Craft and Quilt Fair - June, 2012 :: Darling Harbour, Sydney

Mum and I visited the recent Craft and Quilt fair held at Darling Harbour.  A day filled with so much colour, creativity and love for all things hand stitched.   Hundreds of thousands of stitches created work that made me feel very excited about this age old craft of sewing.   I promised a blog post to a few friends who were unable to attend.  Unfortunately the day was cut short due to a cold I was fighting off.  The virus won out in the end and I had to come home and straight to bed.  However, we still got to see some wonderful creations which inspired us to continue creating beautiful work.

Here is what we saw:

Intricate hangups from all over the world.  This beautiful piece entitled "Poppies of Love" by Geraldine Alix was my favourite:

Another detailed hangup by Californian fiber artist - Myra Wood

The fair also included this wonderful Travelling Friendship Quilt.  The story of a quilt that came together after 8 suitcases (one per state) traveled within each respective state, passed from friend to friend, group to group, each creating a square depicting their town.  At the end of the year all 8 suitcases return and are incorporated to create a 4 metre square quilt.  Read more about the project here:

A map showing all the places that participated

The fair also included an exhibition of Loani Prior's  latest book    - How Tea Cosies Changed the World.   These tea cosies show how a humble teapot can be transformed into an wacky and very creative piece of art.  Sure to start many conversations....and isn't that what sharing tea is all about?

Even in my feverish state, I managed to capture this beautiful work just as we were leaving the show.  From a distance this looked like pencil drawings, upon closer inspection I realized it was free form machine embroidery. Gorgeous work by Cheryl Bridgart - more of which can be seen here......simply stunning.

Geometric goodness for your weekend......

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Friday almost here.....yay! Lots of fun planned for the weekend including ::

placemat sewing, birthday tapas feast,  cafe wanderings,cycling, trusty camera ready to capture the Supermoon on Sunday  and on the Garage Sale Trail hunt for the perfect belt buckle to rescue a much loved "Zee" *zebra print belt* 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend
xox
claudes

Lead up to Birthday week.....

Its been a big, busy, crazy emotional week.   Not only because that is how I usually get around birthday time (another year , more grey hair, what have I achieved?  where am I going? - you know how it goes)  but because I am also working on many projects all at the same time.  Its like my cook/gardener/DIY/crafty inner self is on autopilot (and on a time clock apparently) and wants to start and/or complete all projects I have going.   Crazy - I know.

No matter what I am creating, experimenting or doing, I always have my trusty pocket camera with me. A photographic diary of sorts.   I know one day I will look back and realize these days (the crazy busy ones) are my happiest.   So here is a photo diary of what is keeping me interested of late:

In the garden:: A tiny Echeveria plant grows out of what I thought was a dried up root.

From a friends well established edible garden - beautiful, nourishing beans.

Fabric ::  Watching mum create something gorgeous with this fabric (More to follow soon)

From El Mercado::  (Top) Organic Food Market free range VS  (Bottom) Supermarket free range.  The proof is in the taste.

From my Father::  Admiring his latest original, upcycled work of art.

From my Mother::  a beautiful crochet creation

Cafe::  Martino honing his skills.....

while I admire the cafe's refurb including these gorgeous mango wood stools.

From the sewing machine :: new fabric place mats, that are teaching me much patience along the way....

thats all for now.  Thanks for reading.

xox
a (nearly) older and (hopefully) wiser craftyclaudes.......

Google Art Project - Art Appreciation without leaving home....

Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam 2008

 
Want to view a Van Gogh over breakfast?   Study the brushstrokes of a Rembrandt whilst doing your laundry?  Admire Boticelli's Birth of Venus sitting back on a Friday night in your comfy chair, with your favorite drink in hand?  Well now you can with the wonder that is Art Project powered by Google.

For over 18 months Google has been busy collaborating with 17 galleries and museums around the world to offer virtual tours of each space. Using Google's Street View technology you can now virtually stand in front of various works of art and view them in high resolution  - some images in 1 gigapixel (that is 1 billion pixels!).   This allows you to clearly see brushstrokes, colour build up even cracks in the paint. The detail of these works is nothing short of astounding.

Art now becomes accessible to those that for many reasons are not able to visit these galleries and see these great art works for themselves. A wonderful thing.

Here is a great video on how Google accomplished this incredible task




Enjoy!!

Art Month Sydney /Platform Hip Hop Festival - Power Moves by Nick Bassett

Presented by CarriageWorks' Platform Hip Hop Festival

POWER MOVES is a photographic series which studies the form and sculptural quality of Breaking, or B-Boying as it is otherwise known. 
Shot in a controlled studio setting, Nick Bassett has captured a highly talented group of dancers right in the split-second moment of their signature moves. The series is a study in form, physicality and skill, not simply a documentation of the moves or how they are performed.

March is also Art Month in Sydney.  A time where studios, galleries and performance spaces throw open their doors and encourage people to follow their art.  With varied events and activities such as art cycle tours, Thursday night Art Bars,   a little Gardening, and art dinners.  As well as various photographic, sculptural and mixed media exhibitions - there is something there for everyone.


To check out the various events on offer until March 31 - visit the Art Month Sydney website

To check out Nick Bassetts photography exhibition as part of the Platform Hip Hop Festival visit the Carriageworks website.

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