Athens....Ohio

Last month I was in Athens, Ohio for the SAQA conference Art & Excellence. It was held at the Baker Centre at Ohio University & the student accommodation was nearby in very old impressive buildings. Not the log cabin!! at the bottom of this post though, circa 1805.

Some of the students graffiti signs were amusing.

Met Alyson Stanfield author of 'I'd Rather be in the Studio' at the Saturday lunch where she was our key note speaker. Alyson writes an inspirational easy to read e-newsletter each week for artists to get us focused on the business & marketing side of things- things I need help with. You can sign up for these on her website & I'll put her blog on my blog list so we can all share her words of wisdom.

Caught my eye at Textile Art Festival # 3

One of the exhibitions at the Textile Art Festival last weekend was My Place -90 quilts each 50cm square made by 30 quilters from each of these 3 countries- Australia, New Zealand & South Africa. These quilts have already travelled to the 2 overseas countries & I think this was their first outing as a collection in Australia. My quilt is 'Red Centre' & uses my anthill motif- no surprises there!

Jackquelynn's quilt

Thanks for sending a photo of your finished quilt Jackquelynn [student in Divide & Conquer NY] & congratulations on completing the quilt & adding the extra texture & interest that the quilting gives it.

Jackquelynn's quilt is on display at the Christ Church Riverdale's Art Show, New York & she says it is her first art quilt.

Caught my eye at Textile Art Festival # 2

The tACTile group of Jenny Bowker, Helen Gray, Beth Miller, Dianne Firth & Beth & Trevor Reid are a talented group who always inspire with their exhibitions. 'Collections' their new touring exhibition is just wonderful! I'm sorry I can only offer these small glimpses. Both Beth & Trevor Reid & Beth Miller used pots & vases as their inspiration but tackled it from 2 different techinique perspectives which was fascinating.

Caught my eye at Textile Art Festival

These are a few of the entries in the Recycle Reuse Textile Art Competition which received entries from all over Australia. First received a cash prize. Some very clever interpretations & sorry I didn't get the makers names apart from Sarah Louise Ricketts R who used printers tartlatan in her piece.

Artists at Textile Art Festival

The great thing about the Textile Art Festival which sadly finished yesterday, was the wonderful displays & exhibitions. These 3 pieces of work with the theme of the Great Barrier Reef are by Felicity Clarke below who is standing with her winning portrait entered in the 'Connections' embellisher challenge. What I can't show you effectively is the life like dimension Felicity has achieved in the man's face.

Other artists I met were

Dijanne Cevaal L demonstrating printing & curator of the My Place touring exhibition &

Lisa Walton, an Oceania SAQA member, owner of Dyed & Gone to Heaven & exhibitor with the STATE of the ART quilt 09 exhibition.

Calendar girl

I'm a July calendar girl!! or rather my quilt 'Colour Patch Series: Black, Blue & Red' is. It has been selected for the Quilters' Guild of NSW 2010 calendar & all the 12inch square quilts will be on display during the Sydney Quilt Show at Darling Harbour from June 10-14.