Cross Roads

At this point (the start of 2021) and with time at home to think, I found myself dithering over where and how to organise my posts featuring finished quilts.  When I started this blog, it was easy to list quilts by "year started" as all I had was a photo of a finished article.  Now I am at a cross-roads with UFO’s.  I have bits & bobs here & there and lots on the go in the WORK BOX too.  Not to mention quite a few unfinished items.  I wonder (to myself loudly) if it wouldn’t be easier to change mid-stream and begin tagging projects by year finished.  What a beat-up!  What a lot of work!

But this great idea has since hit the floor with a thud… Everything would have to be re-arranged and perhaps nothing would make any sense.  There would be no apparent logical order.  And the world as we know, loves order.  Yes, even finding it in chaos. 

However, I've since had an epiphany. My plan now, after all this wasted time on “will I or won’t I” debate, is to note:

   1. The FINISH & START year in my post sub-headings. 

   2. The FINISH year in a "label cloud" making it easy to search.  

All dates will still be located in "Just for the Record" notes of each finished quilt and every post will still be dated according to time/date posted.  In all, this organisation should allow me to easily find key quilt dates, and enable linking of posts (perhaps), even in-progress reports (if I'm super-keen).  I’m so very slow to finish quilts, some taking years (and years) to finish so it is easy to forget details.  And doesn’t everyone keep digital photos and an excel spreadsheet (a documented quilt list) of their wonderful creations?

There, that feels better.  Now, did you really need to know this? 

Wildflower in the Blue Mountains

 

Study from Home

2020 was not without its quilting study initiatives, so the posts that follow are a brief summary of ventures, not necessarily involving a quilt outcome; more for interest:

My Book Choice: Stitched in Color

In one of my Google “research” moments, I found a wonderfully coloured Bears Paw quilt and tracked it back to the book, “A Quilters Field Guide to Color” by Rachel Hauser.  The quilt’s owner had participated in a colour study exercise from Rachel’s book and followed along with her blog quilt-along too for even more tips and tricks.  Working effectively with colour has always been one of my weak spots “needing work”, so I quickly ordered a copy from Book Depository and in between other projects, started my own Bear’s Paw learning adventure.  I’ve wanted to do this block for ages but couldn’t decide on what colour the quilt should be. Now it will be all multi-coloured and happy!  And who would pass up the opportunity to learn more about colour on this journey.  Not me!

Of course, the book led to Rachel’s blog and her very generous tutorials, quilt-alongs and pattern offerings.  I’ve since decided to go back to the start of her blog to find out more.  In the meantime, I’ve also been hooked on Rachel’s Kingfisher EPP (English Paper Piecing) and have been cutting hexagon shapes from my scrap box.  I’m hoping at some stage to add to all this learning by putting together a colour wheel using a Carpenters Wheel block to hang in my Garden Shed.  Well, it’s a nice plan for 2021 perhaps…

My Tutorial Choice: Tula Pink’s EPP Series

To complement all this study, especially if you are into EPP, I found Tula Pink’s excellent series (made for the Fat Quarter Shop).  Tula shows in great detail how to best achieve very professional results (don’t lick the thread!) and look after your well-being at the same time.  Her three tutorials (the first goes for over 39 minutes) cover so much that I’ve watched them a number of times to make sure I didn’t miss out on anything.  I should add here, that I’m not a huge EPP fan, although I did enjoy putting together my hexi quilt all those years ago.  That said, I am open to small projects that use scraps like Rachel’s Kingfisher, so all I need to do now is to actually start stitching all those little 1” hexagons I’ve been busy cutting and hoarding…  

Loving Quiltmania (& My To Do List)

In the interests of economy and space, I’ve been busy downsizing lately and decided that Quiltmania was going to be my only subscription magazine.  Well, that and its sister publication, Simply Moderne.  Not an edition goes by without my adding at least one more project to my To Do List.  The magazines are great quality, offer a balance of news, articles and advertising, and contain more than enough projects to interest and challenge quilters of all levels of expertise. 

I’ve written about my To Do List before, but it’s essentially a list of the great unfinished kept in my UFO box and a note or two about progress (or otherwise).  I also record where the project is located if it’s not in the UFO box, so that I can find it if I suddenly have a rush of blood to the head and want to finish that something NOW.  I also add a list of those patterns I’m inspired to do or ideas that have inspired me to make a quilt.  Bearing in mind that I achieve about one finished quilt a year and have been quilting for over 35 years, that list is long; rather too long.  Now, I make this To Do List every year, as close to the start of the year as I can.  It helps me to organise myself.  (I have mentioned OCD tendencies before.)  In 2020, I couldn’t help myself and added a further few (too many) pages to my wish list by noting those projects from Quiltmania & Simply Moderne that tempted me.  I’ve been introduced to such luminaries as Sujata Shah, Brigitte Heitland, Kaffe Fassett and Rachel Hauser.  Of course, I’d need to live to 200 to finish them all and that’s not going to happen.  But it’s my happy place!  How inspiring and thank you so much Quiltmania.

Threadbare

The last time I looked, it happened to be 2019.  Somehow, 2018 slipped by with minimal progress on my quilting/textile front and NOW we're headlong into 2019.  Conscious of this time I’m never going to get back, I did, in January, cut out two new designs.  Simple shapes, fast on the machine, limited to stash fabrics only.  

These two piles of cut fabric bits, along with the regulars on my annual UFO list (I’m almost too embarrassed to say how many and for how many years they've been languishing), sit in quiet contemplation in my garden shed (a sewing room since 2007).  I can at least say that I managed to get Miss 4’s first quilt, made by Nanny, completed in time for her birthday in 2018.  

Of course, we've been babysitting too.  

From a non-textile perspective, we’ve not been idle.  Almost every appliance we own died between mid-2018 and now, the fridges, yes both, died last week.  I’ve also been concentrating on organising and storing my “mega gigs” of photos – no mean feat - and just because I've been bitten by the bug, leapt headlong into some family history research.  On the table now, to add to this mix, is planning for our “away from home” excursions.  I’ve decided to try to take some EPP (English Paper Piecing) away with me for any dull days, so I’m looking for patterns and templates.  It’s amazing how much time can slip by when researching quilting or textiles on the computer.  

Then caught up with the family in Queensland

Lately, I’ve been studying Missouri Star Quilt Company’s fab YouTube tutorials, spent time searching for Japanese bag patterns, and decided to seek some advice on how to pep up my rather staid quilt post photos.  Here are a few links to some great photography advice and resource material to help you pass that rainy day.  

She Can Quilt: 

We All Sew:

Holly Knot:

The Modern Quilt Guild:

 So tomorrow is earmarked for a day in my garden shed…whoo hooo!

Before finding time for stitching inspiration at the Art Gallery of  NSW, Sydney
Artwork by Judy Watson

Missing Home

Looking forward to doing this all over again...

Nothing better than warm slippers, a raging fire and a few colourful yarns to get one relaxed and ready to stitch.

Thirty Twenty Five

Can it be that I’ve now crossed the line of 30 years of quilting?  I’ve celebrated by streamlining my garden shed, tossing out all (well, most!) unwanted/unused items that I’ve collected over the years and always thought I’d get back to, someday…  And many of the picture frames that lurked in dark corners are now up on the wall.  Dress fabric I’ll never use has been donated and now I’m eyeing off boxes of quilting fabrics I purchased all of those 30 years ago…  Will they ever come back into fashion? I think not.  I’ve slowly been reducing magazines and sorting patterns.  It’s all so cleansing and I feel quite virtuous although at times it can be hard to let go. 

From this to

This in 30 years.....

I’ve also realised that I’ve been with the RLI girls (yes, I know we hardly meet that definition now) some 20 years and although at times I wondered whether I’m feeling a little “P&Q fatigued”, something happens; someone finds yet another perfect quilt to make, a new pattern or exciting magazine finds its way into our meetings and I’m inspired.   I think of summer lunches in the garden, the many “I don’t need any more fabric” shopping trips and visits to exhibitions and galleries.
 
It seems hardly possible that it was 5 years ago that I started this blog, a personal voyage documenting my journey so far.  This process too has helped me sort and sift through collections of “stuff” to assemble a physical quilt journal of sorts.  The value add of blogging is that I can post photos and diarise this, my quilting life.

Its all been a wonderful journey. 

Christmas Lunch at Fiona's

Visitors arrive on Dangar by ferry

Bran New Day 2016

2016: Project List

Graphic with thanks to Graphics Fairy

New Year, new broom and definitely a much needed update for OTS!  Welcome to 2016!

As with all resolutions, my list of UFO’s needs attention – some just need a mere photo for a post but trying to find a “perfect day” for a little photography has been something of a challenge lately.  Then the silly season just got in the way of progress.  So, here’s my revised list from late December 2015:

#1.  Stumbling Fans (1980).  Silk cushions made from this era have already been consigned to the bin.  Fabric fatigue, I’m afraid so I’m wondering whether it’s actually worth spending the time, effort or financial commitment to start quilting this project. 

#2.  Christmas Fairies (1989).  Will they ever see light of day?  Tough one!

#3.  Bear Jackets (1996).  Do said bears need warm, appliqued & embroidered jackets?

#4.  Fairy Quilt Medallion (1999).  Currently on the design wall undergoing a revamp into a Dutch Coverlet design.  Too many fairies, so birds are the go to trick this whole thing up.  

#5.  Thai Embroideries (2002).  This is a personal challenge and I need a week locked in my garden shed to get this one from a fuzzy idea onto the design wall.  Let’s hope 2016 – only 14 years on from the workshop, (eeek!) – will see it started.

#6.  India Exchange Blocks (2005).  Yes, yes!  I’m planning to start this one soon but as I plan a fairly complex applique border, it’s going to take years to finish.

#7.  Antique Toys (2006).  Just waiting on embroidery – a few details to add character to this quilt and it’s done.

#8.  Explorer Series (2008).  Repeat after me…one day I’m going to finish this art quilt series.  Only 3 little guys to go.  Let’s get the pressure on!

#9.  Flash Purples (2011).  Never let a box of UFO’s get in the way of starting a new quilt.  This was especially challenging as I made up my own design and then slunk off back to Kaffe’s books – as you do (when nothing’s going right)!  This one’s in the quilting hoop right now.

#10.  Windom Quilt (2012).  I fell in love with this design though managed to incorporate an even older UFO (from the Armidale Symposium, 1989) as the medallion centre.  I’ve posted a few “progress” photos already.  This one too, is waiting in line for quilting.

#11.  Horta Calling Cards (2013).  On a dull day what better to do than fiddle around with “photofabric” pieces and a perfectly good printer.  Look Mum, no hands - and now I’ve got a rather too large selection of photos on fabric to do something amazing with. 

Phew – that’s it.  Not too bad I suppose, so I’ll just keep slogging away at the fabric mountain in my garden shed.  No new bits until I’ve made a bit of a hole in the assembled collection.  (You know that’s never going to happen – buying new fabrics is ESSENTIAL, right?)  My plan now is to post as I progress and when I’ve finished each quilt, new or UFO, round out the detail I’ve managed to record.  It’s taken me ages to find (or not find, as the case may be) information about quilts my own fair hands have created.  Who would have thought it so hard to find facts about your own history…

So begins another year full of hope for the future.

Nature is an inspiration in itself, isn't it?

Back to the Books 2015

Spice Market is my last finished quilt and despite being almost there with another one, I won't be able to make it over the line before we take to the hills again.  Somehow I've developed a backlog needing machine quilting or handwork.  Not to mention finding time to take photos and do a little more research for my quilt album.  Are there ever enough hours in the day?  Still, it is nice to be up-to-date.  Well, kinda! sorta!

Also, I'd better put some time and effort into Textile Tourist, who must be feeling rather neglected this year given all the empty promises of tales of exotic places to be written up.  Still, there's the call of new horizons, lots more adventures on the high seas and quite a few stories to tell.  Just where will it all lead and what lovely textile finds will I discover....  So, I'll be back in time to see those glorious Jacaranda trees in bloom. 

Discovering treasures in humble Viscri, Romania

No Quilting Here

2012/2013

I have omitted to put in a little about 2012, a busy year that slipped away without so much as a by your leave.  This was of course, the big “Year of Flooring” when the kitchen, lounge & garden shed floors (about 1/3 of our house space) were re-laid.  That meant significant upheaval, lots of dust and frequent blue language.  So, with no sewing room there was little quilting achieved and with no kitchen, we got used to BBQ’s, salads or sandwiches. 

To add to the misery, I had inadvertently left a window open (for 6 months) and my quilts had taken on that vague and somewhat unsavoury odour of a wet dog.  That meant a serious washing session, which turned out reasonably well with only two quilts shedding dye and another with ripped fabric.  The ripping was not a major issue and easily fixed.  Some black fabric I had purchased for an Amish style quilt was a little “cheap” and probably old, so it showed.  I simply re-appliqued a shape over the tear and no-one was the wiser.  As for the dyeing, the colour run stands testimony to care, selection & pre-washing of hand-dyed fabrics.  Always learning!

Once washed, it seemed silly to put my quilts away before photographing them.  This then, was the prime force in getting a move on with my blog.  So lots of washing, photographing and staring at a computer screen. 

Australia Day 2013

Then came the news that we were to celebrate Australia Day on the Island in 2013.  That meant finding time and a space to complete a few from the UFO box to put out for display. There was also the challenge of Aprons for the Cafe.  Somehow it all came together – after one too many late nights - and we managed to put up a lovely display for our many visitors.

Starting All Over 2012 & 2013

2012 & 2013

Last year we decided to forge on ahead with the last 1/3 of our cosmetic renovations.  That meant lounge, dining & kitchen.  All that stuff is now strewn around the rest of the house which we swear has given us a serious list towards the west.  Mr DIY is nearing the end of laying a brushbox floor and has offered to do my garden shed with the left overs.  Too right! 

The thing is of course, that the shed has to be emptied out.  I am now trying to move rather too “many” boxes of fabric stash, habby, dyeing equipment, and silkscreen frames into the house.  Not to mention the odd few sewing machines.  Just where does it all come from?  The other difficulty is trying to make it all look less than it really is…..as you must!  I keep pointing at the frames saying, “They’ll be on the wall soon.”  As if!!  The reality is however, that it could be another month or more before I get to do some sewing.  Sew, what to do?

My Garden Shed - more garden than shed in 2003

Garden & shed much improved but still not sewing, 2008

The answer I’ve decided, rests in the many old reference materials that I’ve brought in from my garden shed.  You know, the lot that you might need someday…  As a consequence, I’ve revisited my blog terms of reference to include a couple of additional goals.  It will continue to be a log of one quilter’s progress that is, mine.  However to add a bit of depth, I plan to include:

Significant influences – those ah-ha moments that set you off exploring down another path.  For some time I’ve read “The Books that Changed Me” in the Sunday paper.  Interesting choices.  What would I choose in my list?  Better yet, what were the occasions that changed my quilting life?

A bit of Art History.  Groan.  Well maybe not.  I’ve kept years (and years) of notes thinking they would come in handy and as we plan to do a bit of touring Europe, I can reacquaint myself with what’s to see and do.  A sort of a Grand Tour inspired to some degree by the indefatigable Sister Wendy and Kevin McCloud.  Only I’ll add my photos as I take them and use words from my notes.  Don’t worry, they’re descriptive and fairly simple.  We weren't taught to think for ourselves way back then.  My teacher in year 11 described herself (a lot) as “Rubenesque”.  It’s the only thing I remember, except for thinking that that wasn’t much to live up too.

(For those wondering where all this is going, be assured that where possible some reference will be made to resources used, including books – remember them?  Main texts used over 7 years of schooling/college were Gardener’s Art through the Ages 1964, Herbert Read’s The Meaning of Art and Carl Roebuck’s The World of Ancient Times 1966.  College was slow death by a flood of slides.  A lot of the notes we were given were roneod, a method of copying first introduced in 1906 and still being used in the 70’s.  Remember that smell of metho in the classroom?)

Updated and going strong in 2021...

Getting Organised…And in SLOW Order

I’m now at the stage of having more unfinished than finished quilts to document and it’s playing havoc with my plan to list them by the year I started them…and then post in that same order.  My plan has reached the term of its natural life and I’m starting to worry about OCD tendencies…  You know, running to my garden shed late at night to finish a quilt so that it features in serial order, by blog post.  Sad indeed!  Yep.

So, after much thought, chaos theory (order in chaos?) reigns.  I will now post as I finish.  And perhaps along the way  - as I’m sooooo very slow these days – I’ll post a few progress notes, a la “slow quilting movement”.  Perhaps I can sleep at night.

Slow sewing is part of the Slow Movement (we subscribe to slow boating, especially when the wind isn't blowing) but it does make you stop and think about the pace of life and need to dumb everything down to achieve more in your day... 

You might enjoy finding out more about the concept:

Mark Lipinski's Slow Stitching Movement; Sew Slowly's Manifesto on her Blog; Knotted Cotton invites us to be a slow blogger & this discussion on the Modern Quilt Movement by Leni Wiener.  All most interesting food for thought...chew slowly, mind!

The Great Unfinished

Incentive to "Get On With It": 2015

2015 hard at work with the new design "wall" unfurled
with a Jen Kingwell design found in Quiltmania underway 

This list is part of my effort to publicly name and shame myself; a challenge to motivate & to get this lot finished (or sent to File 13 - a Bermuda Triangle of quilting & file disasters.  Oh yes, it does exist!). 

1.  (1980) Stumbling Fans
2. (1988) Creative Landscapes
3. (1989) Christmas Fairies
4. (1989) Floral Wreath
5. (1999) Fairy Quilt #2
6. (2002) Thai Ethnic Embroideries
7. (2005) GM Exchange Blocks
8. (2005) Yet More GM Blocks
9. (2006) Antique Toys #3
10. (2008) Explorer Series Homework
11. (2011) Something Flashy
12. (2012) Windom Quilt
13. (2013) Horta Calling Cards
14. (2014) Circles of Fun

Aside from this list of things to do, I've also got to get out the camera again and take some photos of those quilts finished but not photographed.  Another list as long as your arm!  Oh, well....

Incentive comes in the form of a new camera, so once I manage to drag myself away from the computer, it will be tally ho! and on with big push.  Now my next search will be finding how to take better blog photos.  Always Learning.

(Some of the above quilt titles are based on pattern names - only for a temporary reminder of what I was planning or using.)

and this one (Creative Landscapes 1988) has since found the Quilting Bermuda Triangle....

Full Immersion

Dream  Plan  Draw  Stitch  Write  Stretch

Making a move overseas meant more than just thinking about how I planned to occupy my time - there was lots to do to make it all happen, or at least appear to happen, seamlessly...  

So, if you’re wondering where the previous post was leading, here I was again in 2003, pondering pretty much the same thing.  What did I hope to achieve from my time in India and would any plan I managed to dream up ever hope to cover so many unknowns?  My life was changing in so many ways but from some scant notes I found in my diary it seems I was settled on focusing on these goals (not in any order):

Making a move is never as simple as it seems...

• Exploring options involved in starting a Small Business. (What would I do with myself after the “post-Delhi honeymoon”?)
• Developing a Renovation Plan for our house. (A first in ownership stakes & only recent acquisition in Australia so we were keen to dream.)
• Travelling & really exploring this opportunity. (We had lived overseas before, so culture shock was something we looked forward to with relish!)
• Improving my Photography & Writing Skills. (And later embracing new and advancing digital technologies). 
• Producing Art (smaller & more modern) & Traditional Quilts to record my travel learning journey

The Ivory Tower, Nizamuddin

To achieve this rather large undertaking meant that I had to keep everything simple.  I was hooked on the digital age and therefore rather pleased that my travelling office could all be coordinated through my laptop.  I still needed to manage life at home – albeit from some distance.  Also, we were going to be living in a one-bedder, so I had to pare down my clutter. The usual ponderings – dinner table was doing double duty as sewing table; where would I hide my stash; would I be able to buy quilting necessities etc. etc.  So in general my plan was to:

• Keep a diary. This was too good an opportunity to waste.  Clippings, cuttings photographs, invitations, tickets and all sorts of ephemera would be piled into a box for when that creative moment struck.  In fact, anything that would “round out” my scrapbook.
• Do some research.  India promised a textile hunters dream so I planned to learn as much as I could.  Oh, and collect a few examples along the way…
• Use local fabrics. I was by now totally over the “same again” ranges of quilting fabrics on offer and my career & lifestyle, that I was busy wrapping up, allowed little time to experiment with make-your-own alternatives. Design planning was also in the lap of the gods – who knows what inspiration would come from seeing such a treasure trove of fabrics.
• Travel for inspiration.  And record it!  With a sensory overload outside my front door in Delhi, travelling for more seemed a bit greedy.  But, oh well, someone has to do it!
• Get to know my local community.  It goes without saying that you can’t live in a bubble.  India simply will not let you…

So here’s what I did.  I packed two suitcases and boxed up my best buddy, Bertie Bernina.  The rest I stored at home.  My first suitcase contained a few clothes and the other, essential quilting supplies. No fabric!  I also took a couple of Aussie quilting magazines to give away should I get lucky and find a quilting group.  The one “text” book I chose was “101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts” by Judy Hopkins & Nancy Martin.  This book is still my favourite source of designs – an ever reliable & accurate source.  I also threw in an unfinished cross-stitch (it was driving me mad) and various bits of my Tea Leaves quilt, all cut out and ready to sew should divine inspiration take longer.  All this pending some engagement with the local quilting community, if it existed!  High hopes indeed!

Despite the best of intentions, constructing quilts became low in my list of priorities – largely because there was so much else to do and see.  Life was constantly hectic yet so rewarding.  Immersion into another culture.  Would I recommend it?  Too right! 

Even the washing in India took on a whole new appeal

A Little Learning

December 2014

Before I delve into the great wonder that is India, I’d like to take a step back and perhaps explain a little of where my head was taking me at the time.  Up front, I consider myself to be a quiltmaker; pure & simple with no fancy aspirations.  I love what I do and like to explore opportunities, especially learning to help myself to “do this thing” better.  I’m a great exponent of lifelong learning.

Patched Japanese Jacket.  Wendy Lugg Exhibition, 2000

By 2000 I had been quilting for 15 years and had had a wonderful time learning all sorts of techniques, improving my technical skills and trying to add my own twist to things eg unusual colour choices, pieced backings.  Was I bored?  Well, I don’t think so, but what I did need was something to get the blood pumping again.

The 1998 Rapt in Colour exhibition of Choson Dynasty Textiles (Korean Wrapping Cloths) at the Powerhouse Museum was part of my reconditioning experience.  It came like a bolt of lightning!  Quilts CAN have depth, a personality and convey messages.  Similarly, the various exhibitions we attended before going to Japan (2000) had me off and running. My first “textile” travel experience was thereafter destined to become a quest of discovery.  In other words, a real foraging!

I had also by happenstance, come across an interview with Linda McCartney (I think the ABC, played in 2000) about her photography.  I found it incredibly interesting and inspiring.  The gist, in my own words, was that your “medium” is simply an expression of your reaction to things around you.  LMcC believed in modest materials and a minimalist approach eg one lens and black & white prints.  This allowed her to focus on her chosen subject and add a touch of surrealism.  She believed that we need to understand the history of our “medium” and how that influences our own style or way of seeing.  We need to grasp how old masters have used the elements and apply that learning to our own work too.  Copying is certainly out of the question, unless it is traditionally or culturally acceptable.  Finally, LMcC advised how important it was to add something of yourself (capturing your own style) and to just seize the moment.  

Rapt in Colour, Powerhouse, 1998

With these experiences in mind, I had a plan:

1. Take a sketch diary with me to Japan (Well, I did but used my camera instead.  Time to languish was not on our side!)

2. Think about a theme eg blue & white, manhole covers, flowers, seasons etc. Try a fresh approach if it's been done before. (It was so hard to focus in Kyoto...land of the unbelievably beautiful.)

3. Review my current works and make a note of what I’ve learned from that exploration.  (Had I sewn myself into a corner?  Where (or what or even who) was my superhero to help me on my way?)

4. Join a group of like-minded individuals to discuss work.  Learn from others.  (This is why I love attending classes.  Teachers can offer fair criticism.  My friends offer other constructive options to consider.  Fantastic – only a few blocks to unpick!) 

5. Travel and be inspired…could I record the experience?  (I am continually inspired, my photograph collection is approaching digital mega-tons and my mind is spinning with ideas.  From all this though, my love for blogging has bloomed.) 

6. Now of course, all there is to do is focus and get on with it. 

Oh, sure….