I love colour.

This nuno felted wrap is a real celebration of colour. I worked from a drawing for this wrap. Unusual for me I normally just let the wrap tell me where to go as I lay out the colour. It still did not end up as the drawing but instead found it's own life. My trusty model was on hand to display. He's such a good boy.

Eucalypt dyeing

I was walking down the street and noticed the new concrete was all stained from the gum tree above. Remembering India Flint had said this was a likely sign that this was a good leaf for colour I picked up some leaves, went home and soaked them. Once soaked I boiled them up with some silk and got the most amazing black/charcoal dye.


Next I put the same leaves, the ones I had just put through the dye bath, in some paj silk and wraped the bundle.


I steamed said bundle for a few hours and then agonizingly waited till the next morning. I unwrapped like it was a christmas present and voila!



Then I got all excited and started to wonder what other colours I could find around my place. I got these wonderful oranges from the lichens growing on the tree out the front.

A new wrap

First choose your silk and dye it with sumptuous colours



Lay out your chosen fleece on top



Add your decorations and begin to felt.



Once finished stretch and dry

Another Goldsworthy

This is a light fitting I made inspired by, you guessed it, Andy Goldsworthy. I can't seem to stop hanging things of it. It's so handy.

Australia's Tragedy

As you may know Australia has been hit by the most terrible fires recently with great loss of life and property. The suffering of these communities will continue for years to come. If you would like to help here is a link to the Red Cross.

http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm

Same but different

So this is the latest bag made from the same pattern as the last one. The spiral ended up on the other side. It was easier to do this time though it is time consuming. The silk seems to really embed itself. I may be doing to much rubbing to start with I don't know. I'd like to see more of the lustre of the fabric. Started back to the teaching a couple of weeks ago so it has kept me busy and away from the studio. Need to get back into my rhythm.

Thrill seeker

I sometimes wonder what my 8 year old son will choose for thrills as a teenager. This is what he wanted to do this weekend. He wanted to go off higher but I said NO!

Spirals

Someone said I was using alot of spirals lately. For those who know me you will know that the spiral and I have been connected for a long time. The teapot was from my potting days over 8 years ago. The windows are from my new studio. The dry stone wall is my latest endeavor It will also be a spiral in shape as the flat part on top will be paved with the spiral continuing into the paving, never having done drystone walling before it is all a bit hit and miss but should look good in the end. I can't show you the extensions on my house but that is all based on a spiral too. The spiral, you could say, is an integral part of my life.

Ta Daa. First bag in a long time.

This bag took me all day not including the designing and drafting of the pattern. It ended up a little wider than I intended and certainly took longer than the simpler bags I've done before, but I am kinda pleased with the result.
It is felted all in one piece including the handle.

M. Beep. M. Bop!

This one definitely looks a little bit robot or alien. I was disappointed the thingy on top ended up too big. It was supposed to be half the size. Don't know if I will keep it on yet. Definitely has amusement value though.

A Tricky one

This hat has taken a while to complete. The fabric did not adhere everywhere as well as I'd like so I needed to think of a solution after all the work that went into making it. I decided that some subtle stitching would bring more movement to the surface and hold down those tricky bits.

Shopping Hat?

A simple hat suitable for just popping down to the shops. One needs a little frivolity at such times.

I call this style of hat the "Armadillo" hat. My son Coen thinks it looks like an animal jumped into the back of the hat. It's a heap of fun to make and I hope a heap of fun to wear.

A couple of new hats I've played with.

Creative challenge 08

Each year our family and our friends go away to camp at Bristol Point on the south coast of N.S.W.
Each year we try to do something creative. This year I got everyone to respond to the work of Andy Goldsworthy, an artist I much admire. His work is done in the natural environment using what he finds around and then he photographs it.
Here are some of my efforts.















































Here are some from Florian and Ben

Here is one from Diane

Come nature spirits on this blessed earth

Breathe life into this physical birth

Come spin, whirl, flicker

in collective dance

Let human souls feel you

Come take the chance



Here is Jason and his girls entry titled "Mermaid Issie", thanks Jane for the glorious pic.























Here are some from Joshua, Ruth and Marlene. The plop is a personal favourite






Some contributions from Robyn, Gerry, Catherine Peter and Mikey. I think Sue and Huw helped too.