Getting to Know You - Getting to Know all About You!

I thought it might be fun to get to know the members of Fibres and Fabrics a little better, so I'm going to be featuring a series of questions to an individual members and their answers. Annette Sibson has agreed to be my laboratory mouse! So here we go:

Getting to Know Annette Sibson 

 1.    How do you categorize yourself – art/craft wise?

Individual.  Keen to have a go at anything new, use wayout materials, wayout techiniques.  Jack of all trades, master of none.

 2.    What techniques and mediums are your favourites?

   At the moment my love is eco-dyeing using eucalypt leaves and found fabrics  (from        second hand shops).  I just love the unexpected results and glorious earthy colours, some subtle, some less so.  I also love rusty fabric using found rusted items and again, found fabrics.  And I better not leave out free machine embroidery..  just love it..

3.    Is there one artist or crafter who more than any other has influenced you in your creative life and why? 
    Carol McGill for her support of my creativity and her recommendation to join Fibres & Fabrics, where I found acceptance for my way of creating.  My confidence has increased tenfold.  Thank you Carol. 
     You’re welcome and I’m pleased to have been of some moral support to you, but hasn’t the development of your artistic work with eco-dyed textiles been strongly influenced by India Flint?
     Yes, I will agree that India Flint’s work has certainly been a huge influence over the past 18 months, but without the realisation that there are people out there who are accepting of such adventurous techniques I may never have gone as far as I have.

4.    Describe your workspace. 

     Large, open, airy, tidyish, extends to outside under the verandah and the garden.

5.    What 3 tools could you not live without?
      Needles. Scissors. Imagination.

6.    Do you keep a sketchbook or journal? 
    Yes, I have several going.  They are all different sizes and shapes and I lose them constantly.

7.    Do you teach? Where and when?
     Rarely, but happily help friends all the time.
     I saw the following advertised in the Umbrella Studio newsletter:

Eco Textile Workshop

9am - 1pm Saturday 7 May

Members $35 | Non-Members $45

Join artist Annette Sibson and learn how to use vinegar and water to create unique markings on fabric using rusted items and leaves. 

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: phone 4772 7109 or email project@umbrella.org.au

             Is this correct?

           (Laughing) Oh, you saw that..  yes it is, I’m really rather nervous about this,  but am told by          friends that I’ll be fine.  I’ll wait and see. 

8.    How do you inspire your creativity when you’re stuck? 
     Go for a walk outside, go to the beach, watch nature.  Look at pictures of others artwork in books, on the ‘net.

9.    If money wasn't an issue, how would you further develop yourself in your field? 
     Travel overseas on art tours.

10.  How do you balance your life?
     Go walking by the sea, fishing, laughing with friends, glasses of wine, cryptic crosswords, being outside, being a member of a group.  Nice dinner out with my husband.

11. Have you recently or are you planning to soon exhibit you work? If so where and when?  
      Exhibition ‘Collected Leavings’, April 15 – May 22 2011.

Is that being held at Umbrella Studio?

Yes, that’s correct, they (the staff at Umbrella) have been very supportive and appear keen to see my work exhibited.

So are we all, Annette! Looking forward to visiting your exhibition. And, thank you for sharing letting us get to know you a little better.

Knitted Masterpieces

Please share with Fibers and Fabrics, these are fabulous:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2011/mar/30/craft-knitting

We are at home for another few weeks before resuming our aborted sabbatical journey. During that time, I have been madly exorcising the ghost of the Christchurch earthquake by making "comfort" quilts that my quilting group has been obligingly machine quilting. Working with one's hand is very healing. Interestingly enough, it is Qantas Airways which will ship them gratis to NZ, Air New Zealand declined as they are (understandably) overwhelmed with the relief effort.

Isn't the situation in Japan ghastly? It is scary but Santa Barbara is in a somewhat similar position - in a seismic fault zone, a nuclear power plant nearby located on the ocean, limited ingress/egress from the city (3 roads to be exact) and an airport built on a drained marsh subject, of course, to possible liquefaction in the event of a temblor. Well, all one can do is be prepared and believe me, Bob and I are.

All the best to you all in Townsville,

Isabel

Some Eye Candy for Those not at the Last Meeting

A small peek (on the left) at some of the postcards doing the rounds in the postcard swap at the moment.



 On the right is some gorgeous weaving, a very successful first quilt, a lovely bright textile art piece and the clever use of a vinegar bottle to make a mask for the 'White' exhibition. (Save your vinegar bottles which have handles!)

More inspirational ghostly stick people pictured to the left.



 Diane C continues to make these delightful knee rugs for nursing homes. Those shown on the right are just three of many she brought in at the last meeting.

And while on the subject of charitable ventures, during the meeting some hands kept themselves busy knitting squares for Dinie's knitted rugs for charity.

AGM 2011

The AGM was held on Wednesday, 9th March 2011. It was well attended and for those unable to be there, the various reports may be found in your latest newsletter. Our new committee consists of the members pictured above: standing left to right: Annette S, Lyn H, Jan C, Margaret D and Pam W; sitting Deb P, Kath S and Suzanne C. Absent were Arlene W and Suzanne G. Thank you from us all for taking the helm.

Opening of our Lengths of the Earth Exhibition

The opening of the display of the Lengths of the Earth hangings was very well attended. Made by a large number of Fibres and Fabrics members the pieces are hung in the stairwell of Federation House. The opening was hosted by Sharyn D who so generously offers the group space to exhibit their work amongst her family's art collection. The building is open to the public during the week and viewing is free. It's truly worth a visit.

For those unable to personally see the exhibition, Janet will be compiling a more detailed record of this challenge at a later date. To see a few more general photos click on the collage above. 

Quilts for NZ earthquake victims

California quilter Isabel Downs (in T'ville last September and October) and her husband were in Christchurch, New Zealand during last week's devastating earthquake, she in their apartment four blocks from the city center, he at the University. After three terrifying days, they were evacuated out by the RNZAF and are now back in Santa Barbara. She has been in contact with her quilting friends there and they write that quilts would be warmly welcomed, particularly lap quilts and quilts for children. If you or anyone in the Fibres and Fabrics group already have some that could be donated or are willing to quickly stitch up one or two, please contact Frances Skinner in Chch (see forwarded message below).

Many thanks,
Isabel

Dear Isabel,


Glad to hear you are safely home. Three horrid ones this morning. On TV they showed a man who has rigged up a pipe from his artesian well to the road where he has built the most impressive collection point. I think that clip went round the world so if you see it that is where I collect my water.

Now to the quilts, yes we will need them and I have had e-mails from up north where they are back into mass production again. I will sort out some delivery addresses in the next few days as my place is no longer a good idea due to the infrastructure damage around here. We have some good big homes a bit out in the country that I can think of where the damage is only minor. We will have an e-mail & telephone meeting and get some ground rules laid down. A lot of us will be meeting at one of our colleagues funeral on Friday so I am sure Adele would not mind if we had a quilt meeting at the same time. She would probably insist on it. Adele gave up on her long and brave fight with cancer on Thursday.

Thank you so much and just ask your fellow quilters to make them and the rest we will sort out in time. As to size lap ( 50" x 50" ) is always so good, wall hangings with sleeves on, double bed and queen toppers also seem to be good and of course single bed toppers for the children. When delivering quilts in the past months I found people just liked to wrap the quilt around them.

Oh dear it is still morning and I am so tired as the quakes have been a real pain this morning, biggish ones bother.

Best wishes,

Frances.
franceskinner@xtra.co.nz

Alba leucos Preparation III

At Friday's workshop Sue D. led the group in wrapped parcels - some contain a secret.

Click on the photo to see more.