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

New Sewing Space

 One of the rooms that received the new carpet was my sewing room, so even though I have used this same room for years, it feels nice and fresh and new, because we painted it as well. I changed the set up a bit too.

I took some photos, while it was still relatively neat! My Q20 that I use for quilting and free motion thread painting, is still in the same corner. It's a nice light area.

My quilting and designing templates are stored in this white chest of drawers. The brown sets of drawers on top hold the Madeira embroidery threads that I love.

My domestic sewing machine is in a different spot and along side it is my computer area.

My new purchase is a combined cutting table and ironing board.

I really love my new set up, it's working so well. What I have noticed when I looked at the photos that I took was that I haven't hung any work or pictures on the walls yet, so it is looking a bit bare. That's the trouble when you paint the walls, you don't want to mess them up.

I have started a new quilt, it feels so good to be inspired again. I actually did a bit of really traditional patchwork for the first time in years.

I sewed some strips of fabric together.

Then I cut them and resewed them into squares.

I don't like having to be so precise, I find it a bit tedious, so luckily I don't need much of it.

Here is a sneak peak of the quilt that I have started, I was inspired by my Morocco trip.

I am the guest speaker at the Patchwork and Quilters Guild on Saturday, they want me to talk about Art Quilts. The good thing about it is that I don't have to bring all my big quilts for a change. I last spoke at this group many years ago, so it will be good to see them again.

Bye for now,

Linda

Rone Exhibition

 I was able to visit the latest exhibition by Australian Artist Rone at Flinders Street Station before it closed. It was a very successful sold out show. 

Office Space

 Tyrone Wright calls himself Rone and he was born in Geelong, Victoria in 1980. He creates art installations in abandoned buildings. This exhibition was held up on the third floor of busy Flinders Street Station in the city. The third floor used to be a ballroom, but it hasn't been used for many years.

His latest exhibition captures the working class life of migrant women in the 1950's 

Telegraph Office

Every room was set up as a different work space with a portrait of a woman on the wall. It looked as if people just stopped working one day, walked out and the room was left for years.

Sewing Studio

Rone and his team had sourced old furniture and materials and set them out in various rooms. 

Art Studio

I loved the portrait painted on the books, I've always loved books and libraries. 

Library

There was dust and spiderwebs everywhere, but of course it was all part of the display. We were told the spiderwebs were made with a glue gun, they looked very realistic.

Shop

I recognised some of the products on display in the shop from when I was young.

The exhibition finished at the famous ballroom, something I have heard about for years but had never seen. It was set up as a sort of conservatory.

The Ballroom area

I really enjoyed the visit, I actually went on the day my new carpet was being installed, so that was a lovely surprise to see my new carpet at last. We also ordered a new lounge suite but that doesn't arrive until next month. Then I am thinking of getting new curtains in that room. This update is going to take all year, I think!

Bye for now,

Linda

AQC 2023

 After four years the Australasian Quilt Convention (AQC) was back in Victoria. We just slipped into it like it had never been away.

It was held at the beautiful Royal Exhibition Building, such a lovely place to spend our time.

The Royal Exhibition Building

 Even though I live in Melbourne, I stayed in the city so I didn't have to drive back and forward every day. I stayed with Clare, a lady that I met on the Morocco Tour. 

I took a photo from upstairs where the classes were being held.

Every year, they run a challenge and this year's theme was called In Full Bloom. I didn't make one this year but my friend, Sue de Vanny won 1st prize.

Grow Around You by Sue de Vanny

Second place went to Elizabeth Dubbelde for her quilt, Denim in Bloom

Denim in Bloom by Elizabeth Dubbelde

Viewer' Choice went to someone else I know, Karen McGregor for her quilt A Feast of Nectar. She was absolutely thrilled.

Karen McGregor with A Feast of Nectar.

Here is a close up photo, she had thread painted the birds and the blossoms.

A Feast of Nectar detail

There was a miniature quilt display by award winning artist Kumiko Frydl, she was also a teacher at the Convention.

Kumiko Frydl Display.

We had never seen such perfect miniatures before, every one was a treasure. The one below was only 10.5 inches square.

Mission Impossible 2 by Kumiko Frydl

There was also a display of quilts from the International du Carrefour European Patchwork Meeting in France. They were so different from our quilts. It was especially good to meet the French ladies because I am going to their next show in France in September this year.

This was the quilt that was on their posters and advertising.

Brave Lucy by Rhoda Bennett

The Australian Quilt Show is in it's second year and this year I entered 2 quilts. The prizes were announced on Wednesday night at the cocktail party. I was absolutely thrilled to win 3 prizes for my quilt Life Goes On. 

I was sitting next to Gloria Loughman and she won 2 prizes for her quilt, so we excitedly had a photo together.

I was so surprised to win a prize, I didn't even have a photo of it. I put the news that I had won the prizes on Facebook and people started asking to see a photo. I had to wait until the next morning to pin the rosettes and have a photo taken.

Life Goes On by Linda Steele

I won a Judges Commendation for Modern Quilts and Best Machine quilting for a mid or longarm machine and Best Abstract quilt. How amazing, you just never know!

Best of Show went to another modern, abstract quilt by Lyn Crump.

Bev 10-08 by Lyn Crump.

It was a wonderful four days and so lovely to catch up with all my quilting friends from all over Australia. We even managed a catch up with the SAQA Oceania group, normally we only see each other via Zoom.

SAQA Oceania Meeting

Everyone loves the Quilt Convention, which is why people travel from all over Australia to be there. The dates have already been set for April next year.

Bye for now,

Linda