Felt photoshoot in a heatwave...

Soooo, who decides to do a multi-outfit felt garment shoot during a heatwave in the burnt out bush with five unknown models? Oh, why I do, of course! Last Saturday we all trekked out to Collingwood Park - a car load of models driven by step-son Liam, and another containing a very fretful artist and faithful assistant Jenelle, chauffeured by the ever-supportive Matt. Who proceeded to set up a change tent for the girls with some serious McGyvering with a tarp, some rope, and some trees, and sat there guarding the camp for the afternoon.

Model change-room luxury

The man responsible

Ciera wearing the dress I made for my sister's 40th, which she wore as bridesmaid to my wedding

I didn't bring a mirror, but you can use my glasses!!

The recently burnt ground, Matt later informed me, contained many hollows where roots had burnt away. These hollows I proceeded to find with alarming regularity as I ran hither and thither , fetching and carrying garments, make-up, water and clipboards, in my thongs. I didn't notice at the time, but I twisted my knee badly in one of them, and have been crippled since!

Chantal pulled up in her car screaming, "I hate you for making me put clothes on today!!", out of the window, which was a great start.  By the end of the shoot I was the one having the meltdown and she was all peaches and cream - what the?!! Midway through the shoot we found a lovely rock grotto for the group shot which worked beautifully.

 As we finished, Jenelle spotted a pile of broken glass in the centre - too late to warn anyone as they moved, but we were very  lucky! Jenelle seemed to torture me with my own list of the shoot on the clipboard, informing me of each impending one as I desperately hoped each was the last, and that we could go home, have a shower, and sit in the airconditioning. Much as I complain, I could not have survived it without her, as she dressed and organised each set of girls as I was directing them with Chantal - far too much for one Bunneh on their own! Assistant Bunneh was pushed to the limit in awful heat and dirt, and I'm sure Mr. Bun heard quite the story, including expletives, on her return!!!

Me, asking ' would this pose work, and, are we there yet?'!

I'm not going to show too many pictures here, as I want you to enjoy them when they are published mid-year in Felt magazine. So thanks to you all - Liam, Ciera, Aimee, Meika, Lizzy, Lowis, and the amazing Chantal, Jenelle, and Matt.

Lowis and Aimee

With that over and done with, I continue on with my wearable art work - one nearly completed for WAM, three out of four in progress for WOW.  I have been working on them all, solidly, over the months, and one has taken an interesting turn, with 1600 feathers now on their way in order to complete it - squeeeee! As of today, I have completed the dress form, based on one of my designs at college from 2 years ago. I was so grateful for the ready-made, beautifully fitted pattern, plus comprehensive construction notes.

 Speaking of squeees, I caught up with one Janet de Boer for her birthday recently, where we drank bubbles at the Shingle Inn, and I was the one who received a present - a copy of the book from the Susan Holmes exhibition which Janet opened at Objectspace in Auckland late last year. I still haven't had time to read it, but I look forward to it with relish!