ROBYN GINN
Robyn Ginn, like most Australians in 1982, had never seen a quilt, but her love of needlework took her to the Indooroopilly branch of the Embroiderers Guild in Brisbane. There she saw her first quilts, and so began a new life as a quilter. Earlier, she had twice undergone surgery on her upper spine and this caused major stress and tension in the neck area, so machine work is limited; she has become a hand quilter, working mostly in appliqué and embroidery.
Robyn’s favourite colours are the deep, strong colours, and probably she would always have worked in these if it were not that she had a daughter who “thinks pink”. It was a good experience for her to work in a colour that she disliked, producing a pink quilt for this daughter. It brought out an appreciation for all colours. Robyn often challenges people by saying, ”Anyone knows that blue goes with blue, goes with blue. We need to be brave enough to add contrast and interest to our work.”
Creativity, she believes, is what feeds a woman’s soul. We all have creative thoughts within us, though some have buried them so deeply that they do not know where to find them. Robyn’s inspiration comes from nature, and she attempts to inspire her students with more than a needle and thread while not neglecting the importance of producing high quality work. None of her quilts has been completely thought out before she begins. She will sketch from what inspires her, begin her square and watch it grow as her thought pattern develops. In the final stages as she quilts, her mind has begun to plan the next quilt and she will begin to collect a few fabrics. She never wants to forget the traditional quilters who gave us the craft in bed quilts. She reflects their tradition in the structure of her bed quilts, while her small quilts and wall hangings are an expression of her art.
Her original designs have given her considerable recognition throughout Australia and New Zealand, as her students have been encouraged to work on their own story quilts using appliqué, embroidery and reflections of their past. Her own experiences have been widened as she has travelled throughout Australia, teaching and lecturing in every state and meeting quilters from all walks of life.
Robyn is the author of a book “That Quilt has a Story”, a book about her quilts and their stories. Her work has also featured in other books and publications, and in exhibitions in Australia and overseas. She has made numerous quilts for her family, as well as a number of commissions. Over her quilting career, Robyn has judged exhibitions for Queensland Quilters, South Australian Quilters and the Toowoomba Royal Show. She has also judged challenge exhibitions in Victoria and throughout Queensland.
Robyn will be holding one workshop during the festival. This is detailed below.
WORKSHOP: Quiltmaking - Scattered Tiles (Code RG1)
DESCRIPTION:
This workshop is both exciting and rewarding. Robyn’s quilts using these principles have caused a great deal of interest; one of Robyn’s quilts won a prize at the Queensland Quilters Exhibition in 2007 and one of her students with this workshop won the Viewers Choice prize at the same exhibition. It teaches Robyn’s method and produces the freedom that comes with pre-taking each appliquéd piece. Robyn does not use freezer paper or the needle turn method.
Each student begins with a floral fabric that she loves. From this we will design a simple flower, large or small, that will be repeated throughout the quilt. If desired, Robyn will design each student’s flower. The resulting quilt may be small or large; that is up to each student.
No previous experience is required to be able to follow Robyn’s designs and teaching methods.
TIME AND PLACE: July 22 to July 23 (2 days), 8.30am to 4pm, Studio 2, Community Arts Centre.
WORKSHOP FEE: $140
ART MATERIALS LIST:
Download Material List. Also will be supplied on registration.