Geelong influence

After the intensive 5 day workshop at the Geelong Forum Textile Retreat, we have all kept in touch and it is wonderful to see the work and further explorations coming from the group. We are acting as a cheer squad for each other- I think there needs to be more of this type of encouragement and support. Above- a journal cover made by Anne from Indian cotton fabric, hand dyed, painted fusible and hand made cord.

Lucy has been putting the techniques we covered to good use in her own original designs above and below. You can see more of her work on her blog.

Liz is a felter and has great textured pieces incorporating fabrics from the week. It is very exciting to see the results of her work.

 

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?

Under Foot exhibition

This wonderful exhibition by Mary Elizabeth Barron is currently showing at the Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba near Brisbane and is well worth visiting. Mary uses natural plant fibres and debris usually found in the compost bin or under foot, so the exhibition is well titled. Using papermaking and basketry techniques Mary has transformed these humble materials into a number of series, that are on display in this beautiful space

Shrine to nature are displayed on one of the white walls and the lighting heightens the homage to nature with secondary shadows reinforcing the total effect of a mass display.

The exhibition continues until December 4. Mary is standing in front of the Under Foot series of wall hangings. See a video of her online on ABC Open.

Tide and Time



The second round reveal of challenges for the Viewpoints 9  international group is beginning and I'm excited to see how my fellow artists have interpreted this topic of time. Above is a detail of Tide and Time my 9"W x 27"L quilt.

It started life as white fabric, hand coloured, painted and stamped with layers added and finished with machine quilting. I enjoyed bringing my concept to life and please go to the Viewpoints 9 new blog for more insight into this and 8 other quilts.

 

Beautiful Australia

Beautiful Australia is now in Melbourne for the Stitches and Craft Show until Sunday at the Caulfield Racecourse 10am- 4.30pm.
Yes Jan, I will be going to the Ozquilt Network conference.

Art Quilt Australia: people, place and nation

The Art Quilt Australia: people, place and nation opens on Friday November 1 in Canberra at the Craft ACT craft and design centre and runs until December 14. This juried exhibition is from
Ozquilt Network the Australian organisation for art quilters and a conference will be held in conjunction with the exhibition opening. The good news is that you don't have to be a member to attend the conference. The website has the details and there is still time to register.
A detail of my quilt Flood #1- river rising has been used on the invitation [top R corner].

Club news

How do you keep track of what is going on in your quilt Guild or patchwork club? For members of Queensland Quilters Inc and The Quilters' Guild of NSW there are the publications Material Facts and The Template, as well as online information.

As I don't get to many regular meetings it is a good way to keep up to date.

Manly

Manly boat harbour on a sunny Saturday morning is magical.

Lots of straight quilting lines here!
 

Mt Cootha lunch

Showing the dessert photo first as sometimes I'd rather start with this course! This 2 course lunch was at the Mount Cootha Summit Restaurant, Brisbane.

Judy had the twice cooked pork and it looked great too.

Hanging quilts

Here is a little glimpse of how the Beautiful Australia quilts were hung in Townsville the other week at the Stitches and Craft Show. Thanks to Annette Sibson who hung the exhibition and took these photos for me. All the quilts have Velcro hanging strips sewn on top and bottom, making it very quick to put up an entire exhibition.

I was also impressed by the lovely signage for the work. No mistaking the artist statement and the quilt it goes with!

I'm back at the quilt show today so drop by the 2QAQ table and say hello.

Best of Show

Congratulations to all the prize winners and to Pam Hill who is the 2013 winner of Best of Show for the Queensland Quilt Show. On the Wing is painted, machine quilted and embellished with crystals- a crowd favourite!

Bernina is the major sponsor and each year supply a couple of machines as prizes. I got to catch up with lots of people I know and work on the Queensland Quilters Art Quilt table with below L-R Jane, Lois and  Lajla. State of the Art 13 quilts are in the background. This is a juried exhibition for Queensland Quilters members.

Unfortunately all did not go smoothly today, with the theft of a prize winning quilt! If you see the quilt Feathers Unfolden by Brenda Wood please contact Queensland Quilters. It is less than 1 metre in size.
 

Beautiful Australia exhibition

It is always wonderful to have the support of the local Australian quilt and textile magazines to promote an exhibition. As Curator of Beautiful Australia I began the publicity for our exhibition very early and the current issue of Textile Number 111 has us on page 56. You can see this exhibition next in Melbourne at the Stitches and Craft Show October 24-27 at the Caulfield Racecourse.

Judy Coates Perez

Can you guess who's in town? Yes, we are very happy to welcome Judy Coates Perez to Brisbane where she has been giving lectures to the Queensland Quilters Guild and a weekend workshop.

Judy shared lots of stories and brought several of her beautiful quilts to the meeting and kindly allowed us to take photos. This is painted silk and just glows.

The Quilt Show begins on Wednesday at the Quilt and Craft Fair at the Convention Centre, Southbank and Judy will be teaching and demonstrating for Unique Stitching during the 5 days.
 

Birthday crowns

These colourful felt birthday crowns were stitched by my daughter, with a little help from me, as gifts for 3 year olds who loved them! What a special gift.

 

Geelong wrap up

Standing L-R:  Penny, Liz, Julie, Beth, Carolyn, Lucy, Helen
Front seated L-R: Anne, Sue, Annette and Sue-Ann
Boy we had a great week and it has taken me this week to recover and put the woolly clothes away as a heat wave strikes Brisbane. We rubbed, printed and danced all week. Lots to look at in the grounds as installations by Susan Holmes appeared.

The Sinclair Gallery hosted the tutors exhibition.

This piece is by Hilary Peterson and below by Philomena Hali.

American tutor Ilze Aviks with her stitched pieces.

 

Sewco

The Sewco Sewing and Patchwork shop is having a grand opening in their new location at Kessels Central, 583-585 Kessels Road Macgregor today from 9am-4pm. Lots of bargains and fun if you are in the area.

In the classroom

Annette's work above

Yes, they are tree trunks in the room. The weather was so uncooperative we brought Nature inside.

Liz

Penny