Banana Sonata

This is one of my small quilts that I see daily . It is hanging above my piano. It was made years ago for a Coorparoo Quilters challenge. The challenge was to use the colours yellow and black which are the colours of the Coorparoo Quilters logo, to have something of Queensland in it, and  to share something of yourself in it that others might not know about...beyond your stitching life. Banana Sonata won first prize and the judge was the late great Ruth Stonely who was an instrumental person at the beginning of my quilt journey. So I am a clarinet playing Queenslander. The blue strip pieced background depicts the beach where I love swimming in the ocean.

This was from a time when I just went with my ideas , planning a little then doing , really getting into the flow. But now I find that so much harder as I am thinking too much, too much trying to make for an audience rather that using my intuition , getting in the flow and being confident in the result.

Domicile

I have had a very creative time lately where I have been totally absorbed and focused on the making. The making for myself , not for any purpose of an exhibition or display but that where I get to do what I like best...stitching , using vintage fabrics and bits of leftovers, going into my beautiful display cabinet where I keep an old tin with a collection of buttons , mother of pearl, glass and linen. Choosing a perfect button but spending time in holding many of them, sorting , pondering , testing out what they look like on the place where a button is needed.

So here is a sample of the result. A house made with two pieces of vintage quilt I acquired. Finding some lace and digging through a scrap bag of old Liberty fabrics. This is a constant theme in my makings and has certainly come to the fore with my pieces for a Margaret Olley inspired exhibition I am working towards with a small group I am in ,  Broadstrokes . The home as the centre , the safe haven, the place to return to for shelter and comfort and love. 

Ecodying

On the last retreat  I went on in early July I bundled up a length of vintage woollen blanket and put into a pot to boil. It was full of various eucalyptus,wattle , avocado, onion skins , lichen and gum nuts. When opened there were some lovely subtle marks. There was imprints of the gum nuts. I am going to cut out arm holes and add stitch, lace pieces braids and extra  ecodyed wool pieces. I had better get on with it before winter ends so I can wear it.

Sota exhibition

My textile piece Red Hot Earth was juried into the Queensland Sota , State of the art , exhibition. It was on display at the Boonah Art Gallery. This was inspired by the vintage lace piece that reminded me of Georgia O’Keefe and her paintings of skulls and the beautiful desert environment around her New Mexico home. The sun beats down relentlessly there is death but there is also green new growth emerging. As in in the midst of death there is life. There is always hope.

Stitched by hand entirely except for the binding.

Atasda exhibition

I have been lucky enough to have two pieces hanging in the ATASDA Qld exhibition at the Aspire Gallery in Paddington. It is on from 18-28 th July 2018. The exhibition is titled Beyond the Surface.

View of the entry to the exhibition.

My piece on a canvas entitled Landscape. It started out as a landscape of the Tweed Valley where Margaret Olley lived for a time as a young girl. The house and the river being important elements in her life.

My second piece is my Year of Stitch 2017. I stitched daily on a vintage linen table napkin. I have attached it to a stretched piece of pink organza and used old picture frame to hold it.

Wilds

I recently saw posted on Instagram a photo by India Flint of the waterways at Noosa Everglades. @prophet_of_bloom.  It was so beautiful and I rued inner city living so far from the natural wild , wild places, glorious and ancient scenery and natural plants and creatures living harmoniously. Then I re listened to a u tube podcast of John O’ Donahue talking . He said about this topic that no matter where you are or where you live there is always the sky above you , with clouds, a moon and sun. There is always then this natural beauty to view.
So going on a walk from my inner city workplace at Buranda I crossed the bridge from school to Stones Corner shops. This is the scene  from the bridge. Bulimba Creek.

More Bunnies

I haven’t only been making these bunnies but just finished the last two of the online class. So much fun so many techniques. May be good for cards or to add to a journal ... cats...bilbies ... will try and find a way to creat3 my own interpretation of these little cuties.

This is a vintage inspired fluffy bunny.

Angel bunny with wings