VISION STATEMENT
To encourage and assist fibre artists to achieve their
fullest potential by providing advice, facilities
and educational material in an enjoyable
social environment.


Meetings held weekly on Wednesday at Possum Hollow Hall within Townsville Showgrounds, Hyde Park. 10am - 1-00pm

Friday 28 October 2011

Creative Friday


Hello, we had a keen group attend the first Creative Group Friday since the white exhibition.  A demonstration was given by Deb on attaching fabric to aliminium foil with PVA glue, once dry this can then be used to create 3D shapes, which hold their shape.  Some shapes are shown in one of the following photos.
There was also discussion and agreement to hold a picnic fashion parade, the title of which is 'Spirit of the North'.  This will be held on April 21 2012.  Fashions will be made from repurposed garments.  Next Creative Group Friday will be a trip to a second hand shop and a lunch to celebrate Christmas.

Keen watchers of Deb demostrating how to apply PVA.

Smoothing the wrinkles of the fabric by hand.

Moya had a go too

Birtee showing how to roll a dry piece. 

Some fan shapes in the process.

Sunday 16 October 2011

Moya O'Keeffe

The fact that you’re a member of Fibres and Fabrics shows you are creative by nature. Define yourself – art/craft wise? Am I Creative??? Define myself – Have never really thought about doing this before, but here goes. Example – Marlene King Workshop where we worked with curves. Her quilt was flowing curves, very beautiful, but not me, so with her permission, I designed and made a dragon, with lots of flowing flames, tail and background etc. Example – Another workshop, on a wall hanging, subject Blue Wren; my wren was the local Red and black one. Result – I seem to be only ½ creative. I borrow techniques, but use them for my projects – or – am I just contrary???
Are you more comfortable working in one particular medium than most others?
Particular favourite? Painting, but I don’t consider myself good enough to show, and don’t have enough wall space to hang my daubs, and not enough friends I wish to alienate by gifting them with one. So have been working with fabric (quilts etc are easier to find homes for) and I can combine both paint and material, and if I mess up, the dogs don’t mind what they sleep on.
Are there any artists or crafters who, more than any others, have influenced you in your creative life and why?
Gwen Dillon, a folk art teacher, who taught and encouraged me to use her techniques, but doesn’t mind when I don’t do folk art. Margaret Dunn, who encouraged by example, though have yet to have a go at Stumpwork or Photography. Members of Fibres and Fabrics, though they probably don’t realise they are doing it.
Describe your workspace. 
Having had my craft room moved 7 times, I now have my very own “Womb” as my husband calls it. It is large and airy, and I have filled (over filled) it to capacity. I am a hoarder and have fabric, dress and other, from years back, decades actually. I have my original Singer sewing machine, purchased when I was 15 – and it still works well – plus many others. It does, alas, also hold ‘stuff’ my children could not find room for in their homes. I have as assistants: 3 dogs, 1 dopey rooster and 3 Mallard ducks, who make it their business to make life unbearable for the aforementioned animals. Needless to say they are not really welcome (they are not potty trained like the others).
What 3 tools could you not live without?
Paint brush, sewing machine(s), companions (animals, although I wish they would not sit on machine footpedals) and husband – without which I would not have a “Womb”.
Do you keep a sketchbook or journal? 
Should have started one about 50 years ago, but have one now and even try to keep it up to date. Unlike some friends, I cannot write and listen at workshops, so mine only contain work I have done, ideas of things I want to do and design ideas of things I would like to do.
We all share our knowledge at Fibres and Fabrics. Do you extend this in any way by participating in or teaching workshops?
I have mainly been a participant, though have given a number of workshops to a local craft group of which I am a member.
How do you inspire your creativity when you’re stuck? 
Unstick creativity block??? Happens quite often. I first go to my fabric stash, then visit my library, have a cip of tea and talk it over with the dogs (not too much help there though) or as they say “phone a friend” or bring it up at a Fibres meeting, I suppose.
If cost wasn’t an issue, what avenues would you choose to explore to expand your skills?
If cost was not an object, I would visit art galleries, museums and go to any and all craft shows and do any available workshops that interest me.
How do you balance your life? 
Balance? Who has balance? In percentages: 80% spent with craft interests, 19% spent with family, 1% with housework.
Has any of your work appeared, or is it going to appear, in a display or exhibition either collaboratively or alone? If so where and when? 
Some of my work has been places in the local Community Centre, also some in a recent display at the Umbrella Studio with other Fibres members. I also display at Quilting Show and Tells.
What does your work mean to you?
Because of an accident my mobility has been much reduced and time spent designing, making and talking about crafts keeps me relatively sane and my brain active. Crafting also allows me to interact with people who enjoy the same interests.
Thank you, Moya. Lovely chatting to you!

Saturday 15 October 2011

Cardwell Show and Tell

Cardwell earlier this year was one of a several townships along the north Queensland coast to be devastated by cyclone Yasi.  Last weekend was a special event for the local community to get together and share some of their work that was not taken by the savage storm.

Several ladies from Fibers, the Burdekin, Carlyle Gardens and Bluewater groups attended this event.  We had a wonderful Day, enjoying the gracious hospitality of the Cardwell Quilters.  After such a horrible year, these ladies have certainly deserved this wonderful event.  Many prizes were handed out, and Fiber, Burdekin and Bluewater ladies won a couple, with the major prize making it's way onto the Carlyle Bus. That wonderful multi coloured trolley being one of them.


I won the guessing competition (how many 6 inch squares were in the pickle container – I got within one, wow was I happy.)


I also took home one of the Dammit dolls; they were pre-made dolls that were on our tables when we arrived, and a bag of sewing notions to dress our dolls.  There was also a verse, which you were allowed to add, change or re invent. I wish I had of kept their verse, but our table re invented ours…..  The Dolls were then Auctioned off, (funds going to Juvenile diabetes) raising $198.70 (the 70 cents was all I had left after spending my money at the market place).. They also received $100 from Carlyle gardens ladies and they raised over $800 from the sale of tickets into the Quilt raffle.

Our dammit doll poem:
You've gone to your craft room
Iching to be stitching

You hear hubby in the kitchen
A screaming a bitching

Dammit you yell, Screaming and a shout.
Here Dear, Take my Dammit Doll, and slam it all about….



They had this wonderful cake made and their oldest member  Maxine Millwood cut the cake.





Here is Maggie wither her quilt she named Inspirations after her time with Yasi.













And what we all enjoy - retail therapy......

Thank you all for an absolutely wonderful day.....

To view more photo's click here
Also if you want to send any donations for stash to the group, let me know and I will send you a contact address.  All donations will be gratefully received. 


Arlene

Saturday 8 October 2011

I'm no sane quilter, BUT....

At Fibers and Fabrics Patchwork group last Thursday they were making a lovely swirl type table runner, that I just wanted to make. (don't know it's real name)

Now I don't do normal quilting, I'm a crazy patch girl, through and through, so when it came to working all this out I was way out of my comfort zone.  I was amazed how quickly I picked up what had to be done. I even got my piece further than some of the 'sane quilters'.

First we had to choose 8 colours and then cut our fat quarters into strips, of various sizes. We then had to sew them all together running in sequence 1 to 8. Then we had to cut them again, using a 9 degree wedge. (All jargon if you ask me). I managed to do all this (except I miss one piece) thankfully I was the teachers pet I think, and she cut it out for me.

We then laid it out on the big table and starting from one of the smaller ends, numbered 1 to 25.

We had to sew each piece together and when we got to the middle start the second piece from the other end and then join the two pieces together. You think it looks OK, wait to ya see it sewn together.
I still have to put in the lining and the backing, but for my second time ever doing sane quilting, i think I did OK.

Will post in about a week, when I get some help putting it all together.

Here are the other ladies, Missing is our teacher (Gai is taking the photo), and Suzanne who had to leave early. This is taken with our pieces on the table, yes mine was done first, yippeeee.......  All the work, and the colours were amazing, can't wait to see them all finished.  Thanks so much Gai, I really enjoyed this workshop, an achievable piece of Patchwork my sister in law is gonna love.  I'm gonna make myself a blue Xmas one.

L-R
Me, Joan, Kathy, Sue, Helen and Margaret

Thank you Gai for a wonderful day.
Arlene

Sunday 2 October 2011

Sue Davis

The fact that you’re a member of Fibres and Fabrics shows you are creative by nature. Define yourself – art/craft wise? I have sewn since I was a teenager then started to make teddies and cloth dolls,, but after joining Fibres I have grown and love textiles and felting.
Are you more comfortable working in one particular medium than most others? I am more comfortable working with textiles and felt. I love all the colours and textures of fabrics and wools.
Are there any artists or crafters who, more than any others, have influenced you in your creative life and why? Years ago I used to make cloth dolls and I did a silk dyeing and machine embroidery workshop with Ken Smith and fell in love with free hand machine embroidery. I then joined Fibres and was given a lot of encouragement from Barb and attended a few forums and workshops and have made lots of friends there over the years I have tried lots of new things been involved in exhibitions and evolved more than I ever imagined.
Describe your workspace. I am lucky to have a whole room to use as my workspace but sometimes still spread out into my living room.
What tools could you not live without? My sewing machine, scissors and needles and thread.
Do you keep a sketchbook or journal? Not really but I do have a book I roughly sketch what I will be doing next.
We all share our knowledge at Fibres and Fabrics. Do you extend this in any way by participating in or teaching workshops? I love showing anything new I have found that works out well.
How do you inspire your creativity when you’re stuck? Have a break and work in my garden.
If cost wasn’t an issue, what avenues would you choose to explore to expand your skills? I would buy a camper van and travel round Austalia attending workshops and forums. I would also love to visit artists whose work I admire.
How do you balance your life? I do spend a lot of time with Fibres friends but have other friends to go to movies with and shopping. I also love reading, my animals and my garden.
Has any of your work appeared, or is it going to appear, in a display or exhibition either collaboratively or alone? If so where and when? I have had work in some Flying Art exhibitions and any Fibres have had over the last 6 years.













What does your work mean to you? Even though I get frustrated sometimes when something does not work, I cannot imagine not doing anything with textiles.
Thank you, Sue, for sharing your creative life with us.

Saturday 1 October 2011

ATC Swap.

September's Artists' Trading Cards swap.

Thanks for the photo, Suzanne.

Can anyone name the creators?