Around 1996 I was forced by circumstances to move my main arts practice from claywork to fibre arts. I had been making reduction-fired stoneware in a wood-burning kiln with fallen timber and mill offcuts, but working full time as a teacher with three children prompted changes. Thanks to a group of active paper-makers around the Sunshine coast, I discovered an […]
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Sometimes events take place which we wish could have been shared by those who are no longer embodied here with us. My research on the life and work of John Sinclair OA has touched on the family of Moss Cass, Australia’s first Environment Minister. His daughter Deborah, whose life ended all too soon, shared an interest with John Sinclair in […]
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After having an operation to repair two hernias on March 4, I have been taking it easy at home. For the first few days after being released from hospital, I was a bit dopey and sore, but came up with a project I could do without hurting myself – a sewing project. I had received a prompt to enter the […]
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I have had numerous requests lately for the instructions on how to make paper from Bunya. The parts I use are what Auntie Beverly Hand, Kabi Kabi elder and bunya advocate, calls the shuckings. The shuckings are the parts we peel off when we get the kernel out of a bunya cone. Now I’m going to explain that papermaking is […]
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A few anecdotes, some advice and a word we need to know. Myth Number #1: Raw untreated Bunyas are poisonous It was the year 2011. I entered the staffroom early and placed a large Bunya cone smack bang in the middle of the staff room table where all the teachers came to eat their morning teas and lunches. Then I […]
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I am part of a wonderful group of mutually supportive arts under the leadership of Heather Matthew (Art from your Heart). We really help each other overcome feelings of isolation during lockdowns, periods of self-isolation etc, with members from 5 different countries. I was lucky enough to win a free course called Marvellous Maps where Heather guides you through making […]
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Apart from art-making, my other great passion is my organic garden. I trained as a permaculture designer when my daughter was small and I have never lost the love of growing my own food. As the seasons progressed I noticed that at times in the garden there are a lot of stalky prunings and trimmings. When the lemongrass plant dies […]
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Buying a press I took a chance recently and decided that since I have a good supply of my handmade papers it would be interesting to try printing some of my designs onto them. My regular readers know that I like to do things from first principles, such as making my own paper, inks and twine. However in the case […]
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Date: 2pm – 5pm Saturday November 27 2021 Venue: Alluvial Contemporary Art Space 3/39 Monkland Street Gympie Qld 4570 Cost: $55 per participant This workshop will combine creative paper-making with positive self-transformation! In the process of making their Duets installation, “Reclaiming Women’s Voices”, Lesa and Zela spent time comparing notes on the messages they received during their own upbringings, especially […]
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Over recent months, a major project has been taking taking up a lot of space in my studio – the Duets project. This is a local partnership initiative which paired up artists with different practices to see what creative endeavours would unfold. This exciting project has seen me working every week with my Duets buddy and friend, Lesa Bell. Lesa […]
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