In search of (iron) bark

We went "up the back" of our neighbour's place this morning in search of ironbark  - and found inspiration for the 2QAQ Challenge for our July meeting - lots of different bark. A perfect wintery morning with clear skies and sunshine - comfortable enough for piling the timber into the old farm ute we use for this kind of thing.

The heart of the matter

The heart of the matter - I stitched a heart as the focal point for this quilt - what an exquisite organ it is - the keeper of life.  

Sketches in June



ink with brush - a favourite cup



ink with thumb -  mug, cup and kettle



charcoal - vanity basin

State of the Art Quilt and Workshops @ Pine Rivers

You're all invited to the opening of State of the Art Quilt 12  followed by a retrospective of SotAQ artists who have been juried into SotAQ at least twice. It's a rare opportunity to see some of the best art quilts from the Queensland Quilters Art Quilt group  and it all starts on 11 July at the Pine Rivers Art Gallery at 199 Gympie Road, Strathpine (north of Brisbane). Gallery Hours: 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday. We're sharing the Gallery space with our TAFTA friends and colleagues - their exhibition Baltic Miniatures runs alongside SotAQ and the retrospective. The Gallery is also hosting workshops during the exhibitions- so if you have ever wondered what it is that we do, come along  and try for yourself. I'll be presenting two sessions on mark-making on Saturday August 11 (10.30am – 12.30pm) Marks on Fabric I (mono printing and stamping) and (1:00pm - 3:00pm) Marks on Fabric II (rusting and resisting).  Contact Tracey at the Gallery on 3480 6941 for all bookings.

Other workshops presented by artists in the exhibitions include:

Thursday, July 12  (10.30 -12.00pm) -Simple rolled felt beads ($15)

Saturday, July 21 (10.30am – 12.30pm) - for 8 - 12 year olds -hand dyed silk treasure pouches ($20)

Saturday, July 21 (1.30 -3.30pm)  Hand dyed silk scarves  - 13 years - adult ($20)     

Saturday  July 28 (10.15am – 12.15pm) White on White - creating texture ($20)

Saturday  July 28 (1.15 -3.15pm) Felt a handbag ($20)

Thursday, August 2 (10.30am – 12.30pm) Jewellery workshop ($20)

Saturday,  August 4 (1.30 -3.30pm) Hooked rag rug from recycled clothes ($20)

Thursday August 9 (10.30am – 12.00pm) Driftwood brooch ($10)

Saturday August 11 (10.30am – 12.30pm) Marks on Fabric I (mono printing and stamping) and (1:00pm - 3:00pm) Marks on Fabric II (rusting and resisting) ($20 each session or $35 for both)

Saturday August 18 (10.30am – 12.30pm) Handmade felt - 10 years to adult ($20)

Saturday August 18 (1.00 -3.00pm) Hand felted beads - 10 years to adult ($20)

Loose Leaf Tee

This is the $3 tee I purchased on my first ever trip to Walmart in 2010. In nearly two years it hasn't matters what happens to this shirt - it always bounces back. I decided to try rusting with a twist of sorts - the tee was put through the iron mix and caustic soda dip and then placed halfway into the tannin tray - which was made up on a handful of loose leaf tea and a jug of boiling water. Once I was happy with the effect the tee was laid out on the grass to oxidise - complete with leaves. Will be fun to see how it turns out and if it is even wearable!

The very heart of it ...

Inspired is probably not the right word. Artistically, there is often a trigger or catalyst from which we launch ourselves. I find myself responding to the sale of my parents' property after forty years at "509". They, I might add, are full of the possibilities for the future at their new residence.  For now, I am staying in the trauma of upheaval and disruption. The first response has materialised in "The very heart of it ..." which developed at a recent  retreat. Text and textiles. I have tried to convey the emotional quality of moving day. In a literal context I have chosen the use of text. The heart (not shown in this pic) symbolises the emotional core of  being, and the gift of Dad having survived a trauma of a different kind ten years ago). The final element was the creation of the focal point - which goes to the very heart of it.

Coffee, cake and rust in Ipswich

I recently caught up with Anna Maria Mays Vermeer in the historic Ipswich district. Anna Maria was the guest speaker at the most recent 2QAQ meeting, sharing her love of textiles, felting and repurposing with the group. We visited a few of the many op shops and antique / collectibles places on our way to Cactus for coffee, chatting and delicious cake (no picture, we ate it too quickly). Anna Maria's rust piece from our 2QAQ demonstration is looking rather intense - it was surprising how much rusting occurred in such a short amount of time.