Community cloth takes shape

What a fantastic response to our community cloth - with 116 printed squares created over the Open Studios weekend. Visitors were able to create a stamp, use found objects or foliage from the gardens - then printed onto 5 inch squares. These will form the basis of our 2014 community cloth
Weekend visitors ebbed and flowed with an occasional spurt around workshop times. Our last guests arrived around 4.30 pm on Sunday and departed into the evening  dusk after making their marks on a few more squares.  Thank you Mel, Rebecca, Chris, Sue, Judy and Dick and the WMBM  for making this year so special.

Final touches for Open Studios

Potted colour, bushes trimmed, a clear view of Mount Edwards we're and nearly ready for Open Studios this weekend. Mel Forrest joins us as Artist in Residence - there'll be mini-workshops and a chance to make your mark on our community cloth. Mel's fabrics and other gorgeous items will be for sale as well as quilts, journals and visual diaries and our own hand-printed art fabric range. Come out for a play, bring a blanket, a chair and enjoy all that the Scenic Rim has to offer.

I want a "Lichen" button!

Experiments with lichen - gathered from old fence posts and now found on our olive branches - no wonder we've never had olive fruit - a gorgeous dye of deep magenta - the first dip using raw silk - now that was worth waiting for ....

Hand dyed and printed @ Aliquilts

Rebecca Staunton Coffey and  I have been working closely these past months on a range of unique, hand dyed and printed fat quarters (21" x 18") as well as 5" charm packs. In addition to the hand-printed art fabric, we've also created a range of traditional indigo dyed  fabrics. We're launching the range at Open Studios on 24th and 25th April - only two weeks away. We're just a little bit excited!

Inspired by brick art

Brick art is everywhere - and quite a challenge to capture in a few minutes of sketching. One little street, so much expression. Social comment or criminal act? It leaves its mark whichever way you look at it. There's something fascinating about vertical surfaces, old buildings and dead-end streets. A wonderful morning exploring with Mel.   Update: and another perspective (bottom photo) as signs appeared all over Boundary Street West End today (6/5/14) indicating the cost to rate-payers of cleaning up graffiti in Brisbane.

Circulating in West End

I recently got to spend a morning with a group of artists where we interpreted a list of objects in a number of ways, including photography. I loved finding circles - and circles in circles. A fantastic few hours exploring positive and negative spaces.

Cold fronts and fireweed

The cold front rolled over us earlier today - we were in the top paddock for the first time in ages - our neighbour's cattle have left it well manured and grazed - a slow but eco-friendly relationship that takes care of the grass and helped the cattle out during the drought. It gave us a chance to check on a small stand of gums and WMBM took the opportunity to collect fireweed - looks a lot like dandelion but toxic to cattle and definitely not for inclusion in a salad. Found some new and different eucalypts - which will find their way into a dye pot in the next few weeks. Nothing like testing out a new variety ...

Open Studios gets into the heart of Brisbane

Open Studios went to Brisbane's Queen Street Mall this week to promote May's Open Studio program throughout the Scenic Rim. A real thrill to be interviewed and have the opportunity to talk to market goers about the upcoming event. Lots of support from Irene and the team at Scenic Rim Regional Council - open studios kicked off this weekend and continues throughout May. Come and visit us at Aliquilts on 24th and 25th May.