Rainbow Maze, where to now?

Just as well I am a much better quilter than I am a photographer!
The quilt went to Melbourne for the Australian Quilt Market and I haven't heard back what happens next. 

Here are some quilting details: using variegated thread and a fly machine stitch. I made a template from the piecing templates. 

Rainbow Maze is finished and gone!

Centre is finished

The centre has been done. All applique has been stitched on in black blanket stitch and reactions have been excellent.
My quilting group christened the quilt : Rainbow Maze. 

I made a border with some of the left over Bali Pops, but I am disappointed in how it looks. 

There is going to be a 2" strip of background between the edges of the rings and the strip pieced border, but I still feel it won't look as I was hoping for.

What looks like a black strip, is in fact a dark navy.

It is back to the drawing board to find a better solution, I may even cut that strip piecing in half lengthwise to tone the clunkyness down somewhat. 

Centre of quilt together, flowers pinned on

Here is the main part of the quilt, borders will be added to this.

It is stitched, ready for the flowers.

I've pinned the flowers and leaves on, but I am not quite satisfied with the lay-out. I wanted to get away from the square design, by which I mean I started by added four sets of leaves. 

Next I pinned on 3 large flowers in the centre.

Now, how do you change a design of 4 to a design of 3?

I don't know yet.

I also think it needs another flower shape. 

I found the samples Victorian Textiles had sent me and tested out the various products. I just loved, loved, loved printfuse. You print your design, like the flower elements, on the printfuse with your printer. Cut and fuse to the design fabric  as per usual and you don't only have an iron-on patch, this patch sticks to the background temporarily and can be moved about. 

A pity I only had two sheets, I definitely will make sure I keep this product handy. 

Nearly assembled!

OK, I really hoped my top would be together, but I am starting to make mistakes and unpicking isn't much fun. 

I wasted a couple of hours trying to design a template for the plain centre circle, but in the end, it didn't seem totally accurate when I checked it with the other templates.
I went back to my original plan: use a finished ring as a template.

The interesting thing  ( or challenge, if you like) is that this is not a perfect circle, but has 4 straight sections where they are stitched to the squares.

In the end, it wasn't a problem. 

I probably have a couple of hours to go and the 9 rings will be together and  squared off ready for the appliqué!

And speaking of unpicking: don't take your frustration out on the fabric or the stitching, but unpick gently, tremove the bits of thread  and press fabric to bring it back to its original crispness. 

Good progress

Here are the elements pinned to my design wall. 

 OK, I am still pining for an on point design, but I underestimated the background fabrics required and I would have needed additional fabric. I really can't  afford the time it would set me back waiting for that, so it will be a straight design. 

At the moment I am waiting to hear from VT whether or not they will provide the templates to square off the rings before adding a border. 
This can be done with template cut pieces or I can simply appliqué the rings onto the borders. Either will work. I might even use the one-piece arc piece to cut fusible, trim the seam allowance off the rings and machine appliqué them as per usual, using a blanket stitch, same as I will use for the flowers I will appliqué. 

I like the idea that I use what is left over of the Bali Pops, either or both in the binding or maybe an extra border.  

Here is the first completed ring:

The project needs four of these, which will be rotated in the quilts as per the picture above.

I love scrap double wedding ring quilts  ( or any quilts for that matter) because of the visual movement they provide. They make your eye go around the surface. I hope the shop keepers and quilters also like it. 

I also enjoy the technicality of this design and it was always one of my favourite workshops, as people would come to the workshop full of doubts that they would be able to master what does look so complicated and then walk out confident that they too can stitch a Double Wedding Ring quilt. 

I used the Bali Pops in the order they came. I could have maybe created more of a colour wash effect, but I loved the look of the Pops as they were arranged and decided to go with that. I was two colours short, in other words, 2 of the colours are used in more than one colour way, but I challenge anyone to pick them!

I think tomorrow I have to work on the SASI newsletter, the Somerset Art Society, but hopefully I can do at least another ring...or even two....

New project

I am so excited to be creating a new Double Wedding Ring project for Victorian Textiles, to be ready in time for the Australian Quilt Market next month! No pressure ...
I have been working on the design for a while, but today the gorgeous Bali Pops  arrived: 2.5" strips to use for the arcs in beautiful rainbow colours  and Bali Snaps, 5" squares I will use for the flowers, plus the background, a colour called 'Dewdrop', soft hand dyed of blue  splotches and swirls on a white background. 

The idea is 3 x 3 rings, but the centre is just a plain circle for some appliqué, which of course I will do in my favourite machine trapunto.

Some arc pieces

Here are some of the arc pieces. This Bali 1895 fabric is so lovely and crisp, 

a pleasure to cut and sew. 

The Double Wedding Ring  will be cut using the super templates by Victorian Textiles.

Here I am cutting the Melon shapes: note the smaller cutting board, it allows me to turn it instead of having to turn the partly cut patch and maybe shift the fabric. 

Can you spot the difference between these two images?

On the top each ring consists of four arcs, each in a different colour group.

On the bottom, each ring repeats the same arc four times.

At the moment, I prefer the bottom one...

Mini Masterpieces

This was an initiative of the Hampton Festival Committee.
Artists could collect up to two A5 canvasses. There was no charge, no entry charge either. They would be offered for sale for $30, $5 commission.
After asking around, we entered eleven pieces by 6 artists. Two were sold, including one of mine, which was amazing.

I had neither the time nor the motivation to create something totally new.
I found a glasses case I had made from a piece of textile art done at a workshop by Gabriella Verstraeten, many years ago. BTW: a wonderful tutor!
I covered the canvas with some fabric and simply glued the piece on and titled it 'Gabriella'.

For 'Pansies' I covered the canvas with a pink

velvet. Next I found some yoyos I had made years earlier and glued them on. Initially I was going to leave it at that, but then decided to use acrylic paint to give it some extra effect. Inspired by Somerset Art Society president, Jan Godfrey, who, in turn, learned it in Morocco. That was really fun...I should use that technique again,


'Pansies' was sold! The whole exhibition of about 100 of these Mini Masterpieces looked fantastic and we will file the idea away to use sometime in the future.

Back from Contextart

What can I say?
I enjoyed the class with Liz Maidment and I will try to complete the little project sooner rather than later. I learned some new embroidery techniques,  Liz was a charming and helpful tutor  and I enjoyed the company of my fellow students,

My thanks in particular to Barbara, who provided transport to get me from the house in Wentworth Falls to the school at Hazelbrook when she realised my situation, It was an easy walk from the house to Wentworth Falls station, but no way to get from Hazelbrook station to the Korowal School, except by car. It was left up to us to either find someone to give us a lift or use cabs. 

At other similar events I have attended, accommodation was either provided on campus or a bus provided transport for participants. This was the first time it was left to the individual students to manage how to get to and from the venue. Not good.

The knitting workshop just wasn't me. But Teresa Dair, our tutor, supported me when I decided to go freeform, giving me some lovely bundles of yarn to use. I started a piece that will go into Art Awards in July. 

I attended the Edwardian Night at Katoomba at the historic Carrington Hotel. The Embroiderer's Guild showed part of their collection of historical and vintage clothing complete with a running commentary that was both informative and entertaining. 

After two days of the four day workshop I couldn't go any further on my piece and I checked out of the school. 

Visited Wentworth Falls, Falls Gallery, Katoomba Cultural Centre and all the lovely shops along Katoomba Street. 

Ready for Contextart

Contextart is a textile event held in the Blue Mountains from 11-16 April.
I was originally booked into the two day workshop Stitched and Collaged Landscapes with Liz Maidment and four days with Fiona Hammond,: Beading Embellishement for the creative fibre artist.
I had met Fiona only recently at the Brisbane Stitches and Craft show and seeing her work in person, I couldn't wait to do the classes. Unfortunately, she had an accident and I had to choose another workshop. Not easy, with only 2 days left to source any material I might need.

I picked http://contextart.com.au/shop/jewellery-interior-design-and-more/ with Teresa Dair, because all I had to bring was knitting needles.
Knitting? Moi???? Had to borrow the needles, mine had been thrown out years ago.
But hey, it might open another door for me, I might love it, I might see possibilities in it, who knows.

I did consider Ken Smith's class, Bracken, Lichen and Fungi.
I probably could have gotten a sewing machine through the local Bernina shop, I probably had in my stash everything on his long materials list, but with only two days left in which I had to get ready, including getting the SASI (Somerset Art Society) newsletter out, have a hair cut and try to get some internet.

I am with Westnet and on Friday morning,  now five days ago, we, here in Esk,  were  not only without landline nor ADSL, but my  mobile phone service was also very limited. I received emails, but could not send and could not open attachments, let alone use the phone to tether to my laptop. Yesterday morning I bought pre-paid Telstra wifi.

Boo to Westnet, Telstra and Optus who did not work together to avoid this disaster for our area and/or provided better support.

Somerset Art Awards 2015

As well as an independent textile artist, I am also treasurer and newsletter editor of Somerset Art Society Inc. which is based in Esk, Queensland, Australia.  This is a dynamic organisation and  we're right in the middle of organising our second Biennial Art Awards.

Here's a photo of the 2013 event, held in our beautiful Somerset Civic Centre. 



Important dates: 
1 July: entries close
24 July: Gala Opening
25-26 July Exhibition: free admission
25 July Art and craft market in the foyer
Go to website for more details.

Where are my Spectrum Spiral Quilts?

Thanks to Kerrie Hay at Bernina Sewing Machines, seven of my Spectrum Spirals are now on their way to Jenny's Sewing Centre in Angaston, in time for the Barossa Valley Vintage Festival.
Three others are hanging at the office of Jim Madden MP, Brassall.
Thank you Jim, Kerrie and Jenny, I so enjoy having my quilts on display!
All Spectrum Spirals and their story is on my website
Here is one of my favourites.

Handing over the ACE Quilt

Here's the quilt finally being handed over to the Ipswich Hospital. I am  in the centre, Dr. Alison Cutler on the left, Carol, nurse manager of ward 7C on the right. (19 Dec 2014)
It was a lovely morning and my quilt and me were made very welcome and appreciated!

 A nice finish to a project I really enjoyed and was really happy with in the end.