Progress towards Nested Exhibition

We're only 8 weeks away from "Nested" opening at the Art Factory Gallery in South Brisbane from 13-20 October. Sue and Bruce worked tirelessly yesterday on the structure of our major piece - giving it form. Over the next few weeks, Ankie, Sue and I will give it life. Can't wait to see what happens and you are more than welcome to come along to the exhibition to see the result up close and personal!

More surprises - the genesis of another of the exhibition pieces - followed by an experiment in wire, paper mache, bandages and silk. There's nothing like the excitement of hooking into a theme and hanging on for the creative ride. 

Vicksburg Comes Home

At last - Vicksburg is home! WMBM is pleased. It is hard to believe that nearly a year ago Lorraine and I were lunching at the La Veta diner in Colorado and talking to two locals about the "must dos" in Kentucky.  The "must dos" included the National Quilt Museum at Paducah which followed our visit to Bardstown and several of the best Civil War museums on offer in the US. History and inspiration collided at Hancocks of Paducah where the WMBM's 60th birthday quilt was to have its genesis. Vicksburg was the historically inspired pattern from Bonnie Blue Quilts. Armed with WMBM's wish list of colours and several helpful aides the task of fabric selection was completed in only a few short hours. Mr Hancock posted everything back to Tarome which also inspired a note to self - always give advance warning of large parcels so that Kevin, our very obliging mail contractor can organise a suitable delivery vehicle. Many of you know it took some months to adjust the pattern and then piece the quilt blocks under the supervision of WMBM. I learned a lot listening to the "live" feedback throughout the project.  Eventually Vicksburg was delivered to Barb Cowan from The Quilt Connection for the magic treatment. The transformation has been nothing short of miraculous. Vicksburg has come home just a few weeks shy of WMBM's next birthday. WMBM is pleased.  A very big thank you to: Ricky and Justin for their quiet insistence and "must do" manifesto, HoP staff for their unfailing patience, Lorraine for making history come alive for me in Bardstown, and Barb Cowan from The Quilt Connection for stitching life and love into Vicksburg. Mostly it is a big thank you to the WMBM who, when asked what he wanted for his 60th birthday, simply smiled at me and said "A quilt. I want my very own quilt." WMBM is very, very pleased.

Up, Down, Up

One of the WMBM's sisters arrived from the UK for a few weeks - so the Princess of Gommersal and the Goddess of Tarome had a few precious days away from it all with another friend on the Gold Coast. This included a visit to Seaworld where it was great to set aside the challenges of the last month or so and be big kids for a day. Here we are on the chair lift thingy - a challenge of a different sort overlooking the dolphins from on high. Thanks for a great few days and time to get the mojo back on track. It's time to "imagine" again.

Jumpers and Jazz

It was Jumpers and Jazz last weekend in Warwick, south east Queensland. The WMBM's sister is visiting from England, so we headed off over Cunningham's Gap and descended into Warwick for a fun day. It was a fantastic day - great company, fabulous food and amazing textile art.

Mirrors @ Ipswich Art Gallery

At last! After 7 weeks of renovation the Ipswich Regional Art gallery has reopened and includes the latest offering from Jeannie Baker. Mirrors is just exquisite - and worth the trip about 50 minutes west of Brisbane. The stairs are well worth the climb to a "pool fence" security gate where little people can indulge in collage activities and create their own version of the "journey".  My favourite collage ... impossible to say. I'll be visiting regularly ... it was simply too much to take in with one visit. Mirrors is free to access  - hope to see you there.

SAQA Benefit Auction 2011

Sunset Wheat 2011 by Katharina Litchman is just one of the gorgeous 12 x 12 art quilts available this September in the SAQA annual benefit auction. There are more than 300 donated art quilts forming part of the auction - have a look at the above link and simply click on the relevant page (1a, 2b etc) for some inpirational small pieces. I'm lucky enough to have my donated piece on Page 2a - it's a real privilege to be in such artistic company!

Here is Sue Dennis's contribution from her Colour Patch Series - Orange and White #2
and lastly ...  another beautiful quilt from Linda Robertus entitled Balance 3.

Destination USA by Sue Dennis

Only one more sleep until Destination USA opens at Gallery 159 - Sue Dennis' solo exhibition from her trip to the US, and particularly Texas, where she spent three weeks as an artist in residence. The exhibition (for those of us lucky enough to live in or around Brisbane, Qld) will launch at 3pm tomorrow (Saturday) at Gallery 159, which coincidentally is at 159 Payne Road Ashgrove.  Here's a sneak peek at "Rusty" - one of my very favourite art quilts by Sue - I cannot look at it without remembering my Pa ... who would have been 103 on July 4. and so many of Sue's art quilts and textile art evoke strong reactions and responses from me. Congratulations Sue and bring on tomorrow!


Update: and here we were at the openeing - Mel, me, Paul, Suzanne and Sue!