Artful Machining

Machine Embroidery Workshop: 1990

I managed to find a space on a machine embroidery workshop in Armidale (Jul 12-14 1990) with Wendy Wright ADVA which was quite exciting – and rather liberating as well.  I learned to push my old (even then!) Elna to its limits.  Of course everyone else seemed to have a fancy Bernina, but it was still fun and came in good stead a few years later in Dover Heights.   I produced a few interesting samples but saw opportunities to use this artistic technique mostly on garments rather than quilts.  However I didn’t really have much time to follow it up.  We sadly missed out on having the subject offered at TAFE (during my time there) and I made a decision that it wasn’t really my area of interest at the time given all the other tempting options available.  What the course did offer me was confidence in using my machine as a means of artistic expression.  Fast forward to lessons on domestic machine quilting in Randwick a few years later and I could really push that technique much further!   

Hard at work in my downstairs studio

Well, that about wraps up my couple of years in Tamworth “going academic”.  I didn’t actually produce terribly much in the way of quilts, but I did learn a lot in terms of skills, knowledge and experience.  My TAFE teachers were fantastic, knowledgeable and very supportive.  Importantly, we were encouraged to see beyond our current passion for craftwork, to use it as a framework to support other (perhaps more profitable) ventures.  So with my mind bursting with ideas, we packed up our happy home (including my burgeoning craft collection) and moved back to the bright lights of Sydney.

(A repeat photo I'm sorry to say, but photos of that time are just so few and far between.)

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

Fresh Beginnings

Tamworth Community Art & Craft

There was not a Guild as such in Tamworth but a couple of local groups did exist. At the time I joined up with a group offered by Tamworth Community Art and Crafts.  As my life was pretty much consumed by TAFE, I don’t think I used my time there to do much other than finish off “what was due”.  Either way, I met some nice people and confirmed that quilters are a friendly bunch.

Moon over the Mountain: 1995  (Started: 1989)

The Tamworth Patchwork & Quilting Group was led by Lyn.  At some stage the members had each appliqued a “Moon over the Mountain” challenge block and when I joined, Ruth was in the process of machining the blocks together in fun way.  I loved the colours – strong pinks balancing the blacks and checks to tame the “cuteness” of the finished blocks.  In Nov 1990, I bought this top as a memory of my 2 years in Tamworth.  I finally got round to quilting it in 1995 (hand & machine) and then added a small Moon over the Mountain block of my own on the back as a signature block.

Tamworth Moon over the Mountain

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 135x 178cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1989
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1990
Quilted: Hand 1995
Quilt Type: Group Challenge Quilt
Quilt Finished: 1995
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home# 022
Pattern Name: Moon over the Mountain
Pattern Source: Traditional
Fabrics Purchased: Group Choice
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
I loved the adventurous border colouring in this quilt and the way it “hangs” all the individual blocks together. After finishing the quilting, I was determined to be a little more radical (ie brave!) in my colour and fabric choices. 

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!

 

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.)