ChARTres- Croisement des Arts

I had meant to blog prior to leaving Australia last week, but as life was digitally challenged that did not happen, plus things were super busy. I agreed to a crazy deadline of 10 Traveller's Blankets  for the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair late in June. I will use one very early piece to show how the work has developed but all other work will be new ( as the the  traveller's blankets I have sold  in the past belong to new owners ). So I feel my hands are whirling dervishes at the moment and as I don't wear thimbles they do sometimes succumb to needing a rest , which fortunately coincided with my flight to Europe, and I am determined to make that deadline!

I arrived in Barcelona last week, and took the train from there to Narbonne, to spend a night with Margo and Trevor Bimler, in order to pick up things I had left there ( more things than I had realised) and then headed up to my cousins near Chateroux. I do have a lot of family in Europe but as my parents emigrated when I was nine, I don't know that much of my family , but this cousin is a similar age and we enjoy each other's company so I always try and catch up when I am in Europe. Then onto Chartres the next morning to install my exhibition for ChARTres- Croisements des Arts that afternoon. It is always good to be part of this exhibition and it seems to be getting better all the time. The exhibition venue is a deconsecrated church called Collegiale Saint Andre dating from the twelfth century and it  was built right on the edge of the River Eure.So at the moment it is rather damp and cold but nonetheless a  beautiful venue

The weekend was busy with vernissage and an artists evening  at the house of the organisers Ethia- which is always a lot of fun. it would be so nice to sell a piece, but the traveller's blankets ar enot for sale at present!

And then I have been working on a white and blue piece. A bit uncharacteristic for me, but  as I was in a place two weeks ago without my usual supplies, and this was all that was at hand, it started to grow,  and I am beginning to like it. It is starting to remind me a little of Delft's blauw- which is suppose is appropriate seeing I was born not that far from Delft ( well in Australian terms)

I can't wait to see what the background stitching will add to this piece, and the temptation to already begin it is a great- but I am trying to be disciplined and finish all the circles first. I have tried to make each and everyone different.

A little bit of Chartres:

After Chartres I will be teaching in Belgium and at the Lapjesgaart in Amstelveen ( traveller's Blanket and tifaifai) and then onto the Textile Biennale ( formerly Quilts en Beaujolais which is what everyone still calls it) in Beaujolais with the Aussie Bush Project!, and then a quick catch up with my friends in Le Triadou and  Moux and then onto Austria for more teaching.

Traveller's Blanket On-line Class
I have had a lot of emails from people asking  if I will be running the Traveller's Blanket on-line class again. Initially I thought I would not , but I have spent a  lot of time rewriting and making the content reflect current work and am still writing an entirely new lesson 4. So I have decided to run another on-line course starting 7 April. I have been asked why I call these works blankets- and the reason is that someone once called my work blankets- so being a bit tongue in cheek that is what I have called these works. They are intensely stitched and grow as you stitch- they are such an investment of time and love and contemplation they really do take on a life of their own. They are a slow process  and it is an incredibly soothing process- I lose time in a good way and the work has built, and the story has increased in that lost time- it is like taking some moments away from our ever busy lives and just stitching, enjoying the rhythm and the story as it develops. If you are interested in joining the class please email me and I will send out an information sheet .