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Saturday, August 1, 2015

"Waltzing Matilda"

is the name of a well known Australian bush ballad,

and our unofficial National Anthem.

The song lyrics are slightly different to the ballad


It is also the name of my "Four-in-Art" mini 

for this quarter, continuing the literature theme.

My initial fabric 'pull'
This was part of my inspiration....
Both Australian ballads

I've tried to include the important elements- 

My 'sophisticated' drawing!

Playing with the layout
a coolibah (gum) tree, 

 a jumbuck or two (sheep), 


and a billy boiling.


The white background is printed with numerous 

 Australian place names,



 some of which are in the Australian bush!

 I chose to bind with that wonderful green print 

which reminds me of the Australian bush. 

and I like the texture gained from the quilting!

 Once an idea forms, I start to have fun 

 with these minis.

 Typical- only one more to go!

Please make sure you visit all the other fabric artists 

 in this wonderful group-

 Betty @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/toot2
Catherine @ http://www.knottedcotton.com
Elizabeth @ http://www.opquilt.com
Jennifer @ http://www.secondhanddinosaur.blogspot.com/ 
Nancy @ http://www.patchworkbreeze.blogspot.com
Rachel @ http://www.rachel-thelifeofriley.blogspot.com
Simone http://quiltalicious.blogspot.com


Happy days!

SUZ
at

22 comments:

  1. LynneAugust 2, 2015 at 12:18 AM

    I love this mini! Always wanted to try this kind of quilting. Very inspirational and I love the colors. The Australian text fabric is awesome. Never would have guessed a jumbuck was a sheep :)
    Do you glue your pieces down first?

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  2. MaryAugust 2, 2015 at 12:55 AM

    Wow! I love this mini! You have such vision, Susan, and perfect execution! Great free motion quilting :)

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  3. Melissa PAugust 2, 2015 at 1:00 AM

    This is my favorite mini so far! I kept thinking of various Bryce Courtenay novels as you were explaining your inspiration. Love that little billy with the rising "steam". Great work!

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  4. OPQuiltAugust 2, 2015 at 4:19 AM

    I loved seeing this come into shape from the song (still have it waltzing around in my head right now), and so glad you provided interpretations for what all the parts meant. I love the gum trees, the boiling billy, and all the landscape details--my favorite mini I think, so far of yours. How cool, also to have that fabric with Australian place names on it--I love it when all parts of an art quilt can refer back into the piece. Well done!

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  5. BettyAugust 2, 2015 at 4:29 AM

    I have this love of all things Australian so "Waltzing Matilda" is a ditty which runs through my head fairly frequently. And now, thanks to you, I have some honest interpretation to put with the words. Just love this quilt - it says everything perfectly, gives the eyes easy places to focus, the quilting flows beautifully - just great! Love.it.

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  6. CatherineAugust 2, 2015 at 5:02 AM

    Your gum tree is beautiful! I do love the texture, colours and inspired choice of fabrics in this - you've done is so cleverly that it really pulls your viewers in to the imaginary world.

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  7. RachaeldaisyAugust 2, 2015 at 5:45 AM

    Your mini is wonderful Suz!! You've done so well including all the details and capturing the Australian landscape with not only the fabrics but your stitching as well.

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  8. Chookyblue......August 2, 2015 at 6:53 AM

    wow that looks great I have never done an art quilt.....the sheep are so cute........

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  9. Kirsty @ Bonjour QuiltsAugust 2, 2015 at 10:02 AM

    Oh Suz, this is so good! I love it! The jolly swagman's ghost would be most approving (although my kids told me today there's an 'alternate ending' to the poem that has the swagman hiding out in the far end of the billabong and surviving. I'm not sure how I feel about that, kinda ruins the romance of it all.)

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  10. mariaAugust 2, 2015 at 6:30 PM

    It's wonderful! I love the the Jumbuck fabric! I've not heard of that word for sheep before.

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  11. Julie FukudaAugust 2, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    You have captured the whimsy of that ballad so artistically. I love the results.

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  12. KatherineAugust 3, 2015 at 2:24 AM

    Oh, I love your Waltzing Matilda mini, Suz! So many great details to admire, such as those wee sheep and dimensional leaves. Bravo!

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  13. Anne / Springleaf StudiosAugust 3, 2015 at 4:19 AM

    I've heard of the song title but never known the story or the lyrics. The stamps are so nice and the quilt . . . fantastic!!! Great interpretation of the whole concept. Love the little lambs in the field too.

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  14. patchworkbreezeAugust 3, 2015 at 7:34 AM

    Very nice. I never knew all the words and translation of unknown words is appreciated. Your explanation of the execution is nicely done. I want to step into this quilt. And I agree, I get going on these minis and there is only one more to go.

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  15. LyndaAugust 3, 2015 at 3:20 PM

    You are so clever - this mini is beautiful. The colours are perfect.

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  16. JulieAugust 3, 2015 at 3:29 PM

    So clever - love the billy and your eucalyptus leaves.

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  17. FlourishingPalmsAugust 3, 2015 at 11:01 PM

    I'm certainly not an art quilter, but I think you've done a great job of interpreting your theme. You've picked just the right items to convey Australia, and the color combo is luscious. The sheep print is perfect, as is the embroidered billy boil. Good stuff here, Susan! Your talent just shines.

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  18. Rene'August 3, 2015 at 11:45 PM

    Your "Waltzing Matilda" mini is lovely Susan! I was hooked from your very first photo of the fabric pull. You did a beautiful job interpreting the poem, and I learned quite a bit from your post. I had heard parts of the lyrics before but thanks to you I now understand what it means!

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  19. DebbieAugust 4, 2015 at 2:02 PM

    oh I like! The 3D leaves are cool and I love your quilting throughout!

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  20. RachelAugust 6, 2015 at 3:00 AM

    This is one of those songs that I think everyone "knows" but I never remember all the words, let alone know what they mean. This quilt is such a great representation of the song. The sheep are the cutest. Nice quilt!

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  21. Granny Maud's GirlAugust 10, 2015 at 8:49 PM

    I can definitely see that this represents Australian countryside.
    We knew we needed that text print when we bought it!
    I love the sheep print. It is cute but just the right amount of cute - and the right colour.

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  22. www.randomthoughtsdoordi.comAugust 11, 2015 at 9:03 AM

    Well aren't you a clever one. Your inspiration is perfect and you pulled it off beautifully

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