craigdailypress.com

At a Thanksgiving dinner held in Australia, Sasha Nelson discovered more than "shrimp on the barbie."

She found Australian quilting, a spin-off of American Patchwork quilting that allows more artistic liberties to be taken by the quilters on the other side of the world.

"It took moving to a foreign hemisphere to learn about my own native patchwork quilting," Nelson said. "The women there taught me, and they opened their house and home to me."

Besides the obvious differences, as with kangaroos and gum trees appearing on the Aussie quilts, Nelson found different traditions that are not frequently used in the states.

"The textile artists in Australia manipulate the fabric much more than here. It's ripped and torn, bleached and painted," she said. "It's a blend of new and old technologies."

Nelson presented her quilting knowledge at the Moffat County Library on Tuesday evening as part of National Library Week. Displaying four quilting projects of her own and from Australia, Nelson also passed around a dozen Australian postcard, and playing card-sized samples of quilting.

While working on a Masters Degree and doctorate in Science Communications at Australian National University, Nelson, a 1992 graduate of Moffat County High School, said she was adopted by local quilters in Australia that were interested in sharing their art form.

Nelson said she drew queer looks from the locals as she assembled her wildlife quilts containing elk, deer, moose and ducks.

"These are my 'homesick' quilts, when I was thinking about America," she said. "My friends in Australia thought I was strange."

Spending seven years in Australia, Nelson returned to America and Craig in December, and is currently working at the library.

Besides attending Australian Rules football and other sporting events in Melbourne, Nelson visited major quilt shows and admired the intricate landscape quilts and wall hangings produced by the local quilters.

"Australian quilters use a lot of colors that they combine in many ways," she said. "Geographical features such as rock formations show up in their quilts."

Following suit, Nelson produced an ocean inspired quilt with a white "sandy beach" border that took first place at a Canberra quilt show in August.

In quilting, Nelson has found a new passion that she can recommend to anyone with an interest in sewing.

"The thing with quilting is to go for it," Nelson said. "Try something that looks unachievable, and you will be surprised by what you learn along the way."

Dan Olsen can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 207, or dolsen@craigdailypress.com.