Beechworth Textiles

Last night we had the pleasure of attending the opening of the inaugural  Beechworth Fabric and Fibre Award. The Old School House was full of textiles and excited people. The display of textiles was fantastic with a huge variety of techniques, colour and ideas. I will have to return to have a closer look. Claudia Chan Shaw was the judge of the 102 entries with 4 prizes awarded. She had an unenviable job choosing winners from such distinctive and beautiful artworks.

Kekki Windows

I had a small piece entered made from Eco dyed cotton fabric with a pieced organza overlay. The piecing had been done by using Korean Kekki seams.

Planned Route

Red Safari Route

 This map shows the roads of Australia that we have travelled on and John has overlayed, in red, the roads that we plan to take this trip ( If all goes to plan)   

Journal Pages 1

Inside cover & embroidery on Eco dyed fabric

Coloured paper & paint

I have used some embroidered Eco dyed fabric, coloured paper and paint to begin my journal. I hope to do large style drawings and include some embroideries to add distinction.

Journal Preparation

Safari Journal

I have made a journal from good quality art paper and covered it with fabric. It is a wallet style book. The front pages are complete so the next challenge is to draw or paint in it at regular intervals while we are on Safari. I could set an objective to add an entry every day but sometimes this is not possible so I will aim to work in it as often as time and situation allows.

Art Box

Have packed my drawing stuff as well as some fabrics to include in my journal. I have also been researching a simple method of doing Eco dyeing while  'on the road'. Yippee! Hope the containers don't leak. I have tested the method over night. The fabric has been dyed with the leaves of our argyle apple tree. It will be a good memory of our trip if the method proves successful. It will depend on what leaves I find along the way and how receptive they are to releasing their colour.

Checking the Camper

Very important to have the camper in order as it will be our home for several weeks. I will check bedding. We will need layers of warmth to combat the frosty desert nights. Misty rain here today so hope we can travel north of this winter weather. Most plans are in place although we have yet to specify a time to leave and a venue to meet  Geoff & Eileen.

Textile Preparation

As well as preparing for our Safari I am preparing for the Stitched Up Textile Festival. Today I joined with a group of friends to make Pom-poms..quite an uninspiring activity but I am sure the resulting pom-poms will be a significant part of the street decoration and will look great in Wangaratta.

Packing

The truck is being fitted and packed. Menus are planned and some food purchased


Inland Tour 2011

Safari Planning

For several weeks we have been planning our itinerary which will take us South Australia and north into the Northern Territory, then west into Western Australia. We will work our way south through inland country until we reach the Great Australian Bight. It will be eastward bound from there.

Mt Connor

I am looking forward to the colour of the desert, the colour of Uluru, Mt Connor and the Olgas.