Weekend socialising

I had a pleasant weekend socialising with friends, talking to an art quilt group & opening an exhibition. Above L-R Diane, me & Marg & along with Marcia in the photo below are Mexette members, a friendship quilting group that has been together for 21 years. Not all our members live in Brisbane or can make our morning tea socials that stretch into the afternoon.

Gallery 159 at The Gap, Brisbane is showing the Australia Wide 2 exhibition for 1 more week. You can see it on-line at  Ozquilt Network but it is so much better in person. Contact Janet for a mid week viewing or come Sat- Sun between 11am- 4pm. You won't be disappointed.

 L-R quilts by Ruth DeVos, Sue Dennis & Michelle Eastwood.

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

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.

Morphology II

Had the pleasure of being at the opening yesterday, of a not to be missed exhibition, 'Morphology II' at Gallery 159, Brisbane. L-R Svenja, Carol Wilkes the 2 exhibiting artists & Janet deBoer opening the exhibition.

The exhibition runs until July 3, Sat & Sun 11am-4pm with weekdays by appointment, please phone Janet 07 33006491.

'Destination USA' exhibition

The latest issue of the Australian Textile Fibre Forum magazine No. 102, features a story about my upcoming exhibition 'Destination USA'.

I'm a page 28 girl! And I was thrilled when Janet De Boer, editor of the magazine & CEO of TAFTA invited me to be one of the 30 tutors for the new CONTEXTART Forum taking place April 2012 in the Blue Mountains. This is a great opportunity to participate in a wide range of workshops which cover textile art, jewellery, wood carving, shoe making & sculpture to name a few.

Hope you can join me for a 2 day Surface Design Entree or 4 days of fun in Textile Souvenirs. Above is an example of the technique of mono printing covered both workshops. The entry form and details are on the TAFTA website & please feel free to spread the word about the CONTEXTART Forum 2012. Would love to meet you there!

100th issue

Janet deBoer has been the instigator & editor of Textile Fibre Forum magazine for 25 years & is soon to celebrate the 100th issue. Janet, on the L, is seen opening the STATE of the ART quilt 10 exhibition at Boonah Regional Art Gallery.

I didn't get 100 candles on the cake but set them out as the number 100.

Second Life exhibition

I love going to an exhibition opening & seeing work that is inspired. In this case Mary Barron has been inspired to use recycled clothing from family & friends to tell personal stories which in turn inspire us to look again at our personal connections. Her exhibition was opened by Janet deBoer, editor of Textile Fibre Forum magazine. The exhibition is on at the Logan Art Gallery, open Tuesday - Saturday 10am- 5pm with free admission.

Gallery 159

'Footsteps and Journeys' is the title of the textile exhibition which opened at Gallery 159 yesterday. The work comes from a group of Katherine, Northern Territory artists who worked with tutor Mary Crehen.
Janet DeBoer L promised to wear the beanie she had bought in Alice Springs at the Beanie Festival & this is on her head along with her fly veil.
Glenys Mann opened the exhibition. She is standing in front of her work 'Rain in Three Days' made after a trip to Lake Mungo. The very heavy pearl button vest was a gift from a friend.
I also had the pleasure of chatting to Kerryn Taylor from Katherine. She is pictured with her work 'Bridge Builders' which hung from railway iron.

Australia Wide opening

Our third exhibition opening in 4 days- but this time I had to give the opening address for the touring Ozquilt Network Inc. http://www.ozquiltnetwork.org.au exhibition Australia Wide. The 48, 40cm square quilts look stunning in Gallery 159, 159 Payne Rd The Gap, Brisbane as you can see in the background of these shots.

Janet was her usual playfully inspiring self & as we had decided to wear hats to celebrate the "Australia Wide" theme, the Vegemite beanie was very appropriate. I dusted off my Akubra from Mt Isa days & Bob was happy snapping photos. Pity I didn't take 1 of him in his check shirt, jeans & Akubra!

Don't miss this inspiring exhibition on until March 29. Details at http://www.tafta.iinet.net.au

Photos from the opening of SAQA: Oceania Art Textiles

Thank you Janet deBoer, L for opening the exhibition. Jennifer Brakensiek's

"Extractons of the Species" is in the background.

Kathryn, on the right, & I discuss Deb McArdle's silk piece titled "Mending My Ways". Small stones are sewn into the top & bottom panels. On the right is my quilt " Anthills- Study in Brown".

L-R Yvonne, Sue & Trish, dressed for the Valentine's Day opening.

In the background L-R you can see work by Alison Schwabe, Thelma McGough, Sue Dennis & the wonderful second silk piece of Deb's hangs from the upstairs balcony so both sides can be viewed.

SAQA: Oceania Art Textiles

This weekend is the last time you can view the Studio Art Quilt Associates: Oceania Art Textiles exhibition at Gallery 159, 159 Payne Rd, The Gap 11am- 4pm. The exhibition opened on February 14, Valentines Day so we dressed in red & Janet deBoer OAM editor of Textile Fibre Forum magazine & Gallery 159 Director did the honours.

The 12 art quilts are from Oceania [Australia & New Zealand] members of SAQA http://www.saqa.com/ an international organisation for art quilters based in the States. Membership is growing constantly with more than 2,000 members worldwide.

Down Under Quilts magazine http://www.downunderquilts.com.au/ feature the quilts in Issue129, 2009 pages 78- 81. Great colour reproduction- it's like being there in person!