3D Printing at The Edge

The 'Tinkerlab"

Several weeks ago I enrolled in an induction at The Edge, which would teach me how to use their 3D printers and subsequently allow me access to them in their workshop in the future. Sadly, although I was very interested, I was a little loathe to go, as we have been experiencing some serious rain in the aftermath of cyclone Marcia, and I kind of hoped it might be postponed! I was also enjoying my time in the studio... After phoning to confirm it was going ahead, I had my lovely chauffeur Matt deliver me to the door of this rather fabulous space, where I greatly enjoyed the 2 hours of being walked through the Tinkerlab software, and the use of the UP! mini 3d printers. With 7 others, I was walked through the process of designing a simple key-ring in the

The 'raft' being printed

software, by melding shapes together and creating holes, then the physical process of preparing the printers, and watching the magic happen! It really was a fascinating process, and I was quite excited when I saw my piece done, after approximately eight minutes printing time. I'm not sure if it's something I'll be getting into, but I really appreciated learning about this amazing process, and certainly see a lot of potential for it in many, many applications, So who knows!!

The printer first lays down a 'raft', a base of the ABS filament that your design sits on. Your piece is then printed on this, and when completed, the whole piece is kind of cracked/twisted of the print bed. The raft is then snapped off the finished design. The surface is quite rough, but this can be sanded back or treated with acetone.

The finished key-ring

So back to the studio - I have to say, I went along to the induction session with black and blue hands, due to spray painting leather and then painting it. Care factor - nil. There was a whole lot more of this today - really rather a pleasant and meditative process, although quite lengthy compared to air brushing the dye on. It's quite lovely, brushing on the buttery acrylic paint, layer over layer. I'm nearly running out, so placed an order with the Thread Studio for more loveliness.

Leather moulding on the loungeroom carpet...

We now have two large beasts looming over us in the loungeroom, as the height of the ceiling downstairs means I can't put it all together. Sorry, Matt! You built me a beautiful space, but sometimes it's just not enough!! (You should have seen his face last week when I had to move some leather moulding out to his shed...  not impressed!!) It has been a watershed week, as I have finally seen the WOW pieces in some semblance of their finished selves, and, after much chopping and changing, the final pieces are emerging. Good job too, with just over a month to go!! This is the first year I have worked on them full time, yet I have never felt so behind!! Perhaps due to a number of false starts, also for the first time...

Alright, that's enough, I have two bodysuits to make tomorrow, plus more leather painting, and some general weirdness to make,,,,

Desperately Seeking Sequins!

 Fabric Guru's - this is what I seek!! I have a tiny amount of this pearlised gold/white 'disco sequin' (left) in my stash, yet have decided that it is the material that I must have for one of my current WOW creations, therefore now need several metres. And I need it NOW!!! Anyone who has some, or has seen this material around lately, please let me know!
As you know, my recent attempt at an entry for the Architecture section of WOW did go well, then I tried to change it into a more organic feeling piece, shifting to shibori dyed and shaped silk in yellow orange shades.... but to no avail. It just didn't work, but amazingly, the wire framework, with some slight adjustments, now suits one of my current pair of designs, so I am pleased to say that some of these efforts do not go to waste! The silk shibori pieces will for now get packed away, but I'm sure will get used one day - I keep seeing a wild floral headpiece with them, Flora Fascinata style!!

Here is the work-bench from this weekend, covered in moulded leather pieces, beautiful Jacquard Lumiere paints and Pearl Ex powdered pigments, as well as Lindy's Stamp Gang metallic mist sprays - I just love all of these!! In the foreground are my French Flower Making tools, which I sometimes use on my leather, although, after some experimentation, not in this particular piece.
As I have said previously, it is great to be working in leather again, and throughout this process I am learning more about what can be done with it. It's almost time to start riveting all the pieces together!

Dyeing Days

Two months left for the World of WearableArt deadline! Late last year I had to shelve a design I had already put at least a month's work into, and started designing for a section themed on architecture. I thought I was going quite well, until feedback from my critics indicated that no, it really wasn't working. So I've stripped it back, and will be letting loose on it with my natural aesthetic of flowing lines - clearly, I cannot be constrained!! Yes, I've lost some time and some materials, and now have some rather strange constructions I don't know what to do with, but I tried. I've also come up with an idea for the Weta Workshop section, this year themed 'Other Worlds', where we are invited to "Invent the imaginary and mythical creatures or the inhabitants who dwell in surreal realms'. Well, two ideas, actually! Sigh. I should have just started here in the first place, back working in leather, which I am loving! So the loungeroom once again looks like a workshop, with pieces of leather in piles, leather soaking in the bath, and drying leather strapped around mannequins with stockings. One of the pieces may also include this amazing sequinned fabric in my stash- you should hear it move, too!

Unfortunately, my hand is not loving any of it, and remains strapped up after I heard that there are no signs of the bone mending, and after it started doing a dance all by itself after a hard couple of days in the studio. And the gym. Well, what's a girl to do?! I can't sit around not making anything and getting fat and unfit!!! I did decide to give the paw a break yesterday, and do some lighter tasks. After a leisurely start to the day, with some guilt free reading and a nice breakfast out, I enjoyed making a mess in the wet studio and did quite a few dye batches on these devore silk scarves and silk charmeuse camisoles. The colours are rich, but the sheen of the silk just brings them alive into lusciousness!! These will be for sale in my etsy shop (currently devoid of all items - sigh, yet another task to get on to) and on my tour around Australia starting in May.

Larks in Logan, Shibori Shenanigans, and the delights of Selective Fine Fabrics

Shibori work by Beatrice Jackson

I spent today with my dear friend Beatrice, who is a weaving, dyeing and shibori master. Our first stop was to Logan Art Gallery  to deliver her work for the Vision 20/20:Our future exhibition. Her contemporary shibori work was a delight to behold, worked in two layers of lamé secured by beads.

We enjoyed looking around the current exhibition of wild-life art, where there were some truly amazing works. I was not familiar with the technique of working on scratchboard, which enables the artist to create a highly detailed and lifelike artwork.

Logan Art Gallery Retail Space

The retail space contained many, many lovely things, including of course, lots of lovely dyed and woven scarves by Beatrice Jackson. There were also beautiful wood works and jewellery, at amazingly good prices.I saw some lovely work by Therese Flynn-Clarke, who had a corner of beautifully eco-dyed scarves.  Logan Art Gallery also sports a magnificent workshop space - this place is amazing!

Stitched shibori shaping on woven scarf

Paint-printed devoré effect

Selective Fine Fabrics 

(When I had initially arrived, Beatrice showed me one of her woven scarves which she had shibori stitched into leaf shapes, which is now ready for dyeing. I think they are so fascinating at this stage, and am in awe of the time and skill that goes into the creation of these.)

We stopped in at Make-It Fabrics, where no fabrics demanded to be taken home, but it's always good to do the rounds and see what's currently in stock. We did find this interesting fabric which appeared to be a devoré velvet, but was actually printed with paint instead of acid etched to create the pattern. By now my stomach was warning me that if I didn't find noms soon, there would be a hangry. My theory was that the local tavern would provide the coolest environment on this horrendously hot day, as well as cold drinks. Hmmmmm. The Springwood Tavern did not quite live up to this. It was NOT cold, and it was a buffet set-up - I'm used to going into a pub and

Selective Fine Fabrics bling cabinets!

being able to order what I like! Oh well, it was a new experience for the both of us! I enjoyed sharing with Bea my latest designs - I had come prepared with sketchbook and tablet!
On the way home we stopped in at Selective Fine Fabrics, an unassuming looking shop which houses amazing textiles sourced from all over the world.. We warned the owner that were just coming to drool, but she welcomed us and simply asked us not to drool on the fabrics, as silk water-stains. We were initially captivated by the delicious Elie Saab floral printed organza, which we later found in chiffon as well, then by the divine rhinestone waistbands. If you can't find what you are looking for amongst this amazing collection of printed, embroidered, ruched, and beaded silk, not to mention guipure laces, there's something wrong with you.

My shibori shaped and spray painted lamé

I had myself that morning put the giant boiling pot in the garden to boil my shibori work, done in the bomaki style over pvc pipes, and buckets for the larger scale versions (hence the need for the giant pot which lives in the back garden ready for these moments.)  On arrival home, it was time to unload the shibori pot - one of the buckets completely warped in the heat into something more like a triangle! Here's how they end up, after drying, being spray painted whilst still pleated, then opened up. These are for my current WoW creation, which I hope to finish fairly soon. Then perhaps I could work on a second one?!!

Hurray for Hollywood!!

What a brilliant day it has been! After an energetic start to the day with a very enjoyable KettleWorx class (it's SO good to be back now that the wrist is recovering!!), it was off to the Museum of Brisbane to see the Hollywood costume exhibition with Janet de Boer. I haven't been there since the renovation, and it was all very different, and quite lovely!! I was actually involved with setting up the MoB Store many years ago when it first began - I didn't realise that the shop no longer existed! The entrance to the Hollywood Costume exhibition, featuring garments collected by local lawyer Nicholas Inglis over the last two decades, was nice and twinkly - a good start! The exhibition was very popular, and as there was so much information to read on the didactics as well as the beautiful garments to look at, a slow moving one! There was also a wall of  beautiful fashion sketches - some with actual fabric swatches as well.
The costumes were beautiful, and well displayed, but nothing was better than seeing them in motion on the film clips provided. Actually, it was pretty cool to look from the film, to the actual garment, back to the film. They all appeared so much more vibrant in the films, some even changing colour completely?! I was really impressed with the presentation of the exhibition, and thought the mannequins were quite beautiful - right down to this rather jaunty one for the Don Juan costume! Well done, Museum of Brisbane!! I was quite tempted to buy the catalogue, which featured lovely shots of the exhibition - having the film shots included as well would have certainly tipped me over the edge.
On our way out through the David Malouf exhibition, we found the BEST ART GALLERY COUCH EVER!! This thing was firm, plush, and velvety, and Janet took full advantage of it. We WANT one!! (Please note also the fabulous Elvis scarf, celebrating his recent 80th birthday. I have to admit, I did enjoy Elvis joining us over lunch). Our experience was then rounded off with lunch at the Shingle Inn - the original Shingle Inn reconstructed in City Hall!! OMG, I had no idea it was there, and was so excited to step back into my childhood! Whenever we went into the city, the Shingle Inn was the place to have lunch, and of course, those delicious patty cakes. What a perfect place to reconstruct it, and how wonderful to be back in those wooden booths, looking at the cake cabinet! The food was great, and we also indulged in a couple of glasses of Pol Roger. The waitresses were even wearing the lovely old fashioned uniforms.
My dear Matt was my chauffeur today, which was just lovely. On my return home, I went straight
into the studio, where I spent the afternoon tidying up. I put the fabric I bought in New York on rolls, drew out the pattern for Matt's waistcoat from the toilé, and just tidied in general. I decided to look for something I suspected was in one of my sketchbooks, which was when I discovered that I do not need to buy another one for quite some time. It's a bit like shoes for me - I just love them, and on the chair is my collection of as yet totally unused sketchbooks. See?!!  (On the floor is another pile of half used ones.....) But there are also quite a few which are totally full, thank you very much, which provide a very interesting trip into the past. I've left one of them open at an interesting sketch, an idea which looks worth pursuing....

Matt gets waisted...

The New Year has brought a comforting return to routine and normality for the recent traveller. After some serious blobbing over the festive season, involving lots of design sketching in front of many a Midsomer Murder, it has been invigorating to return to work in the studio. I spent the first few days of the New Year working on the latest version of the WoW entry for 2015. I had already spent several months at the end of 2014 working on an EPIC entry for the South Pacific section, only to find when I logged on to enter in December, that I hadn't read the description correctly, and the section was actually themed Red, White and Black. Oh dear. Ok, so I've wrapped that all up in plastic and hung it from the studio roof for now - it's just on hold until next year, as I think it's got some merit, not to mention the months I have already invested in it. I've investigated my other options, and have come up with some other ideas...
Last year, on one of my textile odysseys to the Sunshine Coast, Matt and I bought a variety of materials to make waistcoats for him, so I took advantage of the temporary lull in activities to do this - before I got consumed by WoW activities! I am pleased to show you the results of these efforts - I am particularly proud of the welt pockets, which quite tested me. I also think that the waistcoats are very flattering!! Only one of these is from the recent purchase - the pink jacquard I have had interfaced for several years in readiness.

By the way, in the background there is the photo from our Handfasting Ceremony 11 years ago. Tomorrow marks our 12 years together - amazingly just remembered in time today!!

In my travels this week, I came across this beautiful silk dress at the local op-shop. Unfortunately it is a size 1, which I will never fit, but I just had to have it. Whether I dye it and sell it, or give it to my uber-gawdjuss sister to wear, I'm not sure yet. She'd make a great bridesmaid in it........
Indeed hmmm, you never know what might happen this year..
Best Wishes to you all for a very creative 2015! I'm sure I will meet up with many 'friends I haven't yet met' as I tour the country - further details soon. A reminder though to any Australian groups that may want to catch up - get in touch now to access my schedule!! Looking forward to yet another amazing year, and best to all of you,
Me.

Goodbye New York

I arose at 8, and left soon after, leaving Jo to sleep as requested. I had thought I might get a subway somewhere, as I still had funds on my metro pass,, but then remembered that I wanted to walk down Broadway, Sixth Avenue, The Avenue of the Americas. Cafe Martinique was open for breakfast, but their menu did not appeal, so I kept going, and crossed Greeley Square to find the Harold. Perfect. I was seated at a high table and had a view across to the park and the subway entrance. It was here, on my last morning, that I found a real coffee - a giant cup of it!  The lovely waitstaff kept trying to take my order for breakfast, but I was in no hurry, and seriously needed to digest this fine coffee.

Eventually I ordered the Eggs Benedict with Lobster - sublime!! I then continued down Broadway, stopping in at a few dress shops, and then finding myself at M&J Trimming - one that was on my list. Wow. What I would do to have this kind of resource at my doorstep. Phenomenal. The area was full of bead and jewellery shops but again, like the handbag shops, were wholesale only.??!! I ended back up at Bryant Park Markets, saw people ice-skating, and found the lovely leaf jewellery store again, but decided I had already  bought all I needed from them, and, it now nearing midday, headed towards home for the last time. I visited Victoria's Secret on the way home, largely attracted by the beautiful wings, but absolutely loved their wares.  So then it was shower time, the final pack, and some time hanging out in the lobby.

Dear Chen picked us up again, and delivered us to the airport. We checked in straight away, and went through Customs. Well, some of us did. I failed to clear the scan again (what is in me?!) and then the chick swabbed my cast - fail. So it was standing to the side again, watching my luggage bank up on the conveyor, not knowing what was going on. I was happier once they gathered that up, then took me to  bench where they examined my belongings, with me watching over a screen, being told not to touch anything. Awesome. Then came the search. Having been through this before, I knew what I was in for, and just wanted it over - no need for a private room, just do it.  Done.  We had a little time to kill, so I went and had a sandwich and some beer. Turned out to be an hour longer than I thought. Back for another drink. Having been so well behaved on the way there, I was no longer playing nice, and decided to drink my way home.  I watched My Week with Marilyn, Black Swan (disturbing) The Iron Lady, Skyfall and ohh, I don't know what else. Who cares, it got me home!! And here I am, back to real life in the Studio, with many, many projects looming.

I'll leave you with a bonus shoe shot, of one of the pairs I bought on my first day in New York, already so long ago now!