Traveller's Blankets and Aussie Bush Project Going to Berry Retreat

A very quick  post as I am heading out to the airport to deliver some of my travellers blankets for an exhibition with Crossing Oceans a project organised by Jane Rollason in Prague.

But meanwhile am excited to announce that  the travellers blankets will be exhibited alongside the Aussie Bush Project at the Berry Retreat in Berry on 18-19 August so  you will be able to see them up close and personal. They are so different in real life as compared to photographs which show none of the texture.

I will also be teaching the travellers blanket class at the  Berry retreat- this  is the only time this year that I am teaching this class person to person- and it is very different  simply because  of the creation of texture and movement which you can't really see with the online class. I will also be teaching linocutting- so you cna make your very own linocuts which we will embellish after the retreat. Making your own linocuts enables you to make your own unique fabrics which can be incorporated into other work or embroidered any old how!

 Here is a little of the history of the blankets which also alludes to a history of travel and exploration like  the great travellers of the past like Marco Polo- if you were in the entourage and you could not write how would you have captured the  glorious textiles you encountered ( and which was mostly the reason for the journey)

Travellers Blankets (Plaids Nomads) began life in the early 2000's when I made my first one with fabrics I had purchased in Africa in 1990. Since then I have made various ones over the years , as they are a long process of stitching motifs and the background. I try and think of them as stories about a journey, as they are invested with heart and soul and often carry inspirations of my travels and many of them have been on journeys themselves in my bag or suitcase.

They marry my love of fabric and thread and storytelling. I would never write such an elaborate story but with stitch I can make dozens of stories each of itself but also a part of a larger piece. Some tell the story of journeys, for example the urchin one is about Atauro Island , others are about heritage and exploration.

And here are six of the finished blankets thus far.... there will be another four I hope!

I am also starting another on-line course for those not lucky enough to get to the Berry Retreat. It starts on 7April so there is still time to enroll! Just email me for the information sheet