Pam Holland Designs and Productions

Creating new techniques in Textile Art

Goodness me. Sometimes I hit a stumbling block in my creative expression. I'm trying to work out an easier technique for  project.

Now I'm 3 samples down and maybe it will work... I don't know!!

Its frustrating at times.

The problem is that I'm creating a technique which I want  to be entirely my own and I tend to put so much detail into it that I'm afraid it will make it difficult for students.

So sample, after sample, I'm trying to simplify it.

I have to break the technique down into smaller sections and then re-evaluate each piece.

So to take a break, I dyed fabric today I really like the way cheesecloth dyes, It has such a fantasy like quality when it dries.

I've sprained my hand so finishing off hand  work is also out of the question for a few days.... mmmm

Sometimes I fall into a new technique and sometimes its hard work like this one.

Then again, sometimes I come out to the studio the next day and begin work... and it all falls into place.

I had the opportunity to play with Grandie Kaiden. We sang 'Tinkle tinkle little star' many times and he played with sticky tape and pencils and kept me entertained with his amazing 2 year old wisdom. I can't help but grab a few snaps... my Grandies are used to the camera.

Test piece done.

I finished the quilting on the image and the quilting of the background is 3/4 finished.

Black on black, even in straight lines, its a bit hard.

So I'm stopping until tomorrow.

 

I'm happy with the results.

Its a test piece, and I hope to have some students in the studio to go through the process with this week.

I can begin the real one tomorrow now this audition piece is done.

Time for coffee.

Cheese cloth portraits, and experiment.

Up a little later this morning, I'm confused, I thought it was Monday... No, its Sunday, we had a public holiday on Thursday and I'm out of kilter.

This morning I'm experimenting with two new things, techniques, whatever you like to call them.

I had this image of a wooden statue. I found it in a garden centre in Taos. Its a good image to practice on.

Statues are great for creating portraits because of the sharp contours on the face.

I've been doing portraits with cheesecloth for a while, but I decided to try a few different techniques.This one is just pure white.

The next one will be in shades of grey so on Tuesday, maybe today, I will dye the fabric to match.

I'm not going to go into all the details of how I've done it... you need to come to class for that.

However, I will share the quilting and for the first time I'm using my GoPro camera to capture the images as I sew.

The GoPro is used mainly for extreme sports photography.Its even got a housing so I can use it when I'm surfing or skydiving.!!!!  NOT

I reckon we could introduce it to quilters.

I've been experimenting with it for a few weeks, I used it at the last quilt show, walking the aisles etc, but I lost the footage in Iphoto when the computer crashed. A bit of work will locate it and now the tiny wide angle camera is stuck on my sewing machine.

It seems to be working a treat and capturing the images well.

I'm happy with the quilting too. It adds contour and dimension and texture to the image I like the way it softens the edges of the fabric.

This is just darned exciting.

 

Up a little later this morning, I'm confused, I thought it was Monday... No, its Sunday, we had a public holiday on Thursday and I'm out of kilter.

This morning I'm experimenting with two new things, techniques, whatever you like to call them.

I had this image of a wooden statue. I found it in a garden centre in Taos. Its a good image to practice on.

Statues are great for creating portraits because of the sharp contours on the face.

I've been doing portraits with cheesecloth for a while, but I decided to try a few different techniques.This one is just pure white.

The next one will be in shades of grey so on Tuesday, maybe today, I will dye the fabric to match.

I'm not going to go into all the details of how I've done it... you need to come to class for that.

However, I will share the quilting and for the first time I'm using my GoPro camera to capture the images as I sew.

The GoPro is used mainly for extreme sports photography.Its even got a housing so I can use it when I'm surfing or skydiving.!!!!  NOT

I reckon we could introduce it to quilters.

I've been experimenting with it for a few weeks, I used it at the last quilt show, walking the aisles etc, but I lost the footage in Iphoto when the computer crashed. A bit of work will locate it and now the tiny wide angle camera is stuck on my sewing machine.

It seems to be working a treat and capturing the images well.

I'm happy with the quilting too. It adds contour and dimension and texture to the image I like the way it softens the edges of the fabric.

This is just darned exciting.

 

Up a little later this morning, I'm confused, I thought it was Monday... No, its Sunday, we had a public holiday on Thursday and I'm out of kilter.

This morning I'm experimenting with two new things, techniques, whatever you like to call them.

I had this image of a wooden statue. I found it in a garden centre in Taos. Its a good image to practice on.

Statues are great for creating portraits because of the sharp contours on the face.

I've been doing portraits with cheesecloth for a while, but I decided to try a few different techniques.This one is just pure white.

The next one will be in shades of grey so on Tuesday, maybe today, I will dye the fabric to match.

I'm not going to go into all the details of how I've done it... you need to come to class for that.

However, I will share the quilting and for the first time I'm using my GoPro camera to capture the images as I sew.

The GoPro is used mainly for extreme sports photography.Its even got a housing so I can use it when I'm surfing or skydiving.!!!!  NOT

I reckon we could introduce it to quilters.

I've been experimenting with it for a few weeks, I used it at the last quilt show, walking the aisles etc, but I lost the footage in Iphoto when the computer crashed. A bit of work will locate it and now the tiny wide angle camera is stuck on my sewing machine.

It seems to be working a treat and capturing the images well.

I'm happy with the quilting too. It adds contour and dimension and texture to the image I like the way it softens the edges of the fabric.

This is just darned exciting.

 

Catching up on projects.

The day began very early...or was it just that I didn't sleep well?

I was out in the studio at 4.00 and found myself emotional watching the Dawn Service for ANZAC day.

The studio was in desperate need of a tidy. I can't work in a mess and somehow projects had begun to pile up.

It might not look messy to some, but it was distracting to me.

I have a project on each of my 3 machines. Illustration and patterns for another 3 on the table and it worries me that I've not finished them.

I'm working on the process of creating a cheesecloth portrait. I've done it in a different way before, but I'm experimenting with other methods.

Shall do it in color or black and white? I have just ordered lots of different weights of cheesecloth to dye and make up kits.(another job to add to the list)

I'm working on the thread painting project. Its slow. I stopped work on it to do the Guild Quilt, but having several machines, this project sits on this dear Janome and now I'm back to doing a little each day.

I'm quilting the Mexican Tiles project. I have 4 of these to quilt. I'm not too happy with the quilting on this one but I will persevere.

 

Photo Journal Australasian Quilt Conference.

I've been working in the shed all day, going from one thing to another like a mad thing.

I've added a photo journal of some of the quilts and things I viewed at The Australasian Quilt Conference.

I will add more over the next couple of days.

Please respect the quilt makers by not reproducing these photos.

ASH0040869712

Textiles, Treasures and Interesting things.

We walked a lot yesterday, and I'm feeling the painful results today.

Its not the walking its carrying the heavy backpack and camera that affects the muscles.

I did  a photo journal of interesting things I saw as I walked yesterday. It covers Textiles, Textures and interesting images.

We're visiting the Victorian Art Gallery today and then we leave for home late afternoon. It only an hour flight from Victoria to Adelaide, but if we went by car its an 8 hour drive.

I opt for flight.

The architecture here in Melbourne is interesting in the extreme.

These images  are taken in  Federation Square in the heart of Melbourne.

The other thing I adore in Melbourne is the street art.

As you walk around you come across secret passages leading to outdoor urban art galleries. It's very Melbourne and it's not just locals in the know who think so. The city is now recognised globally as one of the top street art capitals.

A subculture within Melbourne's art scene, street art styles you'll see here include stencils, paste-ups, murals and poster and sticker art. The affect on Melbourne is an ever evolving brick canvas that defines these lane ways.

Banksy has even left his mark here after visiting Melbourne in 2003. In 2010 the now famous incident of local city council worker's unknowingly painting over his stencil rat even hit our papers.

Embarrassments aside, in recognition of this scene Melbourne City Council has earmarked specific city lane ways with street art permits. How great is that?

But then you may be disappointed that I've not put many quilt photos up.

I'm actually preparing the photos right now.

At this show it was difficult to get the correct angle of some of the photos so I manually have to manipulate them to get them square. So give me time... it will happen.

 

Another day in Melbourne. It promises to be a super day. The sun is shining, the air is clear and its the last day of the Australasian Quilt Festival.

Winners last night were

Best of Australia Rachelle Denneny with Golden Ivory.

And the Rajah award for service to Australian Quilting was Jenny Bowker.

I featured one of Jenny's quilts in a preious blog.

Filming today... and photographing scenes of Mebourne.

A Quieter day today,

English: Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne shed B (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A banner on a wall for the Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul exhibit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tonight the winners of the Best of Australia  and the Lut-Da award winner are announced at the Quilt Event.

At $125 per ticket we decided it was jut a little expensive for dinner particularly when we have it provided at the Hilton.

Of course I would like to be there for the announcements of the winners but I can wait till tomorrow.

Today was a "Tilly day" I figured two days in a row at the show was enough for her and I have photographed most of the quilts, but we will be back again tomorrow to do some video.

We visited the Victoria Market, the Afghanistan Hidden Treasures exhibition and the Children's Museum today.

Our older children loved the Market and specially the hot jam donuts you can buy there, so we had to go just to sample some and make her Mum envious.

While Papa attended football, Tilly and I have been working on good table manners and not doing cartwheels in the middle of the pavement as we're walking down the street. I'm  not too sure who is winning.

Some 100's of photos of bugs later we managed to leave the venue and join the football crowd on the tram.

Carrying many pounds of camera gear around is a good excuse for loosing weight.!!

 

 

Related articles

Getting to the quilt Show.

The Australasian Quilt Convention

 

My overal impression of the show is creative, effective and interesting. This is only the second year in recent years that I've been home to view it.

Its a great showcase for Australian Quilting, but in saying that, there are quilts here from Korea and South Africa on exhibition.

Expertise events do a wonderful job of bringing the best teachers from around the world and locally to teach new  new techniques.

The 12 by 12 exhibition seen widely at quilt shows throughout the world is interesting as well. Created by  talented quilters from all parts of the globe it focuses on the challenge of the creation.

 

Each state in Australia has their own quiltshow. The winners of those shows are entered in Best of Australia which will be announced this evening.

Somehow we have two South Australian quilters vying for  the title this year. I won it one year for our State and its quite an honor.

 

Related articles

Winning Quilts and show observation.

'The Market' Quilt