There are definitely signs that spring is on its way, and perhaps the promise of warmer days has inspired our members to venture out to NCEATA meetings. There was a spring in everyone’s step and a real buzz of creativity in the air at this month’s workshops.
Our first workshop this month saw Doris bring along her extensive collection of tassels, providing plenty of inspiration and examples to explore. She talked us through what defines a tassel, the different parts that make up its structure and the surprisingly wide range of materials that can be used to create one.
From traditional threads and embroidery floss to ribbons, fabric scraps, beads and found embellishments, there were plenty of possibilities to consider. Doris encouraged everyone to experiment and, rather than following a set design, members were able to draw on their own favourite supplies and techniques to create a tassel that was uniquely theirs.
It was wonderful to see how differently everyone approached the same basic idea. Some tassels were delicate and decorative, while others were bold, colourful and full of texture. As always at NCEATA, the workshop was as much about sharing ideas and discovering new possibilities as it was about the finished piece.
The morning was filled with conversation, laughter and plenty of creative problem-solving as members experimented with combining fibres, colours and embellishments. A simple tassel became a wonderful opportunity to explore texture, movement and the endless possibilities of textile embellishment.
And, of course, there were plenty of ideas for where these creations might eventually find a home – as decorative features, embellishments for textile artworks, or simply as beautiful little pieces to enjoy in their own right.
It was a lovely way to begin our August workshops and a great reminder that sometimes the simplest textile techniques can lead to the most creative results.
Our Saturday workshop was very well attended, with some new faces joining us for the day. It was wonderful to see the room buzzing with enthusiasm, conversation and plenty of creative energy.
Sandra Cooke introduced us to some exciting techniques for creating rich, tactile textures inspired by the work of textile artist Julia Wright. Sandra had prepared a wonderful table of examples and objects to inspire us—a feast of texture, colour, pattern and possibilities. There was plenty to look at, touch and wonder about as we began exploring how simple materials could be transformed into wonderfully tactile textile elements.
After talking us through the process of making the strips and binding them together to create textured ropes, it was time for us to have a go. Sandra moved around the room giving each of us individual tuition and demonstrating different ways to make the process easier. Of course, what looks deceptively simple when demonstrated can become a little more challenging when we try it ourselves! There were plenty of feet, teeth, elbows and all manner of creative contortions employed as we wrestled our materials into submission. There was certainly a lot of laughter along the way.
Once we had mastered the basic technique, Sandra introduced washers and textured yarns, showing us how these could be incorporated to extend our repertoire and create even more interesting and unexpected textures. It was fascinating to see how changing the materials, colours and construction could produce such different results.
I think this week’s photographs really capture the enthusiasm and friendly atmosphere of our meetings. There was plenty of learning, lots of laughter and, most importantly, everyone went home with new ideas, new skills and another textile technique to explore.
A huge thank you to Sandra for a fun-filled afternoon, for sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm, and for introducing us to these wonderful techniques.
If you would like to learn more about the inspiration behind the workshop, visit Julia Wright’s website to explore her work and discover more about the wonderful work she does with young people in her community.
Jill and I took another little road trip this month, this time heading out to Tocal College to visit the Maitland Patchwork Quilters’ exhibition.
The exhibition featured an impressive variety of quilts, with more than 200 quilted works on display. There was something to appeal to every taste, from beautifully executed traditional quilts showcasing time-honoured techniques through to contemporary designs, modern interpretations and some wonderful art quilts. There was plenty of inspiration in the choice of colour, fabrics, construction and quilting, and it was a great reminder of just how broad the world of textile art can be.
I’ve included a few photographs from the exhibition to give you a taste of what was on display.
The ladies from Maitland Patchwork Quilters had put together an excellent exhibition and were incredibly welcoming to visitors. And, of course, no quilt show would be complete without something delicious to accompany all that creative inspiration! Their traditional afternoon tea was a lovely addition to the day and gave us the perfect excuse to sit down and discuss all the quilts we had just seen.
It was easy to understand why the group is so popular. In fact, membership is currently closed until further notice, which certainly suggests that we weren’t the only visitors impressed by what they have to offer!
If you’d like to find out more about Maitland Patchwork Quilters, their website is well worth a visit: Maitland Patchwork Quilters
Our workshops this month and next have taken us into the wonderful world of texture, nature and botanicals, so it seemed very appropriate that this book should pop up on my reading list.
Stitched Textiles in Nature by Stephanie Redfern explores the natural world through a combination of textiles, stitch and mixed-media techniques. Redfern draws inspiration from the shapes, textures and patterns found in nature, combining fabric and stitch with a variety of other materials and found objects.
Rather than writing my own review this month, I’ve included a link to a review by someone else, which gives a good overview of the book and what you can expect to find inside. It looks like a particularly useful source of inspiration for anyone currently exploring botanical forms and natural textures in their own textile work.
I’ve also included a link to a short video featuring a variety of botanical textile artists. It’s a lovely way to see how different artists interpret the natural world through fabric, stitch and mixed media.
With our recent workshops exploring tassels, textures, botanicals and the possibilities of working with nature as inspiration, there should be plenty here to get the creative ideas flowing!
I hope you have enjoyed this months recap and there is plenty of inspiration for the coming months meetings and workshop.
