Sunday, October 11, 2015

Queensland Literary Awards 2015

Barry and I were honoured to be asked to once again make the trophy prizes for this year's Queensland Literary Awards.

This year, the State government decided they would re-fund them and recognise that literature and the arts matter to a community and a society.  So we were extra thrilled when they asked us to do them.

Some of you may remember we did them in 2013 and 2014 when the community got together and decided they cared and ran the Awards themselves - the colour theme was a fabulous orange. This year we had a new logo and an indigo type palette to work with.

Once again we kept to the book theme with Barry doing the metal work for the covers, me doing the embossing and calligraphy on the inside pages and the two of us drilling the holes in Perspex and riveting together. I then stitched them up and made the pouches. You may have seen a sneak peak here.



This year, Barry riveted together several small pieces of steel to make the cover. The new logo was engraved within it.

I think it is beautiful industrial look - gorgeous copper rivets.



Open up and you see the page with the award name and the winner's name. I emboss these pages with plates, made by Barry, which echo the cover. I then write the winner's name in calligraphy, a real team effort.


The embossing plates...


The winners...


You can't see it here, but the back of the inside page is also beautifully embossed.


The back cover once again uses a quote from our fabulous author David Malouf.


I stitched the book with a blue thread similar to the pouches. It is complicated trying to get two covers and one page to stitch well, using a single page binding technique and it took me a few goes to remember the intricate weaving I did to make it hold firm!


The award ceremony was on Friday night so it is safe to share the names now!

22 comments:

  1. Ah, I wondered if we would see these indigo pouches again. What a beautiful collaboration ... these are sure to be treasured keepsakes.

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    1. Thanks Liz - yes the pouches nada purpose and were happily received!

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  2. These are exquisite! What beautiful awards.

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  3. beautiful. a real treasure I am sure the recipients value as much as the prize.
    Sandy in the UK

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    1. It is rather lovely Sandy to know that some of these famous folk will have our trophy in their cabinet - but mostly I think they are special and unique reminders of unimportant occasion for them. Go well

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    1. Thanks Mo - yes the blue certainly made things seem sleeker this year I think!

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  5. Well done Fiona and Barry, the work involved in making these is amazing and the lucky people who have received them , l'm sure will have something to admire for many years to come,

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    1. Thanks Kate - most of the folk seem to enjoy them which is great. Go well.

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  6. So beautifully crafted...kudos to you both.

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  7. Another beautiful "dance" - this time between you & Barrie. The many, many details are beautifully thought-out, and the presentation absolutely perfect to commemorate contributors to the literary realm. I'm sure they feel doubly appreciated for their contributions with such a memorable prize to commemorate their work!

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    1. It is a lovely thing for them to have I think Lisa - and we try to make them unique and individual each year - one of this year's winners was also a winner in 2013, so it's nice for folk to have two that are similar, yet different!

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  8. Symbiosis! You two are the perfect partnership in every way. Lucky recipients.

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    1. Symbiosis indeed Lesley! You are most kind - it is a good partnership and a real team effort.

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  9. Love these, and the collaboration between you and Barry works so well!!

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  10. A wonderful collaboration, Fiona, you and Barry have produced objects to be treasured.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.