Common Threads Showcase!

The big night arrived, and we caught up with fellow judge Shane Pavlinovitch for a wee drinkie beforehand, where we stunned the locals at The Peninsular Hotel. ...

Pillar of Salt, by Rosie Chalklen, and
A Bright Idea by Sue Smorthwaite

Then it was on to the show, which was absolutely amazing! The soundtrack, the choreography, the clever way it was drawn together into a cohesive show which took us on a journey of emotions, including fun! I have posted lots of links on my facebook pages to the many beautiful show photographs, or you can go straight to those at the Mandurah Mail here. Here are a few of my favourites...

Luminous, by Ashley Bowley

Although we did miss the last section of the show due to having to

Dress to Im'press, by Jacq Chorlton

Satori, by Elizabeth Morley

Presenting awards!

get backstage (booooo!), Shane and I enjoyed presenting some awards, and then mingling with some very happy artists at the post show event, before we retreated to the hotel room.

Our congratulations to all involved in this amazing event - we can't wait to watch and help it grow. For any one thinking of entering - rest assured, your work will be beautifully presented and photographed, and will continue to be featured at every possible opportunity! Well done Barb Thoms and your team, and those smart organisations who support you.

Giggling in the hotel room afterwards

Set Your Light Free, by Lisbeth Wahl

With the big evening over,  we headed off on Sunday for Freemantle. Amazingly, we met up with our neighbour from home in Brisbane, and enjoyed a catch up with him whilst we watched the passing parade on South Tce - better than any place we have at home. Back in Mandurah we enjoyed an afternoon walk before catching up for a drink with Barb and the winning designer of the Common Threads Competition, who had fortunately come out from Italy with her daughter to see the show, with no idea that she had won it!

Sunday we enjoyed a nice sleep-in in our WONDERFUL bed at the Sebel Mandurah (right above The Peninsular Hotel - how handy!) and grabbed a coffee before we headed to the beach, where I left Matt reading the paper (and shaking his head at the state of all within it)

Museum display of mutineer - starting to
feel a little like this myself...

whilst I enjoyed a walk up the beach and a run back. After saying goodbye to Barb and picking up some programmes to help me promote the show at home (did I mention that not only is there the Showcase evening, but an exhibition at the beautiful CASM gallery in June?!) we headed off for brunch at Freemantle, and filled in the day visiting the
WA Museum Shipwreck Galleries, and finishing off with a few ales for me at the Little Creatures brewery, where I also succumbed to a delicious cheese platter. From

Little Creatures - the smell was amazing!!

there it was off to the airport, where it went rapidly downhill. On time but with not much to spare, we diverted to fuel up the car, then followed directions to the Rental Car Return area. Sadly, with much confusion apparently still surrounding the growth of the airport, we ended up at the wrong terminal, returned the car, and were told we would need to get a cab to the correct one. $20 later, Matt was sorting that whilst I got the hand luggage, and decided to race off to return the car keys, telling him to get the suitcase out of the boot, which I had tried to open, but which was still locked. He didn't hear me, and our taxi drove off with it. Much gnashing of teeth and a few tears pooling in my eyes later, the bag was returned (after having to pay the cabbie another $20!) and we were re-booked on the next flight. At 10:45pm. Which is why I am writing this now at Perth Airport, drinking Smirnoff. Well, we had a lovely weekend, and got a great story from the last part of it!
(Apologies as usual for the awful formatting, thanks to Blogger...)