Persuasion

It’s easy to believe that summer is over. 

First sure signs are a fresh pink camellia on my footpath and the smell of eucalyptus smoke wafting across the island on cool, wet evenings.  

The first for this year....

I'll get back to textiles sooner or later.  The Quilt Album is going along nicely although the time has come to do a bit more research.  Also my photos from Japan are starting to make sense - despite the trip being more than a few years ago.  I've posted them on what was essentially my old Vox blog but one day I might just combine these two to save my sanity...

Australia Day 2013 with the Island Quilters

Island Quilters Exhibition (26th January 2013)

We made use of Meg's perfectly positioned house to display our works (again!) this year.  And Wally who is more than handy with a hammer (and could now organise an exhibit in the Met).  Wyn & Margaret took very good care of the sales table/raffle, Sandra played clarinet to add an up-market touch and Margaret K's balloons were very popular. 

Although the group is now down to a handful of stitchers, somehow we managed to fill the verandah and lounge area with a very nice display, mostly in the “modern” style (thanks to Vanessa who is positively driven).   It really is exciting to see the quilts hanging.  Somehow it adds another dimension.  This year though, we didn’t hang any in the garden in case it rained.  Thankfully, a tropical deluge waited until the following day. 

This is my NYC quilt (fabrics purchased in City Quilter & Purl Soho)

So, another extravaganza!   But even now, we are talking about next year….     

Ramble or Scramble: Sculpture Competition 2013

Australia Day (26^th Jan) has been and gone.  It’s a big event for such a small island but we welcome the diversion for many, many reasons.  Here’s my favourite this year: a round island Sculpture Trail

Residents were asked to make a sculpture and place it outside of their house.  It was to be judged for Australia Day and visitors to the Island would be asked to nominate their favourite for an additional award.  I’m not sure there was a theme but a few took up the challenge and boldly displayed their works.  Others, who shall remain nameless, left their run to the last minute – only hours before judging!  Let me tell you, it is surprising how many things you can make with a few branches and some bark….

Even as judging began, the sculptures took on a life of their own.  Some were further embellished, some vanished (island intrigue here) and others appeared to mushroom, almost overnight, to fill vacant spaces.  It was clear we were having too much fun and anything goes!  My favourites were the cheeky bamboo wheelbarrow, a mermaid lush down on the beach and escaped hessian & palm frond chickens pecking in the park.  The winner was Sandra's  amazing CD fish (a mullet of course).  

Meet Peno the Fisherman
(so that's where my garden gloves went!)

He's a little rain sodden in this picture & his rod
has snapped.  And hes wearing less-than white shoes.

If you are wondering about the many pairs of white shoes, they were used as markers for judging numbers and actually became mini-sculptures in their own right...

Herding Cats

Can it be my last post was in May about an event in January.....I will simply have to do better!  Not to worry, we are home now with internet at our fingertips 24/7 - and a Bernina sitting, all lonely, out in the garden shed. 

The Kookies were the first to welcome us back and I suspect there's a baby in a nest somewhere - hopefully safe.  One of several babies on the island.  How things change in only a few months.

So, it's back to the keyboard and keeping thoughts contained is a bit like herding cats. 

Angra do Heroismo, Terceira. 
One of many amazing stops on our visit through the Azores

Australia Day 2011

Australia Day on the Island was quite a success in 2010, so the quilting ladies were asked to host another exhibition this year. 

Thus began the mad dash to complete UFO’s in time.  To be fair to our viewing public, we didn’t want to repeat too many of last year’s quilts.  Somehow, we made the deadline (despite the heat) and came up with quite a selection to hang inside and out.  Margaret’s house is close to the Ferry wharf so our visitors arrived to a colourful welcome.  See for yourself…

I think it was well worth the effort!  We even had a few musicians along during the day to set the ambiance. 

It was hard work to organise, but well worth the effort.  We even had the odd offer to buy our quilts, but somehow that's another issue for discussion.  What is an acceptable price to ask for our handiwork and are people prepared to pay that price. 

It was so uplifting to see our quilts hanging and the variety of work we had produced over the years.  Hanging offers a whole new level of appreciation and inspiration.  See my comments re: hanging your groups or your own quilts. 

So, what are we planning for next year?  Don't ask - the UFO pile is getting dangerously low!

Visitors arrive on our trusty Island Ferry, the Sun.

Safe Harbour

I've only just noticed the little green parrot is visiting too..  Can you see him?

Textile Tourist is moving with the rest of the fleet to make life easier at home and on board our floating home.  We'll be back every now & again to mow lawns, weed garden beds and check the mail.  Otherwise, enjoy further travel and textile finds (anything post 2010) on a new blog site.  Don't rush though as a bit of house & boat maintenance is happening there too.  And we've just had a few unexpected guests drop in, just on dinner time!  

More River Ramblings

Try Amazon or Book Depository

I've not long finished reading Kate Grenville's "The Secret River" and can recommend it as a wonderful, even riveting read.  It is of course an historical novel set in part, on the Hawkesbury River. I really felt her connection with the river.  Kate Grenville saw it as a living thing; part of an ancient landscape. Her story tells of  the not-so-easy life of our early settlers; some rouges and scoundrels, others mesmerised by opportunities.  It also tells of the fate of some of our original inhabitants, but I won't spoil the story for you.  It does make you want to do a bit of work tracing your own family history though!

Australia Day 2010 on the Hawkesbury River

Quilts on Display 2010

On Australia Day (26^th January), Dangar Island opened to the world and hosted ferry loads of visitors to an art/crafts extravaganza.  Island quilters put up a decent show of their work.  Other artists opened up their studios and the Café, the Community Hall and the Bowlo’s hosted arty/foodie events.  A community spirited Cap'n put on his BBQ apron and helped dish up countless hot roast lamb sandwiches. This was held on the second hottest day of the summer season... so it seemed.

These pics are from the Quilting Exhibition (obviously).  We all work in different styles and that tends to make for an interesting display.

Some of the quilts were done as community quilts or round robins. although that was before my time as an islander.  I think it's an amazing display for a small group.

Volunteer duty to cook an Island Breakfast
at the Cafe

Dangar Island Cafe

And here is everyone's favourite island cafe....  Come visit us soon!  

Purple Haze

Tides out at Bradley's

Welcome to 2008!  What's been happening since my last post?  Lots, so where to start...  The jacaranda trees were in flower in November covering the island in a glorious purple haze; even the roads were littered with little purple trumpet flowers. I love this time of year as we head into summer, everything's flourishing, especially since we've had good rain recently. 

The romance of purple soon gave way to bright pink crepe myrtles ("Pride of India" my mum calls them and I can see why!) and I am so inspired to quilt....something, anything in these wonderful colours!  Too bad however, as there's still too much to do in the house with the ongoing renovations.  Also my garden has gone to weeds in the space of a week or two of neglect and the lawn needs mowing. Again! 

Jacaranda Blue

I've finally set up and moved into our (my) study, a converted sunroom overlooking the garden. Now I can really watch the weeds grow (through my new timber venetians, yes!).  The family room is also close to finished as is one of the downstairs bedrooms.  I've done all my painting tasks for our second bedroom (yellow walls - what possessed me?) and so begins the laborious task of  stripping, sanding and staining the old bed.  This will be the room where I store and display my quilts and other textile goodies gathered on my travels.  Reason enough to keep motivated wouldn't you say!

Of course nothing's simple and sometimes I feel that I am living in a life-sized rubik's cube as we move boxes and still more boxes of belongings about the house.  I'm starting work on my garden shed too, soon to be painted & fitted with blinds and the odd sewing machine or two (or three) to be my work space, shared with the old salt who is also handy with a machine - for canvas work for the boat mind, none of this girly, quilting stuff!!  

River Pirates?

The highlight of summer on the island was the children's Christmas Parade. Those clever mums & kids filled the shed on our public jetty with all manner of things using a theme of  "Twelve days of Christmas" over, your guessed it, twelve days. 

On Christmas eve we all gathered at the jetty and followed a happy, noisy procession of children carrying their artworks down to the beach for a "street party" for all islanders. I had thought the parade was going to be invaded by pint-sized pirates who arrived in a very small dingy but it later turned out to be a Chinese goddess and her "minders".  She was there to bring us prosperity and good fortune (not to hold us for ransom)! 

So, in the words of the Island children, I hope you all have a.....

jelly fish-mas!   

River Baptists et al

The River Baptists by Belinda Castles is my latest read; unfortunately despite being a winner of the Australian /Vogel Literary Award, it's not up on Amazon yet, so no cover for you to see.  Not a bad story and of course it's set locally - hence my interest.  I believe there are a few other novels about the Hawkesbury River area so I am looking forward to seeing what makes the area so interesting to authors?? 

A recommended movie treat, the "Oyster Farmer" also sets a somewhat interesting angle on our "locals".  The river, it seems, harbours its fair share of quirky people with dark histories (Wow!! How long have I been in the neighbourhood and not really noticed??) but it is really nice to see a departure from the usual depiction of Aussies as laconic dudes from the outback (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), weird city boys (like Mad Max or Romper Stomper)  or indeed, comedic dancing queens (Murial's Wedding and Cosi). So, wind up the DVD and watch some of Aus's best. 

(Ed. An update: finally found a cover copy of the River Baptists......)

Out the door again

The house is a hive of activity today. We are off again!  This time down memory lane; first to KL and then on to Viet Nam for more than 3 weeks.  Not enough time to get to everything before we leave but at least the camera was repaired in time - just!  So I have great expectations.

I am not expecting to have too much time to email whilst we are away. Better to be doing it, that is, travelling, rather than sitting at a computer in a cafe or hotel room, wouldn't you say?  Learnt that lesson flying over Everest.  Too busy taking photos, which in the end turned out rather badly, and then didn't have any time left to take "the experience" all in.  Also some things, unless you are an expert photographer, can never be duplicated on simple 5x7's. Especially when they're taken through an aeroplane window.....

My poor Khan has also packed his bags today to go and live with his new family.  He deserves to have a full-time family and I can't always take him with me whenever we go away.  Besides, animal quarantine is never a guaranteed solution.  The places we travel and the experience of being separated for long periods would take its toll on both of us.  I should have taught him how to send emails!!

I'm going to attempt to limit myself to six reports - six of the best so they say - on any particular area/country/town  visited. This challenge should encourage brevity and better photo inclusions. Please do not use my photos or words. 

(Five years later and I'm still working on the brevity bit. Ha....  Ed)