 |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
To celebrate our 50th anniversary year, 2010, DEBORAH BLAKELEY Was it the desire to stitch or the love of fabric that set me on my journey? In my family all the women embroidered and were interested in fashion and design. Often the only way to achieve a garment was to make it yourself or have it made. I remember very fondly as a young girl going with my mother and grandmother to first purchase the fabric, then visit the dressmaker and finally the milliner to cap off the whole effect. I do remember later wanting very much to stay within the square. Wanting desperately to wear just what everyone else was wearing; not to be different. On one occasion my mother promised to make me a party dress just like my friend Wendy. I left for school so happy. Wendy’s dress was pink with white organza overlay with pink silk flowers embroidered up the bodice. My dream was shattered on arriving home to see my party dress in progress. Horror! The under layer was coffee colour. When you are ten you don’t want to be different. Now, I am different and I want to be that way. This approach led me to study Art for the Stitch and the course at Box Hill TAFE College. At the Guild I began the TAG group (Textile Art @ the Guild) and also "Fabricate Invites", TAG's annual textile art exhibition. Many in the EGV have inspired me: Lesley Uren gently taught me Intermediate Goldwork but allowed me to push the boundaries. The Machine Embroidery Guidance Group gave me further skills and knowledge. Bev Lane said, ”Put your machine on 0, and the feed dogs down, and practice and practice.” A class with Ken Smith brought it into perceptive: don’t worry about the age of the sewing machine or what attachments it has, just as long as it does what is needed. I have a 1090 Bernina, I put it on 0 with the dogs down, and it allows me to create. My most valuable tip for machine embroidery is: it is a machine and you are the operator, the one with the brains. Get it to work for you, but remember to take care of it. All machines need you to listen to them it speak - try not to wait for it to groan out loud before you oil it! The most memorable event as an EGV member for me is the one I am currently working on. I have had the pleasure of chairing the 50th Anniversary Committee. This has been a lot of work but so often made smoother by the amazing amount of time Rosemary Tonkin has put in as secretary. This small committee has worked very well together and we have achieved a wonderful year that will long be remembered. One of the things that stands out is the fact that so many doors have opened for the EGV. Whatever institution we contacted gave such a positive response. The name of the EGV is very highly regarded in the community. I am very proud to have been able to organise this full program that is mainly outside the EGV’s doors throughout Melbourne and Victoria. I am proud to have been taught to push the boundaries and to have given the EGV this exciting year.
|
|
EGV Home Page l 50th Anniversary page l View previous profiles l Top of page |
||
