Travellers' Blanket On-line Class

I was not sure I would run another Traveller's Blanket on-line class this year, but a few people have expressed interest so I have decided to run another class starting 17 October.  The idea of a traveller's blanket is to tell a story by means of fabric, applique shapes and simple stitching. It is a meditative process as it takes time but the results from previous classes have all been stunning and very much expressive of the maker. When you give the piece a story it starts to take on a life of it's own and it starts to grow in its own way. It's a way of using precious scraps or mementos, of recording special interest or favourite things or favourite journeys. I have made more than a dozen over the years and each one is quite different yet the  idea is the same. I use simple stitches so that this type of stitching is accessible to everyone. I have this last week started another traveller's blanket- quite large- on hand dyed khadi with madder which I got from the Stitching Project in India, and whilst I had hoped that the colour would actually be a bit deeper- the cloth itself has already set out a challenge for me- the cloth demanded some kind of blue ( which had not been the intention)- and then because of all the climate change marches ( I went to the Melbourne one)- the blue fabric that jumped into my hand kind of reminded me of the way earth looks in photos from space. So this blanket will be "Earth Turning" Traveller's Blankets- containing many thoughts of how we can do better and do more and give children hoe for the future.

If you are interested in joining the class there is an information sheet I can send- just email me and I will send it. Cost of the class is $75AUS and the class  will run until close to Christmas time. I know it is a busy time of year, but not for everyone- so this might be a project to keep your hands busy! For some people this is  not the best time of year. I have added the Paypal button for ease  of payment but if in Oz  I can send bank details.

 

Progress in organising my things in the house  have been a bit slow. Did some house sitting for friends who live in the same town as my mother- who has been ill, so I was able to be with her during the day or some of it- but it meant very little work got done, and I was away from home. I am looking  to meet up with like minded textile people who live in the area, now that things are calming down a bit. I am still trying to decide  exactly where everything will live given I seem to have a lot of books which I can't part with- and also quite a lot of studio things. I will also be looking for a house sitter for next year ( from mid April until late June) so if you know anyone who would be interested please let me know. There is no animals at present and there won't be before I go away- hopefully there will be a bit of a vegie patch. Morwell does have its issues, but on the upside it has a very good and hourly rail service to Melbourne- and two excellent delicatessens because the town  has a large mid 1950/60's migrant population. They even sell dutch croquettes!

Whilst putting away things ( slowly) I can across a mini traveller's blanket I made whilst travelling on the train from Milan to Lyon  about four years ago ( I had been looking for this little piece ever since I got back to oz- it seemed to have disappeared out of my suitcase when I got back)

I stitched to a card from the Bologna Pinacoteca- it must have been the only sturdy paper I had on me.

It has almost been a year since treatment started for the cervical cancer I had. I saw my surgeon last week- he's a dedicated very nice man- and because I was in hospital longer than anticipated because of complications with my leg- I actually got to know the medical staff and nursing staff reasonably well and am very aware of what an awesome job they do at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne. I was apparently part of a trial ( i do remember signing something other than a surgery form, but perhaps I was a bit preoccupied) and the figures keep improving for early interventions. So listen to your body- if anything is strange at all go to your doctor, the sooner it's found the more hopeful the outcome. On the whole recovery has been as good as it can be- but every now and then I do feel weary- there has been so much that has happened since October last year. Radiotherapy, whilst trying to tidy up the block in Gellibrand as it sold, trip to East Timor,  my father died whilst i was in East Timor , trip to Europe, back to Oz for the Boneca de Atauro ladies to attend AQC, back to France for Pour l'Amour du Fil and some teaching , then back to Oz to find a house and then doing cosmetic stuff in fixing up the house, and now I am trying to build a bit of a vegie patch, clean up the ivy in the garden, and start on new work for Rijswijk ( Quilt Dagen) in the Netherlands  2020. So a lot to look forward to as well.

If anyone is interested in my teaching any classes in Europe from  late April until late June- I will be there and have some free weekends or week days to come and teach your group or in a shop.