Update January 2026. The Taranaki Collection 2026 . 8th Jan – 23rd Feb
Karen was one of the artists selected in the curated Taranaki Collection 2026. She submitted a range of intimate works created by natural dyeing and stitch.
For Karen’s Artist statement about this suite of works please go to : https://fromoutofthebluestudiogallery.com/artists-in-the-taranaki-collection-2026/
Update November 2024
Karen has had two of her submitted works accepted for Time the juried invitational exhibition for members of The Surface Design Association of New Zealand , Australia and The United Arab Emirates. This exhibition is described here: https://fromoutofthebluestudiogallery.com/time-2/
Authentic Kiwi Bach Blanket.
This quilt represents memories of times at the bach when money was tight and cottages were kitted out with repurposed furniture and linens. Blankets like these have provided comfort over generations and can probably still be found in baches and cottages throughout NZ. Whether something to snuggle into on a weekend getaway, to make up a quick bed for unexpected guests, or to throw on the ground for a picnic, every kiwi bach likely has one of these covers. Is it valued for its age in years or for the memories it holds?
Materials: Vintage and up-cycled cotton fabrics front and back, wool blanket lining. Machine pieced and hand quilted.
Dimensions:163 cm x 120 cm
The Juror’s comments:
The rampant colour, pattern, piecing ‘chaos’ of this work is what makes it successful. Despite the title and all that this suggests, this has the feeling of story telling. nostalgic reminiscing and connection. As suggested there is an authenticity about the work and its connection to family is apparent. Each piece of fabric has its own distinct narrative and collectively this quilt is a timeline of family gatherings and special events. Dr Carole Shepheard ONZM
Fleece to Farm Shed
These pieces of rusted metal and scraps of wool once had a vital function. Iron, nails and wire had their place in farm buildings and machinery. Once [part of felted wool vests, these scraps provided warmth to newborn lambs. The age of these objects does not value their true worth but simply shows change over time. Once important, these discarded pieces may now be seen as just junk or scrap.
Materials: Rusted metal, discarded wool fleece lamb jacket. acrylic paint on fusible web, dyed cotton muslin and thread. hand stitched.
Dimensions: 49 cm x 53 cm
The Juror’s Comments:
This mixed media piece shows a good integration of disparate materials and patterns – hard/soft, dull/bright, past/present. The contrasty colour field of rust to intense turquoise shifts the work from a random collage of bits and pieces to a strong and convincing mixed media work. While I am unsure of the decision to use nine separate elements (a bit like samplers) each do hold some beautiful stitches to attach and pin to the metal substrate. Dr Carole Shepheard ONZM
“may i be i” don’t try to understand it.
an exhibition of works inspired by the life and poetry of e.e.cummings.
Solo Exhibition 29th August 2024 – 7th October 2024
Artist Residency 27th August 2024 – 7th Sept 2024; 26th September – 7th October 2024.
Karen Johnston has been a part of our gallery community for a few years now contributing several of her evocative works for The Beach 2023 – 24 . For that body of work Karen gave us an insight into her creative process:
An easy walk along a beach becomes an opportunity to discover simple but often overlooked treasures. These simple treasures ask “What if..?.” or “How can..?.” The lure of possibility transforms an easy stroll into an artistic journey with an unplanned outcome.
Nature helps. The hard work has already been done by the sun, sand, sea and wind. Rough edges become smooth, colours change or fade, wet becomes dry, patterns emerge, holes and gaps appear, shapes and textures all change as nature does its thing.
Nature starts the process. Time and creativity enhance and transform, bringing meaning and a new life to simple objects.
My pieces for The Beach all began as an easy stroll along a beach. The treasures all “told” me what they wanted to be and the message they wanted to convey. I just had to listen.
There are more details about The beach 2023-24 on this link: https://fromoutofthebluestudiogallery.com/the-artists-the-beach-a-summertime-collection-2023-2024/ and https://fromoutofthebluestudiogallery.com/the-beach-a-summertime-collection-2/
Artist Statement by Karen Johnston
I was born in Auckland and learned to hand-stitch and knit at about 10 years of age. Since then, working with fibre and fabric has been a constant part of my life . My father owned a millinery business and I remember being in the workroom with the women who trimmed and stitched the felt and straw ‘hoods’ that had been carefully steamed and lacquered the old-fashioned way. There was no glue, synthetics or sinamay back then and only minimal machine sewing as pretty much everything was stitched by hand.
After completing high school I trained as a physical education teacher and also taught English, French and Social Studies before moving into the world of learning support/special education.
I have lived and worked in the Waikato, Manawatu, wider Wellington region, the Middle East and the Caribbean. In the late 1990’s I travelled to North and South America, Europe and the UK with my husband and two sons.
I completed floristry training in 2006 before we moved to the Caribbean. During our time in Cayman, I studied textile art and design, completing an on-line City and Guilds qualification. I also qualified as a yoga teacher and Master Scuba diver and took up open water swimming. I still continue to practise yoga and walk or swim most days.
The experiences in all these diverse environments continue to inform my work. I like to look beyond the obvious, delve into history, play with words, find alternative meanings and then express my thoughts and feelings with textiles and thread. The City and Guilds qualification was the catalyst for breaking the rules of traditional quilt making and getting ‘permission’ to just do my own thing.
To say my sources of inspiration are diverse would be an understatement. Recent works have included my response to the situations in Syria and Gaza, a fascination with the life of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, a love of the underwater world and the wonderfully clever poetry of ee cummings.
I belong to two textile art groups and have exhibited locally, nationally and overseas. I am very happy to have the opportunity to exhibit some of my work at From Out of the Blue Studio.
I have a blog which is only sporadically updated because I’m usually too busy in my studio!
https://orangefloortextilestudio.wordpress.com
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Selected exhibitor in NZ Quilt Symposium Suitcase Exhibition in 2015.
Prizewinner in Pinestream Quilters exhibition 2012.
Top Student in Certificate of Floristry course 2004.
EXHIBITIONS
Solo Exhibition at From Out of the Blue Gallery, Opunake.
Upcoming, August 2024 – October 2024
NZ Through Our Eyes
Ailsa Craig Ontario Canada 2019
NZ National Quilt Symposium
Christchurch 2017 & Palmerston North 2015
Bi-annual Exhibitions from 2008 – 2014
Cre8 textile art group
Odlin Gallery Lower Hutt
Club Exhibitions from 1992
Pinestream Quilters
Upper Hutt
TRAINING
UK DesignMatters – City & Guilds Creative Sketchbooks 2007-2010
Whitireia Polytechnic NZ Certificate in Floristry 2004
GROUPS
Surface Design Association – NZ region
Member since 2022
Costume and Textile Association of NZ
Member since 2010
Aotearoa Quilters NZ
Member since 2010
Cre8 Textile/Mixed Media group Upper Hutt
Founding member 2007 – current
Pinestream Quilters Upper Hutt
1992 – current
Past President and Secretary
General and Exhibition committees
Rose City Quilters Palmerston North
1990-91
TUTORS/MENTORS
Katherine Morrison – NZ textile artist and quiltmaker
Linda and Laura Kemshall – artists and co-
founders of DesignMatters Online Design School UK
Catherine Nicholls – Canadian textile artist and DesignMatters tutor
Pam du Rhone – Floristry tutor. Whitireia Polytechnic NZ
WORKSHOP TUTORS
Kim Thittichai – UK author and textile artist
Judy Coates-Perez – USA textile artist
Jenny Hunter – NZ quiltmaker and designer
Clare Smith – NZ textile artist and quiltmaker
Digital Handles
Blog: orangefloortextilestudio.wordpress.com
Insta: @orangefloorstudio