At Last I've Started Putting Stuff on my Crazy Quilt Site

It's only the beginning, but go see -> -> ->

or

Follow the Link on the side bar -> to Robyne Melia's Crazy Quilt for even further updates.

I'll get my big quilt soon, and post details.

I'm so Proud of my One True Love!

You must have a look. Go see the other Varporium sites too. They're in the side bar.

He's my fella, and I've got a shiny patch on my shoulder from reflected glory.

Teri put me onto Gee's Bend Quilts, and what a compliment! Thanks Teri. You are my new best friend!

I've always loved the raw, the utility, the scrap. I've seen African American quilts before and been hugely impressed by their vitality. Early Australian Wagga's can be a bit similar, though usually sombre in colour on account of the fabric (often) being tailor's samples or suiting scraps. Once again, it's the 'building' of a piece that gives a certain directness to the outcome. Evolved rather than planned or orchestrated.

Go have a look at the Wrapping Cloths from the Chohan Dynasty in Korea for a similar though world's apart sense of movement and dynamo hum. I've scanned Google for an appropriate link, but can't find much. I have a book called 'Rapt in Colour' which is worth buying sight unseen, it's packed with wonders to change your perception. It changed mine anyway... or the exhibition did. It really did totally change my method of working, and whilst you mightn't recognise my work as being of the genre, it stems from the exhibition and the overwhelming sense of discovery in engendered. I could say that these Wrapping Cloths are as incredible and important as the Amish quilts. As modern. I think the Choson dynasty was around about our Victorian era...?

I was going to put a link to the Australian Quilt Register's Wagga info page too, but I disagree with their synopsis of the history so I'm not! I've been teaching and listening to stories about Wagga's for a very long time, and believe the origin and perpetuation of the name to be broader than their story.

I've just got a good photo of my earlier Wagga's from Robyn Jacobs which I'll scan and post . Soon. They were heavily embroidered, and I still teach the method, though I have changed my own approach.

It's all good fun isn't it? This sewing caper? We love it don't we.

I have finished making our very dear friends' wedding present, a Wagga. The best yet I reckon.

The back is just as nice as the front even if I do say so myself. I'm not bragging because it's the beauty of the fabric and the lovely colours that makes it so gorgeous. I have come to feel that the back needs almost as much attention as the front, which makes for more work, but also more satisfaction. Something that compliments and accentuates the front, rather than just 'matches'. This orange wool,and the grey blankets have a bluish cast over them, and so the fabrics that looked best out of my vintage collection were browns and blues.

This is my absolute favourite Wagga to date. The current project always is though. I kept saying "I love doing this", and it was true. I enjoy 'building' the pieces much more than planning from the beginning. My fella and I thought we should keep it, but then if I didn't think that, I wouldn't consider it a good gift. It's a paradox... if it's no good I don't want to give it away/sell it, but if it's great I really want to keep it. I'll have to make another for us, and then of course it will supercede A&Y's to own the top, best, favourite position.

It'd be great to teach the method, but I'd need a lot of room. At Geelong College a couple of years ago, I did teach the students this way of building in a huge hall where we could spread out, it was brilliant. The fun of it was infectious and we had the most popular group in the 'Art Week' pavillion. Hopefully some of those kids will take the idea into their future somehow.

Just Uploaded My Pictures...

Aah! it feels good to have gotton around to stuff!

Go and have a look at my pictures. The moods vary, so don't be frightened.

This picture here was inspired by a time when we (Titchy Rowe and I) were caught playing along the trainline when I was a very little girl. Little enough to believe Mum when she said a little bird had told her. There were so many birds down the bush, it was no use, I thought, we couldn't get away with anything. I can still remember the vision of little birds flitting about that passed through my mind.

When I made this lino cut, I gave one print to Mum and Dad. Mum said she'd been fooled by the same story when she was as small. She was with a little friend, and they decided to go an absolutely forbidden way home from school. It was past the air raid shelter, during war time. Mum said they stood there in the forbidden, exciting place, and said every swear word they knew... 'Stick it up your jumper', 'Gee Whiz', 'Holy Cow', 'Strewth', 'Sugar'. Then a bird flew off and she was sure they were sprung. She was petrified for weeks!

These are my Favourite things Ever...

I have to create a link to these Beautiful Blossoms. They're going down the page on the 'Bobby La's New Junk & Blather' link in the side bar ---> ---> and I love them too much to let it happen. If you have any you want to swap for some cards or a pattern, send me a pic and we'll begin the negotiations. I'm fussy though I'd better warn you!

Had a little success....

Sold a drawing today! Was a bit (a lot) surprised. I'd entered the Linden Postcard Exhibition ages ago, and put off doing anything about it, and put it off... Finally I drew this drawing with no time to spare, and tickled up an oldie for the second drawing.... Really, I needed to develop the idea for a few more drawings to get where I'd wanted to go... but didn't leave enough time. Typical. I didn't think it was good enough, but someone liked it! Ha!