I just got home from Melbourne and I'm busting to tell you that I won the encouragement prize at the Fabricate exhibition. (Click on the link and it will take you to the new TAG blog)

I was totally stunned.  TOTALLY STUNNED.  I did have a short moment of doubt (remember the encouragement awards in school... for the special people), but then I looked in the envelope and there was a cheque for $500 and I reassessed my attitude.

I feel even more motivated to work hard and stay with and develop my own ideas.  The judges were people I can respect including Roger Leong, Director International Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery Victoria.

Sophie Xeros-Constantinides won the grand $2000 acquisitive prize.  Her work was fabulous (and my favourite), a large etching on a beautiful light caramel coloured crushed silk.  I am hoping the TAG blog will have a better photo of it in the coming days, I will link to it here.  Another work, which I loved, also incorporated printmaking techniques (embossing), it was by Taryn and Elise Eales.

This weekend has been action packed, with the opening of Fabricate on Friday night, my talk at the gallery on Saturday morning, lunch at a fancy italian place in Camberwell then cruising around the Ian Potter Centre where there was an outstanding exhibition of sculpural works by Deborah Halpern and the annual VCE show full of teenage angst but with some shining gems.  

We had a long dinner at the japanese place in Federation Square then made our way over to see the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of The Clean House.  Today, we caught up with our friends Lynne and Roger for lunch and spent some time at the NGV international on St Kilda Road  where we saw the Rembrant etchings show and the Abstract Mode show.... yummo.

And the weekend is not over. We have a long night ahead of us.  Australia plays Brazil in the soccer world cup tonight.  Starts at 2am.