Being creative in 2018

Some art work from 2018 - Wilma Simmons

Reflecting on 2018, I would like to thank everyone who supported and encouraged me and assisted and taught me during the last year. I think it was a really wonderful year - I enjoyed teaching in new places like the Grampians (Victoria) and the Central Coast as well as in Sydney, Canberra and locally. I learnt so much in workshops with wonderful artists from overseas and within Australia like Jette Clover, Sophie Munns, Gaye Nieuwenhof, Patti Culea and Bobbi Oliver. I was privileged to exhibit at the Embroiderers Guild of NSW and Timeless Textiles Gallery. I have also had so much fun participating and contributing to groups like NCEATA and Gumnut Dollies in Newcastle and online with Art Dolls Only and Tag Tuesday.

Sometimes, the creative process looks like this for me, but with the support of family and so many talented friends, it all works out well in the end! Best wishes for a creative 2019...

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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...

Too Precious to Waste

Stitched tea bags/ old doily "tea lights" - Wilma Simmons More than a year ago, a decision was made. The annual exhibition of NCEATA ( Newcastle Creative Embroiderers and Textile Artists) 2015-2016 will have the theme "Mottainai". Mottainai in Japanese refers to more than just physical waste (resources). It is even used to refer to thought patterns that give rise to wasteful action. Grammatically, it can be used in Japanese as an exclamation ("mottainai!") or as an adjective phrase ("it feels mottainai"). There is no plural form. The collection of mottainai things could be called mottainai koto ( もったいない事 ? ). As an exclamation ("mottainai!") it means roughly "what a waste!" or "Don't waste." [2] A simple English equivalent is the saying "waste not, want not." A more elaborate meaning conveys a sense of value and worthiness and may be translated as "do not destroy (or lay waste to) that ...

Christmas Countdown #25envelopes/22 - Christmas Cockatoo

22 December Christmas Countdown #25envelopes - Christmas Cockatoo . This embroidered fabric collage on an old dyed doily is stitched on a recycled envelope . It is inspired by one of this year’s beautiful Australian stamps which features the Madonna and Child surrounded by Australian animals and birds . The sulphur crested cockatoo caught my eye the moment I saw this envelope and stamp. I see these cockatoos most days in our neighbourhood. Last week, I commented on how Christmassy this scene looked -the cockatoo looked like a decorative ornament in the tree. Today’s exercise took a lot longer than the half hour I usually allocate as this one was also the work for Textile Artists’ Stitch Club workshop by Mandy Pattullo - all hand stitched.

Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

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