New Contemporary Techniques Series

My new series of Contemporary Techniques classes is starting this coming Saturday at The Quilters Garden at Albion Park.  This time we are making a larger wall hanging in four parts (employing the quilt-as-you-go technique) of the Four Seasons.  We will start with Winter (appropriate on a chilly day like today, don't you think?) and cover a wide variety of different surface design and embellishment techniques. 

There are a couple of places available in this class, so get in touch if you'd like to join us.  If you'd like me to visit your shop or guild, I'd love to hear from you too.  Email me at nicquiltz@gmail.com for more information.

In my Mailbox this week

arrived the latest issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting (Vol 17 No 1) featuring my Frondescence quilt as a project on page 36.

A little further on (page 42)  is a Quilter's Profile on me!! 

They've done a lovely job and I'm very pleased with the way both the project and the profile look.  Thanks AP&Q!   You can find the magazine in Newsagent's now if you'd like to read all about me (blush ;-))).

Making Connections

"Nexus" Quilt Triptych 76 x 138cm

I've just finished this piece for the Meroogal Women's Art Prize - my artist's statement is copied below.

My response to the theme "Celebrating the everyday things women do" takes three parts - Nurture, Nourish and Nest.  Every day, we nurture our children and encourage their development; we nourish their bodies and minds; we build a nest, a warm, safe haven from the perils of the world at large.  In doing so, we form a nexus - a series of connections which bind our families to us.  These connections extend to the women who surround us - our sisters, mothers and friends - who make up networks of love and support, who give us strength.

Unexpected Pleasures

One of the courses I was required to take last semester was 2D Imaging for Artists.  I was not at all keen, as computer stuff just seemed too much like work to be fun in my art life, so I thought I'd just get through it and tick it off my list.  I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  

In addition to learning how to tweak photographs in Photoshop, I am now able to design my own business cards, exhibition invitations and such with a much more professional and confident approach.  And I must say that playing with digital photos is FUN.  We got to use the school's lovely digital SLR camera's (I soooo want one now) and then mess with the mundane images to create something far more exciting.

The image above is my final project for the course, called Reflection (clickable for a larger image).  My results arrived in yesterday's mail, and I was pleasantly surprised to get a Distinction - pretty good for a course I only intended to turn up for and never thought I'd enjoy.  You never know when life is going to serve you up one of those unexpected pleasures.

New Class Sample

At last - some new work to show you!  I've just finished this latest class sample for a new one-day workshop I'm calling Constructions (for want of a more catchy title).  Participants will learn three different improvisational piecing techniques, hopefully giving them a jumping-off point to start making their own contemporary or art quilts.  Fast learners & over-achievers will also make a start on some fun free-motion quilting.

I've been quilting up a storm over the past few days at home, as well as doing some class development work & fighting off a cold (ick).  Tomorrow I'm off to Sydney to present my quilts at the NSW Quilters Guild's Friday Showcase - maybe I'll see you there!!

Outback at Dusk

Photograph courtesy of Bard Haerland

My second quilt in the Sydney Quilt Show was another in the Touchstones series, this time #3 - Outback at Dusk (named by DH Rob for the colour scheme).  This piece was commissioned by Janome Australia and made entirely on my lovely Janome 6600P sewing machine.  

It won third place in the Art Quilt category (big embarrassing happy dance from me!!!) and features gorgeous hand-dyed fabrics from Dyed & Gone to Heaven, miles of free-motion quilting & bobbin embroidery.

Check out the other prize-winning quilts at The Quilters Guild of NSW website.  

Just when you all thought I was gone for good....

Photo Courtesy of Bard Haerland

I'm back!!!  I can't believe that it has been more than three months since I posted a message on this blog - time just flies by, doesn't it?  There are no real excuses for staying away so long, only my crazy life.  I'll make an effort to bring any of you who are still bothering to check in up to date with all that's been happening  - 2008 is turning out to be a really big amazing year in the NicQuiltz world.  Here's a little taste of some of the excitement...

I think I've posted a picture of my quilt (Touchstones #2 - Gingko Garden) before.  You may notice something new about it, though - a lovely ribbon from the 2008 Sydney Quilt Show.  I was thoroughly gobsmacked to be awarded the Down Under Quilts special prize for Best Use of Colour - wow, what a thrill!!!

I won't bore you with a long and tedious post listing all of my happenings - I'll break it down into smaller chunks and tease you with a little bit at a time.  Make sure you check back again soon!

Cheers,

Nic

My Brown Eyed Girl

For last night's sketching session, I drew Emma using one of my favourite combo's - watercolour & ink. I'm very happy with this, although it is a somewhat distorted likeness. I can't help myself - when it comes to Em, it's all about the eyes.

No drawing tonight - I have a review still to write about last week's guest lecture (artist David Fairbairn) and I dare not leave it any longer or I'm going to fall behind. Tomorrow we're off to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman exhibitions at AGNSW.

I'm still here...

hope you are too! I've been struggling a bit of late with my workload, and this blog has obviously been put on the backburner. Then yesterday I got some news which threw me, and made me think, and do some self-assessment. My workload is all stuff I've asked for, wished for, worked for and hoped for. So I need to quit bitching about it and just get on with it.

Off to class now - above is picture of me in 2D imaging class, playing with the Photobooth program on the cool Apple computers they have - lots of fun!!

Sketching...

Adam had his 16th birthday this week - makes me feel about 105!!

We have been having nightly sketching sessions - Adam wants to improve his drawing skills, and I'm always happy to have some extra drawing practice. We draw eachother with different media - tonight it was coloured pencil and we changed colour randomly every few minutes.

I've been very busy with Art School and a multitude of other deadlines - I promise to resume regular blogging as soon as I am able.