Neckpiece

A Neckpiece to go with the hat.

Autumn Hat

Sometimes you have an idea of how a hat is going to be and then it makes up it's own mind. This one was not working till I gave up on the original idea and let it evolve.

Time Flies

It has been quite some time since I have posted here. The last photos seem like a long time ago. I had the most marvelous time in Europe and if you are on facebook I put lots more photos there. I have a link to the right of the page.

Since returning I have spent time with the family, and time with the house. It is becoming a need for me to pull back the loose strands of life that become tattered during the year. Spaces become clogged and untidy, edges frayed. It seems to clog and retard my progress in all parts of my life and so I begin to clear, throw away the unnecessary, and make order again. Does anyone else get like this??

I had a workshop at home which forced me to get in and clean the studio space and now it is ready for work again. There are lots of plans for this year but I am staying relatively close to home. Check out the workshops to see if I am doing one near you. I will try to get back into posting more regularly.

I have really only made a few things since being home and one was a top hat for my boy who is in a band. It was quite fun and used more traditional millinery than I usually employ.

Somebody stop me!!!

If you are wondering, "why all the clothing?" I am doing an event at an open garden at 

135 Miller Rd  Glenorie NSW.

 this weekend. If you are keen, come and visit and say hello. There will be beautiful food wine and amazing handcrafts.

Graphic botanicals

Playing with the printing and getting graphic too. I love a circle and a circle within a circle, even better.

Made a Jacket in the Milky Merino too.

step 2

Wrap up your package and pop it back into the dye pot for more colour. Or in my case a bit too much colour. Dark that is. I wrapped the whole thing in some prefelt to try to protect the outer layer from becoming too dark. The prefelt was a bit too spongy and made it harder to tie the thing tight enough. Result was the dye from the bath penetrated too many layers and I lost the lovely variation I was trying to preserve. Should have stuck to my usual method. Salutatory lesson received. Still, it is not a complete disaster, looks cute on.

Step one

For Garden to Garment first make a garment from natural dyed prefelt.

Handyed

You have to love hand dyed fibre on hand dyed silk. There is some kind of magic between them

Too toasty

I have been wearing these non stop since they dried. I never knew how cold my ankles were till they were warm.

Freedom to construct

I am heading over to Europe soon and come to share this way of working in felt. It is at once simple and complex and requires a giving over to the process that some may find challenging but ultimately rewarding. It is about letting the fabric tell you what it is to become.

wool loves colour

I have made some garments from a wool jersey from Beautiful silks This fabric just sucks the colour out of those plants. A match made in heaven. Another kiln opening moment for me unwrapping these. I used to be a potter, best time is kiln opening. It is that moment where you know you have put in the hard work and labored for hours with the "pot" to this point but in the end the result is a always a little bit in the lap of the gods and all the more satisfying for it.

Too many hats

If I had to write out my job description it would probably run something like this.

Designer 

Maker

Teacher

but then I would have to add.

Sales person

Machinist

Mechanic

cutter

dye technician

chemist

colour consultant

Computer Geek

publicist

secretary

mailperson

travel consultant

accountant

researcher

archivist

I know there is a whole list more but I'm too tired to remember them all. 

Lucky I love the job hey?

I'm sure some of you recognise this list too.

Wrapped in blue

Latest wrap

Wild about wild indigo.

We played with many plants today. Megan brought in some wild indigo. Look what happened when Deb played with it and some bottle brush.