South Africa tour

Unfortunately Active Travel have had to cancel the planned Down Under Quilts South Africa Tour as the minimum number had not been reached and the time to hold accommodation bookings had run out.
If there is another tour I will be sure to let you know.

South Africa textile/quilt tour

Organised by Down Under Quilts and Active Travel, this is a fully escorted tour to South Africa to experience cultural initiatives, a game safari and the quilt show held biennially. Now that the Summer holiday season is almost over and school just around the corner, you might like to consider this small group tour as part of your travel plans this year. The full itinerary is in the Down Under Quilts #168 or online from Active Travel. I also have the tour button to the right hand side.

I'd love to travel with you on this adventure!

Down Under Quilts

Nice surprise in the post box- Down Under Quilts # 168 in which I have a couple of things. Page 14 features my Wattle Colour quilt, below.

My friend Lucy Carroll is featured in Meet a blogger, page 24 with great photos of her work and working insights. Love her work and commitment to the art quilt form.

And page 32 is Global Thread my column, all about Hawaii this issue. The free gift is a fat quarter of cotton fabric and instructions for possible projects.

 

South African National Quilt Festival

If you are joining the Down Under Quilts and Active Travel South Africa Crafts and Quilt tour you have the opportunity to join in with workshops and lectures that are scheduled for the quilt festival.

 The program has been been released for the Quilt Fair and opened for bookings on 15 November: http://festival.quiltsouthafrica.co.za/classes.php   It is a large booklet with many pages so please be patient as it downloads. International and local tutors are offering a variety of classes with something for all quilting tastes.

And you can join the tour from any part of the world as the quoted prices are for the land content. You add the airfare from your country of origin or tag the tour onto another holiday booking.

As we've had a lot of interest about the tour but no confirmed bookings yet, we won’t ask anyone to book their classes until the tour is confirmed with minimum numbers. Detail above is from one of the quilts from my African phase, with more to come I think!

Down Under Quilts

I'm always very happy to see the latest issue of Down Under Quilts magazine when it arrives in my post box and number 167, the Christmas issue is out at newsagents this week. Of course being a columnist helps my excitement grow as the anticipation of how my Global Thread column, page 32, will look takes over.

And wow! The layout looks great with Bob's super shots and my photos bringing the text to life.

The added bonus this time was the full page advertisement for the South Africa Crafts and Quilt tour and Kate Oszko's Textiles and Culture of Turkey tour, appearing for the first time. We are both thrilled by the opportunity to share these diverse cultures with quilt and textile enthusiasts from around the globe, as you can join us 'in country' from anywhere in the world, not just Australia.

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my collagraph and printing efforts. I don't have a press, so used a brayer instead and was happy with the crispness of the result.

Tempting you

Today I want to tempt you to consider a couple of things. At the Queensland Quilt Show last week I spent a couple of days volunteering at the 2QAQ table explaining that the art quilt group is part of Queensland Quilters [2Q] and membership of 2Q has many benefits. The photo above shows the bookmarks promoting 2Q and they were part of the table display I set up.

So if you are new to quilting joining a group or guild is a good way to expand your knowledge and one of the biggest benefits is the friendships developed with like minded people.

Part of the display of the 2QAQ 2014 Calendar Challenge on the back wall. The other thing I want to tempt you with is travel and more specifically, travel on a Down Under Quilts fully escorted, small group [maximum 16] tour to South Africa ending with 4 days at the biennial South African Quilt Festival. We will also go on safari and visit many worthwhile projects making a difference to lives in this country. Full details available from the Active Travel button on my blog side bar.
And now the temptation of my new quilt is drawing me to the sewing machine!


 

South African National Quilt Festival 2015

I've always harboured a secret desire to visit Africa one day. In fact I've made a number of African inspired quilts over the years and these details are from a quilt made with friends after a day of swapping and sewing blocks for us all.

Now I'm very excited as I've been invited to be the tour host on a Down Under Quilts 13 day, small group, escorted trip to South Africa culminating in the South African National Quilt Festival! Tour dates June 24- July 7 2015 with options for extensions.http://activetravel.com.au/Trips/south-africa-quilting-fair/
Active Travel, based in Canberra have put together a very interesting tour, but we need a minimum of 10, maximum 16 participants. Is this something that appeals to you? I would love you to join me on this new adventure in the company of textile enthusiasts. A little rubbing along the way, anyone?
 

Black leaves

This is the second quilt I've almost completed for the Seduced by the Imperfect series. Just the facing to hand stitch and rod pocket to attach, plus label. I stitched and then painted into this black leaf shape, adding some of the brighter green to echo the green of the other large leaf.

Facing in progress.
Also am working on number three and printed onto this piece of black silk. I rather like the lacy look of the printing. It have cut it and appliqued it to the background fabric. The 4 separate leaves were test prints and will no doubt be used in something else.

And the winner is.......
After combining the blog and face book comments about the Spring issue of Down Under Quilts magazine, and drawing out a name, the lucky winner of the magazine is Margaret. Hope everyone is able to also get a copy of this great Aussie magazine.
 

Down Under Quilts

Down Under Quilts is the magazine I write my Global Thread column for and I am proud to say, is based here in Brisbane Queensland, Australia. The new Spring issue No 166 is due out next week, September 18 in newsagencies and will also be available at Coles supermarkets. What a good thing to read while waiting at the checkout!
One lucky Australian blog reader can receive a free copy of the magazine by commenting here on my blog from now until next Wednesday.

The 166 issue has a fresh new look and comes with a free pinwheel with 30 quilting pins.
If you prefer online issues they are available through the link below:

 

http://www.moremags.com.au/quilting/down-under-quilts-166-389 *hard copy)

http://www.moremags.com.au/digital-editions/down-under-quilts-digital/duq-166-digi (digital version)

 

Down Under Quilts

The latest issue of Down Under Quilts no 161 will be appearing on the news stands soon and it is gorgeous from the pink and white combi van on the front to the kids quilts inside.

There is a little about the Australian winners of the World Quit Competition and of course my Global Thread column which I have so much fun writing.

This one was very personal as it related to my time visiting my Slovak family earlier this year.
 

Global Thread

Down Under Quilts issue 160 features many great projects and of course my column Global Thread, which I have so much fun writing. In this issue I report on the experience of Quilt Expo en Beaujolais.

 

The first Global Thread column!

Had to pop the cork on some bubbles last night, to celebrate the arrival of Down Under Quilts Issue 158 which launches my Global Thread column!

Have you seen it yet? My copy arrived in the post box, but yet to see them at the newsagents.

And here it is! Pages 20 and 21 about Cambodian silk and a few other bits.

Welcome to new editor Linda Robertus and Managing Editor Debra Hudson. They follow in the footsteps of Deborah Segaert, who followed Jan Urquhart, who followed founding editors Cathie Nutt and Yvonne Rein. Hip, hip, hooray to the new look Down Under Quilts, an Aussie icon!
BIG apologies to Erica Spinks, also a past editor of DUQ! Sorry Erica and thanks for pointing out my mistake.

 

First of the month

We celebrate the beginning of our Winter on June 1, but to finish off the week of first time events,  I have to announce that, for the first time as a writer, I have a column, Global Thread in 
Down Under Quilts magazine. My first column about Cambodian experiences will be out later this month.

A couple of snapshots from the visit. The quilts were at the Mekong Quilts shop in Siem Reap.

In print

A couple of my friends and I are in print this month. Diane Wright has a feature story 'Sketchbook keeping for textile artists' in Quilting Arts magazine June/July Issue 57 pages 12- 18.

In this same issue of Quilting Arts, Martha Wolfe in the 'In the spotlight' artist on pages 86-88.

And my story on' Quilting in Mongolia' is in Issue 152 of Down Under Quilts magazine pages 72-76. You can subscribe for free digital editions of the magazine.

ATASDA & DUQ

The Queensland branch of ATASDA [Australian Textile and Surface Design Association] are having their AGM today in Brisbane & have invited me along to be Guest Speaker. I'll be talking about my glorious obsession with textiles & stitch.

The latest Down Under Quilts magazine can be downloaded as a digital version for free if you visit the Creative Living Media website. It's a great way to read a magazine & not have it clutter up the book shelves. Check out pages 92-97 for work from the STATE of the ART quilt 11 exhibition.

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.

Down Under Textiles

We are very fortunate in Australia to have a number of quality patchwork & quilting magazines. It was exciting when Deborah Segaert, editor of Down Under Quilts magazine launched Down Under Textiles last year. Thanks for putting in  news of my exhibition 'Destination Texas' going to Houston Market & Festival, Deborah.

And Rhonda Preece, expedition leader of the  January 8-24, 2012 Indian Textile Tour had a great advertisement too. We are seeing many major sites as well as fondling fabric & elephants! If you are interested you can get more details from the button link on my blog sidebar.

Thank you

Thank you to the buyer of 'Goddess Relics' which was donated to the Bid 4A Cause auction with all money going to breast cancer research. More than $2,000 has been raised. And pink is such a great colour too!

Bid-4A-Cause

Being one of the 14 artists who contributed an art piece for Bid-4A-Cause, I'm happy to announce the auction starts on Friday November 27. Above is a detail of 'Goddess Relics' with a paint stick rubbed batik background, rubbed & painted statuettes appliqued with beads & rayon jacquard fragments.
The art works can be viewed on the website & bidding will be in reverse auction style. Please dig deep for this worthy cause as all money raised will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for research into prevention & cure. All money raised goes directly to the foundation without administation or artist's fees deducted.
Other artists are Helen Godden, Lisa Walton, Wendy Bailye, Dijanne Cevaal, Jocelyne Leath, Caroline Sharkey, Sarah Louise Ricketts, Robyn Kennedy, Nic Bridges, Erica Spinks, Brenda Gael Smith, Dale Rollerson & Olga Walters.You can link to their sites via the Bid-4A-Cause button on my sidebar.
Thank you in anticipation of your support.

World Quilt in DUQ

The latest issue of Down Under Quilts No. 137 has a 5 page spread on the Australian entries in the World Quilt contest 2009. Linda Steele from Victoria was the winner of Best of Australia from these entries.
A smaller story on journals features photos by Bob of some of my visual diaries.