Getting to know Johanna!

The fact that you’re a member of Fibres and Fabrics shows you are creative by nature. Define yourself – art/craft wise? My creativity is driven by my desire to recycle…often ideas are borne out of my need to re-use something, often not in its original form.

Are you more comfortable working in one particular medium than most others? I’m equally happy working with fabric or yarn. I do a little metal and woodwork too.

Are there any artists or crafters who, more than any others, have influenced you in your creative life and why? My mother is an accomplished needlewoman and taught me at an early age to sew, knit and crochet. Now in her ninetieth year, she continues to inspire my efforts. I’m also inspired by writers, painters and musicians from different cultures and periods in history.

Describe your workspace. One bedroom is converted to a studio space to do all the different types of craft I enjoy. Two windows look out into the trees, where I can see Birdwing butterflies and many species of birds flitting about.

What 3 tools could you not live without? My sewing-machine, needles and my hands.

Do you keep a sketchbook or journal? I don’t always plan my projects, sometimes they just have their own life and I adapt as I go. Occasionally I’ll jot ideas down and sometimes there’ll be a sketch too.

 We all share our knowledge at Fibres and Fabrics. Do you extend this in any way by participating in or teaching workshops?  I’ve had a student coming to learn all kinds of needlework techniques since she was six years old; last year she made her first dress without much assistance from me, she’ll be twelve this year.

How do you inspire your creativity when you’re stuck? I’m rarely stuck for ideas, rather how to execute can sometimes be a conundrum. I’ll usually pick up a different project and then ideas will present themselves.

 If cost wasn’t an issue, what avenues would you choose to explore to expand your skills? I’d like to travel to see the world’s museum collections of fibre arts and garments.

 How do you balance your life? Gardening is as necessary to me as the sewing arts and I also raise Birdwing butterflies and am a porcelain painter.

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’ve quite a few private commissions but have not exhibited anywhere…..who knows what the future may bring?

What does your work mean to you? I just love making things…so I find myself doing some sort craft activity every day…it’s a must! 

Sue Taylor: an Artist in Residence in her own Life!

Sue Taylor’s getting the ball rolling again with our ‘getting to know our members’ campaign. Thank you, Sue.

The fact that you’re a member of Fibres and Fabrics shows you are creative by nature. Define yourself – art/craft wise? Arty! Crafty! Imaginative. I like exploring ideas generated by looking at nature and all created objects.

Are you more comfortable working in one particular medium than most others? I am not a patchworker, weaver, embroiderer. I am not disciplined enough to stick to guidelines. I like messing around with materials.

Are there any artists or crafters who, more than any others, have influenced you in your creative life and why? People with passion in any of ther creative arts i.e. writers, musicians, performers, painters, potters, crafters inspire and influence.

Describe your workspace. My large wooden table is in my living space. My place is not big enough for a separate studio area. Naturally my table is rather untidy.

What 3 tools could you not live without? Scissors, needles and threads, cutting board.

Do you keep a sketchbook or journal? Yes, a daily journal to remember thoughts and ideas, in words and pictures.

We all share our knowledge at Fibres and Fabrics. Do you extend this in any way by participating in or teaching workshops?  I like looking at what people are doing and understanding how it is done.

How do you inspire your creativity when you’re stuck? Stuck? I put stuff aside until inspiration strikes or fiddle around with any number of bits and pieces on the go.

If cost wasn’t an issue, what avenues would you choose to explore to expand your skills? I would visit all the desert communities in Western Australia and Northern Territory to become more aware of ceremony and culture and increase my understanding of people and landscape.

How do you balance your life? By being in the right time for swimming, gardening, books, films, Radio National, whatever I fancy.

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?  Solo exhibitions in Wollongong and Alice Springs when I lived there and participating in group exhibitions, especially as a member of a particular interest group.

What does your work mean to you? It means I’m an artist in residence in my own life.

I like that Sue!

Sue Brazier

Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed, Sue.

As a member of Fibres and Fabrics, how do you define yourself, creatively? I am a frustrated craftsperson who would like to be more creative.

What do you enjoy doing most? I love embroidery and sewing.

Who would you say has inspired you more than anyone? An aunt who made beautiful things and taught me to embroider and crochet. Also my mother who taught me to sew.

Do you have a good workspace? I have a lovely big area with plenty of benches and cupboards and a bookshelf. Perfect! 

Which 3 tools could you not live without? My sewing machine, thimble and point turner.

Do you keep a sketchbook or journal? No, I’m not creative enough to draw but I often write down ideas.

How do you overcome those blanks we all come up against at some time? Browse through books and magazines.

If cost wasn’t an issue, what avenues would you choose to explore to expand your skills? Attend every possible workshop or forum.

How do you balance your life? Pretty unbalanced – lots of play, not much work!!

That sounds like a really good balance to me!

What does your work mean to you? Satisfaction, peace and solace. It is like a therapy.

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!

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.

Georgina Whitchurch

The fact that you’re a member of Fibres and Fabrics shows you are creative by nature. Define yourself – art/craft wise? Enigmatic is the first word that comes to mind.  An obscure riddle  - it ways in the dictionary – others might say I’m very confused and don’t know what I want to do yet!   I love variety and I love to blend crafts to get different results.

Are you more comfortable working in one particular medium than most others?

I work with most modalities that come under the banner of wool crafts and sewing / stitching but I probably do more machine sewing and knitting than any other at this stage.   My stages vary depending on where I am living and what I am doing. 

Are there any artists or crafters who, more than any others, have influenced you in your creative life and why?

·         My paternal grandmother, taught me the fundamentals of sewing and knitting and how to use and read patterns. 

·         My mother, who was an established textile and design artist over 60 years ago, encouraged me through her teaching to create my own designs and patterns and take inspiration from nature and life.

·         And all the people I have ever shared fibre and fabric fun times with.  We are all students and teachers when we play together.

Describe your workspace.

Once upon a time -  I had a dedicated ‘studio’  and it was great – I loved it and thought I would fall apart when I had to leave it -  but I got over that and now have the whole house  and I use it all.  Drawers and cupboards are neat and orderly (I can mostly find what I am looking for when I want it).  The tables are a different story -  there are often many layers of different projects one on top of the other, on top of the other!

What 3 tools could you not live without?

My Mind -  where all things are created.

Sewing machine and knitting needles -  these are probably the most used tools that I possess other than my hands and fingers.   I have survived without the machine and needles for short periods in the past and it was definitely a challenge not to be repeated too often. 

The hands and fingers I am hoping to keep for ever and keep using for a long time.

Do you keep a sketchbook or journal?

Not an artistic one -  but I do have frequent recurrences of written journals that are instrumental in keeping me focused and inspired.  My creative journaling is in my thoughts so I do need to keep track of that place where I store mostly visual and tactile ideas.

We all share our knowledge at Fibres and Fabrics. Do you extend this in any way by participating in or teaching workshops?

I love to share experiences and knowledge with other interested parties and enjoy being an encourager for people wanting to have a go at something different.  I taught basic dressmaking, knitting and crochet many years ago, also macramé, beading and felting.  I conducted patchwork and quilting classes for several years in WA.  In more recent years I have given licence to ‘traditional’ knitters to let go of control and create some truly amazingly ‘wild’ pieces  for the ‘TREE’  and extended that challenge to the VERY traditional knitters of a small group in rural New Zealand to decorate street trees for their annual arts festival. 

How do you inspire your creativity when you’re stuck?

I guess like most things in life – it is cyclical.  I am happy to have time to devote to other aspects of life while the creativity has a rest, then when it’s ready to  return it is usually well worth the wait.  It makes me wonder though, where has it been?  What did it see?  Who did it visit?  And what ideas has it brought back for me to play with?

If cost wasn’t an issue, what avenues would you choose to explore to expand your skills?

I would love to visit other cultures to work with, play with and join their fibres and fabrics groups for long periods to experience the differences as well as the similarities and to exchange methods, techniques, fun and friendship. 

Places that interest me at this stage are starting right here in OZ – working with Aboriginal women who use natural dyes for grasses, more time in NZ to work with Maori women and their dedication to and use of Flax, Peru for their use of colour and weaving techniques, India also for their use of colour and silk waste and some parts of Africa for their unique pattern design.  I could go on, but that will do for now.  These are some of my retirement dreams.

How do you balance your life? 

A bit like balancing the budget – sometimes I’m in the black and sometimes I have a blow-out! That’s life!

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?

·         WAQA  Annual Exhibition 2000 – first time entrant, beginners section, traditional quilt  1^st Prize (photographed)

·         Pinnacles Gallery – 2008 – Threads of Habitat -  artistic concept, direction and construction of the ‘Knitted Tree’

·         Creative Fibre Annual Woolcraft Exhibition – NZ 2009 -   knitted dolls.

o    Presentation / lecture of Threads of Habitat with demonstration on ‘wild’ knitting and crochet used in the tree.

·         Costume design and construction 2009, for a film and stage presentation at the annual International Science Fiction Convention -  Melbourne 2010

·         Wedding garment 2010.  (for my daughter-in-law to be)

What does your work mean to you?

SANITY.

When the ability to create is as natural as breathing one would be ‘dead’ without it.  That may sound harsh or macabre, but if I couldn’t do something, even a small postcard or piece of knitting in each week I would think I had died.   I started knitting my own garments at the age of 8 or 9 and using my Grandmother’s electric sewing machine at age of 9.  In my early teens I was making my own clothes from unpicked recycled clothes and without patterns. I made a complete wedding ensemble, bride and 3 brides maids dresses, at age 18 while working full time and studying.  My own wedding dress featured a macramé overlay with high neck and yoke that I made with pearl crochet cotton and beads.

When I look at the list above, there are so many things that I have done that are not significant enough to list, but together make up the whole picture of who I am, what I do and why. And it is proving difficult to choose any singular item or event as one that may have given me the greatest feeling of achievement.  All are so different in purpose, techniques, time frames and materials and the outcomes where also very different.  I’m going to say the wedding garment for my son’s bride probably caused me the most anxiety.  To be asked by her was both an honour and fearful challenge.  If I stuffed up, she had my son as collateral.  Miss Alice was and is very particular and knows exactly what she wants and how it should look.  The concept of her outfit was in her head and we had to do some form of thought transplant – blood sweat and tears.  Brain surgery would have been easier. We made it though!  and even spent some time together doing the beading on the bolero jacket. My sense of achievement was realised when I saw her arrive.  

I wonder what’s next . . . .

Thank you Georgie! That was a great conversation. Come back to us .....

Dot Wasley

The fact that you’re a member of Fibres and Fabrics shows you are creative by nature. Define yourself – art/craft wise? Dabble in all sort of craft.

Are you more comfortable working in one particular medium than most others? Sewing- Card making – Scrapbooking.

Are there any artists or crafters who, more than any others, have influenced you in your creative life and why? No one.

Describe your workspace. Sewing room which is always untidy and the back deck.

What 3 tools could you not live without? Sewing Machine – Scissors - Needles.

Do you keep a sketchbook or journal? No.

We all share our knowledge at Fibres and Fabrics. Do you extend this in any way by participating in or teaching workshops? Share hints but no teaching.

How do you inspire your creativity when you’re stuck? Do something else.

If cost wasn’t an issue, what avenues would you choose to explore to expand your skills? Travel.

How do you balance your life? By being involved in many things.

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? No as I give most of it away.

What does your work mean to you? Happy interest and no pressure.

Lovely to get to know you a little better, Dot. Thank you. Sorry, no pictures but I don't have any. I'll add some in when I get some.

Sorry!

Apologies for being a couple of weeks behind with the weekly interviews .......

Will kick off again this coming Monday.

Carol.

Beryl Bull

The fact that you’re a member of Fibres and Fabrics shows you are  creative by nature. Define yourself – art/craft wise? I’ve always loved painting on canvas – nothing serious. I’ve always loved fabrics and blingy stuff. This, combined, has led me into an interest of cloth doll making and beyond, into fibres and fabrics.

Beryl's own pattern Citrus Chique 2009

Are you more comfortable working in one particular medium than most others? No – I am now trying it all – but it did take me a while to experiment away from bought commercial fabrics, like about 45 years! I’m finding paint, paper and glues creeping into my thoughts at the moment, too.

Are there any artists or crafters who, more than any others, have influenced you in your creative life and why? Yep – Barb Neunhoffer  (local) – she has shown me how to experiment with my sewing machine to have fun and she always shares her skills. And Janet Banks has been an influence with her skills at journalism and adding zing to an ordinary book, preloved or hand created.

Describe your workspace.  Quite organised and tidy. I work in a small room so I need objects organised around me for easy access. I like to know where the items are stored/packed so I don’t waste time searching.

What 3 tools could you not live without? Acrylic paint, sewing machine, pens and pencils.

Do you keep a sketchbook or journal?  No. I did try once. Just have fun experimenting and forgetting how I created it now! 

Madame Butterfly sold in 2006

We all share our knowledge at Fibres and Fabrics. Do you extend this in any way by participating in or teaching workshops? Arrr – did teach a fabric painting workshop once, but am keen to participate in anything going.

How do you inspire your creativity when you’re stuck?  I’ll have a flick through a magazine or book from Fibres’ Library. Or lay awake all night thinking up ideas. I’m the Goddess of Dreamland!

If cost wasn’t an issue, what avenues would you choose to explore to expand your skills? Perhaps go to more workshops that are provided around the country by International and Australian tutors.

How do you balance your life?  I don’t put much thought into life really, as long as I’m happy, healthy and fit, I let things fall into place.

Book cover of created paper fabric

Have you, or do you intend to, exhibit any of your work, either collaboratively or alone? If so where and when? I’m happy to exhibit my work wherever, but mainly as “show and tell” type displays. I have done and will continue to do any collaborative works with Fibres and Fabrics Association.

What does your work mean to you? It makes me feel blessed that I have the skills to produce an art piece of some sort. Art and craft work is calming, stimulating and an outlet to express myself.

Well, if that's just an entree to what you'll be doing as you keep "trying it all", we have some treats still to look forward to, Beryl.