Meh...

Okay, prepare yourselves for a bit of bleat/moan/whinge here. Take it with the grain of salt that I am - this is a recognised and regular part of the creative process, it's just a bit painful. I've got less than seven weeks left, and as usual, everything is falling apart. I'm going mad because I'm working in ridiculously cramped conditions. I won't even grace my old 'studio' with that title anymore, as it is just a giant pile of stuff that I keep tripping over and losing things in. My new studio has stopped - the floor has not been touched - apart from some muddy footprints by persons unknown but highly suspected!!#$%@!!!
I'm stuck with where I'm going with my WOW pieces - it's a 'make-or-break' kind of situation at this stage, and uncertainty can become almost paralysing. I've come this far, it's not quite there, I don't want to lose the magic, how do I not screw this up?
Luckily I have done this enough now to know that despite the deadline, it is time to step back. It's time to stop desperately thinking and experimenting.  Often it is helpful to go back to the ideas and images that originally inspired me, to re-find my direction when I am lost.
Ok, that was quite cathartic - now moving right along!
I always like to have some pictures to show you, so here's some arashi shibori in process on a metallic polyester fabric.

These then turn into lovely springy pleated tubes, which I was going to cut feather shaped pieces out of, but when I was playing around with it, found this lovely way of using it to texture a surface.

And here is a sneak peak of the process of airbrushing the leather with dye, which is nicely disguised with a little ghost imaging!

Quite ethereal, really! And a lovely note on which to end. I'm sure I'll have a more positive report next time, once I have found my Mojo once again!

Did I miss something here?!!

Somehow, not sure sure how, it has become February of 2013!! Of course, my next thought after that is how many days left until the World of WearableArt deadline. By now you all know it is April 1st for photo submissions, so I don't need to spell out the urgency.
However, challenges keep getting thrown in the way to slow me down.... A few weeks ago we had torrential rain, which showed up some weak spots in the new studio, and put a stop to the concrete floor getting sealed.  At the same time, we welcomed 3 new bodies to our home, meaning further space was lost, and the pace of life ratcheted up yet another notch. Tonight I have finished painting the floor ( a tasteful understated whitewash with glitter swirls!!)

Note running stain from storms near fabulous new Air Conditioning unit!

If it gets sealed this week, I might get to move in on the weekend! However, I'm thinking I will just use it as a construction space for the next 6 weeks as I can't get bogged down in creating the new space whilst trying to finish 3 major pieces - these take precedence!! To top it all off, I have received word from Mainfreight this week that my last 2 WOW pieces are at the port ready for pick up. Now where am I going to put those?!!
This is the current state of my upstairs studio/dressing room/general dumping ground!!

Cardboard templates, feathers, leather off-cuts - everything is there!

I thought I'd share with you a delightful image that I wake up to each morning, which creates peace & beauty in my mind, and makes me smile - my beautiful mermaid of serenity, draped in the jewellery that I wear.

Once the WOW deadline has been successfully reached, my immediate reward is a SvenJen adventure (with my partner in silliness Miss Jenelle), this time to Fibres Ballarat, to do a workshop with Marjolein Dallinga. Whooo hoooo!! Can't wait!
Happy Creating folks, remember to give your time to the things that make you happy - this life can be a short one. Make it count.