Viewpoints 9

I have posted my latest quilt, titled Who? for the Viewpoints 9 Preconceptions challenge on the Viewpoints 9 blog site. I'm a little late with getting it finished, but happy to have completed the piece. In the background are various faces drawn by anyone who was around at the beginning stage of Who? I have also coloured it with sun dye paints in different skin tones.

Goonellabah Quilters

Had a lovely 2 days of Treasure Layers with members of the Goonellabah Quilters and some invited guests from other local groups. The hall used for the workshop and their meetings is cold, so we were all rugged up. But the country hospitality was very warm!

Front L-R Claire, Patricia, Frankie, Betty. Back L-R Heather, Bev, Marilyn, Marilyn, Kay, Lina. Michelle and Pat from day 1 had other commitments on day 2.

Stencilling was used to add pattern and colour to commercial fabrics.

Lots of wow! effects. This one from Frankie.

Marilyn used velvet for this repeat.

Sydney Quilt Show judges

Don't think I posted this photo taken by Bard Haerland of us at the end of our judging day in Sydney, earlier this month. L Robyn Brookman, myself and L Kay Haerland. Yes, we are still smiling! The volunteers who work so hard for the Quilters' Guild of NSW kept everything running smoothly and brought a lovely lunch to share.

Treasure Layers workshop

I have been packing over the weekend for a trip. I'm off to teach the Treasure Layers workshop and have some fun with the Goonellabah Quilters in NSW. They are based near Lismore. I will pack some warm coats too as the weather is predicted to be extra nippy in the mornings.

And my show and tell talk, lots of quilts, fits neatly into this bag. We call them 'Hong Kong shoppers' and they are very convenient for quilt or fabric transport and pack away flat when not in use.

Textile Fibre Forum magazine

The current issue of Textile Fibre Forum magazine, with it's lovely pojagi cover image [Wrapping Cloth by Cherry Johnston] surprised me with 2 images inside it's pages.

First surprise was this photo of Dorothy Haig C, Janet de Boer R and myself at Dorothy's exhibition opening earlier this year.

Second surprise was on the back pages with the Australia Wide 3 exhibition story. My quilt Counting #2 is there too, right hand side lower left. Brenda Gael Smith's quilt Wild Lupins is on the back cover.
 

Leaf of the party #2

With the bits of wash away left on the side of the godet,  I made some leaves. These pieces all have the wash away still in place.

Now that's better! Colour revealed after some gentle hand washing in cold water.

My yellow godet drying outside. Lots more sewing to come yet before I can dress this tree.

Leaf of the Party

I have begun the process of making the fabric for my tree dress, The Leaf of the Party! Using a pen I have drawn my design area on wash-away. I am constructing 4 godets for the dress to give it volume at the bottom.

A confetti of fabric and yarn scraps is positioned on a sheet of the wash away.

The top sheet with the markings is pinned into place.

Straight stitching with a walking foot along the lines and in the centre stabilises the sandwich of bits and pieces.

Next step, put on an audio book and free motion stitch and stitch...

and stitch!

Jumpers and Jazz

I know you will probably laugh when I tell you it has been cold here, in sub-tropical Brisbane! But it is even colder to the west of us with Warwick having very low morning minimums, even minus degrees.
Warwick is the home of the Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival 18-28, 2013. Last year I was exhibiting and teaching. This year I am teaching and dressing one of the special 10th anniversary trees in the Town Hall. Over the next few weeks I'll share the making of the tree dress for 'The Leaf of the Party', a flat plywood tree.

Sewing velcro hangers

I have been busy making  Velcro hanger strips to be sewn to the Beautiful Australia quilts. This hanging system is needed for the Expertise Events Stitches and Crafts Shows where you will see Beautiful Australia later this year and early next year.

The covering flap keeps the hard velcro teeth from catching on everything.

When it's open it will easily stick to the hard carpeted walls for quick and easy hanging. 

Aboriginal paintings

The Art Gallery of NSW has some stunning Aboriginal paintings in the long hall/gallery/entry area. The colour and imagery just draw you in for a closer look. Above- detail of Arumara Tjukurpa by Hector Burton.

Seven Sisters by Tjampawa Katie Kawiny.

I love the movement in Ngayuku Mamaku Ngura by Wawiriya Burton.

 

Caught my eye

This is an art work by Tracey Emin titled "I do not expect" from 2002 and uses an old blanket for the applique base. It was being admired and photographed when I saw it at the Art Gallery of NSW.

These detail shots show the construction and old recycled materials. The phrase above appealed to my sense of humour.

It would have been quite at home in the Sydney Quilt Show which was on at the time.

 

QVB

The Queen Victoria Building in the heart of Sydney is a wonderful spot to visit and I love seeing it each year.

A letter from the Queen is housed there. This is the first time I've found it.

The special clock with dioramas which show on the hour.

Sydney walk

I took a walk in the sunshine to the Art Gallery of NSW and met a few interesting men along the way. This one above was being an exhibitionist in the fountain and rainbow.

Robbie Burns looked down on the passing pedestrians.

And how majestic was this fellow?

 

Exciting news

Yesterday I received the exciting news that I have been awarded a Life Membership of Queensland Quilters Inc. I walked around with a very big grin all day. Thank you Queensland Quilters.

Quilt Show

Now this is the quilt show! Looking much better than a few days ago at the convention centre.

Opening awards ceremony getting underway is an exciting time for prize winners.

Bernina is the major sponsor of prizes.

The Best of Show quilt by Janet Treen- double wedding ring with hand applique and hand quilting.