More fabric Cats

 

I have been making some more cats-I just needed to sit and do some hand sewing. I have also been working on my resume- it takes a lot of time- I have never been so conscious of chosing the right words that describe what i do.

Shirley asked if I was stitching over the same lines in the gypsy pieces several times. The answer is yes but I also double thread the top of the machine whenever I can- two threads one needle- it creates amuch thicker line and also I can use two slightly different colouts which gives a nice play of colour in the stitched line. it does create a bit of havoc with tension sometimes, but as I am not a perfectionist about the backs of anything I do, I just wear that!

Gypsy Moments and Coral Variations

 

 

 

I have been seriously sewing, but got a bit bored doing the coral variations, so decided to make some collages from scraps of hand-dyed and printed fabrics. I always keep the red/orange and dark scraps. These collages remind of a gypsy dance- rich and lively- duende- flamenco. They are for sale at %50US each ( and are about 22cm square- or b 1/2 inches). The price does include postage. And then I decided to do some more coral variations so these are #15 and #16. The price is the same as the Gypsy Moments.

Coral Variation #14

 

Another day; another coral variation.This one is quite intensely coloured. Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. I know things could be much worse, but on the other hand I do hope things will improve from here because the last year is one I would much rather forget. And sometimes it is hard to see good things in all that's gone on. Most of what has happened is in my personal life, but my professional life seesm to have gone on despite it all and despite my barely hanging in there at times. All in all when I look at what sort of quilt year it has been it's actually been better than I thought. I went to Syria and France with the Sense of Place Exhibition which opened at a Yarra Valley vineyard in January of 2007.The exhibition got lots of positive comment and feedback and we sold quite a bit of work from the exhibition in France. I got invited to exhibit in Munich next year at Textil und Kunst. Across Australia was shown in Australian venues, my book continued to sell well and I got a contract with Editions de Saxe- the Magic Patch people. I taught at Val D'Argent with full classes for 3 of the 4 days and I got invited to be part of an exhibition entitled Pierre organised by the Atelier of Genevieve Verriere an art quilt group from near le Mans. I did quite a lot of teaching around Europe, though I scarcely did any in Australia though I continue to get weekly emails from people asking when and where am I teaching in Australia. Other things are afoot for 2008 if I can manage to stay with the game.Oh and I am still writing the lutradur book with Marion Barnett- honest!

So my plan- is anyone interested in doing one or two weekend workshops in Gellibrand in Janauary? We have a good caravan park- there is room to pitch a tent here if necessary, and the nature is beautiful!

Another three coral variations

 

 

 

As I said I intend to make 50 coral variations because they are in essence editions as they are lino printed. They are for sale for $50 US each, inclusive of postage.

I have over the years belonged to a number of lists, and I often hear the comments that people aren't interested in the personal chatter and they just want to hear about techniques and see techniques. I for one enjoy getting to know people better not only through their work but the trials and tribulations of how life affects their art output and focus ( I also enjoy reading biographies of artists ,and have learnt a lot about dedication and adhesion to principles and vision when often the art community ran completely counter and were often critical and often in the face of financial hardship).

I started life is a fulltime textile artist in 1993 , though I had always had something textile in my hands. At that time I had two little kids- and would often put the play pen in my work room- not for them ,but I would put myself and my machine in the playpen so they could rummage through all the fabrics in the room where I worked. Then I did a small business course and shortly thereafter had another child- three kids under 5. I kept going though, even though sometimes I was flat out getting a days work done in a whole week. Then we moved to the country- I was worried my fledgeling business would not survive-it did, but gradually making of quilts started taking over form filler business activities especially as kids started school. I always worked from home. When my youngest reached school age we went to France for 3 months and lived in a castle and as people in Europe got to know me more I started getting more teaching, and was fortunate to have several magazines do write-ups about my work. However all this takes a toll, and my husband and I have decided to split up, amicably. I am not sure how this will impact on my work. I shall have to go negotiate a loan so that I can put a house on the other block so that I can live there with my children. I may have to get a real time job to get that loan- though that might be difficult- it is nearly 20 years since I practised law, and what skills do I really have for out there, apart from those I use already and with which I don't earn enough to support my family in Australia ( that's why I teach overseas)- or I need to sell a load of my work and write another book.

Something will happen it always does, and I hope I can continue on with my work- others have done it, so surely so can i.

Coral Temptation

I coloured some more lutradur and printed it with the coral linocut. Not the best of jobs on a hot day as you heat transfer the papers onto the lutradur and for some reason I get much better colour with my iron than with the heat press. I also made another coral variation - and yep it's for sale! Plus I photographed a whole lot of them together and it is very tempting to make a really big piece like this- I like how they look together. I have to think of a Syrian themed pattern that I can make into a linocut and then I can use it for my exhibition in Munich next year- it certainly has that jewel/rich quality about it- souq impressions?

One More Coral Variation

 

 

 

 

The first two Coral variations from yesterdays post have been sold! I only made one today (and it is for sale for $50US inclusive of postage) as I had to take my machine to Geelong to have it looked at as it has a problem that rarely arises with a Designer II. It looks as if the problem may arise from my moving the fabric a lot when free machining therefore creating static in the lower part of the machine/bobbin case and that somehow shortcircuits the computer brain.So I guess I should take my own advise to students and take more frequent breaks! I had also broken my spring loaded machine foot- having sheared through the metal bar that sits on top of the needle screw- also likely to have occurred due to frequent use. I did find however that I can bring home the machine I won at Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork in September as the transformer will deal with our power. I had tried to sell it, but the person who was intereted really wanted to pay too little as far as I was concerned- I was happy to win it and that does not mean I am going to give it away.It is a Husqvarna Sapphire in case anyone in Europe is interested- the new machine with sensor foot and wider neck.

I did some more breakdown printing- the first photo shows the painted screen- then the breakdown printing - it looked too white so I over painted it with dye.

More Coral Variations

 

 

 

 

I have decided to make more of the coral variations- as editions much as you would lino-prints on paper- only difference is these have individually painted/transfer dyed backgrounds and are individually stitched. I coloured the background lutradur in these and like the variation in colouring this provides. These are also for sale for $50 US inclusive of postage. The variation from the day before yesterday is sold and there is a hold on the reddish one from the previous psoting of 3 variations.

Weekend Printing

 

 

 

As many of you know I live in the Otway Ranges in Victoria- an area which is one of the last reserves of semi-tropical rainforest in the world.It is the home of unique fauna and flora amongst which the platypus which is one of only two species ( the other being the echidna) that lays eggs yet suckles its young. It lives in the Gellibrand River and the creeks of the area. The animal is extremely shy ,and last year the Chief Sheik of the United Arab Emirates brought his family to enjoy the privilege of swimming with these creatures and observing them in their habitat near Forest.The whole ecosystem is in precarious balance as many of mans activities have impacted on habitat, water and climate and then there is the ever pervasive risk of fire in the summer months- add to this several drought years that has seen a lowering of the water table and you will see there is a need to protect this precious place. Much of this is subject to discussion and often standoffs between the different interests which exist in any community. However there has been one issue that seems to have galvanised everyone to express protest and has seen a willingness of different interests to work together to protect our most valaubale resoure- water. It has been proposed by Barwon Water to pump the Aquifer ( artesian water) in this region in order to supply greater Geelong and Melbourne. Everyone is aghast as the water table is in a precarious situation, but not only that it appears that no environmental impact studies have been done. So in the light of this members of the community have been working together to stage protest, to question and to activate the community.Recently a surprisingly large meeting was held in Gellibrand Town Hall to question Barwon Water and since then members of the community have been organising action.This weekend we printed t-shirts with a logo designed by another community member who chose the platypus as the symbol of protest. We have also set up a blog which we will fill with photos of the region, information on the region, its fauna and flora.

And as an aside I think it is criminal the size of the houses they are permitting to be built with often not two but three or four bathrooms. Cities waste huge amounts of water and really ought to give some thought to the impact of that use on systems outside of their immediate surroundings.Australia is a dry land an extremely dry land and water is not an endless resource but a precious thing that needs to be used carefully. So no aquifer pumping!

Another Coral Variation

 

 

I had intended to make quite a few more of these coral variations but unfortunately my machine is playing up and I only got this one done.It is a hassle as it is the same problem it had last time I had it seen to and that took more than three weeks to fix, because the service centre is so busy . I can't afford to be without my machine that long this time.I wanted to make these pieces to try and get together money to try and get to Europe for January where I have workshops organised. The red coral variation from the previous post is sold.The second photograph shows the transfer dyed lutradur.I also wanted to make more pomegranate cards and printed the fabric this morning- but they need to be stitched.

My contract with Editions de Saxe for a French version of a coloured 72 Ways Not to Stipple or Meander will go ahead but because the company has been taken over the timeline has been changed. I had hoped to have had part of my advance for publication by now as I have completed all the work and delivered it in September and delivered further drawings about a month ago.I am not sure when it will actually get published now either. I retained the rights for the english version until such time as they decide to publish it in English- but the english version is based on the black and white quilt and is available form me.

Coral Variations

 

 

 

I finally got out my machine yesterday- it has been nearly a month and I could simply not face it ( though I did do a bit of sewing on the machine I have my eldest daughters room- just straight seams). I had previously painted the transfer papers to print onto lutradur, and I finally did the transferring today, then decided I may as well do a bit of stitching. These are coral variations. I have made a lino cut and then transferred the print onto lutradur. I still have to do some of the satin stitching edging on two, but I am always surprised how different they look depending on the background fabric and colour thread you use. These are for sale and measure 8 3/4 inches square( 22 cm square) and cost $50US inclusive of airmail postage.

Khan Assad al Pasha

 

We are off and running with our Expressive Books group- and will set up a public blog once we area bit further along. But as part of my catalogue/ideas I have been playing around with images from Syria which I took earlier this year. This one is of the big dome of the Khan Assad al Pasha ( where the Across Australia exhibition was also shown in 2006).It is an old caravanserai from the eighteenth century and has been restored so it is in fabulous nick. My daughter and I saw some whirling dervishes there as well.

I have played around with my photo in photoshop- not altering the photo a great deal, but playing around with filters and then I printed it on my printer after having previously painted fabric with Matte medium from Inkaid.However I purcahsed mine from Zijdelings in Tilburg in the Netherlands.This stuff does alter the hand of the fabric and I am yet to try sewing it but the image is so well defined and the colour so good I am prepared to sacrifice some flexibility of the fabric. And Sue asked in the comments and seeing I am editing I thought I would answer here- I do back the fabric with freezer paper, but I have to say my printer is also a little sensitive to this sort of stuff so I take extra precaustions.I really like how clear the print becomes. Kathyanne White uses it in some of her work too- and it is worth having a look at her blog and website if you are interetsed in trying different mediums on fabrics and papers- and take a look at her hand made books as well!

And there is a blogreader form the Netherlands Antilles- I would love to know if you are a quilter? And for some reason Neoworx does not seem to recognise Lebanon as a country- I have someone who visits from time to time- but whilst sitemeter notes it Neoworx doesn't.

And Moving On

 

Thank you for all the complimentary comments about my mind map- I suppose I have always doodled so it seemed only natural to combine the two things. Doing it this way made me also think harder about what I might find visually in the ideas I wanted to work with- some will happen and some will not and yet others will use theideas as jumping off points. With that in mind i wanted to make some of the patterning of the bottom left hand corner of the map which is actually the pattenring of the cloak of Ibbit Lim of Ebla which dated from 1900BC. I must admit I just love the depth of history in a place such as Syria- and yet the patterns are still relevant today.I also liked that the clothing/cloaks of the time were so highly decorated, I can only imagine how beautiful they might have been. I did this patterning with breakdown printing- though I disappointed myself with being too rough in creating the patterning when painting the screen-in fact I nearly washed the screen- and then decided I may as well print with it to see what it would bring- going by the theory there is no such thing as a failed bit of dyeing.I do want to do the patterning again with a squeeze bottle so I can refine it better- but on the other hand once this was printed it was more interetsing than the painted screen might have suggested.

Mind Mapping

 

I have been creating a mind map with ideas for the work I want to create for my exhibition in Munich next year. I have decided to go with things relating to Syria- because the experience I had there was enriching and the textiles gorgeous. I also loved the layers of history, the myths, the legends, the architecture ( and I left a french book on Damascus at my aunts... i need it). I also want the map to be part of the catalogue I hope to create to go with the exhibition. Now I shall have to mosey on and dye some fabric- I especially liked some fabric I encountered in the Damascus msuem which dated form Roman times- it was indigo and red with ecru resists of some sort - though the fabric did appear to be painted-- I would love to have photographed it.

Tree ferns

The weekend before last we had a deluge of rain which caused the Gellibrand River to rise dramatically. A few days ago when I took my daughter for her driving lesson we went and looked at one of the camping grounds on the river and found this lovely tree fern. I love the fronds as they begin to unfurl- there is something really magical about them.

I tried some more breakdown printing yesterday - this time on silk, and the printing paste was thinner, so it bled more.

Someone asked how I got the rust effect- it really was just the combination of colours- which I painted on the screen and also dripped a layer on which I allowed to run- so I started with golden yellow , turquoise, and a reddish orange, the drips were in black and then I printed with golden yellow dye in the paste.Because I left it outside overnight the blue that is in the black mix bled into the rest of the dye so this was an accident as I forgot to bring the fabric in.

More Breakdown

 

I have been doing some more breakdown printing- part of the problem has been that the print paste has not been quite thick enough so that it spreads when painted on the screen. I may have to invest in a blender to get the right consistency. Oh and a little tip if you add a couple of drops of methylated spirits to the print paste it will keep indefinitely if stored in a cool place. I also accidentally left this piece outside last night so that the dew really got to it and it actually caused some very nice bleeding which I have accentuated with some over painting. This piece reminds me of rusted metal not unlike the piece I picked up on the beach at Porto San Giorgio in Italy. I can see some stitching goning into the flat mossy green areas- at the moment I am still procrastinating colour of stitching.

Blue Tongue Lizards

 

 

It was a stunning summery day today- I must admit I love it when the weather gets hotter . I mowed the lawn first thing- or when the grass had dried off a little- we have a lot of grass to mow as we have 2.5 acres ( a hectare) and we have had a lot of rain recently so that grass has grown a lot. And with summer comes the lizard and snake season so all the more reason to mow the grass- at least you have a chance to see anything scarey then. I found these three lizards engaging in goodness knows what under an old fashioned rose I have . There used to be only one lizard which we would encounter regularly but they seem to be multiplying. They say when you have blue tongue lizards the snakes keep away but I am not so sure about this as I remember snakes and blue tongue lizards from my Jerilderie days and tiger snakes took no notice of the lizards whatsoever. On the second photo you can see a bit of blue near the lizard's mouth as it is biting the other lizard- that is it's tongue hence their name.

I am mulling some work at the moment and setting up the book challenge project. I have to set the theme for my exhibition next year- I would really like to do something about Syria, but then to do something about the region where I live, is also tempting and it is a while since I have done anything about my surroundings. Maybe I will do both