On Show

 

I participated in a couple of other ventures during my Tamworth time.  All were wonderful experiences which added to my "toolkit" of experiences. 

Regional Fibre Exhibition: 1989

The Tamworth Art Gallery hosted the Regional Fibre Exhibition (18-27^th September).  This was an exciting opportunity to be offered as a TAFE student.  I had three items chosen – my Little Boys Breeches  (1987), Joy Ride (1989) and Government Camp Lillies (1989).  There is nothing like seeing your work hanging in such a professional setting!.  Aside from the value of stepping away from your work (we often view our quilts closely as we stitch) to see it as a “whole”, the other thing that impressed me was attention to quality.  To see quilts hanging perfectly (no frilly edges) and flawless quilting (neat stitching, quilting suited to the quilt design etc) proved that striving for technical perfection was worth it.  Some quilts just popped out like wonderful works of art.  (Barbara Macey was my inspiration here!)

Regional Evening College: 1990

I put together a couple of workshop ideas to fill “gaps in the market” and taught out of the Tamworth Regional Evening College. This was a worthy experience and built on my knowledge gained teaching at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House.  I was rather more nervous teaching in Tamworth, as in Queenscliff I had always felt I was just helping out friends.  The most popular workshop was machine applique and we certainly had lots of fun with that!  Whilst the money did supplement our coffers a little, teaching in the evenings was challenging given our family circumstances.  I really enjoyed the teaching aspect however and wanted to learn more about it....one day!

Craft in the Park, a collage of photos from the day

Fibre Fest: 1990

Part of our TAFE course requirement was to plan setting up a small business.  Our group decided that running a craft making venture would be a useful learning tool and our products easy to sell at local craft markets – the ideal starting place for many a more grand business.  I decided that I would work on needlework kits and baskets, something not readily available locally.  I had fun making them, managed to sell a few and decided that the old craft dilemma (recovering the costs of your time) made the business aspect of craft work not worth pursuing for me personally.  I can say that we did all have fun, found the business aspect of craft not so easy and laughed to find cheap copies of our products offered at the markets a few months after.   Ah, competition…..

Sadly, TAFE no longer offers Commercial Needlecraft courses.  Although I did not take up craft as a business, this course was a most useful tool to realise the demands and challenges of working in the industry professionally.  It also provided me with a huge opportunity to learn about my personal capabilities   Some time later, I did re-assess this situation and prepared a thorough business plan based on my Tamworth TAFE learnings.  Again, that business was not to be (by choice) but I don't believe that my time was ever wasted researching it and certainly all the better for my time studying at TAFE.

Busy at our "Sew Special" Table