Wednesday 29 May 2013

Sharing the creative spirit

The capacity to share creative space with others is  magic - whether on retreat, a catchup over coffee or the interaction that occurs during Open Studios. Mel Forrest and Chris Jones shared their art, methods and materials last weekend at Aliquilts. Then there's the presence of other artists who've encouraged and supported each of us including Sue Dennis , Kate Oszko, members of our State guilds and textile art groups. The magic of the weekend will last for a very long time in each of us. Staying with that theme, the SAQA MoB (Members of Brisbane) will meet this Saturday at the Queensland Art Gallery cafe from 10 am - bring some show and tell and/or artists cards.  There's also the SAQA Oceania collection available for viewing - a collection of 12 inch square art quilts donated by Oceania members for SAQA's Benefit Auction in September.  If you are interested in joining SAQA, the Queensland Quilters or the Queensland Quilters Art Quilt Group please contact me for more information.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Studio time at Tarome

At the end of  our Open Studios weekend we took a few minutes to take stock on the bench. One hundred visitors passed through the studios and gallery - many from Brisbane, Redlands and Boonah. We had a fabulous time playing with inks and dyes, printmaking, monoprinting, stitching, sewing, creating, colouring ... and the taking time out to reflect on our art and SAQA's "This is a Quilt" exhibition. Thank you to everyone who helped out over the weekend including Judy and Dick, Sue, Jenny and Bill. Also grateful for the great support from our fellow artists, mentors and friends and our Council for supporting arts and culture in the Scenic Rim. Especially thrilled to have Bill give the Studio a buzz in his Tigermoth on Sunday morning - a very special treat and one we won't forget.




Sunday 26 May 2013

Open Studios is here!

This weekend has it all - the Boonah, Aratula and Tarome studios of the Scenic Rim are open for visits and out here, for everyone to come play at our place. Yesterday we were almost overwhelmed by the visitors - Anne flew in from Townsville (about 1400 kms north) and played for a  few hours, others came from the local area. Another visitor had flown home early from a trip to Darwin (3000 kms) to participate in the weekend. One thing is for sure, everyone had a great day viewing the SAQA exhibition "This is a Quilt" in what is now known as "The Garage Gallery" - then playing with monprinting and mark making in the adjacent studio. It was great to hear feedback about everyone's visit to Suzy Buhle's studios and most visitors had also been over to Christine Leah of Zengarra at Moogerah. The Open Studios program is part of the Scenic Rim Regional Council's support of the arts and cultural tourism in the region.  Many thanks to Sue, Mel, Chris and Jenny and the Lavazza Coffee machine - and the WMBM who took care of the culinary treats for hungry visitors.  A big thank you to everyone who came out to the Studio and played at Aliquilts.  Other artists featured this weekend include:  Mark Paddick, Felicity Smith, Catherine Anderson, Rachael Brook and Christopher Trotter.









Saturday 18 May 2013

Quilting and the divine Miss O

We don't have a traditional grandma / granddaughter relationship but Miss O, at  four and a half, spent more than two hours with me today me as I stitched, quilted, unpicked, and finally bound. So many things shared - so many delights and stifled laughter - the innocent mention of those things her mother may prefer not to learn about here. Miss O is a self proclaimed artist, believes in the magic of buttons, beads and zig zag stitch. She promises me that if I practise  I will be able to draw people as good as she does, and we renamed the indoors studio space / workroom as "the danger room for artists". A couple of hot chocolates on the front veranda and a Miss O monologue about drawing and printing fabrics in the garden ... but only if there's room for her with me and 'gramps and no spiders!

Monday 13 May 2013

Sisters and their art

Ali and Sue - sister artists
Growing up in the late 1960's we found ourselves in Tamworth, New South Wales. Significant because it was the time of landing on the moon, the opening of Southgate shopping centre,  Peel Street got bitumen and a new public pool. Life was grand. Forty plus years later and we are joining forces again - at the Aliquilts Open Studio on the 25th and 26 May 2013. Can't wait to share that space again.

Sunday 12 May 2013

Open Studios and gardens @ Tarome

Thanks to a family working bee over the weekend, we are nearly ready for the Open Studios weekend of 25th and 26th May. It's an opportunity to look at the creative thinking in action of artists-in-residence  Mel Forrest, Chris Jones and Sue George as we share the Aliquilts Studio for the last weekend in May. Full details of the Open Studios program are also available from Scenic Rim Regional Council.



Saturday 11 May 2013

Open Studios of the Scenic Rim

What a day - thank you to the beautiful men in my life who raised the sign over the Aliquilts barn - in preparation for our open studio on 25 and 26 May. Thank you - you are such gorgeous men and we're privileged to have you in our lives (on behalf of all the goddesses here today....). All Captain Glow-worm had to do was look on - thanks for a working-bee to remember. Two weeks to go - and can't wait to have a weekend of play. Thank you Suzy Buhle for an original artwork - it is truly beautiful and we can't thank you enough. 


Saturday 4 May 2013

SAQA Oceania - my home!

Oceania - My Home -- Ali George
Oceania - My Home
It is terrific to see the 12 inch (30 cm) quilts going up on SAQA's website - in preparation for the benefit auction held later this year. The auction is held annually and is the primary fundraiser for our organisation. Lisa Walton and I are the co-representatives for Oceania Region - which comprises more than eighty SAQA members. We are spread across Australia, New Zealand and the southern pacific area - including a member who lives most of the year in Uruguay.  SAQA brings us together - and Oceania is my home. Contact me or Lisa for more information - we'd love you to be part of our SAQA family.