Starting from scratch - a rare privilege

Priority #1 - Create

The new indoor studio and office is under construction. The whole build has been in the pipeline for 2+ years with delays due to everything from pandemics, to supply, to just because good things often take time. The beauty and curse of planning the new studio from scratch - I can take all the credit for the design, and it's only on me if something isn't right!

Recessed, sliding doors will open to reveal and 5m x 5m space divided by look-through Kalax shelving into two distinct areas. The practical creative space - for sewing, stitching, piecing, quilting and all things Bernina will take up about 60% of the floor space, while the office component will be used for ongoing paid employment, study and creative pursuits of the digital kind.

Along the north facing wall (sheeted) I'm planning shelving with enclosed containers for my textiles and art plus a couple of lounge chairs to relax, read and be still.

Steve Parcell Builders included a gorgeous recess / alcove in front of the east-facing window. It will be filled with greenery - a special area for inspired, quiet reflection.

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A river infuses it

Priority #1: Create My CBD office sits on the edge of this mighty, murky waterway - the Brisbane River. Over the next six months I'll be working on an exhibition piece as part of the Broadstrokes artists group. Starting with the obvious, I'm making preliminary sketches to determine the substrate form. I need to consider how it will perform under the visual intent of the piece. That is, " substrate " can be used to convey those things which " underly " or " sit beneath " the primary image. Infused by a river. I need to consider the political, social, economic, ethical or moral connections. I'll also explore which materials are best suited for that purpose.

Upcycled art quilts

Priority #1 Create: Making zippered bags from some of my art quilts is getting them out of storage and transformed into something useful. I'm using a technique from Design Matters TV whose re-imagined purse pattern is a delight to make. Every time. Each bag is lined with hand dyed and printed fabric. I'm enjoying saying "goodbye" and "thanks for your service" as I cut into quilts that, at the time, consumed every creative moment of my life. I'm enjoying the wooo hooo that accompanies the letting go. It's good for my (creative) soul.

It's all in the background - designing substrate

Scaling up an image of the Brisbane River to develop the substrate for a new art quilt. Each square needs to be 6cm x 6cm to make a finished size of 5 cm square. I created a "to scale" model of the finished quilt on drafting paper. I printed an image of the river (attribution below) and then scaled it up to get a fairly accurate flow across the quilt. The substrate rightly tells the background story. It is the foundation on which the main elements or features reside. So it isn't the "hero" of the piece - it needs to be recognised and visible without overwhelming the piece. I can now easily identify which squares hold a section of the river and start to experiment on piecing, applique, fusing, printing, and painting to learn which gives the best outcome for the substrate. (Brisbane River original image: Magpie Shooter; edited version Paulguard at en.wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/indix.php?curid=9724127) My foundation piece might well end up bei

Ali George Artist

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