More Student Quilts

At my Adelaide Crystallisation workshop this week I was thrilled to be shown some more quilts finished by students or made with our fabrics.

Carolyn (who made yesterdays Skipping Boy quilt) is up to her third Aurora quilt (above). She just can't stop and is doing some incredible beading.



Angela who is a longtime member of my Monthly Metres Club made this wonderful quilt from our fabrics. Can't wait to see what she does with her Crystallisation quilt from the workshop.

It was also very exciting to meet Annette at the Show who won a first prize at the show with her wonderful quilt which used fabrics from Dyed & Gone to Heaven.

Skipping Boys Quilt

This gorgeous quilt by Carolyn was made with some of my rainbow packs and a few metres of blue. Didn't she do a wonderful job?
And the backing fabric is just so cute too.

Book Purchase

I used to have a set of how to Singer books but sold them ages ago as I don't do dressmaking, furnishings etc. Of course now with my new Bernina 820 I am tempted to try some things again and needed some help.

At the Adelaide Show Can Do Books had a great selection as usual and I found this one which has lots of handy hints of everything from curtains to pleats to zippers to cushions (with great clear photos). So I think it will be a perfect addition to my groaning bookshelves.

Once I am home from Adelaide I have a wonderful few months ahead of creativity - can't wait.

Perfect Purple

This is part of one of the Monthly Metre pieces which I finished today. I think they are all really delicious.
It is not too late to join up and get something like this for your collection.
Monthly Metre and Beautiful Bead Clubs are on the website and are posted free in Australia. The bead set will be coordinated with these purple pieces and will be equally delicious.

Ok Sun - do your stuff

I feel very self righeous today. Our government decided to give a rebate to people who installed solar power units. Peter was very keen and did a lot of research into it and finally got his paperwork in. That exact night - the government suddenly decided to finish the scheme early - that night! We were not impressed and thought that it had all been a waste of time.

We were very surprised a few weeks later to hear that we had just got our application in time and could go ahead with the installation.

Today was the day and now we are the proud owners of 6 solar panels and an inverter which allows us to use solar power and what we don't use we can sell back to the grid.
Apparently we average 26kwh per day and so far we have generated 5. I think this is very cool. Just a little bit for the planet but imagine if everyone did it

Match Made in Heaven

There is a really unique fashion parade about to happen in Brisbane to raise money for the Children's Cancer Institute Australia.

The International Vintage Fashion Parade will held in Brisbane City Hall on 15th November and will be showcasing a stunning range of garments from the 70s.

I wish I could be there - sounds a wonderful opportunity to see some incredible fashions.

Wonderful Works

I always love it when students and customers send me photos of their work made either in workshops or from our fabric.

Judy in the USA is a new member of our Monthly Metre Club and has already been inspired to make this landscape using her latest fabric. You can join up to the Club too at http://www.dyedheaven.com/store/clubs/

I thought you might enjoy seeing the art quilt that I made from one monthly metre that you sent me. There is only one tiny piece of a mountain in the quilt that is not from one of your monthly metres. It is a scene adapted from a photo I took of some rice fields near Kyoto. I was absolutely fascinated when the metre arrived and I realized it had every color I needed from sky to green fields to mountains. The piece is a 12 inch square. Much thanks - I look forward to receiving many, many more metres.

These were some of the Fabrications quilts which were produced in my class for Western Quilters in Auckland

Rejeaneration

No it is not a typo just a play on words. I have been (finally) working on my City & Guilds course again and the latest activity was to create a patchwork piece using something recyled. It had to contain some identifiable basic elements of design like balance, harmony, contrast, movement etc

I found this little pair of child's shorts at a thrift store and loved the green zip so decided that they would be perfect for the exercise.

I love the way the fabric looked from the elasticised waistband once the elastic and stitching was removed. Doesn't it look like indigo shibori. I used the waist cord for additional decoration as well as the belt tags.

I broke 2 needles while sewing through the thick layers and freemotion quilted it (where I could) with green thread to accentuate the green of the zipper.

I think this might be a fun workshop. What do you think?

Day in the Botanic Gardens

We played truant again yesterday and went to the Sydney Botanic Gardens to see the Artisans in the Gardens Exhibition. This annual show is always a treat and this year was no exception

There was an additional exhibition in the Palm House of Marijke Greenway paintings. I love her work. She works in oils, acrylics and watercolours and this one was one of my favourites.



I also loved the mosaic work of Marian Shapiro

The garden furniture by Indiana Jones is always whimiscal.

The work of Julie Cooper is reminiscent of Rosalie Gascoigne.

But our favourite pieces were water features by Daniel Burgermeister which we couldn't resist so have bought a small piece which should go beautifully in our renovated/revived garden which I am pleased to say is coming along beautifully.

One Year to Go

I have just received the latest newsletter from Adventures in Italy who are running my workshop next September in Orvieto. It all sounds so wonderful I just can't wait to be there again. Download it here to get excited too.



Kristi has taken some more brilliant detail shots for me so I can start working on some samples for my workshop in September 2010. Can't you just imagine using them in your textile work.

We already have our first students enrolled so even if you are just thinking about joining us, it is not too early to contact Adventures in Italy as the groups are kept small and it would be terrible to miss this opportunity.

Home for a Minute

I rarely get a chance to blog while I am away but am always thrilled by how many people make the effort to tell me how much they enjoy the blog. Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. Makes me feel really special.

We had a wonderful time in Brisbane as always and it is great to catch up with old friends.

Our trip back was long but always interesting and now that I have worked out the motordrive on my camera I was busy taking shots. Pity about my dirty window.

Australia is incredibly beautiful and varied. I especially love stopping along the way and seeing classic towns. We stopped in Glen Innes for breakfast and there are some beautiful traditional Australian buildings still in excellent condition.


Here is a Balancing Rock - don't you just want to go and push it?

This bank building facade was retained while the old building behind it was rebuilt. I love that they kept the art deco facade.

Brisbane Quilt Show

Having a great time here in Brisbane at the Quilt & Craft Show. My quilt Ocean Dream won 3rd prize in the Art Quilt Category which was very exciting.

There is also the first outing of the Bid 4 A Cause quilts that I have contributed a little piece to (above). Full details of the bidding process will be announced fairly soon and it would be great for the auction to raise much needed funds for a worthy cause.

Here is the display but more details can be found on the site.

Crystallisation Workshop in Canberra

Last weekend I taught Crystallisation workshop in Canberra to a group of enthusiastic ladies. Here are some of the works in progress and I am looking forward to seeing the completed quilts.



This is also the workshop I am doing in Adelaide on the 9th October and there are still a few more spots available.

Houston Prize (sort of)

My friend Sarah Ann Smith has just won second prize at Houston with her quilt Fields of Gold.
The background piece of fabric is one of my hand painted pieces which I sent her a while ago. It's the closest I have come to a prize at Houston and I am thrilled for Sarah.

This is a very exciting time for her as she has also just launched her first book called Threadwork Unraveled and I can't wait for my copy to arrive. If you want more information click here

Adelaide Workshop

A dear friend has asked me to do a workshop in Adelaide after the show - Monday 9th November. It is in Goolwa which is a little bit out of Adelaide but those who live there will know where it is.

We are doing Crystallisation which is the quilt technique which inspired Bushfire Sunset and is a really fun workshop. We are doing the two day workshop as a one day version but it is suitable for all levels. You get to use up all your scraps too which is always a bonus.

If you are interested please contact me for more details. This is a small private workshop so numbers are limited.

Thanks also for all your nice comments wishing my plants well. Here are the results of our labours yesterday. So far so good - maybe this time some will survive our neglect.

Busy day

I didn't have time to blog yesterday as it was delivery day to the shippers for our last two shows of the year. Our house feels so empty now after two car loads of fabric. We needed to send everything for the Brisbane and Adelaide shows as they are only a week or so apart. I think it was our biggest load ever. This is only a part of it. I think there are about 40 tubs of gorgeous fabrics.

Then of course we needed to have lunch and went to our favourite hot pot restaurant where we dropped lots of goodies into this deliecious pair of soups.

One side is spicy and the other vegetables and mild. The white lumps are garlic gloves and the red berries are goji berries. Everything absorbs the soup and it is truely delicious.

We also went to the nursery to buy a trolley load of plants destined to become part of our continuing collection of dead things but we try. We have tons of mulch arriving today which needs shifting - another fun day.

Combination of Processes

One of my customers Lyn asked for a 2m piece of Aurora fabric to make something special.
She sent me the photo - she has combined stained glass applique of a Desert Pea flower with Ricky Timms Convergence cutting and my fabric.
Doesn't it look terrific. This is a detail shot.

Fabrications and Latrobe Valley Workshop

I have just come back from a weekend in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria. Although threatened with freezing cold weather it was actually delightful and I had a great weekend teaching Fabrications. What a wonderful collection of Fantasy Fabrics the ladies made and we had a lots of fun and laughs.



Here is Heather playing with the layout of her blocks.

The food was supplied by a local group and was plentiful and luscious. I tried to be good but how caould you resist this sort of spread appearing at regular intervals.

Janet brought along her Breaking the Drought quilt which she had finished. The embellishments are terrific and she has done a wonderful job hasn't she?

Website Update

This is the piece inspired by one of the Ikats from the gallery. I have a tied and dyed a couple of 2m lengths of striped fabric and one just of purple. I really do have to do something with them but will cogitate for a while.

I have just had some works done on the Dyed & Gone to Heaven Website as I have been thinking about the format for a while - especially the thumbnails. Funny the things you worry about. I thought they were too small and so they are now larger and a bit clearer. The main image is also bigger. Would love to know what you think. If you do comment and need an answer you will need to make sure your email address is included as most of the comments (which I love to get) come through with no contact details so I can't respond.

I have also added some new colour runs which we have had for a while but never made it to the website but I am trying to get a bit more organised.

Here are a couple of them
Yummy chocolate - what other name could you call this great collection of browns

Gorgeous Blue Greens

Much better photos of the 12 step Rainbow sets - Bold and Bright

Off on a plane again to Latrobe Valley Quilters Retreat. Looking forward to some clean country air but not the cold.

So Clever

One of the reasons we went to the Art Gallery was to see the Ikat Exhibition which was really beautiful and I came away very inspired. In fact I came home and immediately started tying some fabric to dye as there is an idea gaining force in my head.

There is also currently an exhibition celebrating the 40 years of John Kaldor patronage of the arts. To celebrate the exhibition Tatzu Nishi was commissioned to produce two works which are called War and Peace and In Between.

On arriving at the Gallery I wondered why there were two temporary structures at the front.



But we were encouraged to enter and were so amused by what we found. He has enclosed the two enormous sculptures into domestic settings. We just kept laughing for ages. What a wonderful mind to think of these.

A Day Off

Yesterday we went to the monthly Artisans' Arts & Craft Market at Everleigh Markets in Sydney. It was a bit bleak and raining and obviously the locals decided to stay home but we thought it was well worth the visit.
I spoke to lots of very talented artists whose work was definitely under-priced and was tempted many times.
Here are some of my favourites



Quite a few interesting printed textiles - mainly teatowels and bags printed on linen and cotton linen


Aren't these cute?



My favourite was Sarah Cowl who does the most incredible sculptures from monofilament and fine threads and then photographs them in minute detail. The sculptures were brilliant and the photos were art works on their own.




And did I buy anything - well yes of course - you have to support artists don't you.
These fabulous aluminium earrings by Allegria designs were too much for me to resist.

The stand is a little glasses stand I bought in the Los Angeles Art Gallery store a few years ago. Love it too.

Then we went to the NSW Art Gallery which I will tell you about tomorrow I think.

Studio Workshop

Yesterday I ran my first workshop in my new studio. We did Aurora which is a fun workshop as you do a variety of techniques in a relaxed way with great results.
Here are my 4 students Maggie, Barb, Denise and Chris sewing and then later when we do the beading component of the class. I think the day went very well and I look forward to doing more in the new year. I can fit 6 students with machines or 8-10 for a non machine workshop so if you are interested in getting a few friends together for a fun day let me know.

I also thought I would show you a few more shots of my studio as part of the Quilting Arts Virtual Studio Tour although I am a day late and so not included in the official links but it is a great way to have a peek into other studios. Regular readers will have followed the studio creation but now it is looking more like it usually does... messy.

These are my custom shelves which hold the tubs I store fabric in as well as the perspex boxes we use for shows but they are just as gorgeous on the shelves.

My design wall is nearly the length of the room but nothing new on it at the moment so I thought I would show the end I am most proud of - the ribbons and a bit of inspiration. There are also some bits and pieces I am working on for my Orvieto Class next year.

This is my stash of non hand dyes but it is mainly silks and satins and sheers as well as rovings and felt. The top also doubles as a cutting table.


This is my little desk where I do painting and bits. It actually pulls out to make it much bigger but then I can't reach the back of it.

I have two of these flip out tables which fold back down flush to the wall if I don't need them up. This one has my big ironing board on it.

Some more of my beads

I had a couple of shelves put in above my thread and office and painting drawers which hold a few things but these change regularly and are a bit high.

These are the Alex drawers from Ikea which hold my threads (different drawer for each colour)

and my art supplies

Poor Peter and the Dyed & Gone to Heaven cutting table and storage has been relegated to the other room as it seemed more sensible to separate business and creation but they still do cross over of course. My books were exiled there too but it is only the next room so not too far away. There is a comfy couch in this room too.

Rocky Retreat

At the Retreat I taught 3 classes - Breaking the Drought, Aurora and Atlantis. I was so impressed by my students enthusiasm and stamina. Here is Kerry who admitted she was definitely out of her usual comfort zone in terms of mess and randomness but she has told me she has recovered and really likes her Atlantis quilt which is for her mother.
The one above is Laurie's Breaking the Drought - can't wait to see that one finished.

Here are some Auroras - bit shady under the palms.

Classes started early (8:30) but most students were already sewing by 8am and went well past the 'official' end time. Some even went back after dinner and sewed till 10 or 11pm or until the security guard threw them out. I think wine and lollies helped the night owls energy levels.

The school we were based in had very lush landscaping and I loved these seeds. I was told what the tree was called and evidently the berries are full of nasty things and make you itch. Aren't the red ones great amongst the green?

We ate at the school boarders cafeteria and there was never any shortage of food. Most of it designed for hungry teenagers but there was always enough choice for even the fussiest of eaters.


And you can't go to Queensland without seeing a cane toad. Luckily for me - this one was well and truely dead.

So you can see we had great fun and we produced some incredible quilts. If you are interested in me running some workshops for a Retreat or Quilting group or store please have a look at my Workshop Flyer for 2010 and contact me if you are interested and want more info.

Some Finished Quilts

At Rockhampton I was thrilled to be shown some of the quilts that had been made since I last was there.

Joan did my Fabrications workshop and created this wonderful quilt. Don't you love the dragonfly. She got it from Nancy Eha's great book.

Joyce had purchased kits from me over the last few years and brought them to show me. Here is her Delicious quilt and she was making my Power of Three (with the Atlantis we were doing in the workshop) at the Retreat.



Joyce was also responsible for this which appeared on the whiteboard overnight.

On my Way Home

I had a great 5 days workshops in Rocky and will post some pics over the next few days but as I am in transit I thought I would post a few pics of what I did in my spare time. The first one is of a lake in NZ and the second was the view outside my room in Wauchope last week.

Rocky Retreat

I have arrived in Rockhampton after numerous flights but well fed from various Qantas Club Lounges and in flight bits and pieces. Nice and warm up here but my room has a fan and a lovely view. I am hoping I am facing the right way for the sunrise.
Five days of classes which will certainly be a bit tiring but lots of fun. Have to use my phone for blogging So probably no photos unless someone out there can tell me how to add them from my iphone.

Sunrise

I left Wauchope early the other day and captured this sunrise around Buladelah.
Another quilt perhaps??

Off to Rockhampton tomorrow for a few days teaching. Will try to blog from there but sometimes it isn't possible.

First Quilt

One of my students on the weekend told me about the first quilt she had ever made and that it was one of mine so she sent me a photo. Thanks Bev.

It was Opalescence (later called Opal Fire) and it was also the first quilt I designed with my own fabrics. At the time the magazine I first submitted it to said that it was 'too contemporary for their readers'
How times have changed.

Weekend in Wauchope

I have just returned from a wonderful weekend in Wauchope (very alliterative isn't it?)
I taught Aurora and Breaking the Drought to two large groups of enthusiastic quilters.

Here are the Auroras at the end of the one day workshop and we spent a lovely hour out in the sunshine for the beading section of the class.

The Breaking the Drought group have more work to do at home as we squashed a two day workshop into one day but lots of really interesting embellishments were created during the class and the machines were humming. Here I am on the floor talking about layout.

WOW

I have just found out that Bushfire Sunset is on the cover of the AQS Fall catalogue. When they wrote and asked if they could use a picture of in some promotional material I just assumed a little bit of an ad for Paducah. Never did I imagine this!
They have even used sections of it on top of every page! You can go to the link and even flick through it.

Pretty cool isn't it?
Maybe I should write a book so I can something inside the catalogue too.....

Electronic Swatchbook

Thanks to clever bag designer Jamie Kalvestran's blog, I have discovered that the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney has the most amazing online swatch library. You just choose a colour and click and selection of swatches of fabrics. They are all public domain which is great.

About Swatchbooks
"Swatches or small samples of fabric have been collected and compiled in the form of swatchbooks for at least 300 years. The Powerhouse Museum has several volumes containing thousands of bright, unfaded samples of fashionable fabric designs, braids and laces ranging from the 1830s to the 1990s."

It is well worth a visit

Some Stitching

I have finally spent a little time (not enough) in my studio working on my City & Guilds Assessment piece. A container using an architectural feature. Regular readers will know that I selected Federation Square in Melbourne and I have been working on the module shape that the building is made up of. It lends itself perfectly to foundation piecing so I have been playing with that.



Some stitching samples too - to create texture

Some Art

I haven't really done much of anything creative lately but I did take my watercolours to NZ and found a book on Painting with Watercolours in a second hand bookstore. Here are a couple of exercises I did. A long way to go I know but at least I am trying.


One day I hope to be as good as this local artist Judith Prictor of Rotorua who's full size painting I couldn't afford but I made do with a card.

In the Mail

You probably know I am a fan of Book Depository in the UK - not only because of their great range of books and terrific service but mainly due to the free shipping anywhere in the world. Even down here in Australia. Sorry to the book store owners out there but these prices are usually half what I have to pay here.

I am always looking for great new books on my travels and then if I see them - I check them out on Book Depository and then they magically arrive at home, sometimes even before I do.

This was the case this time and here are my latest additions to an ever growing textile library.
The first one is all about how to make books from scratch - very interesting and I could get addicted - once I start that is.

I got the urge to do some more felting again after seeing all the great textile work in NZ. I have an obscene amount of wool rovings at home gathering dust since I bought them (all available colours of course). There was a lady doing nuno scarf demonstrations when I visited Ashfords and I realised I had all the basic ingredients so I promise I will do some really soon.

I did a class with Lisa Engelbretch in Houston a few years ago and loved it so when I saw this book I had to get it. Now perhaps I will be inspired to use all my pens and inks bought over the last few years.

When my friend Alex was here from the US recently she showed me this book which I really enjoyed. Her copy was actually borrowed from her local library but I think I got to own mine before she left the country. Really interesing ideas for creating landscapes with textures and fabrics.

Next time I might show you the bits and pieces I did actually buy in NZ.....

Big Things in NZ

When you travel there are always things that make you stop the car and take a picture. Here are some of NZ Big Things. The big trout below and my favourite - the Big Gumboot above.

Of course there are many more beautiful things to look at although most are created by nature and only just touched by man.

It only rained a little while we were travelling but the rainbow was a bonus

There is a desert in the North Island which does not fit my impression of a desert but beautiful anyway

You are never far from the mountains

And of course the green rolling hills are everywhere.

Hawkes Bay has a pebbled beach and not too appealing for sunbaking or swimming but the view is dramatic.

Hamilton Quilt & Craft Show

Yesterday we popped into the Hamilton Quilt and Craft Fair for a look. We had been thinking of adding it to our regular shows but the logistics all got too hard. I am sort of glad we decided against it as we really were a bit tired and ready to come home.

It was amazing though - how many ladies came and said hello to me either from my workshops or even one lady who chased me down an aisle just to tell me how much she had enjoyed my talk at Auckland Quilters on Saturday.

However I did help out a couple of friends - Kerry at Tulis Textiles and Barrie at Wonderfil Speciality Threads so they could do their workshops. It was really funny dealing with the different currency and processes whilst trying to look like I knew what I was doing.

The displays were good although I was a little dissapointed in the numbers of quilts and fibres on display. The quality of the work was excellent but I guess I expected more entries. The Best of Show was a really interesting Art Deco inspired quilt.

We stayed in a B&B which was quite pleasant but I think my days of making polite conversation to total strangers while they make my breakfast are over. I enjoy being billeted but then I usually have something in common with my hosts but when you are paying for it I find it a bit of a struggle. But they did have some newborn lambs in the paddock outside.

We went to Bridal Falls which were very beautiful though. The first photo in the post is of the walk to the falls

Where have I been?

All over the place but not with online access so no posts but I have been really busy.

Just finished 3 days with the Auckland Quilters and before that I was in Napier. Napier is a town that was destroyed in an earthquake in 1931 and was rebuilt in the (then) current style which happened to be Art Deco. It is a wonderful step back into an incredible era of design which I love. There are many more photos here.






We were also very thrilled that Clare Plug's exhibition 'Look South' based on her travels to Antarctica as one of New Zealand’s 2006/7 Arts Fellows still running and we had it all to ourselves to wander through.
I had a couple of wonderful classes at Patch and Quilt which is a quilt store located on a winery and although I don't imbibe - Peter certainly enjoyed the hospitality. One of my highlights was getting friendly with Jim the pet sheep and the latest addition to the menagerie - Georgie who was only 10 days old. For a city chic - this was very cool.

Catching up

Loved this design on a tshirt. Simple but so effective

Haven't posted food shots for a while and you know how I love to share my meals so here are some shots of the breakfast we had before my class at the Bernina Shop - Clever Hands in Taupo. Won't tell you who had which one though in case I incriminate myself


Another Aurora class and we had such a great time. This store is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

I really love pancakes

Slices are very big here in NZ and this one was a mallow rocky road - base was a bit dry but the marshmallow was yum!

The less said about this pile of nachos the better. Not one of my better choices and was hardly touched.

Lucky Wellington

I have been in Wellington again for a few days for a great workshop with members of the Wellington Guild. I was fortunate enough to be taken to Minerva Bookshop in Cuba St Wellington and I was so glad as I had missed it by about one block on my first visit.

Unfortunately the owner Anne Scott wasn't there as I would have liked to have met her. She is also the founder of NZ Quilter which is a great magazine. However Clare Smith - who's work I have always admired was in there browsing so I was introduced to her and we had a nice chat.

The store is great with hundreds of textile related titles - many of which I hadn't seen before to browse which was great. Also some really interesting magazines which I had heard about but haven't seen like Selvage and 3Fold. Wellington textile artists are really lucky to have access to such a great store.

Some great textile bits and pieces too.


Also on in the store there was an exhibition called Illumination – which was a NANZQ challenge and there were some really creative and inspiring quilts on display. I think the exhibition is about to finish so it can go to the Quilt & Craft Fair next week i Hamilton so watch out for it if you are going. I will be there on Thursday just visiting too.

Grabbed some crispy and tasty fish from across the road and headed back to class and I really look forward to seeing some of the finished quilts very soon.

Beading Class

Here is a detail shot of Life Force which I have just finished and mailed off to Deborah for the Art-4-A Cause Auction.

If you would like to do your own and you are close to Sydney - there are still places in my Beading Class that I am holding in my studio on September 16th (just after I get back from NZ). I will need to finalise this class fairly soon so please contact me asap if you are interested.

This is the work done in class by one of my recent students in NZ - terrific isn't it?

You will be able to do the same in the one day class so come along and join in.

Te Papa Museum

The Te Papa Museum in Wellington is an inspiring place. I usually avoid museums but this one really captured my interest for quite a few hours.
The image above is one of the sections of the map of NZ (I assume from satellite photos) which we spent ages walking over and following where we had been. The detail was amazing and the variety of landscapes incredible.

There was also a Colour exhibition based around fashion with a different display for each colour. I loved the fact that the swimming costumes were enormous - even too big for me!



One of their prized exhibitions is the Giant Squid caught a few years ago. Even bigger than Peter.

Images

One of the things I love doing anywhere is capturing images of textures and shapes for future reference. Especially relevant at the moment is creating pieces as class samples for my Orvieto workshop next year called Textured Treasures - A Taste of Italy. The purpose of the class is to create something that will remind you of a place using techniques such as beading, foiling ,rubbing and stitching etc.
So I am always on the lookout for textures and shapes to be part of these pieces.
Here are some wood carvings found today at the Te Puia Arts & Crafts Institute



As we are in Rotorua there are the mud pools and geyers which helped to keep us warm while walking around in the rain.



Of course plants are always a wonderful source of colour and texture



Aren't these flax leaves increadible?

Back to Orvieto - here is the link to sign up for their latest newsletter from Kristi & Bill just to keep you thinking about joining me next year in Italy.

There had to be one bad day

I am just recovering from yesterday - not the best day of our trip.

Many many years ago - Peter worked as a guide at the Waitomo Caves as well as at the Caves Hotel so we thought it only right that we went to have a look. It took 7 hours to drive from Wellington so we were pleased to finally arrive at dusk.

The Hotel looked amazing from the outside - a real relic of a past era but all that came to a halt the minute we entered. It was run down, dingy and very depressing as it appeared we were the only guests. Some more appeared later but did nothing to improve the ambience. We decided very quickly that one night would be more than enough and cancelled the second night.
I spent all the time there humming Hotel California and lay awake most of the night thinking about ghosts and weirdos running through the ancient hallways.

The caves today, on the other hand, were great and I really enjoyed our tour of Ruakuri Cave with only another family of four.
The guide was interesting and friendly and was much better value than the glow worm cave with another 30 tourists and an extremely bored and boring and patronising guide.

These are the glow worm threads that catch the bugs that they eat. They are actually not worms but maggots of the fly but glow maggots does not sound very enticing dies it?

Oh well - another thing to tick off the list. Now the joys of Rotorua are ahead and already showing much more promise.

Art in Wellington

We are staying at the Museum Hotel in Wellington which has a really interesting collection of art everywhere. When we arrived the foyer/bar (above) was full of people listening to a duo singing Edit Piaf numbers accompanied by a kazoo and accordian. The Reception desk was doubling at as bar so checking in was an interesing experience.
Most of the art is not, unfortunately, labelled but no one seemed to mind me taking photos so here are some of the pieces that took my fancy.
These are by Gregor Kregar

I love the detail work on this portrait which you would swear is a photo from a distance.

Click on the image to see it in detail

This cardboard dress by Tania Marriot has been influenced by William Morris designs and is cutout from sheets of timber.

Landscape by Robin White


Some more interesting pieces - very interesting decorative style don't you think.






Let me know if you would like to see more.

Down south I bought this fabulous necklace by Brendon Jaine - a local artist who only uses recycled bottles. I really love it and it makes a great clinking noise when you wear it.

Exciting News Again

I heard this morning that Bushfire Sunset by Nic Bridges and myself has been awarded 2nd prize at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. It is so thrilling - I really wish I had been there for the announcement but can't really complain as I am having such a wonderful time in New Zealand.

If any of you are in Birmingham and want to take a picture in situ I would love to see it.

Today we had an early start for the five hour drive to Picton for the InterIsland ferry to Wellington.

It went quickly with such beautiful views as these.

Chocolate Covered Decadence

And guess who was covered - it was me and NO - there are no photos.
Today we went to Hamner Springs which is a thermal spring resort a few hours out of Christchurch. We spent two hours moving from pools ranging from 28-40 degrees and came out very prune-like but soooo relaxed. The sun was out and the snow sparkled off the nearby mountains. Just perfect!

After lunch I went to the Spa and had their Cocoa Relaxing Massage. 'This rich, indulgent treatment leaves you with a feeling of well being. Enjoy a honey and sugar scrub, followed by a cocoa butter massage before the hot cocoa wrap – bliss! Its perfume and chocolate texture awaken the senses and leaves your skin hydrated and soft.'
It was incredible and totally decadent. I still feel terrific after the two hour drive home and smell wonderful.

Even the drive was great as we have found a radio station that only plays songs from the 60s and 70s so have been singing all the way home and the views were magnificent.

Christchurch

The sun came out today - a vast improvement on the cold, wet and windy welcome we had yesterday. This is the view from our B&B - very scenic.

We spent the whole day at the Christchurch Art Centre. Someone with vision has converted the old University into a thriving Arts Complex with resident artists, local quality crafts, good food and a general creative atmostphere that in most other cities I suspect would turn into a tourist hell.

I met some interesting artists who were happy to chat and came away feeling very inspired along with some unusual beads (what a surprise), some very yummy fudge and some great ideas.

As regular readers know - I always look for interesting products when I travel. I am very impressed at how potato chips/crisps are becoming so creative in their flavours. But I think Tomato Sauce & Mince Pie Flavour chips are something that would be only popular in NZ. Or am I wrong? Or maybe Sour Cream and Onion Soup Dip Flavour? I am sure I also saw a Roast Lamb and Mint Sauce Flavour!

As the sun sets we are sitting watching the water and starting to think about dinner.

Goddess Roseus

I have been invited by Deborah Segaert from Down Under Quilts to contribute to the Bid-4A-Cause Auction in aid of Breast Cancer in October.

Here are some detail shots of my piece in progress. It has come on holiday with me and will be mailed from here as soon as it is finished. It is called Life Force

Here we are in beautiful New Zealand.

We have spent a few days in Ashburton in the South Island where I have taught two wonderful classes. Such fun and great students. We spent a lot of time laughing and just generally having a great time.

I did get to see a few of the sights and the colours and light and views are magnificent. Having a new camera helps too. This one was taken out of the car window at 100k/hr in the misty morning. Love those trees.

This is the true colour of the rivers and lakes - Glacial water - stunning isn't it?

FINISHED

Thanks for all your great comments and suggestions. I have named the piece Aquarius and here are some detail shots of the finished piece.

It was made for the SAQA Oceania (Studio Art Quilt Associates) Trunk Show which will be touring all over the place until May 2010 along with some brilliant pieces from Oceania members of SAQA. If you want to see the Trunk Show contact Kerrie-Anne.

PROBLEMS

I am in New Zealand now and don't seem to be able to access my blog. It comes up as a forbidden site. Very odd. Will persevere but if anyone has an idea to help me please email.

Visitors

We have had some friends visiting from the US which is why I have been quiet for the last week. Pretty exhausting all this tourist stuff. Above is Bondi Beach just before a storm hit. Very dramatic.

We managed to get to the Canberra Quilt Show as well as the Blue Mountains so here are a few shots to let you see some of the beauty.
The Three Sisters is a a popular view

This is a sculpture at Norman Lindsay's house.

Quilting Practice

I think I have finally got the hang of quilting on my Bernina 820. I have done this little piece and am very pleased with it. I think it has a definite underwater feel to it and would love you to suggest a name for it.

It is only 12in x 12in and used a single piece of hand painted silk which I purchased at an Opportunity Shop for a couple of dollars for a two metre piece. A bargain I think. It was quilted with a selection of Japanese threads which I purchased in Tasmania a few months ago and didn't have one breakage. Yay!!

Here is a detail shot.

Of course it will probably need a bead or two of course.

Monthly Metres and Beautiful Beads

We are just packing the Monthly Metres and Beautiful Beads for August.
Isn't the fabric gorgeous? Browns and golds and russets reminiscent of the Australian Outback.
The coordinating bead set is just as yummy.


This fabric is only available to members so if you want some too then you need to sign up quickly as once it is gone - it is gone.

Workshops in Dyed & Gone to Heaven Studio

I am pleased to announce that I have, after numerous requests, decided to run a few workshops in my new studio in Sydney.

Classes will be small and numbers will be strictly limited for personalised attention and I have chosen my two most popular workshops to 'test the waters'.

Creative Beading will be held on Wednesday 16th September and cost of $100 will include complete kit (including everything you need), delicious lunch, morning & afternoon tea and of course tuition.

Aurora Quilt will be held on Saturday 3rd October and cost of $80 will include tuition and lunch and morning and afternoon teas. Kits will be available or you can bring your own fabrics.

As these will be small classes you will have a wonderful opportunity to learn in a relaxed fun environment. Why not ask a friend or two and come along for a great day?

Contact me ASAP to ensure a place.

Another Cutout Magic

I have just finished quilting this sample for my upcoming trip to NZ where I am teaching Cutout Magic in Auckland and Napier.

I started quilting this one during the filming of my DVD a few weeks ago. It is the first completed top I have done on my new Bernina 820 and it all went without a hitch. Spirals like this often have great problems with tension but I was really pleased especially as I had a light thread in the bobbin and dark blue on front.

I had a great time in Melbourne at the Show and one of my highlights each day was having lunch with Deb Louie who is this year's Bernina Featured Quilter. Deb is one of the best machine quilters I know and the work she creates on domestic machines is unbelievable.
This was one of her doodles she did while answering numerous questions about the Bernina 820 she was working with. She kindly gave me this one so I could try myself but I have a long way to go.

A Stunning Aurora

Couldn't resist posting this as soon as I received it.
Lesley did my class at Coffs Harbour a few months ago and this is her Aurora with the most incredible beading.

More Student and Customer Work

Ellenina in California has done these using my fabrics and also my Summer Trellis design

Kelly has done this wonderful gecko using beading techniques she learnt in a workshop recently. Isn't he cute?

Jewellery Exibition

We went to the Opening of this great exhibition on the weekend at the Back Street Gallery in Newtown which is an annex of the Wilson St Gallery.

Robyn Gordon was my art teacher in high school more years ago than I want to think about. She is probably responsible for lighting that creative spark in me although it took a few years to show itself.

She was one of the first people in Australia to work with polymer clay for jewellery and always remember her licorice allsort and Barrier Reef jewellery.

Both artist had a wonderful selection of jewellery at very reasonable prices so if you are in the area on the weekend I would definitely recommend a visit. It is open Friday to Sunday.