Fun day Sunday.
I get so caught up working on my quilts that I sometimes forget that it's good to get out of the sewing room and venture out into the real world to see new and inspiring things.
On Sunday morning Gbf and I caught the train into Sydney to go to the Art Gallery of New South Wales to see the America, Painting of a Nation exhibition
It was a wonderfully curated exhibition that showed a history of the America and it's art. It demonstrated a distinct personality of the country and the paintings were all the best examples of their styles.
I couldn't take photos of the artworks but here are some domed glass ceilings I spotted in my travels.
Wouldn't they make medallion centers for quilts.
In the afternoon I zoomed off to Quiltsmith for a lecture about the History and Printing of Toiles de Jouy presented by Marie-Christine Flocard, a quilter, teacher and specialist in Toile du Jouy.
It was really interesting to hear about the the processes of printing from wood blocking, copper plating and then screen printing, all told through a wonderful collection of slides.
Here is a photo of Marie- Christine showing us a toile that depicts the different stages of printing fabric.
Lots of swatches of gorgeous fabrics.
I particularly love these two with that winding ribbon around the flowers.
And who doesn't love a bird in fabric.
I didn't stay for afternoon tea as I had to meet Gbf who was patiently waiting for me in a nearby cafe. As the train took us home toward the mountains we both agreed it was good to get out and about and we should do it more often. Sounds a bit like a New Years resolution, a bit belated but better late than never. :)
27 Comments
What a fun day! Do I spy Sis Boom toile (Matilda) on your bag?!
ReplyDeleteGetting out of the sewing room is something I forget to do too. Thanks for the reminder to get out there and absorb inspiration.
Getting out..yup..a good thing. I love the R pose and I see that there is a bit of a breeze at the museum. We almost never have wind in Charlotte..sigh..Glad you had fun.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely nice to get out, and it looks like you had a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been a really interesting talk.
So glad you posted about the Toile talk - wonderful fabrics! I saw it advertised and thought it sounded very interesting. What a lovely trip you had - and you are so right about venturing further afield sometimes - inspiring and refreshing.
ReplyDeleteHilda
We've said the same thing about getting out and about. You look gorgeous in the first photo, such fun. Looks like the toile talk was good.
ReplyDeleteGood for you & Gbf! I hope you also had a lovely luncheon. I'm trying to finish a small quilt for next guild meeting & am positively chained to my machine -- so nice to see pretty you out & about.
ReplyDeleteI love your outfit! What a great photo. It looks like you had a fun day! :D
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous! Looks like a fantastic day to be out too!
ReplyDeleteLove that Big R Rachael...how interesting the talk must've been....I love some of those swatches! Totally agree, it does one good to get out sometimes!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to spend the day. great to see the art and then a bonus of an info session. And the weather looks great as well.!
ReplyDeleteOoh, those Toiles are wonderful to see, as are the domes. Fun day out. You're right, we ought to get out more often. Thanks for sharing your day.
ReplyDeleteIt does feel good to get out and about once in awhile. Lovely to have someone willing to wait on you too.:)
ReplyDeleteIt does feel good to get out and about! We always enjoy our excursion to the city too! Were you able to sneak a little fabric sample away- they are simply gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI feel refreshed just reading about your day out! I adore the toile fabric depicting the different stages of printing. Your photos are fantastic as usual!
ReplyDeleteTextiles and history together, excite me more than puddings, movies and possibly romance! Looks like a great day.
DeleteOh my those fabrics are beautiful! I definitely see some medallions in the windows too.
ReplyDeleteI love day tours - this one looks like it was really fun! I love that toile' wow, wish I had that and the other swatches are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYour look so cosmopolitan and gorgeous by your big "R" photo!
Sounds like you had a wonderful day out with your sweetheart! Riding a train sounds like it would be fun too....I've neverhave..... You looked so pretty, cute outfit !
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a wonderful day - art , culture and quilts!
ReplyDeleteI tend to be a real homebody on weekends. ( a direct consequence Im sure of having to be social and interactive during the week) But...Ive decided I need to get out and about more this year too- its kinda hard getting out of my pyjamas though!
Sounds like a fun day :o) Like Shay, I often hide at the weekend, but I probably ought to get out more too lol
ReplyDeleteE' vero ogni tanto dimentichiamo che là fuori c'è del bello!
ReplyDeleteNice to see your smiling faces. We do need to do things together sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThe toile is so interesting and tradition rich.
Glad you had a fun day.
Wow! Sounds like fun! I would love to see the America exhibit. Was it interesting? Glad you got out of that sewing room! LOL!
ReplyDeleteLooks like the kind of day I would have enjoyed myself! We too should get out more .... but it is soooo wintery and cold and windy and wet here at the moment! Love the way you see medallions everywhere! xCathy
ReplyDeleteYou are so cute! Sounds like an enjoyable day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful day! I love when you share the things you see on your outings that can inspire quilts! Makes me want to get out more often too. Next month I am going to a talk by Laura Gunn and now I'm even more excited!
ReplyDeleteA friend from work and I used to occasionally wander over to the Art Gallery in our lunch time and look at the free exhibits. It was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you didn't mug that lady for some of those fabrics. They are gorgeous.
Thank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.