City Slickers 1991

Into the Fray 1991-1997

After my time in country areas Queenscliff, Geelong and then Tamworth I found getting into a group in Sydney somewhat discouraging.  Many groups had full membership and I didn’t want to travel far in city traffic for meetings.  One lady (who owned a patchwork shop) even advised me to start my own group…  So I did in a way.

I made an offer to a nearby ACS team to voluntarily teach quilting, so a friendly P&Q Group started 27 April 1991.  We met fortnightly, continuing for nearly three years until the demise of the ACS office.  Staff was relocated and a total area reorganisation left us without sufficient numbers or a space to continue.  I too had started a full time job in the city, which was quite exciting but it left me little time to keep up a hectic schedule of regular classes. 

During my searches I discovered that the TAFE (1991-1992) at Dover Heights ran a Commercial Needlecraft Course and were offering a Machine Embroidery elective.  My application to attend this night class was successful and the class turned out to be every bit as interesting as I had imagined (after my workshop with Wendy Wright in Armidale).  Following on from this experience, I enrolled in the Home Furnishing & Décor subjects to learn how to sew my own curtains, cushions and lampshades.  As you do…..

By that time I had also unearthed a nearby Guild sponsored Quilting Group (1991).  This fairly large group met regularly but mostly at a Quilt & Bernina shop.  It was an evening group which I had thought would suit me but I found that my commitment to TAFE and work left me in need of evenings at home.  This group had a hefty program of swaps, exchanges and workshops so after a few meetings, I found I could not keep up and sadly had to leave.  

My new workplace offered me a number of surprises including a whole department dedicated to teaching craft.  One of the teachers invited me as a guest to her group at the Literary Guild.  These ladies met monthly on a Saturday.  They had a space in a machine quilting workshop in 1995 and I willingly accepted.  By now I was starving for quilting companionship!  I can remember they were all happily showing me their recently completed project – jewel box tops – and I felt at home immediately.  After a few more guest appearances, I joined the group and remain with them to this day.  The group gave up having organised workshops after a while; too many unfinished projects I guess!  They took a breather by 1998 and began generally working on their own (without an organised schedule).  Now we still meet monthly and get together for an occasional workshop, exhibition or lunch.  Lately, we’ve fitted in a few “shopping” trips…as you do to replenish that stash – not that we really need it but it’s always fun!

Sometime later I found an evening Embroidery Group where I was able to fit in a little embroidery too (with hopes of returning to finish my silk crazy) with my quilt stitching.  Sydney was indeed proving to be the land of opportunity!

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

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.)