KOAST - done

Well, the Kerikeri Art Trail is over.  I'm exhausted, but on an exhilerated high, a bit like giving birth!  And I learnt a few things.  

I learnt that exhibiting and talking about my art non-stop for three days is hard work, but fun.  I learnt that I got better at talking about my art the more I did it.  I learnt that I actually LOVE talking about my processes and inspirations to people who have no idea about textile art.  

I learnt that people enjoyed watching me demonstrate how I did something.  Trail goers were fascinated to watch me free-motion quilt the swallow quilt above, and really interested to see me stencil on the sample below.  It was a great conversation starter and question generator.

I learnt that bringing my sketchbooks for people to look through was a great idea, even if it made me feel a little vulnerable.

I learnt that people are happy to pay fair prices if they love the work.  I learnt that participating in an art trail is really good for my ego!

And I learnt that comfortable shoes are a must...

I don't know if I'll get to do it again.  I can't participate in KOAST unless I'm an invited guest artist, as I was this year, because I'm not actually a Kerikeri resident.  But if I ever get the chance to do it again, I'd jump at it.  It was so very worthwhile on many different levels.

A few thank yous are in order - my family for putting up with my KOAST focus in the past couple of weeks, my fellow exhibitors Jane Shaw and Judi Souter, both very talented artists and the best co-exhibitors I could wish for, and the lovely staff and residents at Oakridge Village who looked after us, made lovely cups of tea and served us the best scones I've ever had!

Putting Down Roots Series II

Examples from my 100 days project

In my last post I showed a couple of quilts that were inspired by my paper cutting 100 days project.  They are showing at Kings Theatre Creative for the next few weeks, along with the quilt I'm showing today called 'Belonging'.

Belonging by Charlotte Scott 43cm x 55cm $195 

This quilt is a nod to landforms that have dominated the areas where I've spent much of my life.  Kapiti Island is the first.  It dominated the horizon in the area I grew up and whenever I see images of it something twangs inside me.

Kapiti Island.  The original uploader was Grutness at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 3.0

The other peak that fills my horizon these days is up the far end of the Waikare Inlet.  It's constantly changing colour, sometimes wreathed in mist, occasionally covered in cloud.  I don't even know what it's called and can't find it on a map, but it forms one of the backdrops in my daily life.

These are the two areas in New Zealand where I've spent the longest time, where I've put down roots by growing up in the area or by moving there and consciously deciding to make my life there.

Belonging (detail) by Charlotte Scott 

I don't think I'm done with this series yet.  There are more variations with the branch and root imagery that I'd like to try.  Different ways of saying what I'm thinking or feeling.  And I like that it's the sort of symbol that has rich meaning for others too.

E noho rå!

Putting Down Roots

Kings Theatre Creative, in the main street of Kawakawa, is my local gallery.  They close down over Winter for the most part, only running some workshops and programs, and this Winter they did some renovations, but then they open up in Spring and it's always exciting to see what new work and what new artists are showing!

They opened last weekend after a last push to get the floor painted (I rolled up my trousers and lent a bit of a hand) and it looks fabulous.  I have three works hanging on the wall and I'm pretty pleased with how they look.  There are a couple of smaller works in the cabinets from the same series too.

Roots by Charlotte Scott 14cm x 57

Above is the first work in the series.  Do you remember my 100 days project - 100 days of scissors and paper cutting?  The branch shape emerged again and again for me during that project so I wanted to explore it further, but in my favourite medium - fabric.

Some of my 100 Days of Scissors project

And of course I got to thinking about what these branch shapes mean, and how they are also root shapes, which lead to thoughts about how I'm always wondering who I am and whether I actually belong anywhere in particular, whether I have strong roots in this area I've been transplanted to.

Establish and Spread by Charlotte Scott 24cm x 85cm

Unfortunately these wide shaped quilts don't fit blogger very well, but they look pretty cool on the wall!

The second quilt in the series continues my pondering of putting down roots and then using these as a foundation to shoot away and 'bloom where you are planted'.  I was still working with the branch shape.  It's such a fascinating shape and the patterns are reminiscent of rivers, tributaries, neuron pathways - all sorts of meaningful things.

This one has some hand stitching on it too.  The cross stitching joins two pieces of the grey silk together and it was a bit of a metaphor for stitching together disparate parts of my history into the person I am today.

Establish and Spread - detail by Charlotte Scott

I'll show you another of the quilts in the series in my next post, but in the meantime, if you are visiting Northland, then call in at Kawakawa, use the famous Hundertwasser public toilets and visit Kings Theatre Creative and tell me what you think.

Podcast - Sew Crazy Quilters Exhibition - Queensland Australia

I spent the last two weeks of September and into October in Australia.  We had a couple of family birthdays and had managed to organise gatherings around the celebrations.  It was a full on couple of weeks and most of it was spent with family, but I did sneak in a couple of quilt related outings.

I got to meet up with some lovely SAQA members (Studio Art Quilt Associates).  From left to right is myself, Rebecca Staunton, Ali George and Kate Oszko.  A yummy lunch and some great conversation.

My stepmother and I visited Lynette Anderson's shop, called Little Quilt Store.  It's only little, as the name suggests, but it is crammed full of Lynette's fabrics, plus some others, and if you like Lynette's style, you'll love this shop.  I came away with a little something in the form of some half-metre cuts. My stepmum bought a some Christmas charm squares and I showed her how to make coasters - she was a whizz at it!

I also got to a local quilt group's exhibition, the Sew Crazy Quilters from Helensvale, Queensland.  In a delightful coincidence, Lynette Anderson had donated the fabrics for their raffle quilt and a prize for their viewer's choice.

The Sew Crazy Quilters were great sports about me whipping out my voice recorder and asking them questions about their quilts for my podcast.  Scroll down to the media player at the bottom of the post and see if you can distinguish between the Aussie and the Kiwi accents ;-)

My first interviewee was Carleen Condon.  Her quilt is called 'Living in Town', from a design by Wendy Sheppard.  Carleen has made this quilt for her son and his fiancee for their new apartment.  It was machine quilted by Manisha Hunt (who appears later in this post).

My next guest was Jodie Nelson, who invited me to the exhibition through Facebook - the power of the internet!  And she is lovely in real life too.  Jodie's quilt is a Piecemakers pattern and is called 'America, America, God Shed His Grace on Thee'.  

Chris Gordon is a past president and made this lovely Rose Window quilt inspired by a book on rose windows from cathedrals.  Chris designed her quilt from the rose window in the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Chris also talked about the challenge entries - the theme was Home.

Thadia Lawson kindly answered some questions for me about her quilt 'A Touch of Contemporary'.  This quilt is for her Grandson and it was quilted by Stephen.

Maureen Foote's quilts caught my eye with their innovative techniques and interesting subject matter. 'The River Runs Dry' is on the right hand side and 'Australia Fair' is on the left.

This quilt 'Something Fishy' was also one by Maureen.  

My last guest, just before my batteries on my recorder ran out, was Manisha Hunt.  Manisha Hunt is a professional machine quilter for hire and had some of her beautiful quilts on display.  Her website is here: http://quiltandcraftstudio.com/quilt-gallery/client-quilts/  where you can see some of her lovely work.

Thanks again, you were all lovely to chat to!  

Download this episode (right click and save)

New Exhibition Opening at Opua Arts

It's so exciting hanging an exhibition.  When you see your plan coming together, the artworks complementing each other and the space filling with beautiful and interesting things.

I spent Friday hanging (with the help of a few buddies - thanks guys!) and by Friday evening I was ready for a glass of wine and to stand back and admire.

Now I get to work in this space and absorb the art for another six weeks or so.  And then it's time to do it all again.

The artists are: Malcolm Inglis (painter), Brownwyn Harford (weaver), Jane Shaw (ceramicist), Andy Cogar (wood and photography), Ingrid McLennan (thread painting), Adrienne Barrie (fibre artisan) and myself - textile artist.

The bonus of being the gallerist is that I get to fill any empty spaces with a piece of my own work! 

I also have a more 'whimsical' corner this time.

My hand dyed fabrics and threads fit in nicely here with all the colours.  

So now it's back to work for me.  I'm within cooee of finishing the quilting on my heron reflection quilt from a couple of posts ago.

Happy Sunday everyone, and if you're up this way come visit me in the gallery.  I'm on the Opua Wharf, you can't miss me, and I'll even make you a cuppa.

Wot Knots Bakers Dozen Exhbition

My good  friend, and fellow art quilter, Mathea Daunheimer, has an exhibition hanging at the moment.  She is part of a group called 'Wot Knots', and 13 of them have been working away on a 12" x 12" challenge over the last couple of years.

"A Bakers Dozen, 12 x 12 Challenge" opened at Reyburn House in Whangarei on the 4th of June.  It runs till the 28th so you still have a few days to see it.

I was lucky enough to attend the opening night and I was blown away by, not only the talent and imagination of these woman, but the commitment they each displayed in seeing this challenge through.

Every member of the group took a turn in picking a theme, with an overall theme of New Zealand.  Then every member had two months to make a 12" x 12" quilt depicting the chosen theme for that period.  The quilts are hung in their themed groups and make for an interesting exhibition.

Here are a few photographs from the opening night.

This last photo is of two of the exhibitors.  Sonya Prchal on the left and Mathea Daunheimer, hamming it up, on the right!  Both are very talented artists so I urge you to click on their names and go have a look at their work.

Edited to add: due to the popularity of this exhibition, the date has been extended till 12th July.

More quilts from Festival of Quilts

I thought I'd show a few pictures of some of the quilts that particularly caught my eye at the 2014 Auckland Festival of Quilts.  Of course the lighting makes it difficult to get great shots, but I hope you enjoy them anyway.  And I urge you to go to FOQ next year, up close and personal is the best way to view!

Show me the Honey by Rebecca Owen, hand-quilted and machine quilted by Judi Schon

Brainwaves by Robyn Rognstad

Caravan Quilt by Val Williams

Enchantment by Debbie Jones, Dragonfly Studio - Enchantment pattern

Pyjama Party by Annie White

Road Block by Annie White, 

Faceless Comrades by Alison Laurence

I wish I'd had more time to spend looking and browsing.  One thing I learnt - interviews take longer than you think!  But here are some blogs with more photos if you want to browse:

http://debs-doodlings.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/auckland-festival-of-quilts.html?showComment=1415518226014

http://quiltwhangarei.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/auckland-festival-of-quilts-2014.html

http://quiltmekiwi.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/a-winner.html

http://anorchardistquilting.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/wall-hangings-that-appealed-to-me.html

Kerikeri Quilt Exhibition

Kerikeri Patchwork and Quilters Club Annual Exhibition. 

This Friday (17th) till Monday, 10 till 4 every day. 

Kerikeri Primary School Hall, Hone Heke Road, Kerikeri. 

Adults $2 entry, accompanied children are free. 

Raffles, merchants (Bernina from Whangarei will be there demonstrating), quilts and crafts for sale, refreshments available. 

You will also be able to sign up for beginner classes if you're interested - I'll also be posting separate info on that later.

'Bin Quiltin'

I've been spending a bit of time with quilts under my sewing machine needle lately.

I want to get this one finished for our club exhibition in January.

This one is done and just needs a hanging sleeve and label.

I'm binding this one ready for donation to the maternity unit.

And binding this one too.  It's a table runner made as a sample for a set of beginner classes I'm going to run next year.  Know anyone who wants to learn basic patchwork and quilting in the Bay of Islands?  My email address is lottiemscott at yahoo dot com!

Happy Dance!

I got notice today that both my quilts that I submitted for the Taupo Symposium exhibition have been  accepted!  Woot, woot!

It was my goal to have at least one quilt accepted at one of the major exhibitions in New Zealand this year - and now both have been so I'm over the moon!

To see the whole quilts you'll need to visit the exhibition.  It's the Horn Cabinet Quilt Exhibition Taupo 2013 at the Taupo Symposium 2013 Fabric Art Festival held 18th to 23rd July at the Great Lake Centre, Tongariro Street, Taupo.

I'll be lurking in the background like a proud Mama.....

Exhibition 2013

Kerikeri Patchwork and Quilting Club present their 2013 Exhibition:



QUILT EXHIBITION !!!




• Friday 11th Jan 2013 – Monday 14th Jan

• Kerikeri Primary School Hall, Hone Heke Road, Kerikeri

• 10 am till 4 pm daily
• Adults $2 entry, children under 12 free

• Refreshments available

• Plenty of parking


Beautiful quilts to view, quilts available for purchase, merchants to browse, pick your viewer’s choice, raffle tickets that support Project Promise and the Rural Fire Service or you could even join the club!