Colour+Print in Geelong

Garnet House at Geelong Grammar School - home away from home.

Straight from the GLINT residency to a residential workshop for TAFTA at Geelong, this has been one hectic month. This year at Textile Forum I taught 'Colour+Print' to ten students from all over Australia, at the Geelong Grammar School in Victoria. Most of the students were new to screen-printing and it was great to have two students in my class from last year's 'Printing with mordants and natural dyes' workshop, Rasa and Alison.

Anna hand-painting a beautiful floral piece with her test colours beside her

Pirjo building up delicately coloured and textured backgrounds for further work

During the week I shared my knowledge and demonstrated how to mix fabric paints to specific colours; how to develop an individual colour-palette for textile design; how to produce striking fabrics using low-tech methods and an introduction to printing with silk-screens. The ladies in the workshop had diverse textile backgrounds and experiences, and this course gave many of them the opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and learn new skills which could be incorporated into their work in the future.

Final display of work in a mini-exhibition this morning

Tea towels and textile samples from the workshop

Rasa

Libby

Vanessa

Marlene

Kate, Pirjo, Anna and Alison in front of class work.

I have to say it was one of the most productive and also enjoyable workshops I have taught, in part due to the fantastic students but also to the immediate nature of screen-printing which opens up all sorts of possibilities for extending the knowledge of design and colour. Thanks to Kate, Pirjo, Libby, Pam, Helen and Vanessa, Marlene, Rasa and Anna...well done!

Bus Depot Markets Turn 20!

Well, it has been a busy week for me, requiring the wearing of many different hats along the way.
I have been busy printing new stock at Megalo for the upcoming Old Bus Depot Markets on Sunday 14th September when they will be celebrating their 20th Birthday.  Congratulations! It will be a fun and vibrant day, with entertainment and a cutting of the cake at 2pm.

Busy printing new stock and dyeing merino socks for the upcoming OBDM

I have also been madly dyeing a whole new batch of super-fine merino socks as I have been inundated with requests from loyal customers who just love the funky patterns and colours but also the quality, fineness and softness of the wool. They are sure to be a sell-out on the day.

On Thursday night I put on my Craft ACT cap as a member of the Management Committee and opened three exhibitions - the APM annual exhibition on the theme of Awaken, The Arid Zone  by local ceramic artist Cathy Franzi, and Scantlings by SA ceramic artist Lesa Farant.  More information on these wonderful exhibitions can be read here.

AND I have been busy proto-typing new work for the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) at Old Parliament House for an upcoming exhibition I was selected for, responding to historic furniture in various rooms.....more updates on this later.

Wrap UP!!

I am showing my new range of hand printed scarves and warm winter socks, along with beautiful handwoven scarves by local weavers Belinda Jessup and Melanie Olde, at the POD pop-up shop in The Lonsdale Traders in Braddon until the end of this week only.  We open tomorrow night at 5pm, so drop in and join us for a drink if you are in the area.  Thereafter, we will be open every day 10-4pm with our last day on Sunday. Hope to catch up with you there!
To read more about the Wrap-Up artists click here

Connected Cloth

This fascinating book which was published last year presents an invaluable guide for textile artists who work collaboratively, either in formal situations, such as art residencies with institutions, or informally such as small community groups. It provides useful information on setting up groups, finding venues, establishing ground rules and working methods, and staging group exhibitions. It also gives plenty of practical advice on how to hang and display textiles, themes and inspirations, collage techniques and working towards an exhibition.

My arts residency and collaboration with Dr Christine Cargill at the Australian National Botanic Gardens,  and my 2010 residency in Hill End is featured in the book (p96-97). Also included are many other well-known textile artists such as Els Van Barle, Alice Kettle, Glenys Mann and Machiko Agano.

Connected Cloth is written by well-known UK textile artists Cas Holmes and Anne Kelly.  Cas is no stranger to Australia as she often teaches in residential workshops for Fibre Arts Australia in Australia and NZ each year.

Winter has arrived!

After a week of glorious Autumn weather, Winter arrived this morning in Canberra and we woke to heavy grey skies, intermittent rain and a definite drop in the temperature.  I have spent most of today sitting in front of a crackling fire and stitching some textiles for exhibition later in the year. So cosy listening to some classical music and watching the flickering flames warm up our home.
I am also getting stock together for the Belconnen Art Centre Mid-Winter Market which will take place in the BAC foyer on Saturday 28th June from 12 noon to 5pm. I will be launching a new series of silk/cotton scarves as well as the ever-popular tea towels, merino socks and hankies.....hope to see you there!

Come and visit me at the BAC Mid-Winter Market