Getting All Antsy Pantsy*: UFO (Started:2008)
It seems hard to imagine that I started my Explorer Series 7 years ago. Where did that time go? In 2008, I signed up for an Art Quilt class at the NSW Embroiders Guild with Carolyn Sullivan in the vain hope that working in this genre would better suit me. I wanted to work smaller, more creatively and in series (in effect - smarter). (Does that sound a familiar refrain?) It was also a great opportunity to learn how to better organise a journal (or two). The classes ran over 8 sessions starting in Feb, so it was a full year commitment. I was very happy that some of my Randwick quilters signed up with me – we often met out of class to inspire each other and thus managed to finish many of our set projects.
Whilst my plan was grand indeed, I managed to
miss a couple of sessions and so those pieces sit quietly in my UFO box
waiting, waiting… My journal though is
quite a resource and if I live to 100, may get round to exploring some of the
many ideas that came out of it. It was a
fun and thoughtful class, certainly guaranteed to shake out the cobwebs and
lead you gently into the world of art.
Sometimes you just need that!
As I wanted to work in series, I set myself a theme of “exploring an exotic life”. My inspiration was the life and work of a Russian Marine Scientist who lived and worked in Sydney (1878-1887). Explorers, maps, travel, the ocean & its creatures and Russian red drove my design choices within our monthly sessions.
So began my Voyages of Discovery. My Explorer Series (Collection# 51) followed our monthly tasks:
*My family interpretation of this saying, antsy pantsy was "that you were getting a bit above yourself" or a little bit fancy. Does that help? No, probably not.....
And if you're wondering, the dragonfly is a symbol of regeneration & change. I also added an inked stamp from a Chinese chop (seal or name stone) that I had made in Singapore. The red threads were added for "luck & prosperity". These "marks" were on all the pieces I made in this series.
Hard at Work at the NSW Embroiders Guild, Concord |
It seems hard to imagine that I started my Explorer Series 7 years ago. Where did that time go? In 2008, I signed up for an Art Quilt class at the NSW Embroiders Guild with Carolyn Sullivan in the vain hope that working in this genre would better suit me. I wanted to work smaller, more creatively and in series (in effect - smarter). (Does that sound a familiar refrain?) It was also a great opportunity to learn how to better organise a journal (or two). The classes ran over 8 sessions starting in Feb, so it was a full year commitment. I was very happy that some of my Randwick quilters signed up with me – we often met out of class to inspire each other and thus managed to finish many of our set projects.
#2. Coral Garden (32 x 38cm) 2008 |
As I wanted to work in series, I set myself a theme of “exploring an exotic life”. My inspiration was the life and work of a Russian Marine Scientist who lived and worked in Sydney (1878-1887). Explorers, maps, travel, the ocean & its creatures and Russian red drove my design choices within our monthly sessions.
So began my Voyages of Discovery. My Explorer Series (Collection# 51) followed our monthly tasks:
- Built Environment - Windows (The Research Station)
- Natural Environment - Leaves (Coral Garden)
- Natural Environment – Networks (Voyages of Discovery)
- Women’s Work
- Simplify the View (Immersion - yet to be finished)
- Personal Icons & Symbolism
- Movement (Rock, Paper, Scissors)
- Just Script
#3. Voyages of Discovery (38 x 48cm) 2008 |
#7. Rock, Paper, Scissors (46 x 47cm) 2008 |
And if you're wondering, the dragonfly is a symbol of regeneration & change. I also added an inked stamp from a Chinese chop (seal or name stone) that I had made in Singapore. The red threads were added for "luck & prosperity". These "marks" were on all the pieces I made in this series.
#5. Immersion (& a work in progress still!) |