Australia 2017: Post 3

On my recent art expedition in Australia,  I started in Melbourne and went to Ballarat - both in Victoria. From there I headed to Lismore in New South Wales for another week long adventure as part of Fibre Arts Australia.

While we flew between events, I don't seem to be able to go to Australia without being packed into a van with many other artists as well.

Three months earlier a huge flood overtook Lismore and the surrounds. 20,000+ people had been evacuated and happily there were no deaths. There was a lot of destruction however and much of the main part of town was still effected. I was thrilled to be part of a group that was bringing people and commerce to the town.

The workshops were held at St. John's College in Woodlawn, just a few minutes outside Lismore. Evidence that we were in Australia was all around.

My workshop, a Library of Memories, was held in the science building.

We had a lot of fun in the lab with all the equipment and specimens.

We even stopped for a visit in the lab shower...

...which is well worth seeing empty too!

We painted, booked, collaged, embossed, drilled, glued, assembled, attached, and more.

Not sure I managed to get pics of every project but the photos below show just how talented this group was.

While I was there I had some time to create myself and seemed to be drawn to small works with a good deal of stitching and fabric bits. It was Fibre Arts Australia after all.

As a group, we all made a modified star book to auction off for a charity -- benefiting a homeless shelter in Lismore.

As wonderful as the art was, it is always the people who made these events special.

Sending a big thank you to Glenys Mann, the brains behind the event, for inviting me to be a part of the crew. 

A bigger thank you for inviting me back next year. My workshop in Ballarat is already full but there are a few spaces left in Woodlawn. Wanna join me mate?

Next up: Off to Sydney for more workshops.

Ray of Light

Happy Monday. 

Question: What better way to start a new week than with a giveaway? 

Answer: Two giveaways

I am excited to be part of the Designer Favorites Blog Hop sponsored by Spellbinders. Six of their product designers, including myself, have gotten together, chosen a favorite, and are taking part in this hop and giveaway. Head to the bottom of this post for all the details.

Ray of Light

For my favorite, I chose Ray of Light - a die set from my January release.

All my die designs are abstract but this one was specifically created to represent the rays of the sun. And with all the challenges that the world faces right now...who couldn't use a little sunshine?

BE

Within

Mystery

-------------------------

The Fine Print

Hop Along

Head to the Spellbinders Blog to get the links to hop from one designer to the next:

Spellbinders

Debi Adams

Sharyn Sowell

Marisa Job

Tammy Tutterow

Stephanie Low

Seth Apter (you are here)

GIVEAWAY ONE

Spellbinder's is hosting Giveaway One and will give away a bundle of all six designer favorites (dies and stamp) to six different winners. To be eligible, you must enter the giveaway here. The contest runs until August 3 until 11:59 MST. Winners will be announced on August 5 and contacted directly by Spellbinders.

GIVEAWAY TWO

I am hosting my own giveaway. One person will win both a piece of art featured in this post and my favorite die. To be eligible, leave a comment to this post and be sure to tell me which piece of art you would like to win - Within or Mystery. As always, internationals welcome! The contest runs until August 3 until 11:59 MST. Winners will be contacted directly by me so please be sure I have your email address.

THANK YOU. THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Congratulations to Tee of The Altered Paper

Australia 2017: Post 2

Continuing my review of my recent trip to Australia, this is post 2 in a series. You can check out my previous post on my playtime in Melbourne here. 

Today's stop is Ballarat in Victoria where I was part of the Fibre Arts Australia crew. The event was held at The Ballarat Grammar School during winter holiday and we took over the classroom buildings, cafeteria and dorms.

It was a very busy week but I did get a chance the first morning to wander outside the school grounds and find some inspiring sites.

Given that it was winter, darkness fell quite early but at least we were lit one night by the full moon.

I spent the week getting lost on the campus and was always happy to find my friend at the door to my workshop building so I knew I had found my way.

I taught a 5-day workshop called A Library of Memories with a group of wonderfully creative and very cheeky students.

I think it is fair to say that it was a very, very fun experience...

...with a lot of art making happening from when the classroom opened at 7am to when it shut at 9pm.

As a group we created a star book that was auctioned off for charity.

The completed projects were phenomenal and I was amazed at the amount of work that was completed during the workshop.

At the end of the event, there was an exhibition of all the student work.

It was exciting to be able to see the work that created in the other workshops as well. #somuchtalent

A huge thank you to the artists who took my workshop. Looking forward to seeing many of you again next July when I return to Ballarat for round 2.

Next up: heading to Lismore in New South Wales to do it all over again.