Exhibition in Le Triadou

Last night was the Vernissage of the exhibition Anne Deckers, Liwanag Sales and i are having in Le Clastre in the village where I have been staying.I had taught near Valence so i was a bit exhausted when I got back  and unfortunately no sales ...sigh i wish there would be an upturn in the economy- it surely is tough if you are an artist trying to sell work and make a living. Some people said my work was expensive- but I dye and print and then stitch- i work all week, sometimes way more than that, and I don't think I am even earning a living wage or what is considered to be a living wage and yet living costs keep escalating whilst artists' income diminish.

Anyway onward and onward- I am doing a dyeing and printing demonstration later today and I have to get the stuff together for that- and then I have to start packing. I hope the TGV is running on Wednesday.

Anne Deckers, myself and Liwanag Sales

In front of my traveller's Blanket- there was an occasion recently when I was very glad I was a quilter and not a canvas painter. I drove around and around trying to find a hotel and they were all booked full- so i had to sleep in my car and the temperatures have been very cold recently- I was very glad to have quilts in my car and use those and my traveller's blanket was one of those because it is so soft and drapey.

Gallery view- I love the stone walls- textile and stone walls are just wonderful together!

Gypsy Blanket #2

It is finished! The sleeve is done and even the labelling is done!I even included a coqueclicot print. I feel that this work really represents a lot of how I feel these days and i hope it keeps up!There is a good rhythm to my daily endeavours- early morning walk with the dog through the vineyards in view of Pic St Loup, fruit for breakfast, work, lunch french style, more work,  apero's, dinner french style ( I love rocquefort!) some computer time or reading and sleep. I hope I can keep this rhythm up as I have also lost weight- all good things.

Now all i have to do is find a house to live in  back in Australia... I am thinking about Clifton Springs if i can afford it sigh...... I am also working on a book proposal so keep your fingers crossed for me. I have also been applying for jobs back in the legal world- but they don't even bother with a response...  I guess I have been out of it too long- as if you lose all that experience.

Penchant for Cathedrals

My absence has been due to teaching commitments- which I have enjoyed very much!

One of my favourite cathedrals in France, is the cathedral in Laon. I came upon it  some years ago whilst driving at night trying to get to  Holland. The cathedral was lit and sitting on a high sort of cropped hill- well that was enough, I had to stay in that town and see it in daylight. I have been twice before but today as i raced along the paege ( which is very expensive) I could not resist the temptation for another visit. It houses one of the black madonnas and really the facade with its three  porches and very fine towers, is   a wonderful exemplar of restrained gothic architecture even though it's quite ornate. It was damaged in the french revolution.  Building commenced sometime in 1155 and was completed in the next century and some of the animals that adorn the towers are a memory of the animals that helped build this cathedral. This basilisque and the one in Vezelay are amongst my favourites in France. I have not seen them all- the gothic ones I mean, but quite a few and somehow these two really  just capture my imagination.

Exhibition, Exhibition, Exhibition and Atelier Launch!

Atelier Printemps Sacré is the name of the atelier my friend Liwanag Sales, Anne Deckers  and I are setting up.If you are in the area on 30/31 October or 1 November please drop by at la Clastre in Le Traidou.

We are also going to be making one off art to wear as well as art textiles.

Oh and i did not miss seeing all the big tourist sites in Barcelona- just this trip - but I saw some wonderful other things!

Back from Barcelona

I had a wonderful time in Barcelona- and did  not really do any of the touristy things. First of all i was teaching so that took up time, but also because I stayed in Sarria, which once was a village in the hills outside the centre of Barcelona, but which is well and truly part of Barcelona now . I really enjoyed sensing the city as the locals might instead of the great tourist whirlygig. So i walked, drank coffee and the occasional glass of wine, ate food with the locals and looked. I did go into the centre so see La Pedrera, but there was a queue and I couldn't be bother waiting in the queue so I headed back to Sarria.

This was the little courtyard of the apartment where I stayed. I think the big citrus tree looked to be a clementine tree. The tiled water trough boasted tiles dating from the 17th century which had been rehabilitated form an old kitchen.

This photograph is of a building on Carrer La Provenca.I just happened to notice it when I walked past it and of course could not resist looking and taking a photo- I was very quickly told this was not allowed though I am not exactly sure why- possible to stave off the tourist hordes?

The footpath tiles near la Pedrera- inspiration enough even without the famous building!

And I have been sewing like the blazers since being back on the Gypsy blanket #2. Here you can clearly see the contrast of stitched areas as opposed to non-stitched areas.The stitching simply adds so much extra interest and texture.... Still a lot fo stitching to go and on Monday i have to drive to the Evry. There are still places in the class at Palaisseau- if anyone is interested.

Autumn- and Thoughts of Going Home

They say hereabouts,that  when Pic St Loup is shrouded in cloud it will rain. So far no rain and certainly not on my walk. How the colours have changed in just a few weeks. It was dark and gloomy when I went out this morning, I could hear the gunshot of hunters, and even encountered one. Would love to have taken his photo as he was all fitted out in his hunting gear including his dog with a bell.

I have to start packing everything up for my return to Australia- it's quite a task as I have gathered things in order to be able to work and luggage allowance is so limited that i can only take so much and I must admit to having gone on a bit of a catalogue craze at Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork- they may have to form the library of our Atelier Printemps Sacre. I will continue to have some of my work for sale Aat Centre Europeen du Patchwork in Salleles d'Aude.

I head back to Australia on the 3rd of November and if anyone in Oz is interested in any of my workshops please contact me. I will be adding some new workshops when I have time to revamp my brochure of workshops.I will be living in the Geelong area when I find a house to live in.


Workshops Place Still Available for Workshops near Paris
I also have to teach some workshops and there are still some places available in the  following:
14-16 October 2010
At MJC Palaisseau ( near Paris)- 3 workshops, Form and Variation ( Investigations and abstractions on a theme), Serigraphy, Breakdown Printing ( Polychromatic printing) contact details can be found on Christine Moulin's website, and the dates are 14-16 October. So if you are at all interested these will be fun classes, and yes my time in france is unfortunately winding down.
12 October 2010
At Best of Quilting, Marcoussis
Pique Libre- one place left
21 October 2010
at Best of Quilting, Marcoussis
 Working and Stitching with Ravissent Lutradur

Another Gypsy Blanket

When I was at carrefour Europeen du patchwork i  was asked so many times whether the gypsy blanket I made for Aurifil was  for sale that i decided I would make another one, as I also need some larger pieces for our exhibition at le Clastre  in Le Triadou at the end of the month.

So I have been printing fabric for use, stitching the  fabric down and then free hand satin stitching it ( with  the open toed embroidery foot). I am free handing it because I like the slight unevenness of the line and well it just looks a bit more hand made.But it does take forever to do- detail stitching will go in tomorrow. I made a total hash of the backing, not sure what i was thinking, but it wasn't good, so will have to trip the whole back away from the stitched lines and then put on a new back.In the image above you can see the difference in the way it looks before stitching.

New Linocut and Autumn

Doesn't this paella look so yummy!I saw it at the St Gely market on Saturday.

Olive trees- still looking at how I might make an olive tree quilt- i love the shapes of the branches

The last of the grapes of the season- most of them have been harvested.

Yes that is my trusty friend the dog, on our daily walk this morning- she sat to wait for my whilst i took yet another photo  of Pic St Loup.

And last but not least- I have made a coqueclicot linocut- still playing with that idea, but it's getting there .

I have some  new books available of 72 More Ways- the french and coloured version- the cost is 30 euros inclusive of postage. I you are interested email me and I will sign your copy.

Ta Dum- 1000th Blog Post!

I can scarcely believe that i have done a 1000  blogposts! This is what i wrote on my very first blogpost:

I have finally taken the plunge to start a blog. It will be peripatetic as my life is. I travel, to teach and curate exhibitions of contemporary quilts which I occasionally take to Europe. I spend chunks of my life travelling with exhibitions loaded into my suitcase and two sets of clothes- can't fit more than that!When I come home again I need to regroup, so I often start by making things which are manageable in a day- hence the bookcovers, and I trawl through the books that offer inspiration- to get going again- and as I have a family I need to do some cooking too! 


In a sense little seems to have changed, my life is still peripatetic, I still curate exhibitions that travel in my suitcase, my wardrobe has not increased a great deal ( though I have promised myself to make some more clothes from the fabric I make, i still buy too many books- for example last night we visited Art Nimes and who could leave behind this hand printed treasure by Veronique Agostini??

it so makes me want to make hand printed books!!

But much has changed; I no longer have a home as such, though I have many places to stay. I am no longer married,at the moment my children are not living with me, though that will change when i return to Australia. I have written three more books, and am working on another book proposal, I am still trying to hang in there is a textile artist, but there are times when I am wondering why on earth I do this. I am still writing my blog after nearly 6 years, and many of you have travelled the highs and lows with me and have sent me messages of encouragement.For that I am so very grateful- they have been like rays of sunshine in what seemed at times to be a situation without resolution or answer.

But..... I am still making textiles and quilts and can't really imagine doing anything else.

People asked what the African painting technique- it is like yes the technique  is indeed like making paste papers except you do it with base extender and textile inks. I have been making a few  for use in the future.

And my favourite motif is still the pomegranate. This one fell off the tree in the heavy thunderstorm we had here last night. But now it is apero time with good friends and by that i include all of you too- sante! There is much to look forward to!

Back from Carrefour and Fabric Painting

Phew! Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork was hectic- fortunately I did get some help  from my friend Margo from Teinture Textile. Saw lots of people i knew and met some new ones. Delivered my Gypsy Blanket to Aurifil.

Now it is down to very hard work- working on my Syria book, a book proposal and an exhibition here in le Triadou at the end of October just before I return home. It will be our first exhibition as Atelier Printemps Sacre ( sorry can't find the accent thingie). I want to make a  lot of new quilts all inspired by being here this year! I kind of feel fueled up and ready to go!

Today I have been African painting fabrics to use in  work later on. It takes quite some time to paint these so i tend to spend a whole day or two making the fabric. Tomorrow i will do some dyeing.

And the pomegranate tree in the garden is spawning fantastic looking pomegranates! My favourite fruit and motif.

Help Needed at Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork

I will be  at Carrefour Europeen du patchwork next week with an exhibition entitled My PLace- It will be shown in  Eglise St Nicholas- number 13 on the route in Ste Croix aux Mines.


I had hoped one of my friends was coming over from England and that she could help me a few hours a day to mind the exhibition- as I have to give a lecture on the Saturday and  I will be book signing on the Editions de Saxe stand for my new book and demonstrating Pique Libre with a Bernina. However my friend is not attending.

Question

Is there someone there who could help me a few hours on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday? I have a name badge for another person which entitles you to free entry and also a meal. If you are able to help please email me.

Back in le Triadou

I have been back in le Traidou since late Monday night- those long haul flights certainly  take some energy. However the dog who lives here knows nothing of these things and she was ready for her morning walk regardless of the fact that it was hard to drag myself out of bed! Maybe it was a good thing because she and i do so enjoy those morning walks!

This morning Pic st Loup was looking rather sultry...

And the air has a freshness in it  that probably means summer is gone. The grapes on the  vines are ripening and taste deliciously sweet. This morning on my walk I breakfasted on a ripe fig, a small bunch of grapes, and some almonds and a hand full of blackberries. Strangely the dog likes blackberries too.

We are preparing for a wedding here this weekend- my friend with whom I am staying is getting married!

I did some linocutting when I was in Australia- I am adding some extra exercises to my on-line linocutting course. The first one I call wobbling the lines .

I used this  photo to create this linocut.

When you work form a photo the inclination is to make the  linocut look like the photo. There is so much detail in the photo that you would really need to make a very big linocut to do it justice. So i decided to select an element that pleased my eye and decided to wobble the lines to add character.This wobbling of the lines was inspired by the work of Rosario Morra. and also seemed to suit the gothic qualities of the building.

The second  image is about incorporating text and  pattern- it was inspired by the door on the cathedral Familia Sagrada and is just another example of the thoroughness of Gaudi's designs

I made this linocut from the image above:

I normally print on fabric but printed these on paper as i had no  textile ink/paint to print with. I can see myself doing a lot more printing on paper.

Heading Back to France Tonight

I don't know where that month went but it is time to head back to France. I seem to have done a lot of running around and feel like I haven't achieved much at all and I have to hop straight back into work when I get back to le Triadou.

To show I haven't been idle i did  dye some fabric...... to sell at Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork

I have also done some linocuts but I will show them another time when I get the chance to print them on fabric.

This koala was encountered on the road at night near Gellibrand. You rarely see them and this little chap sat and posed and then ambled off into the trees.

This little blue wren decided to use my car mirror as his special grooming aide the other day. The blue of his coat is actually a much deeper colour than in the photo- it's a very beautiful blue colour ( eat your heart out Yves Klein). This is the male of the blue wrens, the ladies are much plainer- it is said that 90% of the progeny that is produced in his little troupe of women are actually by males outside the troupe.....so all that grooming has little effect ....

And last but not least- gorgeous magnolia's in my mothers' garden.

72 MORE Ways Not to Stipple of Meander in French and in Colour!

Here it is - finally 72 MORE Ways  in French and in colour. My french version of my first 72 Ways book is now out of print and this book has been released in time for the Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork. I love the styling they do of the photographs, it makes the whole quilt look so French! Thank you Clarisse and the team at Editions de Saxe.

I am also getting close to having a linocutting book done, I have been working on  more exercises- but because of coloured photos ,it is not something I can self publish unless it is on cd/dvd.I was really surprised to see a number of images for the on-line linocutting class appear when I googled linocutting- very satisfying to see the  participants linocuts and prints stand up so well with other linocutting images!

Syria and silk

I have not got the right adaptor plug to charge the battery for my camera- so I cannot take photos. So I am sharing some of my encounters with textiles in Syria on my recent Creative Arts Safaris trip.

Silk was once a trading  product produced in Syria and much of the lush Ottoman  silk fabrics which one can still encounter in museums, were  produced in Syria. There was a thriving silk industry which has dwindled to perhaps half a dozen producers in  small villages in the countryside..We have been lucky to find one of the artisans and to be able to see the whole process from mulberry leaf to silk worm to spinning the silk yarn to weaving and the creation of scarves and crocheted tops.

The white mulberry tree the leaves of which are used to feed the silkworms.

Silk worms feasting on mulberry leaves on specially made dishes which prevent the worms from escaping.

The worms beginning to spin their cocoons.

The cocoons once they have been collected- could you not have fun with these!( I am of course thinking dye and colour)

In the spinning process the silk thread is wound onto a wheel for easier reeling afterwards. I love that  this family used such simple but effective equipment- no  whirring machines here, just age old equipment.

The silk  wound onto reels.

Weaving the silk on a narrow loom which has been sunk into the ground. This family has been weaving for many generations and it is being passed on to the children.

Voila - finished products- all hand made!
I loved being able to see this whole process, I know you can read about it in books, but it is not the same somehow. Of course a wonderful hand woven scarf, made wider with a crocheted seam had to come home with me and thank goodness I have had it in this cold nasty and wet winter weather!The family were hospitable and  passionate about their silk. Of course we were treated to a cup of coffee and traditional home made biscuits!

If you are at all interested in the tour of Syria more information can be  obtained from Creative Arts Safaris- I will be your creative tutor on the trip!

In Australia it's Cold!

I finished this little bag a couple of days  before I left France for Australia.

Thank you everyone who sent condolence wishes, it is much appreciated.. I tried to reply to everyone personally but some I can't as the  reply is no reply.The funeral  was last friday and took a lot of organising, and also settling affairs it all takes time.

I have a really urgent request. A friend in Redcar, England carried the My Place quilts in her luggage to help me carry over so many things late last year. I haven't had a chance to visit her to pick up the quilts ( Redcar is in the north about an hour and  a bit from Leeds) I was supposed to have taught a workshop there tomorrow and pick up the quilts but because of circumstances i cannot do that. Is there anyone out there who could bring the quilts from Redcar to the Festival of Quilts where they can deliver them to a friend who will take them to Belgium for me? I know it is a long shot but i thought it worth asking.

Sadness

I am heading home to Australia for 3 and a bit weeks- my mothers long time partner Serge Lajoie passed away very suddenly whilst they were holidaying in his favourite spot in Queensland. He made  my mother very happy, he was a loving grandfather for my children and now I will never see him again. Vale Serge you were truly a gentle man.

Teapot and Rosewater Jug

it is a while since I made a teapot and Rosewater Jug piece. I actually had to make a new linocut as my old linocut is still in Australia, and I accidentally reversed it. Anyway this piece has been printed on lutradur and has been machine stitched. It measures approximately 20 cm square and is for sale for 45Euros.

I have also been making pomegranate pieces as well- it is nice to mix  up the sewing. this one measures 23cm square and is for sale for 45 Euros. The pomegranates have been hand printed and the piece has been machine stitched.

This little piece is entitled Little Fairy Forest.It measures 15cm x 15 cm and is for sale for 30 Euros.

I went and picked up the Southern Lands exhibition from Centre European du Patchwork last Saturday. Unfortunately not many pieces sold but it does mean we have a smashing exhibition available for exhibition should anyone be interested.  The exhibition was very well attended and we received a lot of positive comments. so if you are interested in any of the things in this post please email me.