Sydney Royal Easter Present Winner

It has been a number of years since Licia Politis’s successful entries within the annual Sydney Royal Easter Present competitors have been highlighted right here, so it is excessive time to rectify that. And simple too, as a result of for this yr’s present she created a heart-shaped profusion of colourful quilled components titled Paper Backyard of the Sea that was awarded First Place.

Amazingly, this was the sixteenth time Licia’s quilling took First Place (her preliminary First was for a card in 2002). Not solely that, however for the thirteenth time, her work was positioned within the Arts and Crafts Customary of Excellence Showcase. It is no marvel whenever you discover simply what number of strategies she included, to not point out the precision of her quilling.

The double folded accordion strips that wind across the interlocking hanging chain are referred to as Witch’s Ladder, for instance. Should you’re curious concerning the numerous quilling strategies, click on the hyperlink to see a useful information posted by the UK Quilling Guild.

Initially, Licia had deliberate the piece that depicts underwater vegetation, sea life, and coral
to be lined with a Perspex field, however was happy when, after a lot deliberation, she
made a heart-shaped wall hanging as a substitute.

array of brightly colored, quilled elements positioned on heart-shaped background

“The bottom is a bit of polystyrene, roughly 1.5 cms
thick. Subsequently, it’s fairly mild. I lined it with lime inexperienced tissue paper and used a lot of lower up foam balls
and foam Easter egg shapes that I additionally lined with tissue, as help for the quilled elements within the
design. By
utilizing polystyrene, I used to be in a position to make use of costume making pins to carry the
marine life shapes in place whereas I labored out the design and placement.”

“I
began by quilling heaps of elements that I assumed can be
underwater-related shapes….grasses, coral, anemones, sea urchins,
and starfish. Whereas some shapes look related and recognisable, others are pure fantasy.”

“In all probability the trickiest a part of the composition was the underside centre space, which was the final a part of the design. I loved utilizing witch’s ladder approach to characterize seagrass and seaweeds. Pixie hood loopings and vortex coils had been included within the design too.”

Licia has been coming into the present since 1997. She instructed me she cringes at
her early present work, however appreciates that it has advanced over time. I embrace her assertion simply to point out that the outdated adage is unquestionably true… apply makes
excellent!

She additionally stated that she really could not imagine that she completed the piece, as greater than as soon as over the a number of weeks that it took to create, she needed to cease. Fortunately, her inventive grownup kids saved her on activity by providing knowledge and help that helped her to focus.