Welcome to everyone joining me for the Oceania Collection Blog Hop where 16 members of Studio Art Quilts Associates* from the Oceania region share background to their artwork featured in the to the 2016 SAQA Benefit Auction.
Wild Lupins #4
A true citizen of Oceania, I grew up in New Zealand and now live in Australia. My contribution to the SAQA Benefit Auction is inspired by Russell lupins found in the southern high country of New Zealand.
Michael Button Creative Commons licence
Creating with Felt
I was first prompted to experiment with creating with felt with Wild Lupins #2 (100x70cm), my entry for the Expressions: Wool Quilt Prize in Art Quilt Australia 2015 presented by Ozquilt Network.
Felt is a luscious, soft and pliable fabric available in an array of colours. For someone like me, used to working with cottons, felt presents design and construction challenges. However, felt also offers exciting possibilities for bold and graphic designs.
I do a lot of sketching on my iPad and transfer my designs onto freezer paper. The freezer paper templates can then be ironed onto the felt for easy cutting. I use machine applique, butting and inlay techniques for construction. I learned a lot in the process making my Wild Lupins series and share my discoveries with others in my workshop: Creating with Felt
2016 SAQA Benefit Auction
The 2016 SAQA Benefit Auction begins at 2pm EDT on 16 September with Diamond Day bidding – an early bird opportunity to purchase ANY quilt for $1000.
After that, any unsold work is sold in divided up into three sections for bidding purposes. Each week, a different section of quilts will be available for bidding, starting at $750 and further reduced throughout the week. Wild Lupins #4 will be in Section 2: 26 September-2 October if it doesn’t sell on Diamond Day bidding.
Next up in the blog hop is SAQA Oceania Co-Rep Rasa Mauragis at rasamauragis.com/blog
View the complete Oceania Blog Hop timetable for more information.
*Studio Art Quilt Associates offers many exhibition, network and mentoring opportunities for its members. If you’ve been thinking about joining SAQA, add the discount code “WKS ” to the application form (and add my name Brenda Gael Smith in the referral field) and you will receive a 10% discount on the membership fee.