SAQA Oceania group gathering



(L-R) Mel Forrest, Brenda Gael Smith, me, Lisa Walton, Sue Dennis, Felicity Clarke



A big thank you to Sue Dennis who hosted what we think is the largest Oceania group get-together for SAQA members held to date. Mel Forrest, Brenda Gael Smith, me, Lisa Walton, Sue and Felicity Clarke (accompanied by some of our significant others) gathered at Sue's place on Friday night to share a meal and talk art quilts. Lisa and I are the SAQA Oceania co-representatives in 2012. The annual SAQA Conference, being held jointly with the Surface Design Association,  is on later this week in Philadelphia - and I'll be blogging live from many of the events and exhibitions being held over the weekend. Thanks again to Sue and Bob for a lovely evening - something we all plan do again!

Precious memory holder ... or The Book

Today was a day for quiet reflection with just a splash of mild panic. Reflecting on how peace-filled days at Tarome can be, and mild panic that today was not that kind of day. Fiddled with this piece which, when beaded and otherwise embellished, will form the cover of a book that is coming to fruition - albeit slowly. The three tags across the base are constructed from ... you guessed it, the WMBM's repurposed shirt. Maxine's silk roll was couched into a border, Jan's bag of goodies from the last 2QAQ swap meet came in handy with some glorious silks and Lisa Walton's beading course is the gift that keeps on giving. However, today was more about thinking through the execution of my "Beneath a Southern Sky" entry which is due on 25 January. The specifications (100cm x 40cm in the vertical rather than horizontal) are really interesting because there is such an opportunity for a narrative that perhaps a more "square" or slightly rectangular shape doesn't lend itself to in the same way. So what story can be told beneath a Southern sky? I got to thinking about our Keith who would have been 71 today - one of  the last of the true, old bushies and of all the campfires he and Lorraine must have sat around as they travelled mile after mile of this country. They never missed an opportunity while they had it and nor should I - so it's back to the studio (I always wanted to say that ...)

Thread sketching

Decided to start this glorious summer's day with reacquainting myself with my other best friend - who has been untouched for a few months while I've been working from the Far North. I found a sewing shop last week in Cairns that will let me go and sew all day for the price coffee and cake - and I'm tempted! Had a play with trying to "thread sketch" some drawings from the last few days and experimented on some furnishing fabric (far below) before hooping some PFD and achieving a much better result. I got a roll of PFD from Lisa Walton @ Dyed and Gone to Heaven - a beautiful 220 thread count. I used black thread up top, and Superior beige bottom line on the bobbin.  Practise. Practise. Practise. I think the shadowing on the far bottom attempt is better than the hooped PFD version. It's early stitches ... and am about to head over to Ankie's for a cherished catch up before the TLC (Tarome Ladies Club)  Christmas get-together this evening.  Each month the ladies of Tarome gather on the first Friday for chin wagging and the kind of fellowship I like. Each December however, the menfolk are included and we have an end-of-year Christmas Party at Myrtle's. The  Christmas lights start going up at Myrtle's in August and each year Brian creates another unique addition to the previous years' efforts. In 2009 it was the 15' high champagne bottle that tipped sparkling contents into a champagne glass, 2010 introduced moving reindeer to the front garden  .... who knows what magic he's created for 2011. Creative people are simply everywhere.

Beading with Lisa Walton - progress

I can't believe it is week 4 already and the ideas just keep coming ... the sampler takes on a new look with each passing week - I'll be oh so sorry when it all comes to an end - but ever so fired up about the possibilities for the "nested" exhibition ... which seems so far away and will be upon me before I know it.

Beadier by the minute

The journal cover is taking shape - one bead at a time. Am thoroughly enjoying learning the the art of beads in Lisa Walton's online beading course - I love being able to take it up and put it down when it suits me and being part of a group that's happy to also share tips, questions, experiences and of course, their efforts. Bring on next week's treasure ....

Beading with Lisa Walton

Last night I started beading with Lisa Walton's online course - the impact and improvement on my work has been immediate - and we're only into Week 1.  The course is a mix of video and course notes - perfect for a visual learner like me - and timely before I get into some serious embellishment of  the nests I've been making each week in readiness for a future exhibition. Thanks again Lisa.