International Fiber Art Showcase: 14-17 August 2013

Colorplay will be a special exhibit at AQS Quilt Show, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA 14 – 17 August 2013 along with quilts from the Philippines, Germany and the Tentmakers of Cairo.

Be first in line to reserve your tickets, schedule your classes, and secure your seat for special events - all from the comfort of your computer. Registration opens to the public on May 13, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. central time.

See www.aqsshows.com/AQSGrandRapids/ for more information.

Colourplay in Down Under Textiles

Look out for the Colourplay article in Issue No 10 of Down Under Textiles magazine:
Here's a peek but there is more!

The magazine also has articles on Radiance dyeing; how to use deColourant; screen printing with Sally Westcott; breakdown printing and other techniques.

Three Twelves in Portland

After teaching and exhibiting in Paducah, I am spending a few days in the Pacific Northwest to celebrate my 30 year anniversary as a high school exchange student to Sunnyside, Washington State. Time constraints meant I could only wave to Nikki across Puget Sound but I was able to meet up with Terry and Gerrie in Portland.

The train ride from Seattle to Portland was very scenic and I felt like I was living Nikki's BrownSageBlue Colourplay quilt. Coming into Portland, Big Pink dominated the horizon. (Alas Mt Hood, from Terry's BlueWhiteBlack quilt, stayed hidden.)

Terry whisked me away for dinner with her husband, Gerrie and Mr C before entrusting me with her sanctuary/studio where I had the best night's sleep this week.

We met up again at Gerrie's the next day and, after much oohing and aahing over quilts, ventured downtown for the cultural experience of Portland food trucks.

I got to indulge my longing for true Mexican food and the sun appeared on cue (albeit getting into Gerrie's eyes too).

Then we made a pilgrimage to Powell's bookstore where we found our book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge and did what any self-respecting authors would do - we pulled it out, placing it front and centre and snapped some photos.

A truly heartwarming 22 hours in Portland. Thank you Terry and Gerrie!

Official Invitation to Colourplay @ Pinnacles

Colourplay opens at Pinnacles Gallery in Townsville today and continues until 2 June. You are cordially invited to join Kirsten for the opening festivities at 11am on Saturday. If we're lucky, there might even be cupcakes and macarons.

Join Deborah in a Webinar!

I am really excited to tell you about a webinar I am hosting with Quilting Arts next week.

It's Tuesday, April 30 at 1 pm Easter, but you don't necessarily have to attend live... I know not everyone is free during the day (or during the night for those in other parts of the world). You can still register and just download the event and listen and watch whenever you want.

I'll be talking about all kinds of unexpected materials that you can use in art quilts... including foil candy wrappers like I used in my quilt for our Chocolate theme.

Have you ever participated in a webinar? It's a new endeavor for me and for Quilting Arts. Participants will view a digital slide show on their computers that I will be live-streaming from my computer. (Oh the power of technology!) I'll be talking about my artwork, showing tons of examples and sharing techniques and tips.

I've had a great time preparing for this project. Here's an example of one of the small collages I created for the webinar. It's called Metro Grid. Can you guess what "unexpected materials" I used?

I think the webinar is going to be super fun and if it fits your interest and pocketbook, I'd love to have you join me! It is so amazing to know that our 12x12 project has reached people all over the world and this webinar is a pretty cool opportunity to connect and learn more about how I create my artwork and some of my tips and ideas about creativity... even though we might never be in the same place.

Plus... all participants are going to get an awesome discount code to use in future Interweave purchases.

I'm also eager to hear what unexpected materials you've used in your artwork!

A Little Twelve by Twelve @ Paducah 2013

Thank you to everyone who joined me for my lecture in Paducah about the Adventures and inspiration of the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge. It was wonderful to be able to share my quilts from the Theme Series and the 2012 Series along with images and stories from the other Twelves.

AQS have been warm hosts in Paducah and I know our Colourplay collection will be in caring hands when it is a special exhibit at AQS Quilt Week in Grand Rapids (14-17 August 2013) and Des Moines (2-5 October 2013).

Colourplay in Melbourne

Thank you to everyone who joined Kirsty and me to celebrate Colourplay at the Australasian Quilt Convention 2013. Today, Sunday, is the last day of the show and Kirsty will be giving a floor talk at 1.30pm before she packs up the collection for our exhibition at Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville (29 April -2 June).

Also, you can find a listing of tutorials and resources on the Twelve by Twelve website and Brenda shares her Five Tips for the Beginner Art Quilter.

Colourplay @ Australasian Quilt Convention 2013

The Colourplay collection has been hung at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne ready for the opening of the 9th Australasian Quilt Convention tomorrow, 18 April 2013. There is a floor talk each day at 1.30pm. Do stop by to say hello!

Book Sales at Australasian Quilt Convention 2013

Kirsty and I are packing our bags for the Colourplay exhibition at the Australasian Quilt Convention that opens on Thursday 18 April and continues until Sunday 21 April.   We don't have room in our suitcases to pack any books but our book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge is available at the show from Can Do Books (Stand 71).

Kirsty and I are happy to sign your copy.  Come along to our daily floor talk at 1.30pm!

Colourplay & Flying Colours at AQC 2013

For me, one of the lasting benefits of being part of the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge, has been the opportunity to test out design ideas in a small format before developing works on a larger scale.  Indeed, the Twelve by Twelve project has sparked many series in my portfolio.

My Flying Colours series started with Lorikeet Circus in the Colourplay challenge and the latest piece, Budgies Uncaged (125x125cm), has been selected as a finalist in the Australasian Quilt Convention 2013 challenge - FREE.

Come along to AQC in Melbourne next week, 18-21 April.  The fabulous Kirsten and I will be giving daily floor talks at the Colourplay exhibition at 1.30pm..

 Read about The Process of Creating Budgies Uncaged on my blog.

Colourplay @ AQC and Pinnacles

Catch the Colorplay Series on exhibition tour in Australia this month at:

• Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne, Australia, 18-21 April 2013. Daily floor talks by Kirsten and/or Brenda at 1.30pm;
• Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville, Australia, 29 April - 2 June 2013. Official opening 11am, 4 May.

 

Australasian Quilt Convention 2013 Preview

All 144 quilts from the Colourplay Series will be on display at the Australasian Quilt Convention (18-21 April) and Brenda and/or Kirsty will be presenting a daily floor talk at 1.30pm. All welcome!

Download the AQC Preview Magazine (9MB PDF) for more information about the attractions at this year's event.

Brenda @ AQS Quilt Week: Paducah (24-27 April)

AQS QuiltWeek™  in Paducah, Kentucky, USA is coming up next month from 24-27 April 2013. On Wednesday, 24 April (12-1pm), Brenda will be presenting a lecture Adventures & Inspiration from An International Art Quilt Challenge. She will be sharing insights and images along with a selection of quilts "in the real".

Also Brenda will be presenting informal floor talks for the Beneath the Southern Sky exhibition and teaching the following classes:

• 24 April, Wednesday 5.30-8.30pm The X Factor;
• 25 April, Thursday 8.30am – 4pm Strata Various;
• 26 April, Friday 8.30am – 4pm Stacks of Improvisation; and
• 27 April, Saturday 1-3pm All Star Review.

Pre-registrations close this week. By all accounts, Paducah has a festive atmosphere throughout Quilt Week.  Brenda looks forward catching up with some of her US friends and making lots of new friends too!

Beneath the Southern Sky US Debut

Beneath the Southern Sky is a travelling exhibition of 30 textile works curated by Brenda.  The exhibition includes Helen's African inspired work The Things We Carry.  The exhibition opens today at AQS QuiltWeek™  in Lancaster, Pennyslvania, USA and continues until Saturday, 16 March. Neither of us can be there in person.  We would love to hear reports if you get to see the exhibition!

Another kind of Colourplay

I'm looking forward to presenting a Colourplay floortalk at the Stitches & Craft Show in Sydney tomorrow, Sunday 10 March at 12 noon. I made some cupcakes to take along. Have you ever tried to make chartreuse frosting?!