Janine's Journey - April 2023
Sent: 5/1/2023 12:57:11 AM

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Janine's Journey - April 2023

Hi Subscriber

I don't feel like I have been super productive this month but when you go away for nine days I guess it is to be expected!

This was the first family holiday we have had since the boys left school with Daniel coming over from Adelaide for it. We have a holiday rental in Exmouth which we haven't visited since before Covid.

When they announced that Exmouth was the best place to view the eclipse it was the perfect excuse for a 2500km return (1550 miles) road trip to do some maintenance, snorkelling and diving.

The tiny town of Exmouth was the prime spot for the total eclipse. The whole thing took about 3 hours from start to finish with 1 minute of total eclipse.

It was really quite eerie as the temperature dropped and the middle of the day turned to night.

Exmouth is on the Ningaloo Reef so of course we had to do some snorkelling and diving.

There is something really special about snorkelling off the beach and seeing turtles. I love that they couldn't care less that you are there and are happy to hang around. In case you hadn't gathered I have a thing for turtles and they generally feature in my underwater scenes.

The diving was good and we finally got to do Navy Pier which has been on the bucket list for awhile.

We also swam with the whale sharks which was great. Last time we did this the boys were in Primary School and I remember it as being a lot more frantic. This time we swam with 4 different ones and they were very chill so it was easy to keep up with them.

Enough on my holiday and back to art, after all that is why you signed up for this email!

Finished at Last!

Drum roll time.....I am finally calling the ice arch done, it just needs a name. Suggestions?

After all four months is long enough to spend on one quilt! especially one that has tested my resolve so much.

All the glitter fabric has been painstakingly picked out and I have used some metallic thread in places which may or may not be noticeable.

I will leave it on the design wall for the next week or so in case I want to make any last minute additions before I bind it.

Finished size will be about 40 x 60" (102 x 173 cm) depending on where I crop it.

I think it is one of those projects that I could spend hours tinkering with it especially the cracks in the ice and nobody else would notice that I had changed anything.

If you are new to my emails this scene is based on a photo we took kayaking in Cierva Cove in Antarctica. Cierva Cove is known for the glaciers carving these wonderfully shaped ice bergs and arches into the Cove. As you can see we had a beautiful day and it was such fun exploring the cove and crunching through the brash ice.

Creating some Adelie's

I have started making some Adelie penguins to go on the confetti ice background I did last month.

Adelie's are really cute little penguins that are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they rely on the sea ice so much. Like the chinstrap's their numbers on the Antarctica Peninsula have been steadily decreasing while the Gentoo numbers are increasing as they are better suited to the warming temperatures.

We only saw one small group of Adelie's when we were there but lots of Gentoo.

As their plight is fragile I have decided to do them on washaway.

I think all the holes highlights how fragile their existence is

I have started making them in various sizes but still need to do more and work out how I am going to put it all together. (I am concerned they will get lost on the background so still lots to ponder to make it work)

There is a video of dissolving the wash away and releasing an Adelie here

A new toy!

You probably know I have having a bit of a love hate relationship with my Janome. When she is being a Diva I start looking for second hand machines out of frustration.

I haven't found anything suitable but at least it gives me a chance to cool off!!

This month has been particularly bad and I felt like I was sewing on tender hooks waiting for the needle to break or it to go bang when the bobbin jumps and jams.

I wasn't enjoying thread painting as I couldn't relax and had started using a small older machine for thread painting or even doing a bit of piecing!

After a particularly frustrating day I opened Facebook and the first thing I saw was a story with a 38% discount on a Handiquilter Capri 18.

Total spur of the moment I went and bought it using money inherited from Mum's estate!! I didn't do any research but I had used the Sweet 16 at the Artist in Residence last year so felt I knew what I was getting.

It came just before we went away but didn't have time to assemble the desk and level it up until we came back.

I think it was kind of appropriate that the first time I used the machine was the one year anniversary of Mum passing.

Growing up Mum made most of our clothes and later on enjoyed quilting. She was a perfectionist with her sewing and I think she despaired of my close enough is good enough attitude to making clothes!

Needless to say I no longer make clothes but I have found my passion with thread painting, and I think she would approve that I used some of her money to buy this awesome new machine.

Thanks Mum, I love the new machine

Well that is about it for now, I really must get this sent.

I have a busy month ahead with several deadlines rapidly approaching and I need more hours in the day. Help!

Janine