Tuesday 19 October 2021

Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid

The Christchurch Quilters' exhibition Vivid was practically over before I knew it existed. Fortunately I read an email in the morning and was able to detour for a swift viewing before our Sunday afternoon stroll along Sumner beach. My beloved sitting in the car did detract from any shopping experience and I left the merchants mall empty handed despite a strong pull towards some hand dyed fabrics from Mallee Textiles.

The trousers

I had an epiphany with the pleats in the Megan Nielsen Flint trousers, which I shall explain in another post, and I now love this pattern more than ever. I play around with having a front fly zipper or side seam invisible zipper but this version has the original buttoned left pocket opening, creating yet another winning pair of Megan Nielsen Flint trousers.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Sandcastles in the sun (and wind) at Sumner beach
Outfit: Dotty Stripe Flint trousers, Sewing Workshop Maison Dijon Giant Seersucker top; Untouched World Poncho Serene / Slate; and P448 Skate Pailettes Stroil Sneakers

As an aside the (Sumner) Scarborough clock tower in the first photograph is looking splendid. This 1934 clock tower was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquake but now newly restored and strengthened it is extremely photogenic!

Excuse the creases - they had been worn all day by the time these photographs were taken. The fit of these is nearly perfect and I am very tempted to take them in about an inch at the waist - to reach perfection.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Megan Nielsen Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers - patchwork version 2!

Every now and then I become fixated on a fabric being made into a particular garment and this was the case with a Japanese linen cotton which was about half the amount I needed to make trousers. Simple - I had seen a number of fashion designers using a mix of fabrics, including my favourite Dolce & Gabbana, so I would use a different fabric for each leg. I bought another piece of cotton linen with grey/natural stripes from eQuilter. Disappointment loomed as when the fabric arrived from America it was not a match made in heaven. Now I have two pieces of fabric too small for trousers. First I found the perfect match for my original fabric at Nancy's Stitch Studio in Wellington, which is sadly no more. The resulting Flint trousers I just love love love, and will reveal in my Megan Nielsen Flint trousers take two post coming soon (or in two months which seems to be my current blogging schedule). A few months later I found the almost perfect match for the grey/natural stripe from Stitchbird Fabrics in Wellington. Convinced I could make them a perfect match I bought the mustard stripe fabric, partly because I am still pursuing the Sunset Swap inspiration.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Clockwise from left: the back leg pieces; Kokka linen cotton canvas Line in Mustard designed by Etsuko Furuya; the painting supplies; and Sevenberry grey natural stripe cotton flax canvas

I knew I would use the Line in Mustard border down the side of one leg front and around the bottom of the other leg. Each leg would be made from one of the fabrics, with the pockets using the other leg fabric. For this patchwork version that didn't seem enough to tie the two legs together so the fabrics sat for a while. As often happens inspiration struck just as I was nodding off to sleep one night - stencil polka dots in gold reversing the stripe and polka dot colours of the Line in Mustard fabric. When I dragged out my box of fabric paints serendipitously there was the foam dabber. No need for a stencil I could just use the dabber to make my dots. The paints were so old I had to thin them down with the textile medium, which seems to have worked well. The Lumiere acrylic paint True Gold colour was a bit too brown so I mixed it with some yellow on a palette until I thought it was just right. The dots are in a similar pattern to the Line in Mustard silver metallic dots but not quite as I got carried away dabbing. After all of my creative endeavours I am in love love love with this version too.

It seemed appropriate to take my patchwork trousers to Vivid the 2021 Christchurch Quilter's exhibition.

A wonderful opportunity to see some quilts especially as we aren't able to leave New Zealand so there is no Houston Quilt Festival for me this year. Its not quite true we can leave its the getting back into the country that is tricky. Obtaining a spot in managed isolation for the mandatory two weeks is a bit of a lottery, so we stay home and enjoy the talents of the local quilt artists.

If you are all about the garment sewing no need to venture further. The quilt pictures are many and the post is long because I included the artists' statements and other details about the quilts. This not only made for a very lengthy post it took me ages to compose even with the help of Google Lens copying the text from the image (not always possible due to blurry photography). I do think the time spent was worthwhile as it helps the enjoyment and understanding of the quilts. Especially important are the sizes of the quilts because I made the photographs as big as possible which obscures the real size of the quilt.

The Vivid challenge

This selection of quilts from the Vivid challenge really lived up to the name.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Clockwise from top left: Little Boxes by Veronica Spittal; Vivid Triangles by Daena Schofield; Testing the Pen by Jennifer Middendorf; Aniwaniwa Piwakawaka by Denise Smith; Brightness Overload by Kaye Amos; and Vulpes Fulvus by Andrea McClare

Veronica's artist statement: The design idea come from the word 'Vivid' which reminded me of a child's crayon drawing. The theme was inspired by the 1960's hit song by Malvina Reynolds "Little Boxes" protesting against the rise of suburbia. My protest is about the ugly brick farm workers houses springing up over the countryside. Design: Own design using amended free vector images for houses and letterboxes. Woven quilting inspired by 'Simply Stunning Woven Quilts' book by Anna Faustino. Techniques: Applique, woven fabric, painted fabric, machine and hand embroidery. Materials: Fabric, embroidery thread, Applifix, Inktense pencils. Size: 46 x 41 cm. Award: Best - VIVID

Daena's artist statement: An attempt to experiment with triangles and bright colours. Design: Own design. Techniques: Machine piecing, machine quilting, 60 degree ruler. Materials: Cotton, bamboo batting, Egyptian thread. Size: 44 x 34 cm. $150

Jennifer's artist statement: The word "Vivid" made me think of the scribble everyone does when they find a Vivid pen in the bottom of a drawer, to test if it still has ink in it. That gave me the big central scribble, and then I continued the theme with the free-motion quilting, filling my 'page' with doodles. Design: Own design inspired by free motion quilting doodles by Angela Walters. Techniques: Piecing, raw-edge applique, free motion quilting Materials: Cotton, batting. Size: 43 x 47 cm

Denise's artist statement: Amongst the Tane of the forest, Aniwaniwa Piwakawaka flits from branch to branch, landing for a few moments to show his beautiful feathers. Design: Own design inspired by Helen Godden. Techniques: Hand dyed background with a resist, stencilling, free motion quilting. Materials: Calico, cotton fabrics. Size: 37 x 41 cm. $330

Kaye's artist statement: This was the best fun, choosing fabrics that were so bright they hurt my eyes. Design: I used a combination of designs from Kirsten Duncan's class. Techniques: Applique, couching trim, free motion quilting. Materials: Cotton fabric, batting, thread. Size: 45 x 40 cm

Andrea's artist statement: The prompt Vivid asked for Kaffe Fassett fabrics. I have used my favourite technique to create animals. Fabric collage applique which is then thread painted to add texture and fine details. Design: Own design using pictures of foxes sourced from library books and online. Techniques: Neocolour II wax crayon painted background, fabric, thread painting. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Neocolour II wax crayons, Aurifil thread. Size: 50 x 50 cm. Award: Best - Vivid

The Andrea McClare quilts

Here are three more quilts from my friend Andrea, all utilising her signature thread painted applique collage technique.  Interesting how when you know someone you find all of their pieces in the exhibition - the eye is trained to spot the familiar! Andreas's two other pieces in the exhibition are Vulpes Fulvus above which won the Best - Vivid award and Virescent in the Aotearoa Quilters Colour Challenge - Lime below. My favourite is Beatrix - love the original stories and the little Bilby who would have fitted right in amongst Ms Potter's other creatures.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Top to bottom: Vintage Camera; Miss Cassie at Twilight; and Beatrix the Bilby by Andrea McClare

Vintage Camera artist statement: This quilt was created from a photograph. In the original photo the camera was sitting on a blue cloth, I chose to give it a more aged look with a brownish yellow background. Design: Sue de Vanny online Facebook class. Techniques: Fabric collage, thread painting, blended background. Materials: Cotton fabrics, Aurifil threads, cut away stabiliser. Size: 40 x 55 cm

Miss Cassie at Twilight artist statement: The background is painted in delicate twilight shades to contrast with the wild almost prehistoric looking Cassowary. Design: Sophie Standing online Facebook class. Techniques: Painted background, fabric applique, thread painting. Materials: Neocolour II wax crayons, cotton fabrics, Aurifil thread. Size: 75 x 50 cm

Beatrix the Bilby artist statement: She reminds me so much of the characters from Beatrix Potter tales that I named her accordingly. Design: Sophie Standing Facebook class with own design used for background and free motion quilting. Techniques: Neocolour II wax crayon painted background, fabric, thread painting. Materials: Neocolour II wax crayons, cotton fabric, Aurifil thread. Size: 45 x 60 cm

Sophie Standing has quite a following here in New Zealand after her visits in 2019 and 2020, with one more quilt in this exhibition from her Facebook class, and it won the award for Best Kit / Class Work.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Nuala the Koala by Karyn Elder

Karyn's artist Statement: This was an online class by Sophie Standing which started just after lock down last year. Nuala came to life as more fabrics, colours and threads were added. Design: Sophie Standing kit with own design of background trees. Techniques: Fabric painting, drawing outline, textile collage. Materials: Canvas, fabric, thread. Size: 67 x 57 cm.

The Catherine MacDonald quilts

Catherine is a favourite quilt artist who is well known in New Zealand. I love her dyed fabrics (Mallee Textiles) and the complex messages she entwines in seemingly simple quilts. Catherine has another quilt, Flanders Fields, in the Aotearoa Quilters Members Challenge - Reflections below. All of Catherine's quilts are her own design using her photographs.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Clockwise from top left: A Point in Time; Then Till Now; Ailsa Craig; Alone in the City; The Power of Weapons; and Working Together

A Point in Time artist statement: This reflects my 2019 visit to see the completed 9-11 memorial in NYC which is breathtaking in its stillness and reverence of visitors. I took a lot of pictures inside the tributes and parts of the original towers. I was taken by the strength of the concrete pillars and how they were broken, how strong they looked yet we know they crumbled. Techniques: Machine piecing, hand stitching and quilting. Materials: Rusted as well as flour paste printed fabrics. Size: 102 x 40 cm. $950. Awards: Best - Art / Contemporary; Merit - Judge's Choice Sophie Wood.

Then Till Now artist statement: I was comparing the media required when my parents flew back in 1968 to myself in 2010. No longer do you need printed tickets and travellers cheques, everything is electronic these days and available at the touch of a button. Materials: Hand dyed and treated fabrics, photo transfer. Size: 102 x 69 cm. $750

Ailsa Craig artist statement: Neighbourhood means many things to me but none more so that a small country town that espouses the values of working together for the good of their town. In my piece I have tried to show the open countryside all around the town as well as those working to make the NZ exhibition such a success. Techniques: Machine piecing, applique and quilting. Materials: Hand dyed and treated fabrics, photo transfer. Size: 102 x 72 cm. $750

Alone in the City artist statement: When you walk through a city or town and look at the lights on in the buildings you can often feel alone as you don't know anyone. However, how many people in their buildings are feeling on their own or in need? Do they feel trapped? Techniques: Machine piecing, applique and quilting. Materials: Hand dyed and treated fabrics, indigo fabrics. Size: 102 x 102 cm. $750

The Power of Weapons artist statement: Inspired by a visit to Peter Jackson's WW1 exhibtion about the war to end all wars. Now these weapons are used by all including single gunmen in mass shootings. How easily people seem to have forgotten the WW1 sacrifice...Lest we forget... Techniques: Machine pieced and appliqued, hand stitching. Materials: Discharge dyed fabric, hand dyed fabric, Wonderfil thread. Size: 100 x 60 cm. $950

Working Together artist statement: Inspired by a 10 acre sculpture park with over 170 sculptures. I based this work on 3 to 4 of my favourites, taking bits from each. Techniques: Machine piecing, applique and quilting, Materials: Hand dyed and treated fabrics, thermofax printing. Size: 102 x 48 cm. $750

The Kaye Amos quilts

Kaye also had a quilt in the Vivid challenge above.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Top to bottom: Aqua Delight; and Pods in a Vine

Aqua Delight artist statement: I was inspired by the pattern and fabric that was part of Allison Cocks collection. Design: Pattern for traditional Hawaiian needle turn design. Techniques: Invisible applique, trapunto and free motion quilting. Size: 112 x 112 cm.

Pods in a Vine artist statement: This image has been on my mind for some time, it was great to experiment with the Inktense pencils. Design: Own design. Techniques: Applique, free motion stitching, colouring and painting. Materials: Quilting cottons, batting thread, Inktense pencils. Size: 103 x 40 cm. $150.

The Maria Rohs quilts

I oh so nearly purchased the Mike Goes Skiing quilt, it really conveyed the insignificance of man against the snow covered mountain, and the danger it holds. Maybe I was drawn to it because a friend broke two vertebrae in his neck skiing a couple of weekends ago. Not that I ski, standing up on terra firma is enough of a challenge for me.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Top to Bottom: Sisters; and Mike Goes Skiing

Sisters artist statement: My Austrian sister Heidi has walked a lot in the Vienna woods - her family say she knows every tree! Of course I have walked there with her whenever I have visited. Inspired by a photo I took and placed myself in it with her. Design: Own design. I began this quilt in a class with Gloria Loughman. Techniques: "Tiles" in the background and applique in the foreground. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 59 x 44 cm

Mike Goes Skiing artist statement: Made for a hexagon challenge. If sold, the name can be changed to suit the buyer. Design: Own design. Techniques: Machine applique and quilting. Materials: Cotton fabric, metallic thread. Size: 35 x 41 cm. $95

These three eye catching quilts are from a class taught by Maria using Katherine Roumanoff techniques. I would be afraid to sit on the sofa with one of these cushions on it.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Top to bottom: Wildlife Beauty by Joy Brett; Flora by Kirsten Tritt; and Flora by Sue-Ellen Sandilands

Joy's artist statement: My wildlife daughter begged me to take this class since she couldn't! Not my usual style but I made the pillow for her. Techniques: Applique. Materials: Cotton, upholstery fabric. Size: 45 x 48 cm

Kirsten's artist statement: Flora was made as an example for Christchurch Quilters class on faces. Techniques: Raw edge applique, quilting. Materials: Cotton, polyester batting. Size: 51 x 38 cm

Sue-Ellen's artist statement: Freeing fun class offering opportunity to play. Techniques: Machine applique. Materials: Cotton fabrics, curtains. Size 61 x 62 cm

The Kathleen Burford quilts

Four stunning quilts as always from Kathleen, and such varied styles too, all based on her own design. Kathleen also had a quilt, Shimmering Water, in the Aotearoa Quilters Members Challenge - Reflections below.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Clockwise from left: Ghost Ships of the Orient; A Taste of Japan; The Long Journey 3; and Kimono Treasures

Ghost Ships of the Orient artist statement: This quilt was made in a class at Auckland Symposium 2019. Design: Inspired by Pat Archibald. Techniques: Machine pieced and quilted. Materials: Cottons, netting, embroidery thread. Size: 107 x 31 cm. $140

A Taste of Japan artist statement: I purchased some of these fabrics from Japan, others from my stash. I wanted to share the beauty and simplicity of Japanese design. Techniques: Machine pieced and hand quilting. Materials: Cotton fabrics, silks. Size: 91 x 32 cm. $350

The Long Journey 3 artist statement: These birds create a backdrop for the late evening colour contrasts, a view I often see from our home. Techniques: Machine pieced and quilted. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 135 x 100 cm. $600

Kimono Treasures artist statement: I purchased several packets of kimono pieces while in Japan. These beautiful colours needed simplicity to enhance the colours. Technique: Machine pieced and quilted. Materials: Cotton fabric, silks. Size: 179 x 212 cm. $650. Award: Best - Modern.

The Ngaire Dawson quilts

The techniques used may be a little bit different but all are based on Ngaire's own design.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Top to bottom: My View; The Cliffs; and The Ashburton Bridge

My View artist statement: I am always captivated by the ever changing moods and light I experience looking at the sea and sky from my home. I have tried to capture a glimmer of this in my quilt. Techniques: Cyanotype printing, hand quilting, couching. Materials: Cotton fabric. Size: 35 x 35 cm

The Cliffs artist statement: What could be over the ridge? This thought is one of the joys of tramping. Techniques: Silk painting, hand and machine quilting, couching. Materials: Silk. Size: 32 x 31 cm

The Ashburton Bridge artist statement: We have been warned to expect increasing major flood events as part of global warming. We are being informed of that happening in many parts of the world, including New Zealand. Techniques: Shibori dyeing, piecing, hand and machine quilting. Materials: Cotton fabric, fibre reactive dyes. Size: 71 x 59 cm. Awards: Merit - Art / Contemporary; Merit - Judges Choice Linda Pringle.

The Rin Tipa quilts

Aside from the wonderful use of colour I found it interesting that these two quilts were made by the same person.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Top to bottom: Bird on a Wire and Pampas Grasses

Bird on a Wire artist statement: This quilt is a combination of two different patterns. Loved the birds from a Wendy Williams pattern and the blocks from an Abbey Lane pattern. Design: Wendy Williams and Abbey Lane. Techniques: Machine pieced. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 177 x 152 cm

Pampas Grasses artist statement: This was a club challenge for 2020 of "LINES". Design: Own design. Techniques: Machine pieced with fused grasses. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 43 x 43 cm

The Lynda Thrower quilts

So here is the Best in Show and the Best Traditional quilt, with another more fun but still meticulously executed quilt from Lynda. My photos of these two really don't do them justice.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Top to bottom: Paisley and Tea Roses; and Oh Sew Pretty

Paisley and Tea Roses artist Statement: I have quilted on a domestic machine. Design: Based on a pattern by Denise Sheehan and inspired by Cindy Keitz Krug. Techniques: Hand applique. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 200 x 225 cm. Awards: Best in Show; Best - Traditional.

Oh Sew Pretty artist statement: The pattern was designed for wool applique and was much larger. I downsized it and used cotton fabrics, free motion quilting on a domestic machine. Design: Pattern by Buttermilk Basin. Techniques: Hand applique. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 107 x 83 cm

The Julia Li quilts

These three hand sewn beauties by Julia Li, where a study in precision.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Clockwise from left: Stars and Stripes, size 208 x 175 cm, $1,650; Daisy, size 124 x 102 cm, $880; and Perspective, size 53 x 53 cm, $440

The other quilts that caught my eye

I resisted taking photos of every quilt at the exhibition but there were a few more that appealed to me.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Reflections by Anne Howard
Artist statement: I liked the design and as I had never tried paper piecing was eager to give it a go. I can see myself using this technique again. Design: A block out of the Quilt - The Bachelor in the book Paper Pieced Modern by Amy Garro. Techniques: Paper piecing, straight line quilting. Materials: Cotton fabric, thread. Size: 57 x 56 cm
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Shibori by Annette Blair
Artist statement: Samples from many different experiments over the years with Shibori. Finally pieced together. Design: Techniques from books on Shibori. Techniques: Shibori - stitching, clamping, folding and immersion. Materials: Cotton fabrics, Procion dyes. Size: 84 x 47 cm

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Hex-Plosion by Barbara Davies
Artist statement: A quilt along based on Katja Marek's book The New Hexagon 52 Blocks to English Paper Piece. Design: Hex-plosion by Katja Marek. Technique: English paper piecing with stitch in the ditch quilting. Material: Cotton fabrics. Size: 120 x 120 cm. $550. Award: Merit - Best Use of Colour.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Flight of Fancy by Joanne Burton
Artist statement: First time exhibitor. Design: Pinterest pattern 'Flight of Fancy' by Lynne Tyler. Techniques: Machine pieced, hand quilted. Size: 115 x 160 cm
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Weedy Sea Dragons by Joy Brett
Artist statement: Made for a new baby grandson whose mother drew and painted the design for me to work from. Design: Angela Brett. Techniques: Machine appliqued and quilted. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 114 x 83 cm
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Looking Through My Window by Kerian Gill
Artist statement: Building on ideas and playing with colour, design, shapes and forms to create a cohesive picture from a random, colour clashing of old and new fabrics. Design: Own design. A class by Kirsten Duncan who showed us how to put a bizarre group of fabrics together cohesively by simplifying block sizes, using traditional block patterns and modern applique ideas. Techniques: Patchwork and applique. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 150 x 150 cm. Award: Best - First Time Exhibitor
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Wanderers' Daughter by Lee Harper
Artist statement: Just love the colour and texture scrap quilts deliver. I completed a Jen Kingwell Wanderers' Wife quilt and there were many off-cuts and scraps. Rather than waste them they have been used to make this scrappy quilt. Started in 2018 and finished in 2021, quilts can take years to finish. Design: Own design. Techniques: Machine and hand stitched. Materials: Cotton, cotton batting, cotton pompoms, tassels. Size: 140 x 132 cm
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Beautiful inside and out 1 by Lynne Doubleday
Artist statement: Celebrating friendship and beauty. This quilt was made using raw edged applique and free motion quilting techniques. Using my own photo I designed a pattern and translated it into different values to gain the life-like look.
Design: Own design inspired by a friend's photograph. Techniques: Raw edged applique and free motion quilting. Materials: Cotton fabric, thread, batting. Size: 60 x 62 cm. Award: Best Landscape/Pictorial
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
NZ Birds and Fauna by Mary Toner
Design: New Zealand flowers and birds. Techniques: Paper piecing. Materials: Cotton fabrics. Size: 46 x 46 cm
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Maths Lesson by Sharron Philip
Artist statement: It was my first COVID quilt. I have kept the magazine with the pattern for over 10 years. So pleased I got around to doing it. Design: Lisa Walton, Australia. Materials: cotton fabrics. Size: 164 x 154 cm
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Bunnies from a Griet Lombard class, top to bottom: Not for the Pot by Nicky Holland; and The Bunnies by Denise Smith

Nicky's artist statement: Rabbits are brown, generally, so a class to use up the disliked brown fabrics. The rabbits took on a life of their own, all quirky and rustic, with their own personality. I realised that brown works well with many other colours. Techniques: Pieced, applique, machine and hand quilted. Materials: Cotton, lace, velvet, mesh. Size: 115 x 111 cm

Denise's artist statement: Levi Strauss, Calvin Klein, Lee Wrangler. and Amco Peaches make up the Bunnies Gang. Techniques: Raw edge applique, free motion quilting. Materials: Old denim jeans, cotton fabrics, lace. Size: 58 x 43 cm. $550

And then a quilt inspired by the Griet Lombard bunnies technique

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
9 + 1 Lives by Dallas Hoskin
Artist statement: I enjoyed participating in Griet Lombard's bunnies class and decided to design one on cats. Animals with attitude always appeal to me and so these cats were designed with this in mind. Design: own design inspired by Griet Lombard and Helene Knoff's Garden Patch Cats. Adapted from free clip art. Materials: Scraps of left over quilting and sewing fabrics. Size: 113 x 102 cm

The guest exhibitors

The exhibition had two guest exhibitors the late Allison Cocks, who never felt her quilts were good enough for an exhibition kindly exhibited by her family. and Alice Jones.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Go Read Go by the late Allison Cocks
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
My Last Gift by the late Allison Cocks
Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Any Mother's Son by Alice Jones, 2021
Size: 109 x 301 cm

The Aotearoa Quilters' challenges

A few of my favourites from the two challenges on display. First is the Member Challenge - Reflections and then the Colour Challenge - Lime.  All of the quilts from these two challenges can be found on the Aotearoa Quilters' website.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Clockwise from top left: Flanders Fields by Catherine McDonald; Shimmering Water by Kathleen Burford, Christchurch; Little Treasures by Sonya Prchal, Whangarei; Reflecting in Mathematics for Transformation by Merrilyn George, Ohakune; and She is... by Fyvie Murray, Wellington

Catherine's artist statement: I think about the senseless loss of young life that comes from war. Why do those who send the young to fight think their lives are expendable. Why do we not learn from history and stop the carnage. $975.00

Kathleen's artist statement: I frequently walk along the banks of a a river near my house, the sun light that shines on the water changes daily. This is the 3rd quilt in a series I have made. $630

Sonya's artist statement: Long reflective walks during lockdown, had me reassessing priorities. Life is short. Enjoy every moment. Treasure your loved ones and embrace the freedoms we experience in our beautiful country. $630.00

Merrilyn's artist statement: Reflection of two kinds: on our stamp and relationship with the land, and a mathematical term. Visceral joy is in the maths I see in all natural and manmade pattern (including Maori design) about us. $975.00. Award: Merit.

Fyvie's artist statement: The Me Too slogan on this quilt caused me to reflect about the way society sees women and how women are taught to see themselves. Measuring women in terms of family relationships blurs their reality. $515.00. Award: First.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Clockwise from top left: Unleashed by Camilla Watson, Porirua, Award First; Virescent by Andrea McClare, Christchurch; Cosmic Jewels by Sandy Briggs, Whangamata; My Molly by Barbara McFarlane, Ashburton; and Harakeke by Melanie Martin, Tauranga

Outfit of the day

This version of the Megan Nielsen Flint trousers has become a firm favourite. They ventured out for lunch with my beloved to celebrate my second dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. Sorry I didn't make my facemask - I consider it but don't do it.

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid
Megan Nielsen Dotty Stripe Flint trousers; Sewing Workshop Maison top; Style Arc Palermo jacket and United Nude Lucid Molten mid heel boot in colourway Iridescent

We enjoyed a delicious leisurely lunch at the Untouched World Kitchen. I love the Untouched World Kite and its symbolism even if my beloved thinks it looks like the Angel of the North by Antony Gormley which sits beside the A1 at Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

The Maori Kite symbol embodies the Untouched World philosophy, "the emblem of an ideal relationship between people and nature. It is the outcome of an art involving natural materials and human skills; it links the earth to the sky, and symbolises a soaring freedom of the spirit."

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid

I also wore these trousers to the hairdresser. An emergency appointment when I realised it had been three months since my last cut and if I didn't do it then it would be another month before it happened. These OOD pictures are pre-haircut and I am quite grateful that messy natural hair is the new trend. This is a trend I can achieve - long may it last. Actually I don't really believe it will catch on as most hairdressers are fixated on making your hair straight. Luckily Mike at Surreal Hair is a magician he understands curly hair, can cut it to maximise its curl and doesn't spend ages drying it straight. My beloved took a post haircut shot but I'm not entirely convinced you can see the difference (but I can feel it!)

Creates Sew Slow: Dotty Stripe Flint Trousers Venture Out - Christchurch Quilters' Exhibition Vivid

Wednesday 1 September 2021

Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Here we are in New Zealand enjoying national lockdown number 2 - valiantly fighting the delta variant and basking in our "isolated dystopia". Thanks Matthew Lesh for these inspirational words which I think Tourism NZ should use in a future ad. It is always fascinating seeing how New Zealand is portrayed in the world's media. The things that grab their attention. No more so than with this current lockdown. Is New Zealand attracting criticism from the glitterati of public health and communicable disease medicine? Umm no not quite, it is the arm chair critics - the columnists and politicians. It is a bit hard whilst still in the middle of the pandemic to identify which strategy was best in the long term and I have strong feelings about how we collectively in New Zealand handled the last eighteen months. 

Whilst we won't know for a while what impact this current lockdown period had on the economy at the moment unemployment is back down to 4%. In comparison to other OECD countries the percentage change in GDP for the March 2021 quarter was similar to Australia and the United States, way better than Europe and the UK. The world has seen 214 million cases of the virus whilst we have had 3297 with 26 deaths compared to 4.46 million. On the vaccine front it has been slower than many other countries but the percentage of those fully vaccinated is not that far behind the world average (26.2% versus 27%) and very similar to our cousin Australia. The truth is no country is doing well in the vaccination stakes until the world is highly vaccinated and that is quite some way away. Below is a pie chart for each of these statistics as a percentage of the international total for eleven countries plus other (the rest) but some numbers are so small it is difficult to make the country visible in the pie chart!

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

New Zealand also produces its own comedic content at the 1pm stand up hosted by the Government and the Ministry of Health. Public speaking is not easy and we are so quick to mock. A tiny mistake made by the Honourable Chris Hipkins (Minister for COVID-19 Response) achieved world wide notoriety last week. For any who missed it here is a clip kindly put together by The Guardian. For me the more impressive part is Ashley's ability to keep a straight face.

So now I have got that off my chest here is the real purpose of this post a review of the fabulous World of Wearable Art Up Close Exhibition at Te Papa the highlight of my Valentine's weekend away in Wellington.

What is WOW?

The World of Wearable Art was created in 1987 by Dame Suzie Moncrieff a Nelson sculptor. It was a means of promoting a local co-operative art gallery by taking art off the wall and displaying it on the moving body. It has come a long way from the marquee in rural Nelson but it still brings together a combination of art, design and fashion into a theatrical performance. Today the annual World of Wearable Arts competition attracts entries from more than 40 countries with the finalists coming to life on a stage in Wellington. Every year the show is different, a spectacle to rival Cirque du Soleil. Last year the show was cancelled and this year's has just been postponed because with lockdown they won't have everything ready to open on 30 September 2021. So it seems fitting that I take you on a small journey of discovery of the magnificent WOW costumes.

The exhibition

The exhibition closed on the Sunday I finally got to visit and was what drove my desire to stay in Wellington for Valentine's weekend and have my beloved travel up to join me. He enjoyed some people watching whilst I did the guided tour of the exhibition. The guided tour was excellent and really enhanced my experience of the exhibition. We had a thorough tour of the exhibition with the guide and then had time to wander around on our own absorbing the exhibits. Not my first visit to an exhibition of the garments from WOW but definitely one of my best.

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Underling by Gillian Saunders, New Zealand
EVA, hot glue and acrylic paint
2018 Open Section Winner

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

The Supreme Award (and runners up) Winners

Of the award winners I have three favourites two for their simplicity and the third its ingenuity.

Woven In-tent by Kirsten Fletcher is for me a fabulous form and use of colour, which took over eight years to make. Amazing that such inspiration should strike leaving the muddy campground of Glastonbury with all its abandoned tents. These two powerful female guardians of her imagined tent after-life are made from over 500 tents gathered from three music festivals over five years. Her vision came to life thanks to a basket weaving class and she threaded sustainable cane through tubes of her tent fabric before weaving them.

I have seen the Lady of the Wood on many occasions and I am awed by the skill of David Walker, an Alaskan carpenter, to make an eighteenth century ballgown from wood. He starts with sketches which become patterns and then sees how far he can push his materials to create the vision. This piece was the first overseas entry to win the Supreme Award.

Chica Under Glass is one of my favourites for its seeming simplicity. Peter, a boat builder from Motueka near Nelson crafted this dress by hand for more than 300 hours over seven months with not a mould in sight. This was Peter's first entry and he credits WOW with starting his creative career, attracted by the ability to dream up artistic pieces only to please himself.

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Ernst Haeckel's Bride by Nika Danielska, Poland
Wire, paper, glue and paint
Under the Microscope section winner and Supreme Award runner-up 2018

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Horridus by Lynn Christiansen, United States
Copper, silver and gold plating
Open section second and Supreme Award runner-up 2010

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Persephone's Descent by Stuart Johnson, New Zealand
Mild and stainless steel, brass, chain and pewter
Reflective section winner, First-time entrant winner and Supreme Award winner 2002

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Ornitho-Maia by Nadine Jäggi, New Zealand
Leather - wet moulded, embossed, carved, hand dyed; copper foiled and hand sewn; bronze buckles; steel rings
Aotearoa section winner and Supreme Award winner 2008

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Woven In-tent by Kirsten Fletcher, Australia
Reclaimed tents, cane, wire, steel bones
Avant-garde section second, International design award - Australia & Pacific, The Residency Experience award, Supreme Award runner-up 2019

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

The Lady Warrior by Rinaldy Yunardi, Indonesia
Metal, recycled paper
Avant-garde section winner, International design award - Asia, Supreme Award winner 2019

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Lady of the Wood by David Walker, United States
Wood - Mahogany, Lacewood, Maple, Cedar
Avant-garde section winner, Supreme Award winner 2009

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Gothic Habit by Lynn Christiansen, United States
Felt, wood
Open section winner, Supreme Award runner-up 2014

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Chica Under Glass by Peter Wakeman, New Zealand
Fibreglass, plywood
Avant-garde section winner and Supreme Award runner-up 2003


The New Zealand entrants

None of these are particular favourites. You have to applaud the imagination of their makers to create fantastic costumes from many ordinary materials and whilst I can appreciate the effort taken (creative and physical) none of them inspired the awe that draws you in and keeps your gaze for wondrous moments.

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Underling by Gillian Saunders, New Zealand
EVA, hot glue and acrylic paint
2018 Open Section Winner

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Mantilla by Fenella Fenton and Jeff Thomson, New Zealand
Aluminium, printing ink, bolts, nuts
Open section winner 2013

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Firebird by Susan Holmes, New Zealand
Hand dyed stretch nylon, sticks
Fold section finalist, WOW factor award winner 2009

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Axminstress by Kate MacKenzie, New Zealand
Axminster carpet, polystyrene
Avant-garde section second, Sustainability award runner-up 2018

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Inkling by Gillian Saunders, New Zealand
EVA foam, paint
Costume & Film: Creature Carnival section winner 2013

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Templa Mentis by Daniella Sasvári, New Zealand
Silk, polyester, silk scraps
Creative Excellence: Architecture section finalist, Sustainability award winner 2015

The overseas entrants

My absolute favourite of the exhibition was Kaleidoscope by Tess Tavener Hanks. Why I am so attracted to brightly coloured laser cut and engraved pieces of plastic (acrylic) I have no idea but I am. The way the light catches on the various colours reflecting back from the mirrors and the acrylic itself. It had real presence in the large gallery space. Is it a coincidence that I loved twirling the bottom of my kaleidoscope as a child mesmerised by the changing patters?

One that touches the heart is the second piece by David Walker Beast in the Beauty. Once again made from wood but with a much more personal back story this time. This garment was made whilst his wife was undergoing cancer treatment, representing the struggle to maintain dignity and beauty through treatment. There is a mirror on the ceiling above this piece so that you can look up and see the full effect of the radiation symbol skirt. The costume is inlaid with cancer treatment symbolism: the working mechanism of syringe, knife and IV system on the back representing the monkey on the back; the warrior helmet made using smooth blond wood for the hair loss caused by chemotherapy; with the blinders at the side of the eyes to highlight there is only one direction to go; the removal of the breasts replaced by radiation symbols; a small heart inlaid into the chest (his wife's idea) to represent the soul and heart within the warrior's armour; the boots symbolically laced with pink ribbon and a thorn through the sole for the pain endured.

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Escaped Pods by Lynn Christiansen, United States
Felt, fabric
Open section finalist 2019

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Spirit Bone by Guo Ziaotong, China
Plastic
Reflective Surfaces section finalist, Weta Workshop Emerging Designer award winner 2019

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Human Nature by Saar Snoek, Netherlands
Hand dyed wool, cotton, silk, polyester
Aotearoa section winner 2017

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Beast in the Beauty by David Walker, United States
Maple and Padauk wood veneers, aluminium
Open section finalist, International award winner 2012

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Gemini: The Twins by Dawn Mastow & Ben Gould, United States
Latex, rubber, plastic
Avant-garde section third, International Design Award - Americas and overall winner 2019

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Kaleidoscope by Tess Tavener Hanks, Australia
Acrylic, dowel, nylon line, fabric
Creative Excellence: Architecture section finalist, Cirque du Soleil Performance Art Costume award winner, Student innovation award winner 2015

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
236 Maiden Lane, Lynn Christiansen, United States
Felt, wood, metal
Open section finalist, Wearable technology award winner 2018

The White Section

This section had real impact as you first entered the exhibition hall and was a great start to the journey.

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Front to back: Feathers of the Roc by Xu Ran, Donghua University China
Huaxia Totem by Sun Ye, Miao Yuxin & Yuan Jue, Donghua University China
Renascence by Ma Yury & Fang Siyu, Donghua University China
Ernst Haeckel's Bride by Nika Danielska, Poland
The Blomar by Akhilesh Gupta, India

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Renascence by Ma Yury & Fang Siyu, Donghua University China
PC solid sheets
Open section winner 2016

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
The Blomar by Akhilesh Gupta, India
Acrylic sheet, sun board
White section second 2019

The Bizarre Bras

At the end of the exhibition as you left past the gift shop was a selection of Bizarre Bras. The Bizarre Bra section does not feature every year but it is always a favourite part of the live show, seeing these creations dance and prance about the stage.

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition

Clockwise from top left:

  • Prickly Heat by Wendy Moyer from Mexico, a fabric plastic and paint creation from 2010;
  • Epicentre Divas by Claire Third from New Zealand, taxidermy hedgehogs, fabrics and jewels from 2012;
  • Hands Off by Mark Crocker from New Zealand, a bra of kitchen utensils, nuts, bolts and bicycle inner tubes from 1998;
  • Renewal by Alexa Cach, Miodrag Guberinic & Corey Games from United States, a cicadas, crystals, wire, brass, Worbla bra from 2016;
  • aBRAcalypse Now by Wendy Moyer of Mexico a recycled clothes, silicon, gourd and wire bra from 2012;
  • Fried Eggs by Kelsey Roderick & Rhys Richards from New Zealand, using utensils, sponges, fibreglass and rubber from 2016;
  • Venus Fly Trap by Leon Vaz & Noel Braganza of India, a sequin, felt, fabric bra from 2010.

The travel wardrobe

I understand this is supposed to be a sewing blog and I did sew some of my travel wardrobe (only a small part of it) but now I have got to here I have run out of steam so here are a few pictures of the wardrobe because you haven't seen enough pictures in this post.

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Tuesday: Elk Valby navy stripe dress
Thursday: Elk Janeke Maize Plaid top and Peggy Yellow Flint Trousers
Shoes: Navy Trippen sandals

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Friday: Style Arc Palermo navy boucle jacket; V8710 KT Happy Place Bicycles top; Cone Mills Loomstate mustard denim Flint trousers; and navy Trippen sandals
Saturday: Maison blue check linen top; Cone Mills Loomstate mustard denim Flint trousers; and lemon Camper Right Nina Mary Jane flat
Sunday: Elk Janeke Maize Plaid top;  Cone Mills Loomstate mustard denim Flint trousers; and lemon Camper Right Nina Mary Jane flat

Creates Sew Slow: Travelling to WOW Up Close: The Exhibition
Monday: Elk Janeke Maize Plaid dress
Tuesday: WORLD Pink Mustard Black Stripe Positivity Tee and Peggy Yellow Flint Trousers
Wednesday: Elk Collage Print top and Peggy Yellow Flint Trousers
Thursday: WORLD The Break Up Dress
Shoes: Navy Trippen sandals