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

Really Back to School

Trouble & Strife: 1989

Aside from my mammoth TAFE (and other) undertakings, I still wanted to do something for the children’s school - a fun project that their class could participate in and either keep or raffle.  As a result, I came up with the idea of a series of self-portraits (art/quilting/sewing) combined with a collection of their special things. I was kindly allowed to run this workshop with them. 

So, this project was undertaken with the Year 2 (J’s class) at St Mary’s Primary School, Tamworth.  Class requirements were for each child to bring in some of their favourite fabrics (a ragbag remnant from old shorts or dress etc) and some buttons or badges to decorate the quilt. 

In class, each child drew a self-portrait on pre-cut blocks (12 ½“) using fabric (heat set) crayons, then signed it.  I noted where they wanted their decorations added so that I could sew them on later at home.  Despite drawing in seam allowances on each block, most children made full use of the block – a bit tricky when it came to sewing it all together!

The faces (blocks) were arranged in the same order they sat in class.  I added lattice strips made from the fabrics the children had supplied, taking care to ensure I didn’t mix them up.  School colours were then used to frame the blocks.  The quilt was machine pieced and tied with all the buttons, ribbons and badges that the children & school provided.  The whole project took about 30 hours of my time (over September October in 1989).   The children were very pleased with their work. 

Sadly my photos are shockers but I guess I am fortunate to have them.  Never mind - always wise in hindsight!

 

Unfinished Objects

Symposium Projects: 1989

With some sense, I had mostly chosen Symposium workshops that were not beginnings of UFO’s.  I knew I was too busy with TAFE to start stocking up on more unfinished goodies.  However, I did end up with these three:

This was a quilt in the exhibition (photo of its medallion centre)
using a similar applique technique to the one I was hoping
to master.  I am not sure who made and quilted it.

Applique Medallion: Elizabeth Kennedy.  I had wanted to learn more about 3D applique which was all the rage at the time.  So I started using those horrible blue marking pens which I regretted almost immediately!  I’m guessing that the dye heat set (in my car? in the hot Tamworth sun) and nothing seemed to shift it.  So, my solution was to (think about) embroidering over these lines, add a few more flowers and try to avoid any self pity.  This project still resides (WEF 2013) in my UFO box and (after 25 years) may soon be entitled to a small pension if I don't get busy.

Well, here we are in class trying to get our colour
choices to have some zing...

Show One’s Colour: June Lyons.  Colour has always been one of my fatal flaws and I never seem to tire learning of ways to understand and make best use of it.  Eventually we pieced up a Josephs Coat block (10”) with the intention of finishing 5 more; all were to have darks placed in different positions. This use of a limited palette would assist us understand the principle of colour dominance. The idea was interesting but somehow I couldn’t get into it, probably because of TAFE demands.  So this poor block never even made it into the UFO box and is lost to the world…..  I did however, discover the usefulness of having a design wall.  What to do when you live in rented accommodation was the major challenge to implementing this useful tool. 

Our design wall in progress; my works to the front

Raffle Draw: Christmas Fairies.  The blocks are sweet, very naïve and so not me.  They too languish in the UFO box waiting on inspiration or a UFO purge.  Who knows?  I've seen some rather nice Sue Spargo designs in old copies of Quiltmania, my favourite read at the moment. 

Exciting Possibilities

Quilt Symposium Armidale: 25 – 29 Sep 1989

The Armidale Symposium was the first of its kind.  Organised by Barabara Meredith, the format was an instant hit with quilters.  Imagine the chance to meet so many other quilters, live for a week fully immersed in P&Q and have the opportunity to be exposed to some of the world’s best teachers.  We were welcomed with handmade nametags, pins and a shopping bag full of goodies.  We had to make up a “donation” block too for a lucky draw at the end of the symposium. Barbara and her helpers worked especially hard to make everyone feel welcome and she achieved much to not only advance quiltmaking as a craft but also (and probably more importantly) promote it as a friendly one. 

Fashion Parade USA Instructors

This was my first serious quilt event….more or less, after Geelong.  I seriously missed the Victorian activity and friendship, so signed up for this week-long symposium.  Fortunately, it was held at the Armidale University only a short distance away (a country road hour) and during semester break too, so I had a week off from my course at Tamworth TAFE. 

Pitcairn Island (200 years) Celebration Quilt

I went alone (not fun) but had a room to myself at least.  We worked hard during the workshops and most nights had something to participate in, such as a talk or slide show.  One night we had a fashion parade.  I think I may have entered something in the parade but certainly didn’t offer to model it.  It was a chance to meet some quilt or textile professionals like Caryl Bryer Fallert and see some of her creative pieces, all hand dyed and machine quilted.  Her clothing was spectacular and we all took the notes on how to make her accordion pleated skirt. 

Caryl Bryer Fallert's unmistakable style
(& note machine quilting)

I spent my Wednesday break trawling lovely shops in Armidale and viewing an exhibition of quilts in town.  In all, I had a nice break from our active children and the creative time charged my quilting battery immeasurably.  In a nutshell, my chosen program was:

Presentations:

Writing a Resume: Catherine H  Anthony
On Her Works: Caryl Bryer Fallert

Workshop: Monday 25//9/89

Borders and Beyond: Catherine H Anthony (USA)

Workshop: Tuesday 26/9/89

Hand Applique: Elizabeth Kennedy (NSW)

Workshop: Thursday 28/9/89

To Show One’s Colour: June Lyons (Vic)

Workshop: Friday 29/9/89

Colour Workshop: Carol McLean (Canada)

Always Busy

Other TAFE Class Samples

Stained Glass Cushions: 1989

I am not sure if the idea for bold flowers came about as a result of the Ballarat workshop I'd been to or one with the Swan Bay Quilters (Nov 1988) but stained glass was certainly the flavour of the month and I enjoyed the heat fixing and stitching process. 

Nice shot of the evaporative airconditioner (I really did love it!)

This cushion design finally came into being as a class sample for the Tamworth TAFE in May 89.   I quite like the large flowers and hand applique process but purple silks– what was I thinking?  I gave the finished cushions to my Mother for Mother’s Day. 

Patchwork Bag:  1989

We had made these purple sample blocks in our patchwork classes and I used them up to make a pretty but rather substantial carry-all.   I still use it today to carry quilts to group meetings because it fits my hoop. 

(I've just noticed that I really did have a thing for purple at the time.) 

Landscape Bag:  1989

This was another bag I made up to fit my cutting mat.  We carried a lot of our own supplies and tools with us (to make things easier on ourselves) to class.  The landscape design was the view from my kitchen window at Tamworth and made up in a TAFE class.

I think that about wraps it up for those TAFE projects.  I know I did quilting as an elective as well but I can't for the life of me think what I did for my major work.  Obviously not a quilt or I would have it with me now.  Oh well, maybe one day I'll get a flash of inspiration. 

Cabin Fever

House Log Cabin: 1989

Tamworth Town

I made this quilt by foundation piecing each block so that it was finished (or pre-quilted).  Following Georgia Bonesteel’s directions for her “Quilt as you Go Technique”, I stitched the blocks together to make a finished quilt. I chose this particular method as it didn’t require any further quilting once completed.  Time was of the essence when you had to produce a major work in 6 weeks.   I can’t say though that I enjoyed working this method, but what I did develop further as a theme was the use of odd, scrappy backings.

I decided to add a piped edging around the inner blocks and found adding the border to that something of a technical challenge but it all sat quite flat in the end.  I hand quilted the border. The piping adds a dimensionality to the quilt.

Lap Leftovers Floor Rug
Collection: Home# 019 (Lap Quilt)

I had so many left overs that I stitched together a baby floor rug out of them (91.5 x 125cm).  This was totally machined.  I remember really learning how to get the most out of my machines from this TAFE course, so in some ways, I was taking a giant leap from my very traditional hand piecing & quilting beginnings in Queenscliff.  Endless possibilities offered themselves and whilst I still enjoy the Zen experience of hand work, I have since used the machine to perform more mundane tasks faster. 

This quilt was completed as a major project for my Commercial Needlecraft course at Tamworth TAFE in 1989/90. Elective: Patchwork

I used kiddie prints for the back of Tamworth Town

Given that I had made a quilt for the elder son some years earlier, this one was for A (Mr Mayhem). I intended for this one to be used, hence the choice of cheaper fabrics and somewhat rugged machine stitching.  Heavy duty is a byword for boys.  (I have to laugh now to think that neither of them at the time had quilts anywhere near their beds!!!  Don't feel sorry for them.  I later made others, one of which expired from hanging rather too long on a clothes line - we are talking months here!)

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 131.5 x 226cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1989
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1989
Quilted: Machine 1989 (Quilt-as-you-go technique)
Quilt Type: Single Bed
Quilt Finished: 1989
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home# 018 (Log Cabin)
Pattern Name: Log Cabin
Pattern Source: Georgia Bonesteel
Fabrics Purchased: 1989
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains; House print
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
One of the joys of this course was the chance to trial a variety of techniques during class time. To me it was play time too. This course was not structured around finding yourself; it was a business class.  Like any apprentice, we needed to become familiar with our tools but also with managing a business or seeing scope for professional development within the trade.  To this end, I concentrated on technique and used the opportunity to determine if running a shop or teaching classes would work for me.  It most certainly was not wasted time!

Picture Pleasure

Joy Ride: 1989

Cute Katie

I saw this Koala pattern in an old McCall’s Needlework & Crafts magazine when I had been experimenting with machine applique. I had thought about doing the series (which may have been 4 cot quilts in all) but only completed Katie Koala on her balloon ride. One has to know one's limits...

I did an adventurous double binding border and used a variety of materials including leather, ribbon and lace in the machine applique project.

This quilt was completed as a major project for my Commercial Needlecraft course at Tamworth TAFE in 1989/90. Elective: Applique

Always fun with Machine Applique

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 90 x 116cm
Block Size:
Cut in: 1989
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1989
Quilted: Hand 1989
Quilt Type: TAFE Major Project
Quilt Finished: 1989
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home#0 17
Pattern Name: Katie Koala
Pattern Source: McCalls Magazine (July August 1981 p87)
Fabrics Purchased: 1989
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
This was a fun quilt to make although all that fusing with visoflix meant it was firm rather than a cuddly quilt. Also the 3D attachments made it rather unsuitable for a cot. In the end it could only be used as a wall hanging. If I made another as a cot quilt I would most certainly use needle turn applique to achieve a softer, more flexible (and thus washable) result and forget the 3D elements.     

Going Academic 1989

Tamworth TAFE: 1989-90

For now I think I have covered the best of those creative & learning years in Queenscliff.  I’m sure I’ve missed heaps and as I type I remember all the machine applique that I did too (mostly on children’s clothing) and haven’t added.  So there may be a few more posts for the late 80’s yet!

However, eventually the time came when we had to say a fond farewell to the Bellarine Peninsular and move on.  Away from the Victorian coast and out far into NSW northern slopes & plains.  Yes, Tamworth and country music’s great champion. 

We settled in well and enjoyed the companionship of a close knit community there too.  This was our first experience of living in a large, self-supporting country town.  The children added a number of outdoor activities including horse riding, soccer and BMX biking to their list of must do sports.   I went back to school. 

The Tamworth TAFE offered a two year Commercial Needlecraft course and this presented me with a couple of exciting opportunities.  First was the chance to explore a wide range of textile crafts and techniques with expert tutors.  Secondly, I had a chance to see if I could earn a living from a hobby I was passionate about.  More on that later!

So it was back to school.  This course meant I had little time to explore my own work (as it were) with a demanding schedule and rigorous assessment.  In order to complete the course in two years, each semester we had to complete (over a period of 18 weeks) a staggering list of core subjects and at least two electives.  Assessment was by reference book, class exercises and, for the electives, a major work.

We made up reference books for each subject.  It contained course notes & exercises, illustrations & diagrams, our own notes and any material we were able to source on our subject such a newspaper clippings, samples, interview notes etc.  Presenting this in a jumble was not on the cards either as we were also assessed on clarity of content and layout of work. 

Class exercises were also assessed.  We were allocated marks based on planning, possession of appropriate equipment & materials and of course on our ability to coordinate colour, threads, fabrics, stitches and design details.   

I couldn’t wait to start….

Our basement made the perfect studio.  Photo by my MIL

Needless to say, not all the work we completed on the course was relevant to my P&Q habits, and although interesting work, I won’t be posting up every detail.  Most of my binders disappeared, albeit only a couple of years ago, when I finally started to clean up my garden shed to give me room to work.   

(As an aside, I’ve decided to cover my two years in Tamworth by the various groups or organisations I belonged to.  It seems easier that way and the flow of work easier to see.)

Away from Home

Government Camp Lilies: 1989  (Started: 1988)

(a bit sad after washing
which hasn't helped these frilly edges either!)

This was my first experience of a “live away from home” workshop.  Whoa!  I took a stained glass class in Ballarat offered by the Geelong Quilters Guild 29-31 July 1988 at Sovereign Hill. Yes, we actually stayed at accommodations within the Sovereign Hill complex and shopped at the local store for fabrics. (Well, perhaps not ALL our fabrics but it was a shopping experience and lots of fun!) 

Our tutor was Gail Macklin (Ballarat) and I decided that I would keep this project small (meaning achievable) and use it as a wall hanging. 

The stained glass lilies are hand appliqued and the whole project was hand quilted.  I wanted to finish the pattern with a quick ribbon border (machined Seminole style in Jinny Beyer fabrics).  After binding this quilt, I decided to add some additional hand quilting to jazz up the large negative spaces using a combination of stipple and seeded stitches.  However, this last touch was a serious lesson in making frilly edges and one not to be repeated!  Now I (mostly) finish quilting before binding. 

Exhibited at the Regional Fibre Exhibition in Tamworth in September 1989

Looking a wee bit better back then
(on the line in Tamworth 1989)

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 64 x 65cm
Block Size: NA
Cut in: 1988
Pieced & Basted: Hand Applique & Machined Borders 1988
Quilted: Hand 1988-89
Quilt Type: Stained Glass Technique Workshop
Quilt Finished: July 1989
Exhibited:  Regional Fibre Exhibition in Tamworth in Sep 89
Collection: Home# 011
Pattern Name: Workshop provided
Pattern Source: Gail Macklin
Fabrics Purchased: 1987/88
Fabric Design: Plains & dark prints
Fabric Style: Cotton & seeded homespun
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
I enjoyed the opportunity to be “fully immersed” in patchwork. Looking back, I realise that I was starting to take what was offered but rather than re-creating the original design, I was adding touches to make these pieces my own. Who could not when you consider the quality offerings of our local tutors and the Guild’s sensitivity to the craft’s development?

Vintage Tea Cups

Tea Cups in Lightning: 1989  (Started: 1988)

Tea cups were used to mark quilting lines

A machined foundation pieced log cabin block made with the Fort Queenscliff Quilters in 1988.  Lyn Cross (may have?) led this group workshop in 1988 following on from either a demo or showing in 1987.  Patterns were provided at the class and we used thin white cotton as our foundation for each block.  I chose a brown and cream colour way – very safe and very neutral. And now just so vintage!  This style of machining was easy and accurate, so we had our required number of blocks ready, and by the end of the day most of us took a top home.

We chose to attempt a lap quilt size, given our busy lives and being somewhat daunted at the time needed to hand quilt (another) finished top.  I set the log cabin blocks in a streak of lightning setting and then tied in the centre of each log cabin with perle thread.  Each block was then hand quilted with a fan to highlight the log shapes.  Finally, I did a traditional tea cup quilting design (overlapping circles) in the border, also by hand.

The batting was a very low loft poly and overall added to the vintage look that I was attempting.

Perhaps you remember some of these fabrics?  Classic  80's

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 93 x 138cm
Block Size: 19cm
Cut in: 1988
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1988
Quilted: Hand quilted and tied 1989
Quilt Type: Foundation Piecing Workshop
Quilt Finished: Apr 1989
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home# 009
Pattern Name: Log Cabin set in Streak of Lightning
Pattern Source: Workshop
Fabrics Purchased: 1988
Fabric Design: Plains & vintage look prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
I was starting to learn that to finish quilts and workshop samples I needed to keep them small so my preferred size became “lap quilt”.  This quilt was fun and easy introduction to foundation piecing and better yet, needed little quilting.  My Elna (blue top) purchased many years ago was earning its keep although perhaps not quite how my mother had intended.  We had bought the machine together at Myer in Chermside (a Brisbane suburb) after I had agreed (more or less) to make more of my own clothes.