The One Step Further juried exhibition of contemporary quilts opens today at 2pm with Victorian textile artist June Brown officiating. I don’t have a complete exhibitor listing but understand the exhibition includes works by Anna Brown, Judy Hooworth, Margaret McDonald, Helen Richards and me!

This is the first outing of the latest quilt in my Desire Lines series:

Desire Line #3: Running Hot & Cold
©2009 Brenda Gael Smith
76cm x 37cm

ONE STEP FURTHER
Central Goldfields Art Gallery
Address: Neill Street, Maryborough, Victoria
Hours: Thursday - Sunday 10.00am - 4.00pm
Tel: 03 5460 4588
Email: cgsc.art@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

The Twelve by Twelve artists are excited twelve times over to announce that:

(drum roll, please…. )

Sterling Publications/Lark Books will be publishing a book on our Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt project!

We are thrilled beyond words to have this wonderful opportunity, and so happy that our art endeavors and friendships are turning us into authors, too. We know that Lark was impressed by the loyal readers who follow our blogs and website, so thanks to all of you friends-of-Twelves for your encouraging words through our explorations!

We’ll keep you posted as we know publication dates.

We are lifting a virtual glass of champagne to each other and to all of you for your support!

It very difficult to think about packing for winter and snow when you’re sweltering in a tank top and shorts. So I’m concentrating on non-clothing items for my forthcoming trip to America. It looks like I will have room to bring some copies of the Quilters Companion magazine and my instructional DVD on quilt finishing techniques. Accordingly I am offering US and Canadian readers the opportunity to purchase the magazine & DVD for A$14.25, the same price as for Australian residents, so long as I receive your order by Friday 27 November 2009. That gives you a week (or less if my stockpile runs out). Be quick!

The DVD covers the following four quilt finishing techniques:

• continuous mitred binding;
• facing finish;
• pillow case with "escape hatch";and
• satin stitch/zig zag edging.

In addition, there are detailed instructions, diagrams and photos in the accompanying magazine for easy reference.

I was in Sydney yesterday stitching with Erica so collecting the mail fell to the Laundry King. He complained loudly about having to carry a heavy bundle of fabric up the hill. This is what 20 yards of 60″ wide PFD Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton looks like:

For dyeing, I mostly use PFD Pimatex by Robert Kaufman. The Pimatex pieces beautifully but, with its high thread count, sometimes resists hand-stitching so I thought I would try out the Kona cotton. It helped that Hancocks of Paducah were offering a free shipping deal at the time. If you’re quick, you can take advantage of the current free shipping offer which expires on 18 November 5.00pm CST

• Type 11FREE09 in the Promotional Code box during checkout.
• United States minimum for free shipping: $30.00
• International minimum for free shipping: $75.00

Stock up and you can be prepared for dyeing too!

The international tour of the first series of Twelve by Twelve works commences in April 2010 at the Australasian Quilt Convention. To prepare our art works for this adventure, we are each making a small travelling bag to hold twelve quilts. My original plan was to make my bag from some of the shibori pieces I made for the Illumination theme but they mysteriously went missing after a “tidy up” of my fabric storage. So instead I made my bag from an Aboriginal-inspired print (with a lime/chartreuse lining of course!) which seems somehow appropriate as my quilts embark on their own form of “walkabout:

Naturally, now that I have made my bag, the shibori fabrics have reappeared but that may give me some inspiration for the Professional Art Quilters Alliance-South (PAQA-South) call for entry for ARTQUILTSilluminations.

As has become our custom, and this being an odd-numbered year, the Laundry King and I will be celebrating Christmas in Pittsburgh with his family. We also propose to take a small side trip between Christmas and New Year. In the past, we have made an excursion to Pennsylvanian Dutch (Amish) Country which is picturesque, even in winter, and has a generous quilt shop to boutique brewery ratio. We’ve also taken sidetrips on our sidetrip such as the detour through Gettysburg National Military Park. We’ll probably head to Amish country again this year. However, we’re open to other suggestions. Our criteria include:

• the destination must be suitable for a comfortable 3 day/2night excursion - ie within 4-6 hours driving distance from Pittsburgh;
• the attractions must be suitable for all weather conditions for 2-4 active and curious adults; and
• quilt shops not essential but good food and refreshments are vital.

I’ll do some online research before I go but let me know if you have any ideas!

Behinds the scenes here at the Serendipity Studio, I am undertaking a revamp of my logo and associated promotional materials. My current banner, prepared by my brother many years ago, is bright and cheery and has served me well but a new look is quite overdue. It’s exciting to consider all of the possibilities and I look forward to sharing more with you in the new year.

Meanwhile, Candy Glendening has recently conducted her own branding makeover with stunning results and this week she launched her attractive new website - www.candiedfabrics.com. Not only is her site clear and easy to navigate, you have the opportunity to win one of Candy’s beautiful creations in her welcome giveaway. Treat yourself, check it out!

One Step Further is a special exhibition of contemporary art quilts coordinated by Victorian Quilters Inc drawing upon the work of quiltmakers across Australia including a new piece in my Desire Lines series that I will share with you next week.

The exhibition opens on 21 November and runs until 13 December. If you happen to be in the Victorian Gold Fields region and view the exhibition, I would love to hear your impressions!

ONE STEP FURTHER
Central Goldfields Art Gallery
Address: Neill Street, Maryborough, Victoria
Hours: Thursday - Sunday 10.00am - 4.00pm
Tel: 03 5460 4588
Email: cgsc.art@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

A Change in the Weather is an exhibition of contemporary quilts made by an online group of textile artists from Australia and New Zealand. The members of this group generally only ever meet in person if there is a quilt symposium where a number of them are teaching but nevertheless have maintained a connection and dialogue for nearly ten years.

The geographical spread of the members of the Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt Project present challenges for getting together in person. Nevertheless, last week there was a gathering of four Twelves in Healdsburg, California when Helen visited Diane with surprise appearances by Gerrie and Karen. What fun! More lines added to our meeting matrix:

I wasn’t planning on putting a border on this quilt but, in one of those serendipity moments, when I got home with the backing I worked out that I had just enough for a slim border:

The centre is now quilted with a spiral motif. I still have the border quilting to do and, slim as it is, there’s still a lot of area to cover. Back to it.