Exhibitions in Brisbane and working bees with friends

I've had a friend from Melbourne staying with me and it has reminded me how peculiar the location of craft shops is in Brisbane for outsiders.  They seem to be dotted in the most unlikely places, and subject to no zoning laws. The Quilter's Store is situated beside some factories, Apatchy Quilting is underneath a house in the suburbs, The Patchwork Tree appears to be in an isolated old store in the suburbs, Patches Indooroopilly is in a strange little slip road and almost impossible to access for an outsider, Tangled Yarns is in a office/factory area.  They all seem to reply on word of mouth rather than being in a shopping strip, so, for an outsider, access to the internet or a local is a must.

We visited Tangled Yarns for wool as both of us are knitting.  I have to resist buying more wool than I have time to knit, even though the colours are so tempting:

As well as knitting together, we made our usual visit to the art gallery, to see the exhibition, "Quilts 1700-1945", which was fascinating.  Far more than just a display of sewing.  More like a visual history lesson, craft lesson and art lesson combined. I especially loved the old silk quilts which had been embroidered with such skill, because they were so beautiful, but I also found the stories behind many of the quilts interesting, and the variations in the styles and methods illuminating.  For instance, "The Rajah Quilt", 1841, was pieced and embroidered by the female convicts on board the Rajah, on the way to Australia.  Another quilt was made by girl guides in a prisoner of war camp.  One was made by sailors.  Another was intended for a hospital, and was a bit depressing - full of biblical quotes to do with death.  Glad I wasn't the patient under it.  One had a description of the stages of courtship. Some things never change!  I eavesdropped on the volunteer guide who was giving a talk to a group of visitors, but he wasn't really very knowledgeable.  I think using the headphones would have been more informative.

While we were there, we also visited the exhibition, "Ruth Stonely: A Stitch in Time".  Ruth Stonely was a well known Brisbane quilter.  I liked her white quilts, but wasn't so keen on the coloured and black ones.  Still, her methods were interesting.

On the way out, we checked out the exhibition of glassware.  Such beautiful colours and patterns.

We also admired William Robinson's "Four Seasons" (1987).  It has such humour and movement.

Another  visit was to the Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm, which had an exhibition called "Spare Parts", where different artists decorated used prosthetics.  It always amazes me how different people can take the same idea and come up with such individual responses.  It is simply wonderful

All the limbs were sold to raise money for charity).

We also visited the photographic display of "Yangon (Rangoon) A City to Rescue" which consisted of photographs taken by Jacques Maudy and Jimi Casaccia in 2012.  Again, socially and artistically, very interesting.

Apart from knitting, I  am really enjoying embroidering my strip of pieced hand dyed and hand printed fabrics.  So much fun, even though I have no idea what to do with it.  Who cares?  It can be a sampler if I can't think of anything!

 

 

I have also been dyeing fabric and paper using purple carrots, daffodils and purple cabbage. The daffodil was not very successful, and the fabric faded as it dried, even though I used rusted metal and alum.  I think I need to do some more research on using mordants.

 

 

When my friend left, I was invited my some local friends to a craft get-together.  We were all working on different things, but shared ideas and encouragement.  Here  are some of the things that we five got up to:

patchwork and quilting

 

knitting

making an art bag out of plastic

and making placemats from Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

 Fabulous!  What with exhibitions, the work of friends and Pinterest, I have so many ideas swirling round my head that I will never run out of things to do!

Stuffed animals

A quick trip to Victoria gave me the opportunity to pop into one of my favourite shops in Gippsland,  Town and Country Gallery in Yarragon, which features handcrafted artworks of a very high standard.  Whether it be sculpture, woodwork, ceramics, paintings, jewellery, glassware or prints, I can always find something to buy as a gift for others or for myself.  This time I lusted after some metal bird baths.  Nobly, I didn't succumb.  But, I'll be back!

I arrived back in Brisbane with a wonderfully awful cold, which meant two days lying on the couch sleeping, and whinging at my poor husband during my waking times, and the rest of the time lying on the couch coughing and listening to taking books.   As a result of the physical inactivity, I discovered Pinterest  during my waking hours and now have several boards
( see pinterest.com/patapanart/boards/ ). 
What a wonderful time to waste time profitably.  So inspirational for an artist.

I also managed to stuff and sew up some soft toys which I had previously cut out and machine sewn.  I now have a herd of felt horses:

I have decided I need to find some dapple grey and black felt to enlarge the herd.

I also made my first little dog from Karen Neuschutz's book, "Sew Soft Toys".  It reminds me of my cairn terriers.

I also hemmed a silk scarf that I printed last year:

Once I started feeling better, I managed to add to last year's quilt of nude backs.  Not sure I like it.  I might try a different version later on.

I am feeling much better now, so I collected some leopard tree seeds from the neighbour
s tree:

and bought some purple carrots for a later session of eco-dyeing.  Pinterest has renewed my urge to dye!

Donkeys to cuddle and the latest exhibition by the Collective

  I finished my donkey from the pattern in Karin Neuschutz's "Sew Soft Toys"

 and thought it so cute  I made another, this time from Carol.S. Friedricha's "The Pooh Craft Book".

.  I'd forgotten how nice it is to make soft toys.  These are destined for adults.  Why should children get all the cuddles?

Inspired by Penny Berens of Tanglewood Thread's blog, I have started embroidering on a long strip I made patched with pieces from my hand dyed fabric stash.  No idea what it is to become, but I am enjoying the process.

I rediscovered Threads and More in Indooroopilly and bought myself some threads to use on this, and eyed some wool for further knitting projects.

Speaking of knitting, I also finished my latest beanie:

As well as working on my projects, I also popped into the exhibition, "Proof ",at the Metcalfe Gallery. to admire the printowork by the Collective.  Here is a sample of some of the work on show:

(aluminium bowl and printed paper bowl, by Jennifer Long)

(a sculpture by Wendy Clark)

(printed work by Judy Keogh)

 

( adapted books by Julie Thornton)

 

(Sandra Taylor's aluminium printing plates transformed into a sculpture)

 (Pip Reid's print)

(Elisabeth Lawrence's print).

I also enjoyed reading :Indigo. The color that changed the world"  by Catherine legrand>  Santa Claus!  It is on my Christmas list!

Another quilt and experimenting with copper etching.

I'm rather pleased with myself.  I've finished my little cot quilt in record time:

and used the scraps to make a little toy rabbit.

I still found time to make another little horse

continue knitting my blanket, and start on a beanie.

I also made my first copper etching prints, based on John Donne's "The Sunne Rising".




As well as working at home, I have been admiring the work of  Cheng-kang Fan at the BIA.  I really like his style:

 

 

This week at the BIA will be the opening of The Collective's printing based work, "Proof".  I've seen some of their work and it is pretty impressive.  Opening night is Friday.  Do yourself a favour and drop into the Metcalfe Gallery to check it out.