My 11th Southern Felters Convergence 2011 at Bunbury W A - Karen Workman
Prior to arriving in Bunbury I had spent 16 days in Broome, and gave an impromptu scarf class, sewing a felting seed!
I didn’t know of any other NZers going to Convergence, apart from Christine Marks. On arrival I found there were others there, some with husbands, to enjoy Western Australia before, during or after the event. Deidre Turner, Pam Robinson, and I were the only NZers that I was aware of, that had offered to tutor.
Pauline Boyce had come from Maine USA and we had 2 days in Perth before the train ride on the Australind from Perth to Bunbury on Sunday 2nd October. So started the fusion of felters as the passengers surrounding us turned out to be our fun-filled housemates! The committee generously met us at the station at midday and couriered us, and our voluptuous bags to the venue. Bill took us and our luggage on a tour of Bunbury so we could orientate ourselves. He thought I was joking when I asked him to stop for food, he thought they had something planned…not so! We had to wait till 3pm to receive our goody bags and till dinnertime to get food.
Bill’s carload with voluptuous bags
The beautiful venue was extensive and it was easy to find our way around. The houses had twin rooms, separated by tall cupboards, and curtained off…doors would have been more useful at times! We discovered - too late - that there was a lounge to socialise in, off the main felting room.
After investigating the generously-full registration packs, we were encouraged to give up our banners, (fund raising for the next convergence), exhibition pieces for display, and drop off our fashion parade garments, before afternoon tea.
The Earth, Fire and Water display in front of the Café greeted us as we dismounted, and we discovered other land art displays. The “Take a Seat” Exhibition in the Traders Hall was a fascinating collection of chairs upholstered in felt. Lots of early bargains were selected from the Traders.
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| Earth and Water |
The Welcome Dinner was followed by entertainment - a didgeridoo player extraordinaire who made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! It was an early night for all, except the tutors who gathered for orientation, and each was presented with a special tutor apron, beautifully made from scraps of material.
My house-mates were surprised on that first night, as while enjoying a wine, from their cases they produced various garments of felt they had made. Some were described as disasters! I soon had them wet them down and flopping around in the drier to felt them harder…felter’s hardest decisions…when to stop?? One person wore hers the next day as her wild felt, because it had improved so much, and still fitted!
It was great to re-connect with Liz Clay from UK, (first met her in USA in 2009) who opened the programme with a “Crafting the Impossible” presentation in the auditorium, showing her Haute Couture Parish Fashion House commissions.
Then came decision time. Five choices, all look good! I chose Liz Evans’ “Fantastic ideas for 3-D Felt” in the morning, and Wendy Bailye “Fabric Encrusted Hats” in the afternoon. Both great presentations! Interesting choices for someone who works mostly on flat felt! Photo-taking not allowed.
We all gathered for a huge group photo before setting off on a bus tour of Bunbury including Gallery/Cathedral visits. Three buses were very well organised so we didn’t all end up in the same venues at once, mostly! No stopping for shopping though!
Day 2 Jewellery
Two-day Master Classes began with Liz Clay and Anita Larkin for those lucky enough to have their name drawn out. There were four choices to make on this day for those who did not get into a Master Class.
I watched Darriel Palfrey-Jones upholster a chair using felt; Rachel Meek present “Loving to Dye”, (mostly shibori); Maude Bath present “Artist in Residence in Japan”, and Phyllis Hoffman measure for a “Vest Demo”. Lots of variety, all inspirational!
The Fashion Parade was held in the auditorium and it was a magical show using mostly young models, except if people particularly wanted to model their own; with an accomplished presenter. We were given photos on a CD to remind us of the garments that excited us. They enticed everyone to stay behind to drink champagne and eat chippies before drawing the amazing hat-block prize!
Day 3 Favourite Scarf Day
The committee requested I give the talk on my USA visit again, and those who came, said they were glad they had heard it, especially Kerry Gelmi from the committee, who was looking for a reason to go to Maine.
My other demo followed morning tea: “Amazing Scarves” All we need is another nuno scarfclass…Yeah Right! The onlookers gradually inched closer and closer totally engaged and having a hands-on experience, until we had some standing on chairs so they could see over the heads. Many said it was the best workshop they had ever been to. I gifted the scarf we made in the session to my Perth host, an old school friend, after the convergence, and she was thrilled!
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| Pat, Faye and Marg |
Anita Larkin visually presented “Felt for Contemporary Art” showing other people’s work, as well as her own, to demonstrate her point of view.
In the afternoon I was ready for a rest, which was allowed. Also people could elect not to go to what was on offer, and some chose to make felt in the felting room, some chose to walk the grounds. The Felting Machine traders generously offered to put a scarf through the machine for everyone who was there. It had to be wet and at the pre-felt stage, so this got people beavering away, and then going on the waiting list to have it felted in the machine. Chrissy Lauritz demonstrated her Felbi batts. Davida Palmer had no voice and so Val Hornibrook helped out by being her speaker for her two afternoon demos. Cracks were beginning to appear!
The belly dancer entertained us as a precursor to the main event. The Bazaar Night Suitcase Exhibition, to which the locals had been invited. This was so full-on that I think most people were over-whelmed. We have certainly become great producers since the last convergence, and there was an amazing variety available, however, not many sales.
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| Belly Dancer |
Day 4 Recycling
Anita Larkin began the programme for the final day by giving us all a small amount of coarse wool as we entered the Auditorium, and had us all making shapes using her dry-felting method. The variety we formed in a short time was amazing. Not much talk…quite Zen! Anita's Master Class samples were on show for us to enjoy. Liz Clay’s Master Class exhibited “Translating Images” near the Traders Hall, and these were truly inspiring!
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| Master Class results: Anita Larkin |
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| Liz Clay |
I chose Wendy Bailye for the last two classes, “slippers” and “5 Flowers”, more 3-D stuff!
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| Slippers |
The lectures fittingly concluded with Liz Clay’s photo presentation, which flittered around a bit, (technical difficulties again) but we got the idea!
The excitement mounted as everyone prepared for the final night with a “Groovy 60s” theme. Our Wagga Wagga housemates really dressed up and were fun to be with as they led the dancing with a congo! The entertainer was incredible. He socialised beforehand getting to know us and remembered our names throughout the night! Apparently he can remember up to 150 peoples names! He had amazing energy, leaping around the room and changing the words to familiar songs as appropriate! It was great to see all the alter egos dancing the night away!
Day 5 Conclusion
All of a sudden it was over! The decorations came down, the banners went into our bags, we squished our bags and stretched the zips to get them closed, and off we went to catch our car, train or bus to the next part of our journey, and some straight home. Hugs all around, emails exchanged, and promises to meet at Illawarra (near Sydney) in 2013! Bring it on!
Sounds like it was a great Convergence ! wish I'd been there
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was a great week. Thanks Karen for writing it all up. Such a fun time with lots of new friends and felting ideas.
ReplyDeleteChristine Marks