On exhibition 11 August to 12 November at the National Wool Museum in Geelong. Thankyou to ozquilt network, and specially Dianne Firth for organizing this wonderful event.

WATER RIBBONS

I live next to a large redgum forest which stretches along a section of the Murray River on the border of Victoria and NSW.

This piece is inspired by a place where our road enters the bush called Eddy’s Gate and which I often visit. 

Last year during the floods these water ribbons were in their element, their strap like leaves twisting and floating above and below the water. Combined with the architectural upright flower spikes they made an irresistible subject. The tubers of this water plant can remain dormant during dry seasons and then shoot out again in a wet season. They are tough little guys.

I like to take lots of photos of my subjects, playing with them digitally, and using them as source material for drawings and studies. Sometimes I will do au plein-air sketches.  

On planning the quilt, I tried to partially abstract the subject by flattening the background perspective. I like to have a plan to start with and audition as I go. For example, here I planned to make an irregular border, which I ended cutting off – it seems I’m not ready to be that different yet!

I prepared my fabrics in two ways. First ice dyeing for the water. Then using Procion dyes in various thicknesses and painting loosely and directly to the cloth for the grassy verges.

I pieced the background, then quilted the whole thing (free-motioned on a domestic machine) before appliqueing the featured elements. The use of shimmery thread helped to indicate the surface of the water. I attempted to soften the edges by adding the leaves of Wavy marsh-wort, a companion plant, in silk organza. Lastly, I added the black tulle at the bottom to give the piece a bit more mystery.