The value of keeping records.

 I was looking for some information about doing an animal image today and remembered that I had done a few experiments on it in the past. I couldn't find any links that I had saved in my folders, then remembered this blog and how I think of it as a visual diary. 

Lo and behold: I found the relevant pages: here and here (I note that it was in the pre-Covid, more creative times).

So now I am going to try to be a bit more updated and post what I am doing. 

It has been bit of a struggle to be creative these last few months but I have persevered and managed some things. 

My most recent thing is to have done a wall hanging quilt for an upcoming exhibition. I just have to decide which exhibition to put it in. 

It was designed for the AQIPP exhibition that is coming up, the theme being Unfolding. I have made my image based on flowers unfolding from the buds. 

I also came across an old piece I did a few years ago, a folded book, done in fabric. I rather like it and may try to make a slightly bigger one (to fit the size requirements) but there isn't a lot of time left, so I will see what eventuates, try not to stress myself. 

It is actually good that I have kept the blog - I couldn't remember how I had done it - now I can see what I did!

Out and About

 I have been to a couple of exhibitions in the last few days - trying to get some creative interest going but also to see some wonderful work! 

Yesterday I went to the Australian Tapestry Workshop to see the Kate Derum and Irene Davies awards for small tapestries. I had seen the online exhibition and opening but it was SO much better to see it in person. 

I thought the voting for the public's awards was shut but found this on Facebook just now: it is a link to the event and then the voting button is further down. 

Having seen them in person, I was able to go back and see them and know which ones resonated with me when I could almost touch them. So I have voted. 

I actually know a few of the people who have put works into the exhibition but I didn't let that influence me, I went with the one that had the most to say to me. (No, I am not going to say what I voted for.) 

I saw one piece by K Spoering and thought, I know that name! Then I realised that is it someone whose blog I have followed for years! 

I took some photos but didn't get the names of the artists, so I won't post here. You will just have to go the site to see them. 

However, I did get the names of some artists at the AQIPP exhibition that I visited the day before. I have posted already about the wonderful online recording that is available but, as usual, there is nothing quite like being there in person. 

The exhibition has been extended till February, so take the chance to visit, if you can.

There was a great variety of interpretations and techniques. I found it very inspiring. A lot of the artists were affected by the lockdowns caused by Covid 19. Some were sadder than others. But they were all very interesting. 

I really liked the piece of dyed silk that wafted over the background. 

This one was interesting to me, especially, as I have recently done the Cas Holmes online course and there was quite a focus on using paper collage as the background. 

I found the artist statement 'spoke' to me. And the combination of machine and hand sewing was lovely. 

Amazing Virtual Tour AQIPP

 I received this link today: AQIPP 2021

The AQIPP show is at the Box Hill Town Hall, not far away. I will try to see it in person soon.

Here is a screen shot of my piece, from the virtual tour.

Mine is the middle one, of course, the one you can see all of. 
I don't know that names of the other artists, hopefully I can find out when I visit. 

The virtual tour is amazing - how much has technology advanced in our lives recently?? And how much have we learnt to use it? It has allowed people to attend events that they otherwise would not have seen. Today I attended a Zoom meeting for our local tapestry weaving group and one person was in NSW, she is very unlikely to be able to get to our small in person meetings. 

I also got to the Handweavers and Spinners Guild to pick up my tapestry from the Bendigo Wool show, which was cancelled the day before the public could go, in June or July (it is so long ago that I can't remember). 

There was a certificate and ribbon with it - very pleasing. 

Ideas drifting up in the mind.

 How could I not post today? 12/11/21. 

So ... what to post about?

I am still in the doldrums a bit but am slowly seeing some ideas emerge. 

We have a newish puppy (6 and a bit months old now) and we have had to put some cardboard boxes in places to keep her from investigating the electric cords too closely. I have been asked if I could make a piece to take the place of the boxes. 

It will be reasonably large and will need at least 3 panels. So I will have to devise how to do it and an image or images. Finally, a challenge that interests me - and has a place to go.  (Although I hate that question people ask about textiles But What is it FOR?? I tend to ask it of myself at times.)

I am thinking of doing something along the lines of work I have done arising from the Kim Thittichai workshop I did years ago as well as one by Kay Khan. 

Both classes were several years ago and are not precisely what I want but they did have reasonably thick bases that could be converted into a standing piece. They can be my inspiration. 

I also have ideas surfacing from some Olga Walters classes I did. Here's hoping something comes of these rather vague ideas. 

On another note, the AQIPP exhibition opened today. I have a piece in it, is a small wall hanging. I hope to get there in the next few days to see it in situ. And to see all the other works. I have seen the exhibition in other years and have loved it. But I have never entered it. I was very chuffed to have my piece accepted. 

The title was Where is the World? and I was inspired by the flowers in our garden! Silver Princess. Very Australian image, I think. 

Trying to work out what I want to do!

 I am trying to get motivated to do a wall hanging. 

There is a call for entries for the AQIPP exhibition later this year. The theme is Where in the World?

Or I may make something for the Alcove Art Shop's winter exhibition. I have nothing new for it, so should get making. 

I thought I would do some grevillea images, using photographs I have taken in the last year, mainly due to the lockdown and lots of local walks. 

I have had the photos printed up bigger and then used a lightbox to trace them. Then I have traced that onto to Vliesofix and ironed it onto some fabric. So far, so good. The images are not very big, so the cutting out has taken a while. It takes up to an hour for each piece. 

They are turning out ok. But ... I don't really have a plan for how I am going to use them. 

I found an old article about doing something similar with a New Zealand plant, each one done on an individual piece of fabric, then put into a lovely design. I did my usual thing of starting without really knowing where I am going, so they may not fit the same size piece of fabric. 

And ... I have a piece that would be ok as a one-piece background. So ... I will continue to cut out some shapes and then decide what to do.

I have found lots of books on the shelf that I haven't used for years. It has been quite good to get them out and see what I might do. But then I get several ideas. Very confusing. 

I have also discovered that quite of few of my old books are about doing daily,  or weekly, or regular exercises to develop my practice. They are actually quite interesting and I have this, very mild, thought that I might try some. 

One other thing that has happened is that I am looking back at things I have tried in the past and am thinking to try some again. This blog is turning out to be invaluable, I have actually recorded some of the processes I have learnt at various classes and am thinking which ones I might try again. 

Therefore, I am going to put up some pictures of where I am at at the moment, even though it is not all that clear. I might want to look back one day and be reminded. 

So ...

Today I laid out some of the pieces I have cut onto a piece of fabric. I may go with this, I may not. Not to worry, I have recorded it!