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Friday 12 September 2014

Johno's Dress Fabrics

Well, it's been a week of fabric fun! Earlier in the week I picked up some crazy printed lycra, some sparkly sequinny fun, and some gawdjuss printed silk chiffons. No idea what I'm going to do with them, but we know I just had to have them.













Today I was lucky enough to persuade Matt to take some time off and drive me up to the fabric Mecca that is Johno's Dress Fabrics at Maroochydore!! It sure doesn't look like much, and the name doesn't give much away, but inside is a treasure trove of fabric goodness! 
The three finalists

I was hoping to find a sparkly something to make a gown to wear to the World of WearableArt™ in 2 weeks time. Whilst it's never a good idea to go looking for something in particular, I think I'll always find something scrummy here! They have a great range, including some nice laces, sparkly lycras, and some interesting textural numbers. They also have all the other bits you might need, including a wonderful range of braids and trims.

Nothing screamed out 'I'm the One", but I ended up with a selection of three fabrics to choose from. The gold sequin fabric is just divine, and the purple micro sequin fabric is really interesting in that it almost has a nap - you can 'brush' the sequins to expose the underside which is pink!  The serious contender is the velvet lycra with blue/green glitter. It really has that twinkle to it, and the colours echo one of my entries this year (that's right, people - it's not pink or purple)! I like to have some link to my entry, and can possibly make a leather accessory to further do so.  And of course, there'll be a bow-tie to match the dress for Matt!

This Sunday is the photo shoot I have been working towards, and I can't wait to share the results! I'm so very pleased with the way these garments have turned out. I'm also really glad I started when I did, as I have spent the last few days beading, and will tonight be finishing the facing. Tomorrow I must attach the tulle to the skirt lining, and then I am good to go!

Sunday 7 September 2014

Work has progressed steadily on the latest project - yet I am amazed at how much time these two garments have taken! I have used the soft tooled leather feather sections I had already made, but cut new centre pieces for one in the firmer leather, which is still soft enough to sew through. The other has both front and back new leather pieces. All have now been cut, moulded, spray-dyed black, painted with Starburst Sprays, and highlighted with 'Treasure Gold' gilding wax, before being sealed and having the feather component attached.
As beloved had requested my presence at the Redcliffe Festival today, where the Studebaker Car Club was holding its' Concours, I struck the deal that I would come if I could work, and work I did, much to the perplexed interest of many a passing person. Next to me, drawing almost equal fascination, was sweltering stepson doing Physics revision!! Awesome!!


















We had wonderful weather for the event, and had an enjoyable outing, as well as being pretty productive. I had hoped to do even more work, like sketching new designs and working on my fashion history notes, but stitching these leather pieces on proved to be more than enough work! Still a ways to go yet, so I'm glad I worked hard today! Teamed with the long, black satin mermaid skirts, I'm really pleased with the way these pieces are coming together. They have also been a wonderful continuation on from my entry for WOW® this year, in a more restrained style, therefore offering different challenges.


To the left are the leather pieces destined for both the front and back of the second tunic, resting on the dyed and painted silk organza that has been used for the ruffles on each piece. To the right is a detail of the tooled leather after dyeing, painting and waxing.
As those around me are already more than well aware, in two weeks we will be in Wellington for the  2014 WOW® Awards, now an annual pilgrimage for us. Can't bloody wait!! Sorry for swearing, Mum, but it's true!!

The week also kept me busy with requests for information and images from media, as I am supposed to be having an article in the local paper regarding my WOW® entry, as well as my coming stint as invited artist at the Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair. October 8-12 at the Brisbane Convention Centre, many examples of my wearable art pieces will be there, along with myself, so come and say hello!! Ciao for now!!