New Work

More of what I've been up to lately - this is the second quilt in my Touchstone series. I've used some precious fabrics which I purchased in Houston (almost 2 years ago, can you believe it?) - they've been waiting for the perfect design. This is a class sample for workshops planned for next year. I haven't quilted it yet, but I am absolutely in love with this quilt right now!! Do you like it?

A Good Day...

I know I've been slack & let the A-Z thing go - apologies for that, but life just did its usual thing & got in the way. So, to get back on the (blogging) horse I thought I should just bite the bullet & skip to today - which happened to be a pretty good day.

We got down & dirty in Sculpture class this morning, attacking our blocks of plaster with chisel & mallet - it was hard work, but fun.


And this afternoon, I finally finished an edition in printmaking that I'm really happy with. I love this screen print (wish I'd done more prints - bugger). And even better, I've now completed all the required components of the course, and can spend the remaining time working on whatever I wish.

I plan to revisit etching, as I was less than thrilled with the imagery I used in that part of the course. And I may even do another screenprint at the same time - printmaking class always has lots of waiting time, so there's scope to work on two projects at once.

More soon (I promise!!!).

L is for...

L is for lemons ... which I drew last week. Also one of my favourite foods/flavours.



L is for Limelight - one of my favourite quilts. This is a wholecloth using a coloured trapunto technique.

And of course (thanks Brenda - you know I'm a bit vague when snowed under) L is for my lovely friend Lisa, who is getting ready for her second solo exhibition this week. Make sure you check it out if you are in Sydney.

And L is for Lunar eclipse - which we have been watching tonight - an awesome display.

K is for...

K is for Kristen, who I drew today (I knew I'd eventually come up with something for K). This drawing was done with white gouache on black paper - an interesting and challenging technique. I really like how the wicker chair has come up in this one.

J is for...

J is for journals - I love making covered journals, and it's a fun class to teach too. I try hard to use my visual journals as frequently as I can, though I am a very poor diarist. And I'm fascinated by journals and sketchbooks belonging to other artists - they seem full of secrets and possibilities.


J is for Joshua - our nephew and god-son. Josh is just nine months older than Adam, and the two of them were inseparable friends when they were little. He's very athletic and intelligent, a great kid. Unfortunately he lives several hours drive away in Tamworth, so we don't get to see as much of him as we'd like.

I is for...

I is for Ink (& nib) which I employed in class today to do this self-portrait. It is my first attempt at this very confronting exercise, so I'm not unhappy with the result. Not quite right, but not too bad either.

H is for...

H is for HURRAY!!! Great news this morning from the UK - this quilt, which I did earlier this year for my friend and client Gay, won 2nd prize in its category at the Birmingham Quilt Festival plus 2nd prize in the longarm quilting category. It is very exciting to win prizes at such a prestigious quilt show.

H is for Hockey - everyone in my family but me plays field hockey. Pictured below (sorry about the blurry shot - she wouldn't stay still) is Emma suited up in her goalie gear, ready to play. Her team qualified for the semi-finals on Saturday - everybody wish her luck, won't you?

G is for...

G is for Gingko Blues - again with the blue and green!

G is for Georgia - what a gorgeous girl! Here is a pic of my little neice in a rare serious mood, most of the time she has a big grin for the camera. The little knitted outfit she is wearing is one that mum actually made for Adam when he was a bub (15 years ago) - it never fitted him in the right season (and was a little bit girly too) so I passed it on in pristine never-worn condition. Doesn't she look cute?

F is for...

F is for Frond Frenzy, another of my favourite quilts. I love the blue/green colour combo, and I am still happy with the quilting. I often get over the quilting as soon as a quilt is finished, and think of other ideas that might have been better - so it says something that I still love this one.

F is for food - I have a constant love/hate relationship with it. I love to cook (when I have time) and I definitely loooooove to eat, but the side effects are all too obvious (as anyone who has viewed me from behind recently could attest).

F is for family - my first focus and motivation, constant source of support, love and fun.

F is for friends - I am blessed with wonderful friends (you know who you are).

E is for...

E is for Emma (of course) - my gorgeous girl (with her puppy), gifted, goofy, creative and clever, she has been the light of our life since she arrived nearly 11 years ago.