Textile Art Festival

I went to the Textile Art Festival in Brisbane yesterday and I had the best time!
I have always loved books I can learn something from and I bought this book from The Thread Studio. They were the busiest stall: people waited 4 deep first to get to the merchandise, then to pay.
I also did a "Ratty Tatty Papers" workshop, one of those 1 hour events.
We made a silk sheet with coccoon strippings and silk rods.
We learned coccoon fibres are naturally gummy and the whole lot with embellishments just gets ironed between 2 sheets of baking paper.
I don't know yet what I will do with it.
A bought 6m of the newer fusible that isn't supposed to fall apart: applifix. Hope it works!
There were heaps of exhibitions and they were dispersed among the stall, so exciting.

But what was even more exciting was that Bernina had all their challenges on display, including mine: Bernina Bling.
It looked fantastic: on a black background, but without the hanger.
The story about this:
I am a "Bernina Friend". I am sorry people, not my choice of title. It just means I was a professional quilter who works on a Bernina. We get special days to try new machines etc.
Last year we were all invited to create something for the new machine. Rules were: make whatever you want to make, but it has to feature the logo (the stylized "8") and stick to the colours white, black, silver and red. All entries would stay with Bernina for 12 months (since extended) and be used at shows etc to promote the new machine.
Winner would win a new $10.000 machine. It had to be completed by the beginning of Feb. I was working hard on the quilt for Sjef and Saul, which had to be finished by Christmas. In January I inially thought I wouldn't be able to get it done, then I decided to just do a small one. not agonise about too much about it and I got it completed in time.
Meanwhile: someone is producing a book on these works and their makers and that will be published by October. The cover design was at the show yesterday, very classy.
So that was very exciting. There were some absolutely stunning designs for this challenge, including wearable art. The other great thing about yesterday's show was that I met so many old acquaintances to chat to, I thought I'd lose my voice! Some I hadn't seen for many years.
So a good day all around!
Today I am going to start on the Aussie Quilts for 3 babies in Holland. Test out the new Applifix!