Winter Moon

This is the view from my front porch - early one chilly morning last month as I stood shivering in my pyjamas while I waited for the dogs.  I could see the pale winter moon through the bare branches as it set behind Mt Kembla, and the air was crisp and sharp as ice crystals.  The scene was so evocative of winter for me that I dashed inside & grabbed my camera.  

It was a pretty ordinary photograph (I was only just awake) but it inspired me to do this water colour as well as my winter image for my latest contemporary techniques series.  You just never know where or when inspiration will strike.

Unanticipated Joy

One of my favourite things about teaching is the absolute pleasure I get from seeing my students take my design concept, add their own life experience and personal aesthetic, and come up with a quilt that is truly their own.

Strata class work by Trish Copeland

Even though my classes are mostly technique-driven, students have the opportunity to bring something of themselves to the work.  It is fabulous to see them produce work which clearly expresses their own vision and taste.

Strata class work by Joan Murphy

Before I began teaching, I would never have guessed what joy it would bring me. 

My week in pictures

Well, it's been another busy week in the NicQuiltz world.  I thought I'd give you a little photo essay of some highlights...

These are some of the books I used in my research presentation for Cultural Productions (aka Art History) class - some heavy reading there, both literally and figuratively speaking.

I did plenty of hours at the quilting machine, getting one rather large custom job off the waiting list.

I drove past this park several times this week on various errands, and have been enchanted by the romantic sight of the lights strung above the big top (sorry about the bad pic, I didn't have the tripod with me to take a decent low-light shot).

In better photography news, I had a portrait shown in the Wollongong City Gallery Portrait Prize - my first piece shown in a 'proper' gallery.

And lastly, some eye-candy of the stationery variety - I treated myself to this gorgeous diary from Kikki K today, plus a beautiful Lamy pen.  New lovely stationery is one of the truly Good Things in life.

There was plenty more including classes taught, excursions missed, sick children, sick me, school musicals and klutzy accidents - but you don't need to know about all that.  How was your week?

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