The Abbey Medieval Fair 2018

One of the first people we saw at the Abbey Medieval Fair was this fine Scot, who inspired Matt on his first visit last year. There were a few highlanders around, but these two were by far the best! We were there under the wing of Matt's brother, Jean the Hornmaster, seen here in his tent selling his fine wares. Behind this tent was where evenings were spent gathered around the fire, eating venison stew and drinking rum, before retiring to our bed in the back of the ute! It was a little chilly, and we nearly suffocated the night we shut the hatch, but our little dressing room, nicknamed the Ute Yurt, was an excellent addition to the space.

Just next to him was this beautiful basketry stall festooned with hessian.

This is a shot of the entrance of The Stag Inn, where we spent a lot of time - no,no, not drinking all the time - it was just a great place to sit on hay bales, close to fires, watching the passing parade, and talking to folk.

....and talking to folk!

We did also venture to the Friars Folly Tavern, where we very much enjoyed the performance by Praxis - most entertaining and educational! We were sitting behind this gent and I admired these carved bone pieces of his garb.

These pics were taken down at the peasant encampment, where fabulous heritage chickens, goats, and some absolutely delightful people were to be found. The woven structures were absolutely beautiful, too.

  Also found on site were these glorious camels - they were just so beautiful and graceful.

The Wedgetailed Eagle just blew me away - I have never seen such a majestic beast of a bird! I'm not even going to try and analyse how I feel about it being tethered and used to assist hunters.

 Another species spotted were the Dryads of Phoenix Firetribe - beautiful as ever.

 I cannot describe what a challenge it was for me to look this drab for 2 whole days. I really struggled with not looking like myself and...blending in!! Even those who didn't know me knew that it did just not look right!! It was an interesting role swap for us - everyone was looking at Matt - and he struggled to find me in the crowd!
We had a great time, and we were so warmly welcomed by John and his friends - what a weekend!
Ooooh - postscript - that bushy beard is gone - look at the remains still in their beard beads!! Welcome back Matt!!

Bling Bling!!

I just checked my previous blog to see where I left off, and I could hardly believe that the last image of my embroidered yoke has now turned into this! As I noted in an Instagram post - decorative self control level = zero!! With delicious 3D sequin flowers to play with (amazingly, from the $2 shop), mixed in with my posher sorts, I just went a bit Bling Berserk!! Although I had a bit of a design to begin with, it did, as usual, organically grow! It is now removed from the frame and ready for application.

Speaking of frames, I found this lovely, larger frame with stand on Gumtree, and on Sunday we headed out to Woody Point to pick it up. I've taken this shot from above so you can't really see the stand, but I can now sit on the floor and embroidery comfortably. The current set-up is all a bit backwards and dodgy - I'd already cut out the collar - but I'll make it work!! I stopped in to Bead Trimming and Craft today, and couldn't help but leave with these silvery sequins.

The yoke for Matt's silk shirt is planned to be done in a restrained silver metallic thread, but there is no guarantee that these won't make their way into the design...

Although I do buy sequins everywhere, from dollar shops to online, I do love shopping at BeadTrimming&CraftCo at Stones Corner.

The day of bling continued, as I picked up this bag at the dreaded KMart - it matches so well with the fabric I bought a few weeks ago! Modelled here on Emperor Matt.

All the equipment is now assembled for the kombi paint job, and it is just a wait for the right weather conditions now to start! I think the amorphous pattern, based on butterfly wings, will offer me enough of a buffer to hide my lack of experience in this particular medium!

The next post will be of the Medieval Fair - the trim arrived for my outfit today. Thank goodness. It's no rhinestone, but it's something. It's going to be an interesting weekend for this peacock - no sparkles, no pink hair, no heels!!

Medieval makings

This fabulous weekend past began with a 'Squeeeee' with Janet de Boer on Friday (AKA a bubbles filled lunch of hilarity, textiles, and way too personal gossip - a much treasured event - of which I am yet to get a photographic record). Saturday saw a revamp of my Dressing Room, starting with an epic extraction from Matt's ute of my new storage unit courtesy of Facebook Marketplace and $20. Several bruises and a dance around domestic disharmony later, it was installed, and after several hours, filled tidily with garments - with an important spare cube for a light, a tissue box, and a wine glass/ stubbie resting stop!!

Sunday was filled with studio serenity - both Matt and I were busy creating - me, washing, ironing, and cutting material for shirts for him, he, attaching my tooled leather to the wooden base of his targe ready for the Medieval festival at The Abbey next month.

Although it is my first attempt at tooling leather in a structured design, and is far from perfect, I am still very happy with the outcome, especially after Matt has turned it into the actual targe. It has been glued to a plywood base, backed with leather, handles and pockets riveted on, and the entire diameter fastened with studs. The spike has been made from steel rod, hammered into shape blacksmith style, and sits in a base created from an aluminium washing machine drive pulley which Matt has machined into this authentic looking piece!

The beautiful silver plaid pin is on loan from his brother, and his 'bastard sword' tucks in behind the targe, ready to stab the enemy!

 His shoes are done, his plaid fabric is hemmed, his sword scabbard is under construction, and, oh yeah, my sack dress and apron is nearly done - just awaiting the arrival of my Scandinavian braid to complete my outfit. Yes, this Bird of Paradise will be going undercover in a linen/cotton blend of beige dullness, with even the hair under wraps. Beige dress, grey apron, grey woolly wrap and headcover, blue suede tool belt, and brown leather shoes, this colourful chick is covering up to become a Norse woman of the Medieval Age. I am a descendant of the Gyllenspetz family, recognised in the Swedish House of Nobles. I also have Scottish heritage, like Matt - mine is MacKenzie - but as "I don't do tartan', I thought I'd go with the other half.... Swedes have style....We are being hosted at the event by Matt's talented brother John, also known as Jean the Hornmaster.

Other projects are also on the go, including embroidered yokes for kaftan shirts - bling and colourful flowing textile goodness - what's not to love?!!

paper on skin - Winner 2018!!

Ellie Simpson modelling Lichen Morphology. Photo: grantwellsphoto

Those of you who follow me on social media will be familiar with a lot of this, so please bear with me! On Friday night I had been sitting on the couch, fully aware that my work was on the catwalk in paper on skin, in Burnie, Tasmania, feeling edgy, and trawling Pinterest for yet more images of lichen and fungus, when I received a phone call from the showcase to inform me that I was the winner of this biennial event! I do believe I gasped in excitement!! For the next 10 minutes I was kept on the phone for a 'live-cross' when the announcement was actually made - this was hilarious, as I could understand nothing - it sounded like I was in a fish bowl. It was all a bit surreal.

Isolda, 2014

Lichen Morphology was created by dismantling the structure of Isolda into pieces, 5 of which were used. Using tissue paper from Reverse Garbage, I spent days covering them in papier maché, then spray painting with silver, gold and black, ending up with a lovely silvery wood colour. I was inspired by 2 photos in particular of lichen found on my travels - one in Hamilton NZ, the other in Port Arthur, Tasmania. The inspiration from these never got resolved in my Morphology exhibition in 2011, so it was good to be able to go back to it. With a requirement to be 80% paper, I had to look sideways from my usual textile materials, but found  a happy medium in silk paper, which I wet and ironed into individual 'lichen', coloured with glitz sprays, singed a little with a heat gun, crinkle ironed, free-motion embroidered (hand dyed crochet thread in the bobbin), and sewed on pieces of dyed and painted silk cocoons, before stitching onto the armature itself. Phew!

Photo: grantwellsphoto

Photo: grantwellsphoto

Photo: grantwellsphoto

I also re-used Isolda's shoes. Then I thought about the fact that someone was going to have to wear this, and that they might want something on underneath the framework, so made a flesh coloured leotard, and printed it with a lino cut of lichen I had made as part of exhibition exploration. Lichen Morphology will be on display with other entries of paper on skin at the Burnie Regional Art Gallery 22 June to 29 July.

The morning after the big news, I hit the road with Matt, accompanying him on a work trip to Coffs Harbour and Casino. Sadly, I am a rubbish car companion, as driving just puts me to sleep -even when I am behind the wheel.... 

We  walked along the beach, discovering along the way a seagull 'Village of the Damned' - so many leg issues!! One limping, one missing, and this dude, with the leg just out airing!!

On Sunday I had a lovely morning walking along the beach, exploring Muttonbird Island, finding the perfect stick to make a staff, and finding a market with something fantastic (unlike recent travels)! I bought myself this present as it was just so appropriate - a beautiful little segment of lichen, fern, and a wee crystal - from Tasmania!! The lichen exhibits the same features which inspired Lichen Morphology, so thank you Wildwood Earth!

Looking back into Coffs Harbour from Muttonbird Island

Many thanks to all at paper on skin - I'm absolutely thrilled - and in particular, my beautiful model, Ellie Simpson.

Presents all round!!

What a lovely surprise this week when Matt brought home a tool belt for me! For many nights, he has listened to me moan and curse as I can't find the thread, the snips, the pliers, my glasses, that I just put down! It's looking pretty bare right now, but it is going to get very organised, and possibly a bit sparkly as time goes on! Who needs birthdays or Christmas - this is what real gift giving is about - 'saw this and thought of you'.

In the throes of finishing 'Lichen Morphology' for paper on skin, I needed to explore what fabrics were out there for my undergarment. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything which fit the bill, but I did find two lovely sparklies for myself - the first from Trad's, (above) which I think would make a nice dress to wear for my Alumni Speech at the TAFE graduation next month, and the second screams 'WOW'!! Two-way multicoloured sequins in a pattern on black stretch velvet!! YAAAAHHH!!!

As I mentioned, I am currently finishing 'Lichen Morphology', which involves stitching through wire/fabric/painted papier-mâché - firmly firm - involves pliers and many 'ouches' as the needle pops out unexpectedly - and a few random blood spots. Once again, I am struggling with my phone as my fingerprint can no longer unlock it!
Weird things happening with font - I cannot deal right now - at least it's English, unlike my car, which today switched to German. Perhaps in anticipation of its replacement by the kombi aka the Sturmpanzerwagen!!!

Bunnehs Dandy in the Nongs part two

As we coffee on the couches, Jenelle declares that the title of today's adventure is 'Great Expectations' - a positive move on from our Big Dreams/Shattered Dreams markets experience. It's another cold day - we're unsure as to whether it was black ice or oil on the road which made us spin about on a

On the misty road to Marysville

gentle corner!!! Siri guides us along Macclesfield Road towards Woori Yallock, which to crazy Bunnehs sounds like 'Woolly Mammoth'!. We pass more signs warning of wombats, which we have been keeping an eye out for, with no luck whatsoever. I check Google to see if there is a santuary nearby, and as I search for 'wombat', options for 'wombat poo' and 'wombat salad' come up!! Errrr, make that 'wombok salad'. Phew!! On arrival at Marysville it is a desperate rush for the facilities once again - all this coffee and cold weather!! - before heading up to Steavenson Falls.

Over-confident Bunnehs miss the Fern Tree Gully Track and end up walking up the road instead. This means that we see the confronting sight of many driveways with no houses - we assume these were lost in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, when an incredible 173 lives were lost. 

We are very pleased to see quite a magnificent falls before we find the track, which strangely seems to take longer to get us back to Marysville. Very hungry Bunnehs start looking at the wildlife - "I wonder what blue and red tastes like" - as we contemplate never making our way out, and having to eat a parrot - perhaps stuffed with the many local mushrooms? Marysville still hasn't woken up, and we find noms at the only place in town, which explains why everyone else is there. 

Mmmmmmushrooms!!

Corporate Bunneh - iz on the Management Track!!

A beautiful baguette stuffed with brie and local smoked trout averts my hangry! Back through Healseville, Seville, and Gruyere - which doesn't even smell like cheese - and back to Mount Dandenong, where we browse an antique shop and find a deli which provides Jenelle with a tumeric latte and a fantastic sweet pea and lemon cake. Full of confidence, I say we can get us home without Siri, and so we end up driving half way down the mountain whilst driver Bunneh mutters "I just want to eat my cake with my coffee'!! She finally does, and declares it to be the nicest cake she has had in years (despite not much cake being had over those years at all!!)
Our final morning is a cruisy pack-up, then heading towards Melbz via Warrandyte. I see goats in a field, and Jenelle almost drives us over to check if they are indeed, goats - yikes!! We navigate successfully back to Apex, where we find the bus driver much chirpier than last time, and he drives us straight to the airport meaning maximum Virgin Lounge time - hurrah!!

So, back into the studio now - and the shed - kombi painting is about to begin!