Abstract Mixed Media on Synthetic Paper

Just over a week ago I returned home from Summer Brushes, a week long artist retreat held at Longerenong Agricultural College near Horsham in northern Victoria. My class, Abstract Mixed Media on Synthetic Paper was taken by Gaye Nieiwenhof. Gaye is an exceptional tutor and I knew that if I signed up her class it would great. I was not disappointed. This was a fantastic event, there is something really special when you have some one hundred and fifty participants living together on site and undertaking an intensive program spread across fifteen classes. The grounds around the buildings were beautifully landscaped and shaded by big trees.

Despite some initial misgivings about heading to Horsham in the middle of an  hot Australian summer I was so pleased with the event. Great accomodation and food, air conditioned rooms and a fantastic class. 

We spent the week experimenting with selection of the synthetic papers, watercolours, inks, pens, pastels, paints and any mark making materials that we had. This is a taste of some of the papers that I made, we were encouraged to experiment with many different techniques and materials and often times to try colours that we might not usually work with.

 

As is often the case I tend to turn my sample pieces into books. A simple concertina fold book is a perfect way to showcase the work

Sometimes I convert the papers into simple vessels

The evolution of a sheet of paper with layering

Layers can be added and removed. The sheet was then cut up and made into smaller pieces which were made into a book.

The Last Knit for 2024

 Sometime ago I purchased some stubby cotton and linen yarns with the intention of knitting a Summer top. I had no idea how much yarn would be needed and consequently purchased way too much.

The finished sweater adapted from my favourite raglan sleeve pattern, Doocot by Kate Davies Designs

Some swatching for gauge and drape, experimenting with different combinations of the yarns.

Close up of the finished knit, one strand of the stubby cotton and one strand of the thicker linen held together. The plan was to include some extra texture and darker tones with some rows of garter stitch knit with three strands of the fine linen.

Detail of the bands, faux cable that I used in a previous knit, the Galanta sweater by Carol Feller / Stolen Stitches. Less repeats used for the neckline and three quarter sleeves but enough of the faux cable to look coordinated.

Blocking the finished sweater. Really an important step for this cotton and linen combination.

Closeup of the neckline, garter stitch and stripe details

Advent Knit Along

 I found this project designed by @knitandspritz on Instagram. The idea was to make eighteen squares, one square per day and then for the last week make up the mystery project .

The mystery project, when finished, became a chunky textural scarf.

The finished 6 inch squares were sewn together, firstly one row of nine and then another row of nine. The two rows were sewn together to form a long rectangle of  12 inches by 54 inches approx. then rib borders added to the long sides and the short sides which also included buttons and buttonholes.

Finished squares measured approximately 6 inches by 6 inches

A selection of the finished blocks, each block different

Squares were wet blocked on the blocking mats, making sure that they were consistent in size and the fabric of the square relaxed.

This was a really fun project. Made from leftover yarn in my stash.

Bere Sweater

The Bere sweater is the garment option from The Celtic Knit Club 2024. As part of the club I could have also knitted other smaller accessories but they are not really garments that I wear. It was such a fun knit, lots of cables for interest and the Deas yarn from Stolen Stitches was great to knit.

A close up of the cables. I changed the neckline to incorporate a regular neckband. The original pattern had an I cord bind off but I found it a little bit low .

The Last Hurrah - Votives

 A few weeks ago I went to the last workshop to be held by Fibre Arts Australia in Ballarat. I have been going to these workshops for many years and have enjoyed them so much. It was full of fun and joy as participants came together to celebrate the end of an era. 

The Banksia Tree, my first project, made with Banksia cones, a rock, rusted wire and some blackbirds cut out ply from a box of offcuts.

The workshop that I attended was Votives with Gordon Bain. We were encouraged to make figurative works and to use recycled material where possible. This piece was a tree made with little crucibles that were thrown away by a school. Each piece was inserted into a hole that was drilled into an old stick. The figure was made with off cuts of ply and painted.

Some more ply figures made with off cuts 

Birds are a favourite subject matter and often appear in my work

It is a tradition of the event for the class to make an artwork for auction on the the final evening. The class project was a vase of flowers made with simple flowers shapes cut from scrap ply, painted and mounted onto springy wire and inserted into the repurposed piece of fence post. Each person made three flowers for the vase.

More ply fun, a vase shaped wall piece with flowers

Participants who had attended ten or more events were encouraged to bring the first thing and the last 

My first class was in 2011, Steampunk Fashion with Kerri Toose. I made several garments, this pinafore was made with recycled men’s suit jackets and incorporated a draped skirt made with Ponti jersey. The book was made in April 2024 in a class with Seth Apter. The white sculpture was made in a class with Jade Peglar in 2012.  

I swapped the tunic for this machine embroidery. 

This was a gift from Glenys Mann, the powerhouse behind Fibre Arts Australia. Whilst it is disappointing that these events have come to an end it is important to celebrate what was and look to the future as Fibre Arts Australia takes a different format and direction.