...drink the wild air

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. ( Ralph Waldo Emerson) … I chose this quotation as a theme for last weekend’s workshop at the Newcastle Creative Embroiderers and Textile Artists Retreat. The air was “wild” with inspiration, activity, enthusiasm, fun, friendship, colour and creativity – such an invigorating atmosphere for all who love working with textiles and fibres. The talented textile artists, Jan Clark and Trevor and Beth Reid were also tutors at this retreat.

I had a wonderful group of women in my class who created dolls from found objects, polymer clay and upcycled fibres and fabrics to produce really imaginative and meaningful creations. We each started with a quotation to inspire our work and from then on, there were no restrictions … a stick in the garden will never be looked at in the same way and a shapely bottle will never find its way to the recycling bin again. Here are a few images of my students' creations.... very satisfying to see such brilliant work produced.

I have had other wonderful weekends this month – is it so long since I have posted on this blog? The previous weekend’s theme must have been “Live the moment” - what a whirlwind weekend!

On the Friday and Saturday I was the Secretary General at the Model United Nations Assembly, where young delegates changed the world. We managed to resolve the Middle East crisis, develop plans to cope with Climate Change,deal with terrorism, refugee processing and the reform of the United Nations itself – no wonder I was exhausted! The Model United Nations Assembly is a Rotary District 9670 event, and it is a really amazing experience. Youth delegates representing United Nations member nations debate global issues and attempt to resolve world problems using individual nations' viewpoints and alliances taking a peaceful approach. Perhaps the real politicians, world leaders and decision makers need to follow these young peoples' example.

Then on Sunday, I managed one day of the two day class with visiting doll maker , Patti Culea. - so interesting not only to learn new techniques, but also to chat about the inspiration for this doll - the bound feet of Chinese women in the past. How privileged we are to be able to access the talents of such inspiring artists. Then, just to finish the weekend on an even higher note, that was followed by a magical musical evening of Andre Rieu and the Seekers

The weekend before that we celebrated Mother’s Day. We spent another great day with our wonderful family on the shores of Lake Macquarie, first having an outdoor breakfast and then a visit to the Lake Macquarie Art Gallery to see a textile exhibition.

And of course, great presents, especially hand drawn and handmade cards from children and grandchildren

I know it's often said bad things happen in threes ... with these three fantastic weekends, I can only conclude good things must come in threes, too.

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks .... The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or my husband or from off cuts gifted to us from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks. Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as w...

Lilly Pilly

Today is Australia Day. I chose a photo of some Lilly Pilly berries as a celebratory image for this national day. Lilly Pilly is a common name for a plant, Syzygium smithii which grows mostly in Eastern Australia, from the northern rain forests of Queensland, throughout NSW to the southern Wilson's Promontory in Victoria. In New Zealand it is called "monkey apple, but other names used in Australia, besides lilly pilly, are Eungella Gum and Coast Satinash. The largest Lilly Pilly recorded was found in Dingo Creek Flora Reserve, near Tenterfield where I once lived. The tree now growing in my garden was once a small seedling which I was gifted when I left Woolgoolga, a small coastal town in northern NSW. Its name is said to come from the Aboriginal word 'weelgoolga' describing the lilly pilly which grows in profusion there. It is probably no surprise that the lilly pilly berries are edible as bush tucker, and make a beautiful jam or jelly. I have even seen re...

Countdown to Christmas 15 - Diamonds Forever!

How much would you pay for a Christmas fruitcake? The world's most expensive fruit cake has been estimated at $1.65 million. Yesterday, I wrote about the less than positive term "Christmas cake as it is applied to unmarried women, so again it amazed me that in Tokyo, this most exquisite and expensive Christmas cake was created. It took six months to design and another full month to construct. The beautiful cake is fully edible ... that is except for the 223 real diamonds used as decoration. This cake was part of an exhibition called Diamonds: Nature's Miracle and was one of 16 exhibits showcasing creative ways with diamonds . Apparently, the cake was auctioned, fetching $1.65 million US. While there have been other very expensive diamond encrusted cakes since this one in 2005 with estimated values of up to $75 million, this Japanese designed cake was the forerunner of the extravagant diamond studded wedding cakes in the higher price r...

Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

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