A mid week get away

 Last week, I went on a short holiday for a couple of nights with my sewing group friends. We stayed at Create at Harcourt which is a couple of hours drive near Bendigo. It was one of the coldest weeks we've had so far, but luckily we had heaters in every room. It was a very relaxed couple of days, just sitting and sewing, chatting and eating. We can do it well!

I took a couple of photos of the retreat but I should have taken them during the day when the blinds were open! 

Create at Harcourt

I knew I had found the right place when I saw the quilt pattern out the front. That bay window up the top is where we spent most of our time.

Sitting space

Sewing table

We all had our own room with quilts on the bed of course.

My room

All the decorations were craft related, even my bedside lamp reminded me of some gel printing I have been doing lately.

Bedside Lamp

Here is my gelli plate printing that I had done the week before. Even the colour was the same.

My Gelli printing

There was a wonderful general store, bakery and café next door, where we managed to spend a bit of time. Before we left we asked someone to take our photo.

Our happy group

We took the long way home and had lunch in Bendigo and visited the Art Gallery. I'll show those photos in the next post.

Bye for now,

Linda

Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award 2023

 Last Saturday, my husband and I drove to Maryborough for the opening of the Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award opening. It was held at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery, which is a lovely venue that has recently been renovated.

It was the first time I have ever entered and as there were only 21 entries accepted it was quite an honour to be included. 

My quilt was on the flyer.

It was a two and a half hour drive to get there and luckily we arrived in time with 10 minutes to spare!

The winner was Sandra Champion with her quilt Ancient Pathways 15.

Ancient Pathway by Sandra Champion

Here is a detail photo of Sandra's quilt.

Ancient Pathway 15 detail by Sandra Champion.

The judges gave a talk after the presentation and said that Sandra's quilt won because of the innovative use of various materials like paper, silks, scrim and inks.

The Runner Up prize went to Dianne Firth for Red Shift.

Red Shift by Dianne Firth

The judges said that she won because of the gradation of the red fabrics and the impeccable workmanship.

I have never been at an opening where the judges spoke about why they chose the prizes, it was interesting. Maybe I haven't been to many openings!

I took some photos of some of the others that I liked.

Canopy 24 by Anna Brown

Golden Valley by Sue Dennis

Sunbathing by Beth and Trevor Reid

Stuff of Dreams V by Judy Hooworth

TaniaTanti was also there, so I took a photo of her in front of her quilt made of wool

Tangled up in You by Tania Tanti

My Husband took a photo of me in front of my quilt.

Here is my quilt without me in front of it.

Citrus Zing by Linda Steele

My quilt is completely improv pieced. I have no pattern, I just cut and sew as I go. I was thinking about juicy fruits on a plate and  cool and refreshing drinks on a hot summer's day. I am trying to express how I feel when I think of them.

I enjoyed making it, but it did look very different to all the other quilts.

By for now,

Linda

Australian Tapestry Workshop

 I haven't done a blog post for a while, I was so concentrated in getting my latest quilt finished before the deadline. I did get it finished with a few days to spare but I haven't heard if it has been accepted or not. It is a contemporary, different sort of quilt so it might not suit the exhibition that usually has a very Australian type of theme. At least I have a quilt finished.

I belong to a local group that goes on outings every month and last month we went to the Australian Tapestry Workshop. It is internationally renowned for producing contemporary tapestries that are commissioned and displayed all around the world. It is in a beautiful old building from 1885 and was built as a drapery but in 1893 it became a knitting mill.

Demo area

Before we entered the work area we were taken to a room where we were given a talk about the history of the Australian Tapestry Workshop and learnt that the weavers are trained thoroughly for many years and are master weavers. We were told about the wool that is used and how it is especially dyed for each project.

Then we were taken to the gallery where we could watch the weavers at work.

Old Media by Emma Biggs and Mathew Collings

The picture above is the painting that they are recreating in tapestry. Next, you can see them working on it and get an idea of how big it will be.

I find it amazing that they all work on their sections and it all works out in the end.

Here you can see the samples that they make before they start.

Test samples

Look at all this thread that has been produced for it.

Cones of thread

I managed to get a closer photo of them in action.

I don't think that I would want to sit there all day working with a mask on, but they must enjoy it. The tapestries cost thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately, I will miss our outing next week because I am busy doing something else.

On the weekend, I am off to the official opening of the Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award. They have used my quilt in their advertising which is an honour.

Bye for now,

Linda