LOOKING BACK ON 2012

It’s been another busy, busy year…

Studio Classes, The FELTernative Exhibition, Victorian Feltmakers Incorporated (VFI), Meetings and Workshops, Weddings, catching-up with family and friends, from here and overseas, spending time with the grand-children, and…so much more.

We said goodbye to Peg and Kathy (from our Studio Family) at the start of the year. We are often reminded of their generosity of spirit, their positive outlook, and their determination to live Life to the fullest. I know many have experienced loss of family and friends in the past year.

Our Studio Family is such an enriching part of my life, and, I want to I say a huge ‘Thank you’ to you all. I am grateful to know and be part of such wonderful groups . I continue to be inspired by them and the people around me.

Highlight! The FELTERNATIVE 2012 EXHIBITION a huge success! As Sarah Louise Ricketts reported in the VFI’s FELTLINES Magazine ‘Each outing of the VFI, as an exhibiting community, has met with high praise and often amazement at the variety of techniques possible in our humble, old medium.' The venue, CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL Gallery in Prahran, Victoria, was a wonderful showcase for a diverse array of Felted items. Jan Everett and I have been at the forefront of the VFI Exhibitions for the past three years, and we have now passed the reins onto other members. At a personal level, being involved was hugely satisfying, the rewards, intrinsic, and invaluable.

Highlight! What a thrill! FELTLINES Winter 2012, the VFI magazine , carried an article ‘Rita Caspersz Creates…’. I was so overcome when I saw the image of my work on the cover, I had to pass it over to my husband, Tony, to digest it . The images came from Brittany Chard, who came for Studio sessions as a Student and now has her own ‘Brittany Chard Photography’ business.

Highlight! Awe-inspiring! Lithuanian artist, VILTE KAZLAUSKASTE, held a week of workshops for VFI. I was lucky to score a one-day workshop with Vilte which was totally awe-inspiring. Her philosophy of being one with the medium from the dream to the finished product, resonated completely with me.

Highlight! In October just passed I tutored for the VFI taking a full-day workshop for a ‘Versatile Tunic’ that was embellished with felt. Eight Fabulous Felters created some gorgeous works of Wearable Art which they tell me receives complements at each outing. Demand for more of the same will see a repeat of the workshop in June 2013.

In Term One 2013 Fundraiser Workshops (raising funds for a Cancer Hospital in Sri Lanka) are planned.  Participants, select their kits, and  make nine eighteen-inch blocks in the day. A day of food, fun and fabulous music, and for some a quilt-top to take away. Cost $60- a bargain! A truly worthwhile cause.

X'MAS PARTY 2012

What a joyous time that was. Even I have to say that the food was delicious. Made with my own hands, and, with so much love for my Lovely Ladies.

                   PRESS HERE for IMAGES of the EVENT

As usual the ‘SHOW ‘N TELL’ segment was a highlight. It’s a wonderful occasion for the Lovely Ladies to see what has been covered in the other Sessions. And, as usual, much of what has been completed during the year has already been gifted. Different colour schemes were the feature that stood out for many in the group.A pale blue and tan log cabin was discussed at length and my Grand-daughter, placed a firm request for a lime-green and watermelon Quilt. The Art Quilts, one with American Indian motifs, and the other the ‘Fisherman’s Dream’ quilt gave many another perspective of what could be attempted. We are happy to muddle through any idea, big or small, in the Studio!

LOOKING BACK on The Year 2011

Such a busy year - Packed full of happy times with family and friends, Studio Classes with Lovely Ladies, oh-so-creative Felt Workshops at Victorian Feltmakers with fabulous Tutors from Australia. and around the world.

FELTernative, the VFI (Victorian Feltmakers Inc) Exhibition at the Town Hall Gallery, Hawthorn, Victoria, which Jan Everett and I organized, was a wonderful celebration of Felt in its many forms.

The year 2011 also held sad moments of reflection, memories and tribute for family elders and friends that have passed away…

In the Studio it was a year of Quilts! Quilts! Quilts! One-day-Workshops produced completed Quilt-tops by the dozens. Have such good intentions of recording/photographing the Quilts as they are completed…only remember at inappropriate times.

The Quilts all look different. It’s amazing to think that they only took A DAY to finish. Ladies are warned that ‘Workshops’ are quite different to ‘Studio Sessions’ – it’s ‘heads down and bums up’. We’re on a mission! We have goals! We can do it!!! Only joking! But you can see where we’re heading…!

The Felting creative juices were flowing in 2011. I attended five Felting Workshops organized by the tireless VFI Workshop Co-ordinator, Narelle Higgins.

- ‘TRANSLATING IMAGES’- with Liz CLAY, from Britain. We used photographs with Felt  in   miniature works of art. Loved it!

- ‘IN PURSUIT OF COMPLEX CLOTH – PRINTING APPROACHES’ with Marie-Therese WISNIOWSKI. Introduced me to painting and printing on Felt to create fabulous effects with immense possibilities.

- ‘FELTED JEWELLERY – LITTLE WEARABLE SCULPTURES’ with Anita LARKIN. Exposed me to Felting in another dimension - constructing 3D pieces of Felt reflecting the natural environment.

- ‘RECYCLE KNIT AND RE-INVENT FELT’ with Martien Van ZUILLEN. Appealed, with the aspect of sustainability and re-using, in our throw-away world. Used part of my Handiwork to embellish a tunic which attracts many comments and which will feature as a May-2012 workshop

- ‘NEEDLE FELTED STAINED GLASS’ with Sadie O’NEILL. First attempt at Needle-Felting in a pure decorative form.

FELTernative 2011 was a huge success, with over thirty VFI members contributing exhibits. Broke a record for attendance on the Market Sunday. The diligence with which the members running the Felt-Stall promoted the exhibition, certainly worked. The 2012 Exhibition at CHAPEL-OFF-CHAPEL should be as exciting.

X'MAS PARTY ~ 2011

 



A wonderful gathering of almost all of our Lovely Ladies. Food was yummy, even though the Celebration Chocolate Mousse Cake refused to cut neatly.

SHOW AND TELL is keenly anticipated. And everyone is generous with their praise and positive comments. Truly awesome to see what the Lovely Ladies have accomplished even through what is shown is only a small fraction of what has been completed during the year; many having already been gifted onto friends and family. The Ladies rarely get to see what’s being worked on outside their session and, therefore SHOW AND TELL can be quite inspirational. It’s also a great opportunity to learn from the techniques, choices and solutions employed in the different projects.


Looking forward to next year with Four full sessions, and a waiting list for vacancies. And, of course more QUILT-TOP-IN-A-DAY, One-Day-Workshops!
                  
                 PRESS HERE TO ENJOY IMAGES

X'MAS PARTY of 2010

What a  Fabulous year of Friendships, and Creative Works this has been. And to  end with a sumptous Lunch,  and,  a 'Show and Tell' that drew breaths of admiration. 

I am thrilled to be in the company of such inspired and motivated folks. Looking forward to see what 2011 brings.

Hope you enjoy the Images.

                   PRESS HERE for IMAGES of the EVENT

INSIGHT VACATIONS Tour, and other meanderings

WHERE DO I BEGIN…VIENNA !!! Pastries, Trams, Hotel SACHER Wein,  The Naschmarket, Albertina, Schonbrunn Palace, the City Center…ahh!

Onto ZAGREB(Croatia). Exuberant soccer-fans, the Funicular. KUMROVEC (living village of Marshall Tito’s birthplace), lunch in the Hills. Next PLITVICE. Breathtaking…mammoth National Park of pristine rushing waters and 13kms (!) of boardwalks. Boat-ride, and Rain!

BIO-GRAD surprises us with a crispy new Hotel by the Sea. A  Full Moon! We walk along the foreshore and we’re young romantics again.

SPLIT,  Elegant, studded with swish cafes and with a port for the well-heeled. DIOCLEATION’S PALACE – I am apprehended(!) by 2 Roman Guards. Next am, DUBROVNIK, the gorgeous city with stunning ramparts. Has survived bombardment in the Croation conflict. Returning from a sunset cruise on the Adriatic we see a  city  ablaze with light Our Tour Director, TERRY MORGAN’S commentaries  keep us enthralled-

Moving to TIRANA (Albania), a country closely associated with Mother Theresa, and, the dictator  HOXHA who left concrete bunkers everywhere. Sadly,still some years away from full recovery. Crossed into OHRID (Macedonia). Tony recites ‘BUCEPHALUS’ (“Philip of Macdeon, longed four score, A thoroughbred horse to ride to war…”) at the Lake’s edge.

Finally, find 2 days rest in SOFIA (Bulagria).  See St Sophia’s and the  well-preserved eye-catching RILA Monastery with its beautiful bright murals.

Cross into TURKEY. The border bristles with Officialdom and long-haul vehicles by the hundreds. Soon ISTANBUL, the giddy one, opens her arms to us. At night we take a ‘pants-wetting’ Taxi Ride –reached 120kmh/72mph for a fact! - to TAKSIM Square. By day we are agog at AYA SOFYA, TOPKAPI Palace and the BLUE MOSQUE. Later, a spectacular dinner in a 'Fairyland' alive with pure street magic; Folks here are sooo special! Soon,  hugs and farewells end our INSIGHT segment.

Tony and I book into The BYZANTIUM HOTEL & Suites in Sultanahmet…perfect location. At the break of dawn we take-off for GALLIPOLI/Gelibolu – heart-wrenching, remembering the fallen young of that campaign in WW1. Back by mid-night! Next am, we trudge along Kennedy Cad, taste most delicacies alongside The GALATA BRIDGE, sail down The BOSPHOROUS, catch sight of a Lady (on the boat) surprise her Beau with an engagement ring - now that's class!  Get sucked into the GRAND BAZAAR and SPICE MARKET, and feel homesick at the shout of “Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi!” from an occasional young man…and, THIS DID OCCUR!
                           
                PRESS HERE for IMAGES of our TRAVELS