USA debut

"50 Years of Flower Power" is officially installed & on display for the 1st time in the United States at ARTfactory!  9419 Battle Street, Manasas, VA, USA, 20110

 

Don't miss your chance to check out this collaborative freeform fiber artwork instigated a few years ago by Prudence Mapstone.   The exhibit is showing until Dec. 4 and also features fiber art creations of local artist Karen Ballard (who also contributed to "50 Years").

Artist Led Gallery Tour: November 6, 2-4 pm

 

I'll add more in situ photos as I receive them...if you are reading here and manage to get to the exhibition, take a selfie in front of the artwork and email your pic to me at prudence@knotjustknitting.com and I will be happy to add it here too 😀💖  

 

 

 

Great news!!

The artwork will finally have its USA debut in a gallery in VA next month.

I hope that many of the contributors will be able to get there to see it, and feel free to spread the news to anyone you think might be interested.

https://www.virginiaartfactory.org/wild-webs

More details coming soon.

Yipppeeee...it's heading to the USA

Vogue Knitting Live - Seattle

Great news for anyone who was involved in this project a few years back.

It's just been confirmed that the '50 Years of Flower Power' piece will be travelling to the USA, and will be on display at Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle, WA, on March 13 to 15.  I'll be taking it over myself, and will be there on each of the 3 days to talk about freeforming and creative crochet and knitting. 

If you are anywhere in the vicinity, or can get yourself there, I would love to meet you.'

Really looking forward to it, and I hope to see some of you there:

https://www.vogueknittinglive.com/portaVogue Knitting Live - Seattle

in the news

when Warwick Art Gallery director Karina Devine was recently interviewed about what was happening at the Jumpers & Jazz festival on the TV news, the 50 years of Flower Power piece certainly made a colourful backdrop

Our collaborative artwork again on display...

Yesterday we installed the 50 Years of Flower Power collaborative freeform piece in the Warwick Art Gallery, where it will be on display in the entrance foyer until 11th September, 2016.

 

The artwork has been tweaked somewhat.  Last week I spent a couple of days unobtrusively stabilizing some of looser work.  With so many previous showings, and because of the overall weight of the piece, a few sections become quite stretchy.   I also reassembled the hanging to fit the length of the gallery wall which, at 7m in length, was quite a few metres shorter than the original piece had grown to become.

To best fit in as much as possible, some of the scrumbles have now moved position, changing ends or travelling to the top of the piece to increase its height...but rest assured that any scrumbles that didn't actually make it into this reincarnation will still be seen by heaps of people, as I'm now joining those pieces together in a totally new configuration, and they will be used to yarnbomb one of the trees just outside the art gallery during the town's annual Jumpers & Jazz Festival, which runs from July 21-31.

I'll be heading up that way again then, for workshops and for the festival opening, so I'll add more photos to the blog towards the end of the month.

from the exhibition in Auckland

At the Stitches & Craft Show in Auckland, New Zealand yesterday...Debbie McDonald and her friend Cherie find the scrumble that was contributed by Debbie's mum Gloria Burns

next week, New Zealand

I'm really looking forward to displaying our '50 years of flower power' piece in Auckland, New Zealand, next week.

It's taking just a quick trip...and it will be on show for 3 days only (April 28-30) at the new Stitches & Craft Show at the ASB Showgrounds. 

I hope that lots of Kiwi crafters will enjoy seeing it there.  

Many thanks to the show organizers for shipping it over (and then back to Aust. again, where it will be on display next at the S&C show in Adelaide the following week).

I'll aim to get a few more photos then, but in the meantime here are a few  closeups that were taken at one of the other showings last year.

 

 

on display again...

From today until Sunday the Flower Power collaborative freeform crochet artwork is on display once again, this time at the Brisbane Stitches & Craft Show at the Exhibition Centre, Southbank, Brisbane, Qld., Australia.

Nobody who comes to the show is going to miss it...it will be the first thing visitors will see when they come in the door.  

This photo taken last night, after it was hung.  I'll post a few more photos later, once the crowd arrives.

Next month it is going to travel to two other S&C shows too; first to the one in Auckland, New Zealand, and then it will fly back across the Tasman Sea in time for the show in Adelaide.

After that, it will be on display in a regional Queensland gallery for a couple of months...at the Warwick Art Gallery, at a time that will coincide with the town's annual 'Jumpers & Jazz in July' festival.

...and if you would like to join me in creating something for a bit of collaborative yarn bombing, I'll be overseeing the making of some freeform crochet (and knit) jumpers (sweaters) to decorate a couple of the trees around Warwick when the festival is on.  All the details of what to create and where to send your piece at https://www.facebook.com/groups/237936883210327/?fref=ts and you can read more about the yarnbombing at 'Jumpers & Jazz in July' at http://www.jumpersandjazz.com/#!yarnbombing/c1se

We're on the cover!

It's been a while since I last blogged, but today I have some great news:

Our 50 Years of Flower Power artwork has made it onto the cover of the latest edition of an Australian textile magazine:

I just picked up my copy from the post office, and it looks fantastic.  There's also a 3 page article, with lots of photos.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy you can do so at http://www.moremags.com.au/textiles/dut/down-under-textiles-21

...and the good news for all our contributing crocheters from around the world is that they will mail overseas, so get your order in early, before they are all snapped up.

Our artwork will be touring even further in 2016; I'm afraid you'll have to be patient for a while longer, but I'll be letting you know where and when as things are finalized.

from our showing in Canberra

Our 50 Years of Flower Power piece went on show in Canberra, our national capital, during the past week, and we had a very different configuration for the artwork this time.

For this show we had the opportunity to display the piece wrapped around a long, narrow section of wall that ran right down the middle of the main thoroughfare through the show  - visitors definitely couldn't miss it ☺

We'll be setting it up again soon, too, because later this week it will be on display yet again, from Thursday to Sunday, at the Craft & Quilt Fair in Newcastle, NSW.  If you are in the area, I hope we will see you there.

I'll blog again with the comments from our book, together with more photos from Canberra, just as soon as I get the chance...but in the meantime, here are snaps of a few freeformers who attended the show wearing their own gorgeous one-of-a-kind creations.

Very many thanks to Wendy, Rita and Liz for agreeing to pose for the blog
...don't they all look fantastic, and doesn't our display make an absolutely fabulous backdrop?

 

 

Follow up to the showing in Melbourne

Our '50 years of flower power' piece went on show once again last week, this time at the Craft & Quilt Fair in Melbourne (Victoria, Australia).

I received fabulous feedback from so many people who dropped by my stand, and I appreciated that they sought me out as, for most of the show, I was busy there, on the other side of the venue to where the artwork was hanging.  

We again received lots of lovely entries in the Flower Power comments book, and I typed them up while sitting at the airport waiting for my flight home.  They follow below, along with a few new photos taken during the show: 

Just beautiful.
Just amazing.
I am blown away.  Pat from Western Australia
50 years of flower power - I didn't think I was that old to remember.  Well done.  Fantastic.
Very bright, and pretty, and well done.
Amazing work ladies!
Brilliant colours.  Well done.
Wowsers
Fantastic...colorful.
Absolutely beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful. Amazing work Ladies.
Wonderful, beautiful - so much to look at and take in.  Susan, Geelong
So many hours and so much passion in this piece.
I like it!!!!!!!
Hi...lovely!!
They are amazing!!

Fantastic display - great work.  JS  
Absolutely Amazing.  Congratulations.
Very, very pretty - so colourful.
I might try a smaller one.  Dot.
Wow.  So inspiring.  I just want, have to do some, it's my cup of tea. Wow, wow.
This work is SO inspiring.
What a masterpiece!!!
A wonderful example of International craft co-operation.  SM
By far the best thing at the show - GROOVY   ☮  ★  ★
I absolutely love this wall hanging.  Bought the  books.  Not game yet.  Don't know where to start.  Myra
Beautiful.
Stunning - a real pleasure to look at.   Gail
AMAZING!!
I love it!  I want one!
So colourful and varied!  Thanks to all who made parts of this lovely work of art.
Amazing crocheting, it is so Beautiful.
Fantastic.  As lovely as the red poppies for ANZAC Day!
So inspiring!  Love the bright colours.  Angela
I'm awed at the hard work all contributors put into this great project.  Thanks for providing this feast for my eyes!  Joanne
I came to the fair mainly to see this piece of ART. It is so inspiring and beautiful. I myself do freeform crochet and knitting, and I love your work. ☺Thanks!!!
Love the bright colours and different shapes, and the thought of putting it all together!  June (from Adelaide)
Absolutely stunning - Loved it!  Ann 
Spectacular - Love it!  Di
fabulous!  inspiring!! Maree (Traralgon)

This is absolutely beautiful, inspiring; it made me smile.
Absolutely fabulous.  Very creative.  Love it
What an incredible piece of work!  Susan B, Columbus, Ohio
A lovely colourful wall hanging from such a lot of people throughout the world.
Stunning, vitrant creation - from a world of talented people.  
Lovely to see.  Tricia (from NZ) and Jennie (WA) 
Just divine - I wish I was this talented.  Caitlin
Wow!  I didn't realize it was still all out there.  Shirley (NSW)
Love your work!  CREATIVE MINDS ROCK. 
Beautiful!!
Great work guys!  
I wish I had this on my wall - inspirational.
Fantastic work.
Amazing work.
Colour in drab Melbourne - thank God!!!
Love it!
A beautiful kaleidoscope
Made a special effort to find this piece.  So colourful and vibrant, use of different techniques.  Always an old hippie at heart.  Wendy, Deans Marsh
They say if you can remember it, you weren't really there!!!
What colourful creativity - and such fun too!
Wonderful day, very enjoyable, my favourite part was the wall - bright and colourful. 

A truly spectacular display.  Indescribably beautiful.
Underbelievable ;-) 
I came especially to visit my flower and all her friends.  Thanks Prudence for the amazing opportunity to collaborate.
Came just for this, and it's everything!!
All I can say is WOW!  Sally, Tatting Guild
Incredible! A wall of happiness. Lois and Tess
Absolutely FANTASTIC.  *WOW*    Amanda from Gippsland
As above..LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.  Very smart ladies.   Colleen, Gippsland, Victoria
Very imaginative & spectacular.
AMAZING - WOW
Absolutely Amazing
What a great 'experiment' in love, free love.
Fabulous.  A stunning display of wonderfully talented artists.  Awesome does not cover the spectacle.
AWESOME - COLOURFUL - MAKES YOU SMILE  ☺  Janine
I could look at this for hours and discover little pieces of awesome that I hadn't noticed before.  Well done!  This is spectacularly colourful.  Sarah, South Gippsland
Great Creation. 
What an inspiration!  Fab! 
Lovely!
Absolutely Amazing ❤ 
It has inspired me to learn to Crochet!   Sue
Love the iconic references to many eras. ☺
Absolutely amazing!  Inspiring!  Love it all!
GROOVY!!
Absolutely incredible.  Fantastic!

Absolutely Brilliant in ALL ASPECTS!
Stunningly Beautiful.
Absolutely fabulous - amazing.  Mayra
Stunning art work.  1 off
Awesome
Fantastic!!
It is amazing to see the real thing; well done Prudence on a great job putting it all together.  Very proud to have had a hand in this. KM
Simply Amazing!! 
PEACE MAN  ☮
Even more amazing seeing it 'live' - Congratulations.  Susan from the Tatters' Guild
Really lovely.   Josie, Bairnsdale, Vic
Impressive team effort.  Well done.  Love it.
Bright, creative, imaginative, colour explosion.  Love the diversity coming together in one big organic piece.  WOW!!
GLORIOUS!!!


What a brilliant display of a beautiful era. ❀ ☮  
Love it!
Awesome!!!
Awe inspiring!  Love it Love it Love it.  Go flower power!
Just brilliant - what a beautiful celebration!
Terrific
Amazingly fabulous.  Cristina
A feast for my Old Eyes.  Betty (86 years young) 
Wow.  Lots 'n lotsa flowers, very colourful, almost yellow brick road. 
I love the flowers so much.  Mio  ❀   

From our hearts and souls, we truly are inspired by the beauty of the creativity, and THANK YOU for bringing us JOY in the moment!  WE LOVE IT ♡♡♡ Marg & Maryanne ...(below) who, incidentally, are organizing another handcrafted tea cozy exhibition and sale at the Bundoora Homestead Art Centre in 2016, to aid the Australian Red Cross.  Deadline for submissions to 'Teavotion' is late January, and the exhibition runs from February 24 to March 20).  
I'm hoping to get something made for it this time; perhaps you can too☺

Awesome, beautiful and clever.
Absolutely fabulous.
The greens and botanists rejoice!
Such a wonderful piece; it is absolutely gorgeous, and very inspiring.
Wow!  how vibrant.  Keep up the good work!! xxx
Wonderful work, well done, great team effort.
"Phenomenal" and so much love - proof that without the "human" touch things like this can't be "manufactured" in a factory.  It's a must to keep this kind of love alive.
HOW LONG DID THIS TAKE?!!!
BELLISSIMO.  Angela
Absolutely beautiful.
Good team effort and well done.
I second that, and more!
It is a lovely piece.  The detail and handwork involved must have been enormous.  Truly amazing.  I wish that I was as patient as all of those involved in creating this work of art!
I think I might have been from the flower power years! Absolutely love it.  Appreciate all the hours of handwork.  GW
OMG
This is STUNNING!  Love it so much!  A very beautiful piece of art,  It is an art.  collaboration and brilliant Ideas!  Tiffany    

...the Melbourne event finished on Sunday, and now our collaborative wallhanging is now on its way north.  It will be on display again next week (Thursday to Sunday) at the Craft & Quilt Fair in Canberra ...and then it will continue on from there, to be displayed again the following week at the Stitches and Craft Fair in Newcastle.   

...one final photo below, of shoppers at my retail stand at the C&Q Fair in Melbourne last week  ☺