Thursday, July 26, 2012

Coqueclicot

It has been a while since I  have played around with lutradur and after teaching a workshop last Sunday  using transfer dyes and lutradur it lit a little spark again.It's funny how things just fall by the wayside sometimes. So below is a version of poppies I did with crayons and transfer dye/paints and then stitched by machine. I had hoped the red of the flowers would be more red, and perhaps I could have achieved that by using redder fabric underneath the lutradur but then I lost all the other details of the transfer.Anyway it had the desired effect of igniting a spark  and  thinking of some other ways of doing this transfer. The image has been linocut printed with the  tranfer paints- but the surface of the lino is quite rough so I might need to cut another linocut where the surface of the line is smoother.

I did create the above post last week but have been having issues with  my photo limit on Picasa being exceeded and trying to work out how to solve that problem.

Some more of my work ( 7 pieces) will be exhibited at the Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery in  Cororooke ( near Colac) in Flights of Fancy from Saturday 4 August and the following weekends.My Exhibition at Caroline Springs is still ongoing.

I really need to get some inspiration happening- I find sunshine does help make the mood more upbeat. I need to make a lot of work, though it would be nice to also sell some work. Prints of the cat are for sale if anyone is interested- just scroll back through the blog to see an image of the print- it measures 25cm x50 cm.

I  am making work that is inspired by France- and intend to make a whole series which will be shown at Quilts en Beaujolais next year- I have ideas ... but I just can't seem to get things happening. I am not even journalling as I normally do though I have been carting around my journal in the hope that something will strike??Hand made books are calling out but I can't seem to get going on that either- I know it's a lack of discipline, I know what I should do but it does not happen, maybe writing it down will motivate me and remind me that if all fails just do the work......

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Sentinelle Exhibition

Time is flying and sometimes I feel like I have left my brain behind somewhere in a dank wet place- since the \weather has been so horrible. And then lo behold sunshine for two days running- it's amazing what  a bit of sunshine does for the soul!! All the washing is dry in a single day -so no chinese laundry in the loungeroom tonight! Am still stitching and stitching on the travellers blanket- the end is in sight in another week or so maybe!

But I completely forget to mention my Sentinelles are being exhibited in the Library Gallery space at Caroline Springs near Melton. They were installed two weeks ago- it's so nice to exhibit them in Australia finally. Here is your invitation;

I did make a small piece today.You can see it on Voyageart. I have been working on the large pomegranate quilt but today when I went to get my v\favourite Matilda's own wool/poly batting I realised I did not have a piece big enough. As Victorian Textiles kindly sponsor me with batting I quickly contacted them and I should have it soon- how is that for service!!Thank you Victorian Textiles- I have to add that  Matilda's Own is the batting I use for larger pieces as it is so stable when stitching and stretch is minimal ( and I do a lot of stitching!)

And a couple of weeks ago out at my brothers' farm- lots of baby goats.


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Stitching a lot

If you look carefully you can see the background stitching that has gone into the travellers blanket this last week. I finished embroidering all the circles and am seed stitching the background, but as this piece is relatively large that is taking a long time and it is very densely stitched. It's hard to see in a photo but the texture has become almost bubbly and quite wonderful. I am trying to get all the stitching done as it will be exhibited later this year in the United Kingdom at a gallery in Leamington Spa from 18 October until 20 January and then later in 2013 at festival of Quilts in Birmingham.

However with that amount of stitching there is not much else to show. Last weekend was my eldest daughters' 21st birthday and we held it in my shed back in Gellibrand. Thank goodness for the wood heater in my shed because it was one of the coldest nights so far this winter. Most of her friends crashed in the shed for the night.

I can say though- that I am well and truly over  that part of my past- I didn't go there with any sense of regret- yes I miss living in the country- so there is a perfectly nice block of land of 1 1/4 acres with a load of fruit trees and a lined shed with a  wood heater for sale- with a lovely view to offer plenty of inspiration. I have to fuel a new dream- it's been awhile in coming, but is finally starting to take some shape! I just need to sell the block to make it come true or sell every single quilt I have!

I will be speaking at the Melton Quilt-in this afternoon, so I had better go and collect my things together. Workshop tomorrow!

Monday, July 09, 2012

Busy Busy Busy

The last fortnight has absolutely flown out of the window. First of all there was the week of teaching at Rockhampton for Wrapt in Rocky- had a wonderful time- the event was well organised, inspirational and  I had a group of wonderful, warm hearted., full of stories ladies who dyed and stitched the travellers blanket, and just created the best atmosphere- thank you one and all for in joining in the spirit of the idea, enjoying the process and sharing the way you did!


I also got to see one of the blankets made by one of my  on-line students from 2 sessions ago- so lovely to see it in the flesh- and loved all the naturally dyed fabrics and felted pieces and the whole idea! So thank you Annette Sibson for sharing your blanket and allowing us to  admire it for a day or two in the classroom! Below is the photo i tool and you can find more of Annette's thoughts on her blog which I have linked.

And Picasa won't let me upload any more photos unless I pay- I have checked some of my web albums which I don't need but  can't work out how to delete them. Any advise would be appreciated!