Open Studios of the Scenic Rim 2015

We're about to have two busy, fun days of Open Studios again - this weekend - along with other artists in the Boonah part of Scenic Rim Regional Council we're buddying up with Days for Girls - Hazel will be here most of the weekend and all proceeds from our tea, coffee and bikky sales will go to Days for Girls. Might also be some sausage in a blanket contributions too - it's windy and a bit chilly this morning so rug up and come on out. We're open Saturday and Sunday - plenty of parking too! Don't miss out on the textile art circuit - with Patena Moesker and Sally Hart at Bunjurgen and the BASi group at the Boonah Cultural Centre. A fabulous day in the Scenic Rim.

Textile Trails of the Scenic Rim - this May

If you love textiles then we've put together a Textile Trail of the Scenic Rim to coincide with Open Studios in May 2015. Artists include Patena Moesker, Bec Anderson, Erica Bates, Betty Bull, Margaret Smit, Wendy Trulson, Robyn Christoffel, Meredith Stone, the BASi group in Boonah, as well as Rebecca Staunton Coffey and me at Aliquilts Studios. Thanks to Scenic Rim Regional Council for ongoing support - full details of when and where to find us can be found at Open Studios - click on an area or weekend for dates, opening times and facilities.

Piece by piece ... community cloth comes together

Piecing the community cloth from this year's Open Studio has been a both exciting and humbling - that so many people were prepared to contribute a little bit of themselves to the project makes me smile on the inside. It was interesting to watch - as with all groups, some were so keen they didn't worry about instructions and simply dived into the mark making experience. Others sought really specific guidance while some looked on from the sidelines - laying claim to not being possessed of a drop of creative juice. For some, we offered to do a print if they would simply like to put a name or initials on a square of cloth. We encouraged people to use stamps and prints made by those who had printed before, so there is repetition of some prints. Other stamps have been changed, added to or otherwise repurposed. Some people got carried away and made many, beautiful impressions - and these were shared with those who were not able to make a print. Some even asked to take their piece home with them - so we requested a second print - one for us to keep for the cloth.  In all the busy-ness and frantic moments, jostling around the table, rollers, brayers and spoonfuls of paint everywhere - it is fascinating to observe the sometimes  unobservable - everyone getting back to a state of playfulness and abandonment. It makes me smile on the inside.

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.

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.