The Crafter’s Way 152- Textile Friendship Day

This week’s Messenger column,Textile Friendship Day

 I’m very excited to share this with you. The Queensland Branch of ATASDA is having its first Regional Social & Textile Friendship Day. What is ATASDA? ATASDA is a national non-profit organisation that was formed to support and showcase Australian Textile Artists and Surface Designers. ATASDA and its members are actively involved in holding events, workshops and exhibitions designed to bring textile enthusiasts, professionals and educators together to share knowledge and creativity. The organisation caters for all levels of ability and experience and our members range from school students through to well known international artists.

Join in the fun at the Bribie Island Arts Centre, Sunderland Drive, Bribie Island on Saturday 2^nd October, 10.30am -1.30pm.There will be something to interest everyone who loves textiles and fibre in any form. Demonstrations and mini-workshops in Braiding, machine knitting, decorative binding, and foiling and much more will be held between 11.30am – 12.30pm. On the day there will be a wide variety of member’s items on display. Members’ interests include multi-media, wearable art, fabric painting, dyeing, felting, quilting, knitting, appliqué, crochet, paper art, collage, beading, embroidery, weaving, fibre sculpture, spinning, millinery, artist books, garment design, and papermaking. There is sure to be something for every textile enthusiast.

ATASDA Qld Branch meetings are usually held in Brisbane. They have 4 structured meetings each year at the Lavalla Centre in Paddington Brisbane.  Workshops using local, interstate and overseas tutors are organised on a regular basis.  For more information on ATASDA visit http://www.atasda.org.au/ and follow the links to QLD. All Images: Tricia Smout

How to Teach Art & Craft

Bisbane North Institute of TAFE has released their next ACE courses for enrollment. 

I will again be conducting 'How to Teach Art & Craft' at the Bracken Ridge Campus. Based on my soon to be released book this course will provide you with all the confidence, skills and knowledge to successfully conduct your own Craft Classes. 

Enroll at www.bn.tafe.qld.gov.au/courses_and_careers/ace

My Latest Haul

On Tuesday Alan and I walked into Redcliffe for lunch. Along the way we popped into the op-shops, all 8 of them.

I was very happy with the bits & bobs I picked up. There is metres of fringing in all the colours of the rainbow. This cream fringing will probably be dyed eventually. Bias Binding in different patterns and widths and the wire heart.

At another shop I bought some pompom fringing, lots of wooden cotton reels and a belt buckle. I have absolutely no idea what I will do with the buckle but it caught my eye so it just had to come home with me. I restrained myself from further purchases because we were on foot but I could go back with the car. Just maybe.

The Crafter's Way 151 - Fabric Charms

Fabric Charms - This week's Messenger column

I designed these little cuties after a Linda gave me some fabric scraps early last year. The scraps were exactly 3cm wide, their length varied. Quick and simple to hand sew their uses are endless.

You will need: fabric scraps, sewing needle and thread, small amount of stuffing and 3mm wide ribbon,

Step 1: Cut scraps 3cm x 5cm.

Step 2: Fold short edge in half, right sides of fabric together.

Step 3: Hand sew along short edge in direction of arrows. Pivot at corner then sew along long edge.

Step 4: Trim corners. Turn to right side.

Step 5: This is the only tricky bit. We need to sew the open edge closed. Hold the fabric between your thumb and first finger. Your first finger is at the sewn seam; your thumb is at the bottom folded edge. Gently press together. The sewn seam is now in the middle of the open edge, the point market “x’. You will use coordinating thread.

Step 6: Insert small amount of stuffing into charm.Finger press the seam allowance inside the charm. Sew in the direction of the arrow. About halfway along seam fold ribbon in half and insert, continue sewing seam closed.

This same shape can be made larger. Using the same principle I designed a Doorstop for The Oz material Girls. Visit my blog http://trishalandesigns.blogspot.com/2010/01/craft-tutorial.html  and follow the links.

You can also add seeds beads along bottom edge then thread onto a Pandora style bracelet. The first couple you make will seem quite fiddly but persevere and it will become easier, I can sew 8 charms in 10 mins.

New Stockist

Before I introduce our newest stockist I wanted to share this image with you.

The shop display for our fridge magnets is a fridge door. Despite the sign saying "Fridge Magnets" we still get poeple asking what are they for? One Customer last weekend had no trouble understanding what they were.

Enough frivolity! Our new Stockist is Virginia Dolls & Antiques. Jan, one of the Owners, was the first Craft Artist I interviewed for The Messenger all those years ago. She is a talented Doll Artist and is stocking our Eco Dyed Threads and Fabric for her Doll-making Customers. Do pop in and say hello.

The Crafter's Way 151- The Atlas of Crystal Forms

 This week's Messenger column features "The Atlas of Crystal Forms" exhibition. Last week’s column featured an exhibition of Magazine covers by Rolling Stone in artisan’s Gallery space. Right next door in artisan’s Crucible space is an exhibition by Michael Hofmeyer.

Hofmeyer trained in Florence under an Italian Master Goldsmith and the Italian influence is obvious in the intricate workmanship and inventive design of the elaborate clasps. Fabulous jewellery featuring uncut diamonds has been a trademark of Hofmeyer’s work for many years but he has seen an increasing interest in the use of uncut diamonds from clients in recent times. “Not that long ago very few people would have chosen uncut diamonds but the desire for truly distinctive jewellery and a rising concern about blood diamonds is making people much more aware”, said Hofmeyer who sources his diamonds from ethical miners.

The inspiration for the exhibition was the discovery of an antique book on crystallography, Atlas der Kristallformen. “This book provided me with a rare opportunity to view an incredible variety of crystal geometric forms which in turn offered endless design possibilities,” said Hofmeyer.

For this exhibition Hofmeyer travelled to India and had gem material, including aquamarine, golden beryl, tourmaline, morganite, crystal quartz, emerald and ruby ‘host crystal’, cut into beads to his exact specifications. The exhibition will feature stunning necklaces set with tiny gems, including uncut diamonds which naturally form in a cube or octahedron. Hofmeyer’s shapes reflect the geometry of crystal forms but also highlight the brilliant colours and mysterious luminous properties of each gem. Hofmeyer believes, “There is more to these beautiful crystals than meets the eye. They have a mysterious quality that is not just physical, and for me they represent our connection to the earth.”

Atlas of Crystal Forms is at artisan from 2nd Sept- 2 Oct. www.artisan.org.au
info@artisan.org.au 381 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley Q 4006

New Faces

When I have time I like to Eco Dye t-shirts. Now that we are into spring and t-shirt wearing weather I have been getting into again. I was mindlessly staring at the back of this shirt while I was eating my lunch.

All of a sudden I noticed a face shape.

Not of my doing. The dye has randomly settled and mixed into that shape all of its own accord. Alan reckons it looks a bit like Abby from NCIS. I wasn't havinga liquid lunch either, just an innocent sandwich. The funny thing is that I don't think I could do a face if I set out to do one.  Just one more thing I love about dyeing.

Fabric Catchup

Last week I blogged about some fabric dyeing I had been doing.

Here is the result of the fabric that I dyed in the black bucket.

These are some of the Graduation Packs. They've been pressed, now I'm wating for them to cool before packaging. We wholesale these ( and other EcoDyed Fabric) if anyone is interested in becoming a reseller. Just email us and we will send you the info.

The Crafter's Way 150 - Rolling Stone

A new Messenger column - Rolling Stone


In July 2009 I wrote about the Taken by Storm exhibition at Artisan. The exhibition featuring album covers by Storm Thorgerson, was one of the most popular columns I have ever written. From the 2 September – 2 October 2010 Artisan is delighted to be hosting the first-ever exhibition of the best covers from the past 38 years of Rolling Stone Australia.

Rolling Stone is the premier music & entertainment magazine in Australia. It reflects both global and Australian popular culture with passion, honesty and attitude. For the first time 300 of the greatest covers spanning over four decades of Rolling Stone Australia will be showcased exclusively at artisan. Many of these covers have come to define an era - not just in terms of the artists that grace the covers, but through the brilliant design, the photography, illustration and typography.

“The influence of Rolling Stone extends beyond music – this magazine has been the birthplace of some the greatest careers in photography, journalism, and design,” says Romy Willing, acting CEO of artisan. “This exhibition chronicles the evolution of our cultural landscape and will trigger nostalgic memories of significant moments in the history of rock ‘n roll, and their associated personal memories for all that come to view it.”

The exhibition will be officially opened on Thursday September 2nd 2010 with Matt Coyte, Editor-in Chief officiating, and special guest speaker, Joe Ferrara, Art Director of Rolling Stone. “Rolling Stone is much more than a music magazine - it’s about everything that makes music matter, from the political to the personal to the profound. With wit, originality and flair, Rolling Stone covers everything that’s important to the leading
thinkers among today’s young adults,” said Matt Coyte. Don’t miss Matt Coyte’s exclusive behind-the-scenes exhibition tour and insight into the making of some of the greatest magazine covers in music history on Saturday 5 September at 2pm.

Rolling Stone; The Covers 1972 – 2010 is presented by Rolling Stone and artisan at 381 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley Q 4006. www.artisan.org.au
info@artisan.org.au
0732 150 800. Artisan is open Tues - Fri 10:30 - 5:30pm Sat 10 - 4pm

Image: by Rolling Stone

Kaleidoscope of Colour

Time for some fun in the studio. This morning I decided to have a play and splash around some random colour.

Browns

Greens

Purples

And ....... lets wait and see what this lot looks like dry.  The dark container is distorting the true colour. Love surprises.