Designing Women Christmas Lunch

Saturday was the Designing Women Christmas lunch which I was really looking forward to. I was sick in the morning and Kevin thought I really should not go, but Juliet had offered to take me and I knew I could just sit. I am glad I went. There was an impressive array of food (I didn't eat much, but I managed some savoury food as well as some of Pauline's to-die-for icecream cake) and Delys made a wonderful non-alcoholic fruit punch of which I drank at least 5 glasses.

We always exchange a handmade Christmas decoration and I received two lovely baubles from Jan.

In addition, Jaslyn gave me a lovely angel.


It was a very pleasant afternoon. Delys has a wonderful house, full of the beautiful dolls she makes and lots and lots of vintage china. We had lunch outside in the alfresco area which is really lovely. Thank you Delys - it was great.

Rich in Stitch

This exhibition celebrates the tenth year of the Designing Women textile group and is the sixth exhibition the group has mounted. We went to the opening last Friday night. This is Thelma Cluning who did the honours. She is a textile artist herself.



This is some of the audience.


There were 76 pieces on display. I don't have photos of many, because though I took my camera I didn't pull it out of my bag, and Kevin, as official photographer, was concentrating on the opening crowd. I loved these two nuno felted and stitched pieces by Juliet.



This lovely piece is by my sister Dorothy. It was made in response to the challenge "10" and has several tens included. One you can't see is a ten-cent piece hiding in the undergrowth.


I will take more pictures of the works when I do my turn of exhibition sitting next week.

Sunday at the Craft Fair

Designing Women had a display at the Craft Fair that was held on the weekend - and for once I remembered to take a photo. This is Jan on Sunday morning and the display which was beautifully set up by Liz and Stephanie.

We had an excellent position - right opposite the entry to the display of Jenny Bowker's quilts and in full sight of one of her beautiful quilts. I looked after the stall in the afternoon with Dorothy and then we pulled it all down with Juliet's help - in much less time than I am sure it took to set up!

I spent the morning looking at the stalls, with a break to listen to Jenny Bowker's talk about her quilt journey, which was absolutely fascinating. I met and talked to lots of people, but was extremely restrained about buying, because I need to downsize, rather than accumulate. I did buy some wool to nuno felt a silk shawl that Helen gave me because it has some holes in it. That won't affect the felting, and I will give it back to her when I am done. I also bought an ingenious dish and holder to use for grating garlic - I hate garlic crushers because they are so hard to clean, and chopping with a knife makes your hands so smelly. I haven't used it yet - I still have no appetite.

My favourite part of the Fair is always the Art to Wear section. There were some great creations this year, but the piece I liked best in the Adult section was a felted jacket by Carole Redlich.

The student section was absolutely fabulous - especially the garments from Penrhos College. The girls had to use nothing but plain calico with a theme of geometric and there were some wonderful interpretations and some superb fabric manipulation. I loved this one, but I failed to take photos of some of the other spectacular creations. What a dill!

Finished

I have just finished stitching a label to the back of my Stitched and Bound quilt. Tomorrow morning early I will go to Bunnings to buy some lath and some eye screws if I can't find any in my box of picture fixings which is somewhere . . ) Then I will deliver it to Margaret so it can be photographed on Monday.

I am reasonably (actually quite) happy with it. I just hope it is selected for exhibition.

It was Designing Women meeting today. We worked on finishing off UFOs. I took bits to do the Back in Black challenge, but ended up working on the reverse mola T-Shirt which Iris demonstrated last month. I decided to stitch the design by machine before cutting it back, and am very glad I did. Now I need to stitch around the design by hand. I think I might take it along when I have chemo next Wednesday.

I lasted till 2pm today before I had to pack it in. I had very bad diarrhea last night, but was much better today.

A Whiter Shade of Pale

The February challenge for Designing Women was to interpret the song title in a small textile piece measuring 35 cm by 15 cm (14" by 6"). The results were amazing. Here are some of them.

This was mine, made from lace scraps stitched onto Vilene 541

Margaret P used the Flower Stitcher foot for the background and is now adding more 3D shapes.

Linda recycled a piece she made on dissolvable in her student days and added silk paper.

Margaret F thought of a snow white dove as she did lots of stitching.

Helen did some recycling of home decor fabric and lots of stitching as well.

Dorothy has heavily stitched a sandwich of fabrics, then added a feather and some flowers.

Delys has used stitched and stamped water soluble paper, tyvek and printed paper scraps.

And the piece de resistance - Juliet's free machined images from the song lyrics.

Designing Women Christmas Party

The company was great, the food was fabulous and the venue fascinating.

Juliet, Debbie G, Jaslyn and Dorothy watching Jan as she showed some of her fire damaged treasures.

Judith, Zena, Delys, Alcira, Pauline, Loraine and Margaret P.

Iris, Barbara, Margaret F, Liz and Debbie R. Somehow I missed out on snapping Helen and Linda - pity.

Jan was a wonderful hostess.

She made us so welcome despite the recent trauma of her heritage home nearly burning to the ground. Here is an external shot of the damage.

Thanks so much, Jan. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the group.

What Grabs You

What do I enjoy most in my textile adventures?

We had a brainstorming session at the Designing Women meeting today. I agreed with all the suggestions (though not always with the spelling!) It was difficult to pinpoint the techniques I most enjoy. Though I contributed "texture" and "image transfer", I don't think that I could restrict myself to those alone.

Here are our suggestions. And isn't it interesting that colour is not mentioned?


What grabs YOU in relation to textile techniques?

A display and Friday Flowers

Yesterday evening my sister Dorothy and I set up the Designing Women display at the Melville Textile Art Expo. We were pretty pleased with our efforts. Here is a section of the display.


I went back this morning to add printed labels for all the pieces, then listened to a talk on zines from one of the exhibitors. Interesting, but I think I will stick with a blog.

As I was getting into the car to come home, I noticed this flower head on a zamia palm ( a common WA native plant). Almost like a pine cone or a pineapple. So this is this Friday's flower.

Researching exhibition spaces

Designing Women will be holding another exhibition in November 2010 - our sixth. We are trying to find a suitable venue. The one we had last time was not very satisfactory for various reasons.

We need a space with good light, plenty of wall space, easy access and enough parking. There are not too many candidates that fit the bill.

Today Juliet and I went to look at an exhibition by a painter, Ron Nyzistor, which was hung in his studio space in Melville. I know the building well - it used to be the Alfred Bracks Library, but it has been stripped and refurbished. We have had some discussion with Ron about possibly using the space for our exhibition.


The space is wonderful. Ron is obviously a minimalist, and there were only 22 works hung. Lots and lots of blank wall. The major problem we foresee is whether he will want a final say on what we exhibit. The whole group have a meeting with him in November prior to our usual meeting.

In the meantime we are still looking for alternatives.

DW Retreat

My miserable excuse for the hiatus in blogging is I was so busy getting ready for it last week that I didn't have time, while I was still recovering from it the last few days. I SAID it was a miserable excuse.

Every year in September the Designing Women group holds a retreat at Banksia Springs in Dwellingup. This was our 8th year. We go down on Friday afternoon and come home on Sunday afternoon.

This is a view of the garden from the deck.

When we first started, we used to pay a tutor and cater for ourselves. Now we pay for a caterer and tutor ourselves. We think it is a much better balance! Shelley feeds us often and extremely well and we have a wealth of expertise in the group to demonstrate techniques.

This year the theme was "Strung out". We used flax to make a woven decorative piece, made string from fabric strips and knotted small string bags for treasures. We also constructed books under Alcira's direction. On Sunday, with Iris' input, we made all sorts of baskets, using a variety of materials. I demonstrated the machine made one and Alcira made this fabulous version.


We had a great time and I am already looking forward to next year. Except for Sunday the weather was good so we could go for walks. The ground was very squelchy though!

WAFTA Naturally and Linda's Workshop

The opening of WAFTA Naturally on Friday night was well patronised. The committee did a great organisational job and the pieces all looked fabulous. Photos are not allowed, except of your own piece, but I might just take a gallery view when I am invigilating on Thursday morning.

Saturday was Designing Women and we had a workshop by Linda on disperse dyeing. It was really good, but I did not accomplish much.

I WAS a trifle distracted - I had volunteered to replace a member who was unable to do her catering stint. I am Treasurer and I was collecting money for the Retreat next month, plus no other member of the Executive was there. The Secretary and President were both ill, while the VP had a family involvement. This meant I needed to chair the meeting as well. It is a miracle I managed to do anything at all! I did, but I haven't taken any pics.

Thanks, Linda! I am in awe of the pieces you have done.

Craft Fair Day One

Yesterday went well. Helen B came along and organised us - I think Jan and I would have been there till midnight. As it was we finished by 3.30 pm. We worked on a sort of colour wash, and my latest scarf didn't make the cut. Not to worry - I think it needs a little needle punching, so it's a WIP.



I was back there today - a little delayed by the necessity to deliver daughter Helen's car to Canning Vale. The stall looks great and there was a lot of interest in the pieces. Here are Pauline and Alcira on duty.

Today was my shopping day, and I indulged - though a bit less than I had anticipated.

Tomorrow I am helping at an Embroidery Guild workshop. I need to deliver more flyers for the DW stall. I printed 70+ and almost all had gone by late afternoon.

There are some great displays at the Fair. Tomorrow I plan to take photos of lots of stuff - particularly the Art to Wear and the Embroidery Guild's 40th Anniversary display.

Count Down to the Craft Fair

I finished the scarf.

I searched all my cupboards and bags and found a few things that are "new" (ie not displayed last year) so they will do at a pinch if stuff does not miraculously appear tomorrow morning. We are still short of work to display on the DW stall.

I searched all my files (on 3 different computers) but couldn't find the flyer for Designing Women. So I rewrote it. I had forgotten how to add the title to a picture in Word - finally a lightbulb went off and I did it in Photoshop - easy peasy!

The rolling trolley is packed. I am going early tomorrow to help with setting up the Art to Wear, then Jan will help set up Designing Women in the afternoon. I WILL remember to take a picture this year!

Group Project

A small group of Designing Women met again to work on our group piece for the WAFTA exhibition later this year. It is starting to come together. Here are some of the bits laid out on Alcira's floor.

We are meeting again in two weeks. All our bits need to be finished by then.

Craft Fair

I went to the Stitches and Craft Fair today. I was helping to look after the Contemporary Quilt Group display in the morning and then, after a quick look at the quilts, I went shopping.


This book has just been reprinted and I bought it for the Designing Women library. I have owned it myself for years but I had forgotten what consummate craftmanship Annemieke displays. I hope it will inspire many of our members.

I am going back to the fair on Sunday with my sister Dorothy. I plan to have a longer look at the quilts. I don't plan to spend any more money - famous last words?

Hearts

Since it is the first meeting of Designing Women for the year on Saturday and it's also Valentine's Day, we are going to have a heart swap. It is also a Open Day and we expect a number of guests.

I have spent the afternoon making hearts: a brooch and a fridge magnet. Both of these I digitised and stitched out on my SE. I have also used a previous design and made 8 little tags that can be given to guests so they don't feel left out of it. I can fit four in a 10cm by 10cm hoop.
They are cut out with a soldering iron and I haven't yet done the second set so no examples.



If I have time I will make some more tomorrow afternoon, but I have to collect together all the stuff I will be using for the demonstration I am giving on simple stencil making so this may not happen.

Angels and an organised workspace

Designing Women had their Christmas party on Saturday. Venue was Helen B's new house in Wembley - fabulous, especially the art on the walls.

We made our angel swap. This is the collection laid out on a table - I hope I got it all.



Kevin and I got a Christmas present from the government last week - $2100 for the two of us, being holders of the Seniors Health Card. The government says SPEND, SPEND so we did - a bit of it.

I have wanted shelves in the laundry almost since we moved into this house. The laundry is very large and was obviously designed to be a sewing room for someone who did not have all the stash I have, or do the the multi media stuff that I do. There is a L-shaped bench that runs under a large window and then along a blank wall.

No longer blank. We bought an Elfa hanging system yesterday and installed it today. We had to go back to the store to exchange components - the shelves I chose were too wide - but I am very happy with the finished setup.


I wish I had taken a photo of the bench before I cleared it. Imagine a pile of shopping bags on the left, and assorted piles of stuff on the right, with the embellisher surrounded. How long will this present neatness prevail?

Today I have also decorated the (fake) Christmas tree and put out the various Christmas decorations all over the house. I admit to being a bit surprised at how much hand made stuff I have (and how old some of it is). I was planning to make a lace Nativity scene which will probably not be done this year. At least I made a couple of lace snowflakes - see below.

The End

We pulled down the exhibition this afternoon.

What took two days to set up took less than two hours to disassemble. Our treasurer was on hand to disburse payment to those who had sold items. Juliet was the outright winner here. She had made six hats with matching scarves and sold all but one hat. In addition she sold a wonderful felted and stitched framed piece.

I sold a bag and a wrap. Other people also sold pieces, so if an exhibition is gauged by its sales this was a successful one. And the comments in the visitors' book are almost uniformly positive.

Post 401

Funny how the milestones pass unobserved. I also had my 10,000th visitor last week.

Kevin is trying to get the family blog noticed (it is really his blog now. I rarely comment any more, but as administrator I have to deal with the c*** comments that seem to appear from time to time). Sometimes the tags he puts on messages don't seem to me to match up with the post, but it seems to be paying off. Sunbeam motorcycles, Carter's Little Liver Pills and Miniature Pomegranates are copping lots of hits.

I spent this afternoon gallery sitting. Most of the visitors were from the spinners' group that meets at Atwell House every Tuesday. Some of the comments made were interesting - it seems to be difficult to reconcile art vs craft. The pieces in the exhibition are textiles, so it must be craft BUT some of them are presented (framed) as if they were paintings and they and others are obviously decorative rather than functional objects. ? ? ?

One of the objectives of our group is to raise the profile of textile art in WA. I think this exhibition may have made a small step in this direction.

Exhibition Opening

The Official Opening was supposed to be at 7.00 pm yesterday. There was hardly any one there then, perhaps because it was still broad daylight. Then people started to arrive and eventually there was a reasonable audience for Hannah's opening remarks.



There were lots of favourable comments and quite a few items are now bearing red stickers. Very satisfying!