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Sunday, 5 February 2017

TAFE 2017

Well, it was back to school this week - as always, a chaotic time trying to work out what is happening where and when, and of course, the epic task of actually trying to enrol. This term I am largely focused on swimwear design and construction, and the design of a digital print to feature on it - exciting stuff! I am already bursting with ideas! On completion of this and a few other riveting subjects such as sustainability practices (you don't think I already wring out every bit of value from my materials, time, and working practices?!!) I will - strap yourself down - graduate in June with my Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology! At the same time, my Wearable Art pieces are humming along nicely as deadlines loom - there should be another photoshoot in a week or two. I thought I had found the most fabulous piece of street art to use as a backdrop, but when I went to visit it, found that it was no longer quite so fabulous - the windows and doors are now back to being windows and doors, so essentially half the work is missing! There might be a few local opportunities, though...



Jellyfish goodness for my Oceania theme... NOT!
Norman Park Rail underpass - slightly naff but a marine theme and a good colour contrast
Local childcare centre

Cloudland stairs
Today I made a few more explorations, to some local murals, then to good old Cloudland, where the décor is ever fabulous, with the stairs really coming across beautifully today. As we were the only people there at 3pm on a Sunday, I think this could work! I just need to talk to someone there - certainly not the personality-less barman there today!! From there we walked through the valley, seeing the charming Babushka Ballerina on the way to our next stop, bar Eleven, which had us in hysterics as we channelled the youtube video....we enjoyed the lift immensely!!
Babushka Ballerina

Eleven - one of the views
I'd like to go to ELEVUN!!!
Fantastic mural in Winn Lane

Hilary Briss at your service - would you like 'the special stuff'?



















Today marks the last day we spend with Matts' son Liam before he enlists in the Army - a bit of an emotional night. His siblings and girlfriend are here, and we presented him with this personalised leather book cover (with the same family crest he got tattooed on his chest for his 18th) and a pen made by ex-diggers out of a bullet. This was my first experience at pyrography on leather - got a great little tool from Bunnings for $30 (which, poetically, I got him to go and pick up for me last week!) and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I see potential here!

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

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!

Friday, 6 January 2017

Pantone take note!


My previous post about forecasting the Colour of the Year was retrospective, and  it appears that I am in fact ahead of Pantone, and that the vibrant purples and oranges of sunsets is the choice for 2017! For starters, here is the new felt diary cover and phone cover, and below that, a few pictures of my piece for Wearable Arts Mandurah in progress.


Shibori bubbles on polyester and highlighted with paint, with tubed pieces in the background

This is what the floor starts to look like when you are in the throes of putting it all together!! With so many bits of embellishment to pin on, I've been running out of pins, and I have a LOT!! I guess that's because I am working on so many pieces at once..... Below is the results of my fabric tidying today, brought on by unstoppable avalanches. After months of just stuffing bits back in, it gets a little out of control. I had a few pleasant surprises along the way, but it was a hard slog!
Below is a little demonstration of how the heat gun can be used to create fabulous bubbling on synthetic fabric. I wanted to make a mask, so had to calculate the shrinkage that would happen. It's all painted now and I am pleased with the results!


Next weekend I embark on another photoshoot with Chantal Brennan Photography for a magazine article. It's always exciting but absolutely terrifying, and I can't wait for it to be done and looking fabulous, as I know it will. Then there's the next few, for the wearable art entries.... better get back to that stitching!!

Sunday, 18 December 2016

Colour of the Year - Peacock


2016 Diary cover
You couldn't imagine all those green tones on one bird - but here there are!:
Phone cover
For some unknown reason at the start of this year, I felt strongly drawn to the rich green and blue tones of the peacock, leading me to make my diary cover in felt and silk of those tones, and buy a phone cover in similar.
Perhaps it all began a few months earlier, as I worked my way through some dyed wool and fabric in the stash, making several nuno felted wraps.

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Next came my active wear project at TAFE, which continued the theme, this time taking it underwater into the world of the siamese fighting fish and octopus
Active Wear Inspiration Board
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Active Wear Design Boards
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Octopus Print
Anemone Print
At the same time I was working on my Studio subject design, from the given theme of Tropicobana. This time my print design actually made it to the printer. The leggings made from it became an integral part of my NZ WOW outfit, and tied in nicely to the beautiful two-way sequin fabric I found and made three pieces from. A perfect match for some shoes recently bought.

Tropicobana Inspiration Board
Tropicobana legging design
Leggings worn in Japan!
NZ WOW gear

Playing with Beatrice Carlson, who also matched me....
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with her beetle-wing jewellery to match her own entry.
 During the year I had made a peacock coloured felt and silk capelet for my favourite Bunneh - then we had an outing to Cirque du Soleil to celebrate my unmentionable birthday, so clearly needed a hairpiece to match. For this I even resorted to raiding the peacock feathers in my loungeroom vase.
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Image may contain: food During Svestivus, when we visited Melbourne, I bought these gawdjuss buttons at the markets at Federation Square.

Then there is the soft scuplture piece I am currently working on....

I'll going to take this opportunity to make a bit of a leap, and point out that I was ahead of Pantone in choosing the colour of the year... sort of....!!

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 Just to finish it off is this beautiful re-worked photo from a shoot several years ago with Asiara Photography.
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So, for all you doubters who think I only work in pink and purple, just take a look at The Year of the Peacock and all that occurred within it!
In your (Peacock) eye!!