Gifting...

So much has happened since my last post...  I was the Chairlady for the Siyadala - We Create 2017 SA National Quilt Festival which was hosted by our Guild here in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.   It was a huge success, but due to the volume of work, I just did not have the luxury of being creative.   I sometimes think that I have a split personality - I thrive on being creative, but I also have this other side which needs to be stimulated in a more structured way...  I love it when I take charge, ideas flying and making things happen, but the "rush" can be so exhausting...!   After the Festival, I decided I've experienced enough excitement to last me for the rest of my life and retired from all committees - so lovely not to be glued to the computer anymore...!   I also realized I needed a sabbatical to restore my energy by doing different things at a much slower pace.  I again have time for a walk in the mornings and that sets the pace for the day, peaceful and relaxed.   I've also had lots of time for introspection and realized that my creative work happens in cycles of about 10 years...   After all these years of quilting and dabbling with fibre art, I know that I constantly have to shift my goalposts as I cannot do the same thing all the time - I need variety and for me, exploring is the ultimate fix....!  I have started playing in the studio again (pure joy) as being creative puts me in a different zone...  It must be the release of masses amounts of endorphins...  My own "be happy" therapy!   Hopefully I will have new work to share soon...!

Our May Guild meeting had the theme of "Gifting" and it reminded me of a few small quilts which I made as gifts last year and two others which were gifted to me!  I undertook to make small quilts for the 3 International teachers who taught at the 2017 Festival as we always like to give our teachers a handmade gift.   It was a challenge to choose a colour palette as I did not know the favourite colours of the 3 teachers, Jenny Bowker from Australia as well as Ekramy Hanafy and Hany Mahmoud, two Tentmaker teachers from Cairo, Egypt.

As time was limited, I chose to make them small mandalas as I was teaching Design a Mandala at the festival and it was the logical option for me at that stage.  Choosing a palette for Jenny, was a bit easier as she shared her new kitchen with her Facebook friends (I used her lovely new tiles as colour inspiration).   The 3 quilts below were individually designed and made for them and were all about 50cm x 50cm.    All the motifs were fused down and raw edge applique doubled up as construction and free motion quilting method.  Cords were couched onto certain sections to add texture and definition, my only regret was that I did not have enough time to add more detail...   I mainly used my own brush rags fabrics combined with Bali prints, batiks, silk, commercial printed and plain cottons.

Siyadala #1 for Jenny Bowker

Siyadala # 2 for Ekramy Hanafy

Siyadala # 3 for Hany Mahmoud

We had a wonderful time at the festival with Jenny, Ekramy and Hany and our three international teachers were extremely popular with sold out classes and lectures.   

Ekramy and Hany presented me with a beautiful wall quilt stitched by Hany, how absolutely special and much appreciated.   The participation of the Tentmakers of Cairo in our National Quilt Festival is a memory which I will always treasure and a visit to the Khan Khayamiya – The Market of the Tentmakers in the heart of Old Islamic Cairo is definitely on my wish list!  Hopefully I will be able to twist Willem's arm for a trip up to the north of Africa sometime...!

Ekramy Hanafy, yours truly and Hany Mahmoud with my beautiful gift.  

Photo taken at the Siyadala - We Create 2017 National Quilt Festival at Collegiate Girls' High School, Port Elizabeth.

To top up this lovely gift from Hany and Ekramy, I received a huge surprise at the first Guild meeting after the festival!   After I thanked the festival committee and guild members for all their hard work, support and commitment, I was given a huge parcel!   I had no idea what was in the parcel, but all the faces looking at me from the floor were beaming!  The parcel contained a lovely quilt made especially for me from my very own brush rags fabrics!  I was so gobsmacked and speechless as this was the first quilt ever made for me as a gift!   I was so busy with Siyadala that I did not even pick up any sneaky business going on behind my back!  Guild members were asked to make and donate blocks for this quilt.   So many blocks were handed in that there were enough for both front and back for a reversible quilt!   I believe the quilt was the idea of Angie Franke, the Creative Director of Siyadala.  I felt so blessed as I could feel the love and goodwill from my wonderful quilting friends and co-workers. 

 

Yours truly sitting in front of the beautiful quilt made by members of the Dias Quilters' Guild 

July 2017

JENNY BOWKER:
Congratulations:
The renowned artist added another achievement to her list when she was made an officer in the Order of Australia in Monday’s Queen’s Birthday honours list, which recognises her work on Australia-Middle East cultural relations through the preservation of traditional arts.   

Note:
It was through Jenny that we secured the attendance of Ekramy and Hany at the 2017 Festival!   It was the first appearance of the world renowned Tentmakers of Cairo at a SA National Quilt Festival!    We salute a very special lady and quilting friend!