Craft Fair and QuiltWest

I went to the Craft Fair today. I had volunteered to assist with manning the Contemporary Quilt Group stand in the afternoon, so I went in the morning to look at the stalls and watch some demonstrations.

I was going to take the train, but Kevin offered to take me to Perth, so I arrived fresh and full of energy. I paced myself well, interspersing two demonstrations with stall browsing, then a sit down for lunch (which I took along to avoid the high prices for show food). A final bit of browsing, then off to the CQG stand. I was able to sit down for most of the time I was on duty.

I did manage a quick look at the major quilt display. There were some fabulous ones, and I took lots of photos, but don't think you are supposed to post them on blogs. I can, however, show the pieces I had in the CQG display.


I also had a piece in the WAFTA display, but I didn't get a photo of that. I came home by train and we have had takeaway for dinner. Tomorrow I must finish stapling my entry for the Melville Art Awards to its frame and attach a hanging wire, then deliver it - all before noon.

Fiddling with framing

I finally finished framing the last piece for the ShowOff 6 exhibition which opens on Friday night. They have to be delivered tomorrow.

I needed spacers to hold the glass clear of the embroidery. I had tried strips of foam core, but they were not wide enough, and by the time I realised this it was too late to buy more (Anzac Day long weekend).

So it was off to Bunnings this morning to buy a strip of wood. OK - right size and Kevin cut it into the right lengths for me BUT it needed painting. I should have taken up Kevin's offer of spray paint. Instead I used acrylic paints.

The first 3 coats sank straight into the wood. Instead of being white it was a pale cream. After another 2 coats I decided enough was enough and assembled the whole thing. It was only then that I discovered the bottom of the frame was warped.

Too late to use anything else. It is sitting with a heavy weight on it which probably won't help. I think I will just have to offer a professional framing option if anyone buys the piece.

What I have been reading

ALL the Phryne Fisher mysteries by Kerry Greenwood - the whole 18 of them. I have read them all before, some of them more than once, but still found them most enjoyable.

I also read Fantasy in Death by JD Robb (Nora Roberts). Enjoyable, but not as good as the previous one in the series: Kindred in Death. I have lost track of how many novels are in this series - more than 25 I think. And yes, I have them all. Not quite ready to start a reread of them as yet.

While I was having chemo today I finished The City and The City by China Mieville, which I saw recommended on some blog - where I can't remember. It is a murder mystery/fantasy set in a place somewhere in Eastern Europe where two cities coexist in the same space and time. I found it fascinating and a good read. Another author to be added to my library list - I did borrow this one instead of buying.

Still trying to read from my own bookshelves, I found 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs. I have no idea why I haven't already read this one. I will start it tomorrow and sandwich reading with working on my Textile Tantrums (Dale has extended the deadline) and my entry for Stitched and Bound which needs to be finished soon if I am to have it professionally photographed.

Mission accomplished

I have finished my piece for Designing Women's contribution to the WAFTA exhibition. I will give it to Alcira tomorrow, because I won't be at the next planning meeting - I'll be in Bali.

I am very happy with it - I may even rustdye some more cotton and make another piece for myself - I still have lots of the silk left. Here is a photo of the applique side: silk stitched on cotton and cut back.


This is the other side. Reverse applique: cotton cut away to show the silk. It looks even better hanging so the light passes through it.


I also finished the foundation fabric for some more ATCs for the Designing Women swap. While they do not all have to be the same, I liked the idea of mine being instantly recognisable, so I made another fabric piece. I should be able to cut the extra eight I need; I may even be able to do a bit of fussy cutting.

And the fabric shop down the hill is closing down this Sunday - boo hoo! But I went and bought a pile of stuff including some raw silk and some devore (not silk, though) and got it all for half price. Think I may need another visit at least.

Remembering 1969

I have finished my 1969 box for the Embroidery Guild's 40th anniversary and exhibition. I think I might have done a better job if I hadn't left it to the last minute. This is the outside.


These are the contents.


We are asked to write about what the box and/or its contents meant. This is my statement about 1969.

• I was pregnant for most of the year – our daughter Helen was born on November 28. This why I included the pregnant doll with a dress made from fabric that I once made into a dress for myself about this time. I have included the dress pattern that I used. I also included photos of the proud first time parents.

• I worked full-time as a High School teacher until August. One of the subjects I taught was Social Studies, so I did take some notice of what was happening in the world. I recall the frisson of awe I felt on hearing Neil Armstrong’s voice from the Moon. I made a little book of photos from Apollo 11. Because so much happened that year I covered my box with newspaper reports of notable happenings: from the sublime - moon landings and the first flight of the Concorde to the ridiculous – John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “bed-in” and Christo’s wrapping of Little Bay in Sydney.

• My husband and I established a fortnightly local newspaper that circulated in the Rockingham – Medina area (R-M News). We did everything related to its publishing: chased up information, wrote the news items, organised the advertising and did the literal “cut and paste” layout for the printer (NO computers – it was typed on an IBM golf ball typewriter, cut up and glued to master sheets), then collated each issue by hand. We did pay for students to deliver it, though. It lasted for 19 issues and would probably have continued for longer, but we had decided to go to teach in Papua New Guinea and we couldn’t find anyone to take it on. There are photocopies of the outside pages of the first and last issues.

All Ready

The stuff I need for tomorrow's workshop is all packed into a couple of rolling trolleys, except for the computer hardware. I had hoped the printers would fit in one of them, but they don't, so there will have to be a couple more trips from the car to the venue. At least there are no stairs to climb this time. My checklist is HUGE, but I think it will pay off when I am setting up. I plan to load the car after dinner.

I finished sewing the sleeve and label on my piece for the My Place exhibition and put it into the mail this afternoon - eight days before it is due at Gellibrand in Victoria. So I have met all my current deadlines, but I have a few more coming up.

Accepted

My quilt "Down South" has been accepted into the My Place exhibition. I am thrilled!

Now I have to sew on a sleeve and a label and send it off. I also have to supply a photo of me. This part is really scary!

My Place

As usual I have procrastinated. Entries for this exhibition, curated by Dijanne Cevaal and involving quilts by artists from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, close next week.

I have decided that I will attempt to replicate my fan on a larger scale: paint some fabric, machine embroider it, cover with organza and fuse. I need to do some quilting too, because this is a quilt exhibition.

The base painting is finished. Tomorrow I will start the embroidery.

Helen rang tonight. Once again she has missed out on a unit she really liked. In consultation with her flatmate she has decided to defer further flat hunting until she has finished doing her reports. They still have a few weeks before they have to move out.

Contemporary Quilt Group

I enjoy this group. It is an offshoot of the Western Australian Quilters' Association (WAQA) and meets on the second Friday of every month. This month we had to bring in our A3 size Challenge quilts for display at QuiltWest which starts on the 21st May.

We have been supposed to do one challenge a month - I haven't done any since June last year. So I dug out a piece of fabric that I had shibori folded and discharged with bleach. Some quilting with invisible thread and I had a piece for display. Needed a title. I thought it looked a bit like photos I have seen of neural synapses so it became "Connections?"



Afterwards I went to visit my friend Jean as I try to do every month. There is no doubt that her neural network is still very efficient at the age of 96.

Happy Birthday

to me! Not telling how many though.

Spent the morning finishing off everything needed for the two exhibition entries. The fan was my major concern since it needed to travel to Queensland. I packed it very securely in a large padded bag between 2 layers of cardboard and a bit of bubblewrap for the other two that were made in the workshop, then trotted off to the Post Office and sent everything away.

Bit of a problem with the Stitched and Bound entry. The postcode I took from the entry form was, according to the clerk, wrong. So I changed it, heart in mouth, to the one he suggested. I have since checked the documentation and I believe the entry form is in error. I have emailed the convenor.

Spent a bit of time at Garden City in the afternoon. Kevin told me to buy myself a present. Maybe I should have indulged in jewellery, but I bought a book. The Margarets by Sherri S Tepper. She is one of my favourite SF/Fantasy authors and really doesn't write fast enough. This is her first new book since 2004.



Then we went to look at the apartment in Cottesloe that Helen is moving into. She wants to paint the room she will sleep in and was working on wall preparation. We all sat outside as the sun slid down towards the sea, drinking a rather nice bubbly. Then Kevin and Helen patched walls while I drank more bubbly and watched the sun set. Pretty boring, actually - clouds are needed for a spectacular sunset and there were none today.

Bought takeaway curries from our favourite spot in Hilton on the way home; 2 meat and 2 veg plus complimentary buttered rice and pappadums. Lamb and beef, brinjal and dahl. YUM!

So yes, a happy birthday.

Finished!!

Both the fan and the photography for my entry for Stitched and Bound.

Here is the fan:



No photos of the Stitched and Bound entry because the exhibition is a juried one.

Tomorrow I will print out all the stuff that needs to accompany exhibition entries: techniques and materials, artist's statement etc and post it off with cheques as required..