 before the opening to give you an idea of how it looks hung. The Necklace series are stepped up the wall leading to the first floor balcony where Fiesta de los Muertos & Too Hot to Handle hang.

Rusty hangs over the entry, which is flanked by Blue Cottonwood & Welcome.

L-R By the Pond, Oak Sunshine & Guardian.

Guardian #2 & Interlude, partial view. It is fantastic to see the pieces on white walls & on display together instead of piled flat on a bed waiting patiently for this moment.

DESTINATION USA opening

Thanks to family & friends who we able to join me in celebrating the opening of my exhibition. L-R Janet de Boer O.A.M. Gallery 159 owner who opened the exhibition as she is a transplanted American, me & daughter Sally also a visual artist. Janet & I dressed in as much  red, white & blue as we could manage for the occasion. Donna, below, lent me her cowgirl hat.

L-R Mel, Ali, Paul, Suzanne & me with my Texan boots. Thank you for all the emails of support & well wishes & the posts on your blogs, much appreciated.

L-R Sue, Judy & Susan in front of Guardian #2. Kate has a great photo on her blog too.

Grand Canyon Memories being admired by L-R Elaine & Leslie. A week away from the sewing machine & some house cleaning ahead, but then again, what would I rather be doing?

DESTINATION USA #4

Yesterday was hanging day & thanks to assistance from Jan the quilts are up & looking good. Here I'm working on 'By the Pond'.

Jan is concentrating of getting the gallery hangers the same height. Party time today inspite of wet weather. Now where are my cowgirl boots?

DESTINATION USA #3

'Rusty' & I are off to 'hang' together at Gallery 159 today. Friend Jan is giving me a hand & Bob is making me a peanut butter sandwich for lunch! More than you needed to know, but I'm deliriously happy that the 23 pieces in the exhibition will all be up by the end of the day & awaiting an audience.

Thanks for the many well wishes I'm receiving from you, you have buoyed my spirits & made me aware of what a wonderful, supportive artist community I am part of.

DESTINATION USA #2

I picked up the Necklace pieces from the framer yesterday & they look great. The backgrounds are white cotton or cream silk, so I'm keeping them protected in this BIG orange bag!

Still have to put in the final stitches on the facing of 'Grand Canyon Memories'. I'm working on the gallery hanging plan & am excited by how things will look- roll on Saturday!
Thanks Lisa, for selecting 'Interlude' for your blog post on DESTINATION USA.

Destination USA

In just 3 days time, my exhibition Destination USA will open in Brisbane at Gallery 159. The work in the exhibition was begun last November, during my 3 week residency at the Great Expectations studio in La Grange, Texas. I have been steadily working since coming home on assembling, stitching & completing the 23 quilted pieces that form Destination USA. Above is a detail from 'Guardian'.

Brenda Gael Smith, my wonderful web designer has put the exhibition images in the portfolio section of my website. All work is for sale & I'd be happy to send you a price list if you email me. I'll be dancing for joy, just as my skeleton friends from 'Fiesta de los Muertos' are, so join me on Saturday for the opening at 3pm, 159 Payne Rd, The Gap. The exhibition continues until July 31 Sat-Sun 11am-4pm, weekdays by appointment, just phone the lovely Janet deBoer on 07 33006491.

Mongolian quilting #3

I can't imagine sewing using a hand wheel & trying to match up my seams for piecing with only 1 free hand. But these skilled quilters do just that on the mostly hand cranked machines in the work room at the Mongolian Quilting Centre. Yes, there are a couple of electric machines too.

The Mongolian 'olzii' symbol for eternity is a popular motif. The 'olzii' is attributed to shepards tying knotted rope to keep their flocks together at night.

If you would like more information about the centre or would like to help in any way, please contact Selenge via e-mail.

Mongolian quilting #2

I was happy to give demonstrations of various techniques at the Mongolian Quilting Centre, which seems to have visiting tutors donating their time quite regularly. Of course the centre's funds don't stretch to the purchasing of expensive products, but generous donations are always gladly accepted.

The fresh green leaves that had appeared on trees, which the week before had just been bare branches, gave lovely prints. And oil sticks were a complete revelation!

Mongolian quilting

In the capital Ulaan Baatar on Seoul St, opposite Bd's Mongolian BBQ restaurant is the Mongolian Quilting Centre, which has a shop front with goods for sale & a workroom at the back. Selenge Tserendash had a dream of improving women's lives through quilting. Maggie Ball of Dragonfly Quilts, has been instrumental in raising money to help establish the centre in its current location. It is amazing what Selenge & Maggie have achieved together.

L-R Dawka, maker of the wool appliqued wall hanging & Selenge. This hanging has many Mongolian symbols related to marriage & daily life. Silk offcuts and donated cotton patchwork fabrics are also used in the many items made at the centre & by other trained quilters in the countryside. Quilting has given many impoverished women a way to earn an income.

Curled toes

Yes, Jan they are my PJ's. The curled toe is traditional on Mongolian footwear, as in the photo above & the ones to follow.

And boots were available to buy at the State Department Store, but I resisted!

Felt book

Whenever I visit Sydney, I make sure I visit a great bookstore named Kinokuniya. I'm never disappointed with their amazing selection & found this gem, which I have yet to read.

I also couldn't leave these leather, curled toe slippers in Mongolia.