Working in a Series- Seasons

In our Art Quilt group, we have decided to try working in a series again. This time we were to do a series of four quilts over four months. I chose The Seasons. I wanted to start doing some fabric printing again and thought it would be a good way to begin.

I started to print some PFD (prepared for dyeing fabric) in various oranges, yellows and reds using the gel plate and some fabric paints. I was planning to work on Autumn first.

Then Charlotte Scott from New Zealand came to our group to run a class on printing leaves and painting organza to make an art quilt. I enjoyed the class, especially as I had been meaning to get back into this type of work. I made a small quilt, that I called The Wetlands in class.

The Wetlands

Well, you know what it is like when you do a class, afterwards you pack everything away and forget what you did.

I changed my mind and decided to do my little series using her technique, so I could remember how I did it.

I  printed leaves or a stencil on white fabric and overlaid some painted organza and some appliqué to create each one.

I started with Summer.

Summer

Then I tried Spring, I couldn't help but think that the organza dulled the quilt down a bit, so I added more little pink blossoms to try and brighten it up.

Spring

Next came Winter, I didn't use leaves this time, I stencilled on some winter trees with bare branches.

Winter

Finally, I did Autumn, the season that I was going to start with and I used some of those fabrics that I had printed for the autumn leaves.

Autumn

It has been a busy year and to tell you the truth, it was a struggle to get these little quilts done. They are only 12inches square.

Today, I listened to a talk by Jane Dunnewold, near the end she said that if creating the work does not give you joy, then why are you doing it?

I have lost some of my joy because I have too many commitments. I have decided to cut out two of the responsibilities that I have next year. I have to be brave and say no.

I have some good news, I have won a prize in the Sydney quilt show. I looked at flights to go there for the day, but it would have been so expensive and travelling to the airport and back is an ordeal so I have decided not to go.

Bye for now,

Linda

Beth and Trevor Reid Exhibition

 My husband and I travelled up to Kyabram to the opening of the Beth and Trevor Reid exhibition.

Beth and Trevor are husband and wife artists from Canberra in Australia. I have seen one or two of their quilts before in exhibitions but absolutely loved seeing their collection. We were greeted by amazing colour and design. What a feast for the senses.

Here are some of my favourites, but really I loved everything.

Hot Lava by Beth and Trevor Reid

I loved how they spoke about their work and told us the secrets of how they made them.

Diversity Waterways

Here is a detail photo but really my photos do not do them justice.

Diversity Waterways detail

Checkmate by Beth and Trevor Reid

I love how they create by combing quilts and art techniques.

Degree of Difference by Beth and Trevor Reid

Griffen Legacy by Beth and Trevor Reid.

There are actually 20 leaves in this collection but they only had three of them on display. I actually bought the one on the left. So it will come home with me when the exhibition closes.

Elements by Beth and Trevor Reid.

As I said before my photos do not do them justice and you will be blown away by the full gallery of their colourful work. I wish that I had taken a photo of the room, so you could get an idea of the visual feast.

Luckily the exhibition is on until the 4th October 2024.

It on at the Kyabram Town Hall Gallery in Victoria, Australia.

Bye for now,

Linda

Victorian Quilters Showcase 2024

 The Vic Quilters Showcase was on at the end of July and although last year was supposed to be my final year as Convenor, the person who was taking over got sick and I had to do it again. 

There is a lot of work in the lead up to the quilt show but the actual show is the fun part, where the prizes are awarded and you get to catch up with friends and do some shopping.

Here we are getting ready for the awards.

Best of Show went to my friend Linda Crouch for her quilt, A Magical Winter Garden.

A Magical Winter Garden by Linda Crouch

Here is a detail photo of the quilt.

Runner Up to Best of Show was won by another friend, Sue de Vanny for Sound of Silence.

Sound of Silence by Sue de Vanny

There is a bright spotlight on both of their quilts which really doesn't do them justice in the photos.

I won the Runner Up prize in Innovative/Contemporary quilts for Ocean Dance 2.

Ocean Dance 2 by Linda Steele

I loved the embroidery on Australian Bush Antics by Catherine Howell.

Australian Bush Antics by Catherine Howell

Here is a detail photo.

Australian Bush Antics detail

One of our member groups AQA, had a display of their red and white quilts to celebrate their 40th Birthday. Red and white quilts make such a great display.

North, South East and West, There is no Place Like Home by Jan Baker

Tree of Life by Shirley Lodington

I had to take a photo of this gorgeous miniature that won First Prize.

Blooming Lollipops by Yumi McKey

I urged someone from our Art Quilter group to enter her quilt and she was absolutely blown away to win First prize. She's a new quilter who has never entered anything before. It was such a thrill.

Ocean Walks by Connie Russo.

Our profile a Quilters this year was the multi award winner Eileen Campbell. Her display was jaw dropping.

Eileen Campbell in front of her quilts.

Every quilt she makes is a masterpiece.

The Unicorn's Garden by Eileen Campbell

I can relax now that the show is over and although I have lots of people who have offered their help nobody will take over the running of the show!!

Bye for now,

Linda

Waverley Patchworkers Quilt Show 2024

 Waverley Patchworkers had their quilt show earlier this month and it was very successful as usual with lots of visitors.

The standard of the quilts is always very high and with lovely shops and cafe selling delicious food, no wonder it was a popular show.

Waverley does not have a judged show but they do present a few prizes.

The President's Award is named the Dawn Burrows Award, named after our first President and founder.

The prize went to Allison Stevens-Spink for her quilt Singing in the Rain.

Singing in the Rain by Allison Stevens - Spink

It was a lovely quilt because it also won Viewer's Choice.

Cheryl Meyer won the June Lyons Award with her quilt Kelmscott. The sun was shining on her quilt and so it was difficult to get a good photo of it.

Kelmscott by Cheryl Meyer

The First Time entry for a quilter of less than 5 years experience went to Heather Stephens for Dresden Plate- Same but Different.

Dresden Plate- Same but Different by Heather Stephens

There was also a challenge called  A Touch of Blue and the overwhelming winner was Heather A Woods for Leunig's Lullaby.

Leunig's Lullaby by Heather A Woods

It is only small and my photo does not do it justice.

I like some other challenges as well.

Eileen Campbell

Jill Abery

Lyn Nethercott

The Waverley Art Quilters also had a small display of some of our work.

Waverley Art Quilters Display

Below is the work we had done after studying Brazilian Artist Carmen Hererra.

Carmen Hererra

Industrial

Landscape

Memories of France and Rex Ray

We could have had a display three times the size but we could only use a small space but it still gave an interesting look at the work that the group has been doing.

The Raffle quilt called Symphony in Blue was a gorgeous focal point as people entered.

Symphony in Blue

Bye for now,

Linda

Annemieke Mein - A Life's Work

 The Annemieke Mein retrospective exhibition has now finished, people are still talking about how wonderful it was though. I am sure that it could have gone on for longer.

You can read my post about the Exhibition here

I purchased the new book, called Annemieke Mein- A Life's work. It is a large hefty book and has all the work that was in the exhibition and more.

The book is not a 'how to' but rather a look at all her work to date. There are a lot of essays from various people about Annemieke and her work.

I actually haven't read the book yet and as I usually read books in bed, I am not sure when I will. The book is too heavy for bedtime reading. I have glanced at some of the articles and it is interesting, so I'll have to try and read it during the day.

Here are some of the pages.

I looked at the gallery website and some of the merchandise is still for sale. You can see it on the Gippsland Art Gallery Website here.

Waverley Patchworkers Quilt Show

 The Waverley Patchworkers Quilt Show is on again this weekend. I don't run this event anymore but I do understand all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make it a success.

The raffle quilt is absolutely gorgeous this year. Unfortunately, I took this photo at one of our meetings where the lighting is not the best, but it is magnificent.

Waverley Raffle Quilt 2024

The quilt will be on display during the show and tickets are $2 each, all the money raised goes to a charity.

Here are a couple of detail photos.

As well as all the beautiful quilts, there will be a display of the Waverley Art Quilters work.

The Show is held on Saturday and Sunday, the 1st and 2nd of June 2024.

Saturday 9am to 5pm

Sunday 9am to 4pm.

The show is held at the Mulgrave Community Centre.

355 Wellington Road,

Mulgrave

Melbourne. Victoria

Australia

There will be quilt displays, shops, a cafe and demonstrations.

I will be helping set up on the Friday and will be at the show all day on Sunday.

Hope you can come.

Bye for now,

Linda

Annemieke Mein Exhibition

 Two friends and I travelled down to Sale, in Victoria to view the latest Annemieke Mien exhibition. It was a three hour drive, so we decided to stay overnight, so it was not such a demanding travel day.

It was worth the trip, it was a retrospective of all her work from the 1970's to today. There was work that I had never seen before and it was displayed beautifully. The gallery is a stylish, modern building and the display took over the entire gallery, there were many rooms of her work.

Her most well known work took up one of the walls as you went in.

Freedom by Annemieke Mein (1986)

There was also a room showing her early work, you can see how she started and how her ideas had progressed.

Starlings (1978)

I loved the way she has kept meticulous sketches and samples for her work. They were all on display too. Below are an example of her progress with baby birds.

 

She can even make a fly seem compelling.

There were many display cases like in the photo above showing the drawings, fabrics and threads.

I decided to take a lot of close up photos because there are many pictures of her entire pieces but I am interested in seeing the detail.

Of course, I had to take a photo of one of her fish. The date says 1993 - 2021, apparently during Covid Annemieke decided to finish some work that she had put aside.

Queen Snapper (1993 - 2021)

Here are some of the other photos that I took.

They even brought her furniture and items from her studio and set it up in the gallery.

Annemieke Mein has just celebrated her 80th birthday but she is still working. Her latest work features labels, apparently she put the call out for people to send her clothing labels.

Here is a close up photo showing the labels. Isn't she clever?

It was a very inspiring exhibition.

Bye for now,

Linda