SKINT! opens at Museum of Sydney

We are pleased with the display of four of our works at the Museum of Sydney.  The hessian used as backgound is a stunning idea and looks great. 

Visitors admire our works!

Robin is interviewd by her niece, Dominique on video as Diana looks on.

The introduction for our works.

Museum of Sydney will Show Four WRAP Works in its SKINT! exhibition.

All is not over yet!  We were delighted to be told that the Museum of Sydney will show four of our works in its upcoming exhibition: Skint! Making do the the Great Depression. 27 March to 27 July, 2010. Address: corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney, NSW 2000.

Talk at TAG, Embroiderers' Guild Victoria,

We are slowly winding down, but all is not quite over yet, we will give possibly our last talk at
Textile Art @ the Guild (TAG) monthly meeting , The Embroiderers' Guild, Victoria , Monday 9 November 7:30 pm, Embroidery House, 170 Wattletree Road, Malvern, 3144 (Tram 5, Stop 46). Meeting Entry $5

                                        

Robin and Annette decide to go to Melbourne via Mount Hotham.  Robin is sorry that she gave away her pewter velvet skirt as it would be perfect to interpret these folds and folds of mountains.

Then it was off to the Silt Jetty, Paynesville.

 After temperatures in single digits at Hotham we arrived in Melbourne to a heat wave. On the night we gave our talk we sweltered as we window shopped on Glenferrie Road to fill in the time before the evening session at Guild headquarters,Wattletree Road Malvern.  Of course before that we stopped off at Patrchwork on Central Park. 

Later that week we vistied Cook's Cottage (The Captain's father). Can this be a hint to the future of the group?  

Beautiful Silks is not that far away so after a quick lunch we stepped inside the doors and did not emerge till much much later.

http://www.beautifulsilks.com/

Home via fields and fields of golden grain - we are so glad we took the back way from Sheperton to Wangaratta.  We managed this without Tom Tom who is not that good with country lanes.  In Sheperton we went to see a textile exhibiton but it had closed early.  Perhaps it's us? Art Gallery NSW also closed its Silk Ikats exhibiton early - hope it's not a trend.

WRAP's last exhibition at Dungog CWA Rooms

On the weekend of 12 and 13 September the WRAP Unwrapped exhibiton had it last showing at the CWA rooms in Dungog. Prue, Diana, Robin and Annette went to see the exhibition and the Quiltarama exhibiton at the RSL. We all had a great day and a delicious lunch. The CWA ladies did a beautiful job displaying the exhibition and the pumkin scones with cream and jam were ... well you needed to be there.

In the centre of the photo you can see the quilt CWA member, Lois Sanders, created from recycled denim.

WRAP stays at Cheyenne Wilderness Retreat, Walcha

Robin and Annette stayed at the Cheyenne Wilderness Retreat which turned out to be a little further to Dungog than if they had driven from Sydney!  However they loved their stay in the cottage and their host, Burgh Bromfield, looked after them very well.  They got to feed the wallabies in the evening, learned to open the electric gate and coped well enough with the Angus that didn't alway want to be disturbed.

WRAP closes at Parliament House NSW

We were very pleased with the numbers that attended the Parliament House NSW exhibion. If we didn't exactly fill the 100 seat auditorium twice we did manage an enthausiastic and interested audience.




It's hard to believe but after more than two years from conception our exhibition is winding to a close. There are only one more exhibition in Dungog and one talk at the Embroiderers' Guild Victoria.

On Friday July 31 Robin and Annette took down the works, packed them and handed them over to Mary and her husband, Tony who took them to Dungog for the last exhibition.

Exhibition and free talks at NSW Parliament House Sydney

WRAP's current exhibition is now on at NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney. Monday to Friday only. 9:30am to 4:00pm. Ends on Thursday 30/7/2009.
At 11am on 17/7 and 24/7 there will be a free, one hour, illustrated talk and discussion in the Parliamentary Theatrette. This will be about the history of the wagga, the background to the exhibition and the stories collected along the way.

Opening at NSW Parliament House 7 July 2009

WRAP member Prue Hill was our MC for the opening at NSW Parliament House.

The Hon Peter Primrose MLC opened the exhibition with a great speech.

WRAP member, Catherine McClellan, tells the story of the Crow at the opening. This is the story she wrote after leading WRAP members in a story writing workshop.

Later we adjourned to the Jubilee Room for afternoon tea. This room is the former reading room for Parliament House and has a very striking ambiance.

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Setting up the Exhibition at NSW Parliament House

Mary and her husband, Tony deliver the works to Parliament House. The day has finally arrived we all have our visitor passes to go down to the dock to pick up the works. But Mary and Tony find us having coffee and take them up to the exhibition space.





Gina Sirabella, our curator, is undaunted by a blank space.











Starting to take shape










Are three opinions better than one?







Maybe here?













Nearly there

Textile Artists who are inspired by the wagga

Quilting and Collecting: Hommage to the Wagga Cynthia Harvey Baker, Katanning, Western Australia
Cynthia Harvey Baker contacted us to tell us about her exhibition in Western Australian that also takes it's inspiration from the wagga. She tells us that her exhibition will be on from July 4 - 16. This exhibition includes 9 old waggas she has collected and are the inspiration for her works. It looks like a terrific display and a couple of us were tempted to go but its on at the same time as ours and we are otherwise occupied...

CWA Cotton Australia Environmental Awards 2008 winner Lynette Trupp
During our talk at Parliament House we met Lynette Trupp who won the 2008 CWA award from 33 entrants. She also gained a highly commended for another work.  A great quilt made from suitably worn soft checked shirts.  A most deserving winner. 

Creative Embroidery and Cross Stitch Magazine

This month our article in Creative Embroidery and Cross Stitch magazine hits the streets.

Read all about us.

Once again Gina's images illustrate WRAP's magazine article.

Exhibition Opening and Afternoon Tea at NSW Parliament House

The official opening of the WRAP Unwrapped Exhibition will be on July 7 at 2 pm. You are also welcome to come to the afternoon tea in the Jubilee Room - contact Prue Hill on her email address on the invitation, above, to arrange payment for the afternoon tea, payment to be received by 1 July.

See the post below for details about the free talks that are on July 17 and 24 at 11 am.

WRAP Gives Talk at Quilters' Guild NSW

On Friday, 29 May, Robin and Annette gave the WRAP powerpoint talk at the Friday Showcase of The Quilters' Guild, NSW. We appreciated the interest and interaction of the audience and we sold a couple of catalogs!

Heather Davies went home and created the quilt at the left. Robin caught up with her at the Darling Harbour Craft and Quilt show and took this photo.

We showed the preliminary works and they have been on display all month at the Guild's rooms in the city.

Down Under Quilts - June 2009

WRAP was very pleased to make a submission to Down Under Quilts and were even more pleased to see the four page spread with the beautiful images taken by WRAP member, Gina Sirabella. As a bonus and suprise we are mentioned on the cover! This magazine is now in stores.

Stories Stories Stories we love to hear them all.

Kate Farrow from the UK saw our blog and wrote to tell us about the wagga her friend from Australia had just made for her.

Nessie Pratten from the Glass House Mountains, Qld, saw an article in Textile Fibre Forum and wrote to tell us about the waggas she is still making.

Late last year we exhibited our preliminary works at St Vincent’s Art Corridor and this email arrived from Valray Silverlock, Perth, … she wrote: for the second time in my life I’m feeling sorry that I did not keep my mother’s quilts that had been made of “off cuts of serge”. Her son had rung her in Perth after seeing the quilts and the stories.

The next letters and emails were a result of the article in The Senior Publication: Peter McAlingy wrote to us from Forbes and it was from him that we first learned about the term bag wagga. He tells of joining bags together in the bush with fencing wire as that was all they had.

We also had a card from Daphne Turner of Rosebud, Victoria, who also wrote of the bag wagga (opened out oat bags sewn together) in the days of horse and dray.

Dorothy Holten, Parkdale, Vic, told us of a a wagga her husband’s grand mother had made of silk knitted men’s ties – it was very heavy, like sleeping under a cement block. We were thrilled to receive this letter because Robin had been to the Quilter’s Barn at Loch and was shown their collection of old quilts which coincidentally now includes the wagga Dorothy wrote to us about.

Eileen Raphael, Parkdale Victoria, emails of a wagga for the beach house made from overcoats and scraps of dresses.

Sally Donnellan ex Ganmane (near Temora) told us that her mother made a wagga from sample material for men’s suits or trousers and it is still in her possession.

Keith Brown’s Father, a tailor in the Riverina, made waggas from suiting. He says: recycling is not new.

Christine Blankenzee, did not know of the term wagga till she read about us and she is still making them.

Rosemary Horner sent us a photo of her wagga made from potato sacks. I remember standing in front of this work at the Darling Harbour show and being enthralled by it.

Bruce Creenaune from Wollongong wrote to tell us that before he went to work in shearing sheds throughout Central and North West NSW his mother “sewed together,,, a mixture of heavy outer garments cut up, curtains etc and lo and behold (he) had a true blue wagga”.

Studio visit to Anne Neal

When we were in Gilgandra, Tanya arranged a Studio visit with nearby Mendooran, Fibre Artist, Anne Neal. Anne uses fur fabric in many of her work and she was very generous with her time showing us many of her delightful pieces. She has had an emblellishing (dry felting) machine since almost the very moment they were released in Australia. She is very creative with her use of this machine. Visit her website:

http://www.australiana-applique.com/

Official Opening at Gilgandra 20/2/09

The official opening of the Unwrapped exhibition on Friday 20/2/09 at the Coo-ee Heritage Centre, Gilgandra was well attended. Annette gave the presentation with Robin's help at the laptop. Tanya Coxsedge and Libby Kermond-Carr and their volunteers did a magnificent job of hanging the exhibition. Christene and Diana were also at the opening.

It was very pleasing to see the waggas (shown below) that been offered by various community members. The stories behind them made great reading.

WRAP stays at Wiber Farm, Old Gular Station.

Christene, Robin and Annette stayed in the manager's house, Wilber Farm, Gulargambone (Gular) 2828. This farm ajoins Old Gular Station where hosts Sandra and Rodney Kelly live. This large house meant we had a room each, with Christene voted to have the South Wing as we jokingly called it because of the walk in wardrobe, dressing room and large bath room complete with sunken spa bath.

Robin and Annette shared the main bath room and toilet complete with visiting frogs which Christene, Annette and sometimes Rodney took turns evicting.

We learned a few things about farm life. Apparantly it's not a good idea to leave a door open at night, especially when crickets are on the hop. Luckily Christene knew how to feed the chickens, a rooster and a turkey whose numbers had been decimated in the 45 degree heat of the previous week. We were greatful to have manageable rain but kept an eye out for the water at the front gate. Because we stayed for a week the accomodation came with a country size leg of lamb and we also got to eat the eggs we collected.


On Wednesday we decided to go to Lightening Ridge (the Ridge). Along the way we met this drover who had been droving 800 head of cattle for the last 18 months taking advantage of better feed on the stock route. As there hadn't been any rain in Moree he doubted he could take them home.

His two dogs were good at tending the cattle and you can see the brown one, who always has a bottle or stick in his mouth when not working.

Exhibition closes in Temora, Opens soon in Gilgandra

The Wrap Unwrapped exhibition finished on the 9th of January 2009 after a long stay at Temora. From all accounts, the exhibition was enjoyed by all who saw it, and some visitors travelling quite a few country miless to see it.

Our thanks to Bill, Gay and all the other volunteers who helped with the exhibition.

The quilts are now off to Gilgandra, Opening on the 5th February through till the 26th February 2009. Annette will give the new presentation on Friday 20th February, The exhibition is now creating its own story and is collecting some interesting tales.

The city women have enjoyed giving the talk that accompanies the exhibition as it travelled around NSW. We also touch on where the wagga fit’s in the world of “make do quilts” maybe this is timely given the current climate, both economical and recycling awareness. And a few touch samples.

Christene and Robin will also be at Gilgandra to support Annette and to talk about all the quilts, the making, their journey and as usual, we would love to see any wagga’s (or the Bush quilt, or any of the other names they are known by). We’re always delighted to hear any stories; it’s just wonderful to see the person’s eyes, sparkle with memory.

Tanya is conducting a one day workshop on the 21st of February, on using recycling materials, to create a useful item. No sewing skills needed says Tanya. Contact the Coo-ee Heritage & visitors Informations centre Gilgandra. Phone: 6817 8700

Annette, Christene and Robin will spend about a week prior to the talkin the Gilgandra/Coonabarabran area soaking up more country air, discovering more wonderful things about this region of NSW. Plus taking a few pictures; marvellous these digital cameras! Robin’s father spent some time at Coonabarabran as a child.

We do hope you can catch up with some of you in Gilgandra.

Article in The Senior (NSW) January 2009

We knew the wagga rug generated memories and this is continued to be illustrated by the response we've received from the article in The Senior. A couple of country regions have expressed interest in taking the exhibition.

We are truly amazed at the interest this iconic quilt has generated.

Textile Fibre Forum Article

Textile Fibre Forum has just published a two page article that was written by WRAP with Gina Sirabella's great images. We are delighted to be accepted for print in this prestigious textile magazine. This was an interesting project to be involved with and a very novel experience for some of us.

5 days and 200 kilometers around TemoraIn Matong - sheafs of wheat in stooks.


In Ganmain showground - a haystack right out of a Monet painting. Unfortunately it was an overcast day so we couldn't photograph this one in shadow.

Flying day in Temora - another first for us

We stayed at Country Carriage B&B on Hazeldean, 22 k out of Temora near Ariah Park. This was definitely the best place we've stayed at. Rita, our host looked after us very well and we throughly enjoyed our roast dinner on Saturday night.

Gina, Robin and Annette with farm machinery.

Temora official opening, Saturday, 15 November 2008

The Mayor of Temora, Peter Spiers, opened the WRAP Unwrapped exhibition.

Gina gave an interesting talk on the background to the wagga rug prior to the Mayor's entertaining speech. Annette and Robin also attended the opening.

We were delighted with the numbers that attended the opening and thank Bill Spiers, shown here with the mayor, for all his hard work promoting the exhibition. Posters were everywhere, the Temora Independant had a front page article and the Wagga Daily Advertiser also had an article. Both ABC radio and the television news covered the story.

Gina then gave a PowerPoint presentation on the group's research into the wagga rug. The Museum's Grandmother's Flower Garden hexagon quilt makes a delightful covering for the lectern. We were pleased to hear that one woman who had heard about the talk on the radio had come from Griffith. We were able to tell her about the waggas in the Griffith Pioneer Museum that we had seen earlier in the week.

Robin chats with the volunteers at The Temora Rural Museum.

With three exhibitions now we are continually amazed to see the different approaches to hanging the works in each venue. In Temora our quilts were snuggled up to the usual exhibits presenting a rich tapestry of colour and texture. The manager, Bill Spiers, has a very dedicated group of volunteers who made us very welcome. We loved seeing how the convict bonnets and quilts made by these local women complimented our pieces.

Exhibition opens at Temora Rural Museum 30/10/2008

We were pleased to hear that our exhibition that just closed at Cowra had the second best attendace this year.

The exhibition starts at Temora Rural Museum tomorrow and the opening is on Saturday 15/11 to coincide with the Flying weekend in Temora.

Gina Sirabella, shown at left with her wonderful umbrellas, will give a talk about the exhibition and the background to the concept. (Image by Gwen Clark of Cowra).