My dear brother-in-law decided to choose the long weekend in January to take us on a road trip!! We travelled west to Barcaldine and then we were meant to go east to Emerald and pick up some work equipment for my BIL and continue east and south to home. Ahem…. no one counted on the rain that was going to deluge the east coast and throw our plans into disarray. The upshot is we ended up spending an extra 4 nights in Roma while waiting for the creek to go down in Chinchilla which was cutting the main highway to Toowoomba.
We are lucky!! Only our plans were changed – this cyclone Oswald has changed some people’s lives forever. Our hearts go out to all those people who have lost everything. Sadly, there have been some lives lost as well. After the events of 2010/2011, and now this, it is going to be a long way back for some areas of Queensland.
(Historic pubs in Roma)
I was also able to revisit the Ace Drapery shop in Roma (three times). A small purchase was made when the man found the DMC No 8 threads in amongst all the other rubble.
TSorry about the blurry photo. This aisle is now fully blocked with stuff. (Photo taken in 2011) The DMC was in another aisle) The shop has got worse in regards to disorder. The poor man needs help!!
Before I left, I was powering along with a bit of arty stuff and sewing. Since coming back I have been all out of whack, but just so thankful we have all our possessions unlike some people in the north where whole houses were just washed away.
I saw some ‘fabric paper’ on Annet’s Fat Quarter blog which she got from Barbara’s site here, and thought I would try some and show our art quilt group how it was done. Here is my effort.
Yes, there are wrinkles and one broken area, but I like the texture. I used dye na flow fabric paints for the colouring but you could use watered down acrylics. Now it can be cut up to use in projects or embellished further with stamping, stencilling, stitching, or anything your heart desires.
The Toowoomba Quilters are holding an Open Day on Saturday 16 February and they put forward a challenge. It was a table runner using two fabrics which were chosen for you to use, and you could add others of your own.
I had been wanting to make a table runner using some Australian Botanical fabrics I purchased some time back. When I got the compulsory fabrics only one of them looked remotely like blending in. The other one was, well…. ugly.
This is the ugly piece (furnishing fabric) after a little tea dyeing. Then I got stuck into it with a gold shiva stick and paints. It eventually blended in and I used it only in the binding.
This is the end product. The lattice is the other challenge fabric.
Handmade tassels were a requirement of the challenge. Thank you to Shirley who coached me on the tassels. They have a glittering gold hood. I used a red botanical for the backing and labelled it with a piece of the back of the ugly one “Runna Botanica”.
The challenge runners will be on display at open day and a small cash prize will be presented to the one with the most viewer votes.
10 comments:
Hello DI, so glad you made it home safely and your home was safe and sound. Your Challenge Runner with all the Aussie Flower is very pretty indeed. Love it. Your tassel making talents are excellent. I love the photo of the historic Motel in Roma. Very very neat to see it. Have a lovely week!! Hugs Judy
you seem to be having a bad time in Australia with all the floods, fires etc, think things have calmed down now but I feel for all those that have lost their homes either washed away or burnt down. for them things will never be the same.
Your table runner looks great and Shirley taught you well with the tassels.
I would love to have come to the Open Day but will be away. Love your runner and the tassles. I have only been past the fabric store in Roma when it was shut. Glad you fared well through the terrible weather.
The shop in Roma is unreal but I gave the poor man credit for knowing where everything was when I was there and asked him for something.It is a bit like Pandoras Box. Glad you were able to find what you needed when you went there.
The fabric painting looks interesting- I am sure you will come up with a way to use it.
Love your table runner - very resourceful way to use the ugly.
It is good you were safe even if not able to return home for a few days. It has been such a difficult time for so many. What a hoot of a drapery store. Looks like it would have many hidden treasures in it.
Fun to see you made some fabric paper. I'm looking forward to see what you do with it.
I am glad you got back safely but I think the road trip to the drapery store has to be on the agenda some time this year.
You table runner is just wonderful. The colours are great and I love the design with the piping.
You did all the good job with the tassels, Your stitching on the hoods is very neat and even.
Your table runner looks lovely, how creative to be able to use the ugly fabric so that it no longer looks ugly! You surely had a good tutor for your tassels -they look very professional. Sorry you were stuck in Roma because of the floods. Cheers
Hello Di, Glad you are safe home Terrible weather. .Love those old pubs,I have had lunch there.I have the same Australian floral fabrics.The colours are lovely and I made a small wall hanging with mine. It looks really beautiful made into the runner and the binding is perfect.
Catching up at last! Thnak you for sharing your trip with us :-)
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