The January guest speaker was Elody Bilanycz from the International School of Colour and Design.

Elody told us about the International School of Colour and Design, North Sydney which has been in existence for 25 years. They release sets of trends or themes in colour and design and also run courses for designers, artists, decorators and colourists. We were shown a presentation of design trends.

Eco Village: In Europe a lot of people are moving back to living off the land. There is a renewed interest in tribalism, earth art and community living. Globally this movement is gaining momentum from people making their own homes, growing their own food and being self sufficient to tree house kitset holiday homes in Germany and the resurgence of earth art. Art work created from nature using stones, leaves etc.

Eco Tech: This theme focuses on taking ideas from nature and using technology to recreate it. Man-made tiles can be made to look as though they have grain like timber. Water tanks can look like garden decorations. Laminates can be printed with pictures of grass, trees etc.

Mosaic: Cultural crossover. Taking different styles and eras and mixing them in a way that works for us. In Sydney we have slick Moroccan restaurants that are decorated with antique Moroccan lanterns and fabrics mixed with contemporary Australian style.

Vintage Value: Looking back and finding the intrinsic value in things. Objects with soul and a history are cherished. Finishes are hand stitched, aged by time. Nostalgic decorating styles are being revitalised using new technology. Many people buy vintage clothes and wear them. A happy and optimistic colour palette accompanies this theme.

Extreme: On the edge, abstract, geometric. Extreme is all about excess and pushing the boundaries. Examples of extreme can be found throughout India, the middle east and Russia where resorts, restaurants and retail concept stores are trying to outdo each other by pushing design boundaries.

Kid's voice: Fantasy land, interesting and colourful designs for childrens' hospitals, hotels focussing on special rooms for children.

We each received a questionnaire to complete and will learn later our personal style.

Posted by Prue Hill at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cream 200g margarine and 100g sugar until light and fluffy.

Add 100g macadamia nut meal (almonds can be used), 1 tablespoon lemon myrtle - dried and ground, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 225g flour.

Form little balls (teaspoon sized) and press them flat with a fork.

Bake at 200°C until light brown, approximately 12 minutes.

Posted by Prue Hill at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As I do each January, I made my way from Coramba to Sydney for the Guild's annual Summer School.

This year choosing my courses was even more difficult than usual. There were so many great workshops to choose from but some were on at the same time as others. After some deliberation I made my choices. I selected four workshops. A day travelling in each direction - I was having a ten day fibre holiday.

The weather was hot but the air-conditioned comfort of the facilities made it bearable. The first workshop I took was Pat Surace's Advanced Nuno Felting. What beautiful garments she had made. We all worked on our own different projects. After three days there was enough for a fashion parade. Most participants fashioned two garments. One lady made several pieces - I don't think she knows about "sleep." I was the slowest achiever only finishing one garment, but I was ecstatic with that piece. I now have a new direction in which to head with my own nuno felting. Pat has opened my eyes to new ways to look at felting.

My next workshop was with Helen Beale in Basketry. Helen lives only about 95km from my home and we often see each other but I was not going to miss a chance to be in one of her workshops. All who attended finished at least one major basket and some completed another smaller one. For many it was the first time they had used natural fibres (dried plant materials) and many had never used cane. Everyone enjoyed the process and the freedom of this art form. I chose to make a freeform fruit bowl and was so happy with the end product I don't want any fruit to cover it up!

I had chosen to do the Cotton Spinning next. I did that workshop a few years back with Barbara Schey. Seeing it offered again I was a definite starter. When I first attended I was a beginner spinner. With the knowledge and skills I now have (thanks to the Guild) it would interested to see how well I managed this time. Unfortunately this class was cancelled. I do hope that things are going as well as they can for Barbara and her family.

Helen (baskets) and I spent a day in the city - art gallery, Hyde Park, cathedrals, protest rally, lunch etc. Exploring Sydney is great for us country members.

My final workshop was with Jenny Dunn (of course Phillip was there helping out too) studying Natural Dyeing. I travelled down with a car load of chopped down vegetation and returned with a most wonderful sample book and skeins in the beautiful shades of nature. I have not looked at left over fruit and veg in the same way since. The cherries I bought at Kew on the way home ended up in the dye pot that weekend - glorious! They dyed better than they tasted. A number of us shared lemon myrtle tea while we waited for the dye pots to do their thing. We talked about lemon myrtle as a food, eg the biscuits (recipe below. They look really stunning, as well as tasting great, if you use a biscuit forcer.)

I would like to thank all my tutors, the committee, Fliss Coles and the daily helpers for all their efforts. Summer School is a marvellous learning experience. It is also a wonderful social event. I have made many friends over the years there and look forward to catching up with them each January.

Barbara Roberts
Grafton Fibre Group

Posted by Prue Hill at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)