Category: news

A Studio Visit – second time around

Apologies;  there was a problem with the earlier post from Judi Tompkins in Queensland – here it is again.

Members of the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters visited Renate Kirkpatrick (http://rensfibreart.wordpress.com/) who recently relocated her studio to Landsborough.

Pat Reid, Margaret Wallace and Joy SmithRenate started making Rag Rugs in the 80s using a hooked and shirred method (I have been referring to them as “clippy” but I might be wrong). She only worked with rag rugs for a short time but still has a number of the rugs on display in her home and studio.

Renate (l) Pat Reid (R) with one of Renate's "clippy" rugsUpon close examination it is clear that they were made with “rags” (lightweight cottons or other fabrics) but not wool. The surface of the rugs is dead level and it is only when you part the “nap” can you see how much the fabrics have faded over time (they were vivid colours when first hooked). Renate hooked these rugs on hessian, and then stitched a second layer of hessian on the back to protect the fibres.

Front of clippy rug

 

After 20+ years the rugs are extremely stiff and brittle and would need to be carefully handled.

 Back of clippy rug

Renate moved on with her fibre art; taught herself how to crochet and now focuses on free-form crochet (and has written several books on the topic).

Members of the SCRC wanted to welcome another fibre artist to this area and quite enjoyed the time they had touring Renate’s studio and examining the range of fibre art on display.

Photos of her Rag Rugs as well as her current free-form work can be seen on her blog.

The Challenge of Colour

What a great way to start the New Year –  an impromptu visit to Victoria  to view Isabel Foster’s – The Challenge of Colour Exhibition – at Burrinja Gallery in Upwey, VIC.

Isabel Foster Retrospect, Burrinja Gallery
Isabel Foster Retrospect, Burrinja Gallery

and to meet up with members of  the Yarra Valley Rugmakers who are also members of the Australian Rugmakers Guild.

Leanne, Joy, Jen & Renate
Leanne, Joy, Jen & Renate (VIC)

 

Judith (SA), Robyne (VIC) and Jo(WA)
Judith (SA), Robyne (VIC) and Jo(WA)

Isabel’s exhibition was mentioned in a recent Yarra Valley blog with links to a YouTube video of the opening. Seeing the gorgeous colours and textures of Isabel amazing collection of work completed over 50 years, we just had to make the trip. So there we were, myself from WA and a group of Australian Rugmakers Guild members  from the Strath Matters in SA.     Judy Stephens,  Noreen Wendleborn, Ann Johnston and Marion Nefiodovas.

With no formal training in textiles (Isabel was taught embroidery by a ‘perfectionist’ grandmother) over the years her curiosity with colour and texture became her passion. Works in the Exhibit represent her creative interests of spinning and weaving, tapestry, applique, crazy patchwork and rugs made with wool and rag and hand spun and hand dyed thread.  The colour and textures of the woven, embroidered, knitted, and crocheted surfaces of Isabel’s creations are amazing.

Weaving and rya-knotted rag rug 2002

Silk boa 2007

Embroidered coloured fibres

Arriving early at the gallery our group was delighted to meet Isabel, who was chatting with her daughter and some friends.   Isabel was quite surprized to learn that we had come from so far away to view her work and delighted in showing us around describing her creations and then joined us as we gathered in the gallery café to spend the rest of the day getting to know each other and discuss the different rug making techniques.

Isabel Foster (centre) at Burrinja Exhibition
Isabel  (centre) at Burrinja Exhibition

 This chance meeting with Isabel was very special for Robyne Melia from the Yarra Valley Group who, as a student at Melbourne College of Textiles in 1974, had glimpsed some of Isabel’s work, in particular a garment woven in one piece in an abstract design both wild and colourful, to be worn in Gown of the Year 1974.  It was this garment that opened a new way of thinking in fashion to this young student and there she was all these years later talking with its creator.

This Exhibition is open until 16 March 2014, don’t miss it!

For more information click on Burrinja Gallery 

News from Narrawilly Proggers

STOP THE PRESS !  –   Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers’  2014  Calendars advertised forPENTAX Image sale in the Guild Newsletter, sold out at their Christmas Party in Milton.

From Miriam Miller ……Saturday 7th December 2013;

Yesterday was our Christmas meeting of rugmakers and our annual fashion parade.   We had more than 50 here, and afterwards sold the clothing for 50 cents a piece, and raised $110 for Heather Ritchie’s project for the blind in The Gambia.

It was a very happy and good day; we had 7 come over from Canberra, and as usual the models were so good.  Best Wishes to all  –   Miriam.

Adelaide Quilt & Craft Fair

Craft&Quilt_2011Australian Rugmakers Guild will be represented at the Adelaide Quilt & Craft Fair starting Thursday 7th Nov thru Sunday 11th          at the Adelaide Event & Exhibition Centre, Adelaide Showground, Wayville, SA 5034  – for full details about the event click on http://www.craftfair.com.au/wp/Adelaide/faqs/

 Check out the “Make & Take” Workshops. Judith Stephens, President, Australian Rugmakers Guild, will be creating Chiffon Flowers using a rug hooking technique on a square of hessian. The finished flower can be turned into a brooch or pinned to a bag, hatband, a headband or incorporated with traditional hooking into rugs or wall hangings. Kit includes everything needed to complete the project. Book at Guild Stand A.

 

Rughooking makes for good friends …….

Following the ATHA Conference in Long Beach, California, Judith and I travelled to Seattle to visit my family.

We were fortunate to have a day free to catch up with Michele Wise and husband Jay, who’d been in Australia for the TIGHR Conference in Oct 2012.  Driving south and across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge onto the Olympic Peninsula, we traveled some considerable distance before taking a left turn at Bremerton towards the Hood Canal.  Armed with an address which included a directional reference of “W” and a GPS which would only show an address with “NW” for that Road, we finally “reached our destination”.Michele's house - View of Hood Canal - Copy What a treat it was. Those of you who have met Michele know of her creative rug work. Well, she has been equally creative with the decoration of the family home which is full of rugs and wonderful eclectic collections and like her studio has panoramic views of Hood Canal.

Michele in her studioMichele's house

 

 

 

 

We toured house, studio and garden and lunched on sandwiches and salad made from vegetables fresh from the garden that morning.

Jay & Michele at home in Holly-Seabeck, WA, USA - CopyMichele's studioWe talked rug hooking, and rug hooking events, checked our Michele’s considerable wool supply and Jay’s workshop where he makes musical instruments.  In a corner of the living room was a spinning wheel obviously in use. Jay is the spinner and had purchased the spinning wheel locally after taking lessons from Miriam Miller during their visit to her studio in New South Wales last October.                                            Much of the talk this time was about the next international event in Victoria, on Vancouver Island, BC,  Canada in 2015.

There is something special about making friends at rug hooking events and later traveling to visit them in their homes.     Now that the Guild in Australia is growing, more members will have this opportunity – don’t pass it up! It is such fun, as it seems all rug hookers love to talk and share their knowledge.   Happy Hooking   ……..        Jo

2013 ATHA Biennial, Long Beach, CA – USA by Jo Franco

Judith Stephens and I are at the 2013 Biennial of the Assn of Traditional Hooking Artists (ATHA), being held in Long Beach, California with members attending  from across the United States and Canada with the addition of two Aussies and one member from Japan.   

Yesterday we gave a “tote bag” workshop, the design incorporating the circles or coils used in many of Judith’s hooked creations. The pattern is designed to be hooked with wool yarn rather than fabric strips.  For most in the class this was the first time they had hooked using wool yarn.  Here are just a few of the 15 participants –

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By lunchtime everyone had completed a circle and was ready to have the bag pattern transferred to their backing – then the fun began, attaching the circle and starting to hook.

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Jo & Judith with the Aussie Tote Bag Class participants

Many members of ATHA are also members of

TIGHR (The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers).

Last evening there was to be a reunion of those TIGHR members who had attended the 2012 Triennial in Strathalbyn South Australia.  The group swelled in number as there were many TIGHR members here who had planned to visit OZ but for one reason or another were unable to attend.  All the conversation between the travelling rug hookers created much interest and I noticed TIGHR membership applications were being passed around. The next venue – Victoria, BC, Canada will make the event accessible to more US members.

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Call for exhibition entries!

Hey! Let’s all enter a hooked piece!

Hey! Have a look at this and let’s all enter something!You might decide to combine hooking with other textile skills. As long as  your piece meets their requirements your piece might be selected!

Call for Entries – A travelling textile art exhibition

Living Colour Textiles   at  http://livingcolourtextiles.com/

Textile artists are invited to submit an entry for a travelling textile art exhibition exploring the title theme – Living Colour! Each work will be in a 40cm x 100cm (W x L) single-sided, vertical banner format and up to 30 works may be selected by the curator, Brenda Gael Smith.

To submit an entry, please review the Conditions of Entry at  http://livingcolourtextiles.com/conditions/  AND complete the Online Entry Form at:  http://livingcolourtextiles.com/entry-form/ . The closing date for entries is 31 January 2014. International entries are welcome.

The exhibition will premiere at the Australasian Quilt Convention http://www.craftevents.com.au/  10-13 April 2014. Other venues are under investigation. Please contact the curator if you wish to discuss any exhibition opportunities.

Images of the selected textile works will also be published in an online gallery on this website.

Timeline

  • 1 June 2013: open call for entries
  • 31 January 2014: closing date for entries
  • 7 February 2014: final date for notification of selected entries
  • 28 February 2014: final date for delivery to the curator
  • 10-13 April 2014: première at the Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne
  • 1 October 2015: return of textile works to artists

Take the colour challenge!

Getting the colours right for your work can make all the difference between a piece that “looks right” and one that is “off” but you just don’t quite know why.

Here’s a great website that lets you test your ability to see the subtle changes in colours as you assess them for their different values.

Have a go at:   http://www.xrite.com/online-color-test-challenge

Judi