Ballarat Fibre Arts Conference

I have just returned from a very creative couple of weeks in Ballarat and Melbourne, Victoria.
I was very fortunate to receive a grant from the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and the Queensand Government to help me with my expenses to go to the annual Ballarat Fibre Arts Conference.

 I attended Dorothy Caldwell's class - "MARK MAKING -A BOOK". What a fantastic experience - experimenting, developing ideas, sharing methods and philosophies, looking at other cultures and allowing myself to free up without restraints. Six days of hands on workshops and then artists' slides, demonstrations, talks, and exhibitions in the evenings. The last day was dedicated to a huge exhibition of finished work from the 300 participants and an artists bazaar selling all sorts of wonderful hand made creations.

In the classroom.

A simple mark making exercise.

 Blind folded stitching.

Noela blindfolded.

Bold mark making exercise.

Wax resist, batik, discharge dying exercises.

MARK MAKING ON PAPER... my results...

Ink on paper towelling,

...back of paper towelling.

Left handed 'jabbing' with fine liner,

...same with a 'brush pen'.

Playing with stencils,

and a smoky candle,

...and poking holes with a nail,

a candle flame and an incense stick.

Pages torn to size and assembled into a book,

... with fabric ties woven through 5 hole pamphlet stitch binding.

My small sample book with easy and effective 5 hole pamphlet stitch binding, with woven feature, coral beads and linen threads.

Class samples.

There is more to come from the workshop, including mark making on fabric. I'll save that for the next post.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL [RADF GRANT] FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

LUCKY GIRL #2

I had a phone call last week from a fellow artist I'd had business dealings with many years ago. He invited me to be part of an exciting new gallery - Macchia Gallery in Noosaville, owned and run by architect Frank Macchia - 55 Mary St Noosaville. The gallery is the essence of 'wabi sabi'. It has a wonderful Zen feeling with ancient Japanese and Chinese screens, doors and furniture; and the quintincential mondo and water feature courtyard gardens. It is a beatutiful and serene venue. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect space for my work. I have paintings, jewellery and scarves in the gallery. It should be up and running by Easter, the web site will be put together soon after.

...the feature gallery room with sculptures by Frank Macchia and Chinese 'Ding' vessels by Mark O'Neill.

Here is a selection of the work I am exhibiting... 

'Forest Views'.....

'Landmarks'....

Jewellery...

...and scarves.

I am so grateful for this opportunity. The universe is looking after me.

So who's the LUCKY GIRL? #1

So who's the lucky girl? Me!!! I feel so blessed at the moment. My stars indicated that after 'The Ides of March' [March 15th] things would start improving for me in relation to my creativity and life in general. As my special friends are very dear to me, I am putting their lovely gifts at the top of my LUCKY GIRL list. Photographic gifts and special finds are always a delight.
These are my gifts from my lovely artist friends, Sandra and Richard Rofe, who live on Bruny Is, Tasmania.

...ceramic 'Pillow Nest' by Sandra,

...'Tectonic Vessel' by Richard,

...photo of an elephant seal washed up on the beach in front of their home,

...worm patterns in the sand [see my blog Feb. 21st 'Rain, Rats and a Mouse'],

...and pics of beautiful Bruny Island.

My friend Jan Martin sent me some amazing images of Jennifer Maestri's work

...and Jan will be my hostess when I go to Melbourne next week [more on that to come].

My lovely Paper Ponderings friend Fiona Dempster brought gifts back from Canberra,

...a public service issue recycled 'wood' pencil - it works well,

...and a classy set of Picasso fridge magnets.

My friend Barry Smith delighted me with a special gift - found in the drag racing precinct of Hervery Bay -

...very appropriate as I am hoping to go to China later in the year.

In light of the tin can episodes over the past week or two, I have decided to start a collection of wabi sabi tin cans.

I have had this one for about 15 years, just waiting for the right moment to surface. Now is the time!!