Looking Back at 2019

Well now looking into The New Year I  have been thinking about the year that it was....
I can honestly say for me that this year I was a great year spending more time with family and friends, and being at home cuddling my grand babes. I had some time moving into my new studio shed and hope to finally get back into some serious sewing in there soon.
This year ticking some long term planned goals and of course the awesome work related opportunities that happened again this year.
As I say in my classes I am a visual learner and mostly visual teacher as well....so here is a snap shot mixed view of some of my year and events...

The Digital Cloth Emagazine...
I am happy to say that Mel and I enjoyed bringing this new venture to life and I could not do it without her awesome creative input, each article has Mel's design stamp on them and I couldn't be more proud how it is all looking.
The idea of an Emag featuring Art Textiles/Creators and also sharing other art mediums has been on my mind for awhile, as I wrote in my intro letter in the first Emag the idea behind it... Everyday I am inspired by what is around me, every time I walk into a classroom to teach or an event I am inspired by those around me, watching people champion their own styles and art practices is so exciting and if we can help facilitate and share some of their stories through this magazine to pay forward all the opportunities this industry has given me.
Helping the textile, fabric, quilting, art, creators, creative lifestyle, sewing and teaching industries to do well is our aim, So creating this Emagazine is my way of being able to share and champion this industry as best I can.
  The Digital Cloth was launched in June this year and we now have 3 Issues in the website shop filled with stories about wonderful creative artists, there is free textile art workshops to download with your purchase and much much more...
The Holiday Issue is now out as a free gift to everyone. We are working on the next issue of The Digital Cloth out in January 2020. Filled with awesome stories and images about textile artists, quilters and mixed media artisans and their creations.
Check out the website shop page for these issues...and don't forget about the free Holiday Issue yours as a gift free to download today and share as well!

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The Digital Cloth shop

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Houston Quilt Festival
I was so happy to finally tick this off my bucket list and attend the 2019 quilt Festival in Houston it was the 45th Festival year and it was great fun....everyone told me it was huge! well I agree it was a massive quilt show on steroids covering football field size venues...a sight to be seen for sure. I went with friends Mandy Gowers, Susan de Vanny and Susan Auden Wood and we had a ball, setting up house for 10 days in a great Air bnb close to the town centre, the Houston Festival was held in the George Brown Centre Conference Centre....I actually went to do some interviews for the Digital Cloth Emagazine but lost my voice on the second day! a combo of travel and laughter hanging out with these crazy girls....never mind I had a few quiet days and gathered information, then had some meetings for future articles to come.
I also caught up with the awesome talent Sandra Mollon about her trip to Australia in March and then Andrea Brokenshire and Lorraine Turner as these wonderful ladies will be teaching at the 2020 Uluru Retreat they are very excited to be traveling to Australia for the first time. Andrea will also be in Perth with Michelle Pearson at Handcrafters House and Lorraine will also be in Mildura with Mandy at Lesley Mays Quilt Shop. It is so great to have these 2 awesome artists/teachers coming here next year...There are still spots left in their workshops so be quick...https://www.textileretreats.com.au/retreats.html
   Mandy and I also had exciting talks with Paula Nadelstern and Claudia Pfeil to come in 2021 to teach workshops for us both in Mildura and Urunga so stay tuned get on the data base for information when its ready to go.
While at Houston Festival we did a fun 1 day workshop with Judy Coates Perez and it was a great day...Judy will be in Australia next year teaching, If you can catch up with her for a workshop Judy is a wonderful tutor...and I hope to bring her to Urunga in the future as well.
Connecting with Aussie Textile Artist Denise Burkitt in Houston and seeing her new designer fabric range with the "Free Spirit" fabric company was a highlights and I have booked Denise to teach in May 2021at The Urunga Coastal Retreat with Susan de Vanny....now that's exciting news!

 Uluru Retreat 2020
The Uluru Sewing Up a Storm in the Desert is shaping up to be another awesome experience...with 3 days of classes in the main event and 2 extra days workshops as a special ending to the week.....its going to be fabulous and you can see all the images and information on tutors and the program we have planned on the Retreat page of the website...

Uluru Retreat

 My 2020 Workshops
My teaching schedule is now updated and will be the place to find out whats happening with me this year....Thank you for everyone that supports my workshops I love teaching and appreciate all the hosts that invite me to come teach in their shops or events....It is very exciting to be able to come to class with so many of you and connect annually also meeting new people to create with...how truly blessed I feel!

Workshop schedule