Goodbye, WoW entries of 2014!!

Goodbye Isolda and Fènghuáng! It’s done! Boxed up and on its way – I have my life and my studio back! Never have I made so many changes to a piece after the photo-shoot – don’t worry WoW folk, it’s all for the good! But, I realise that this is why they have the secondary judging in the flesh, with no guarantees of acceptance – in case crazies like me couldn't stop working on them, or some tragic accidents happen…! I had a giggle as I removed a pin still in it when in the box, and did some last minute hot-glue work….!

This year we re-used the box from 2012, and on the weekend we gave it a spontaneous makeover – it looks so much better now! 

I am pleased when I am able to decorate Matts’ functional contribution to look magnificent! He painted the main boards black, and I made stencils relating to my entries to decorate. Seeing as one of my entries is for the Asian themed Weta section, I think the box reflects this well.

People always ask how long it takes to make my entries – I can safely say that this year I worked on my two entries over 5 months – and this was the first year I had actual Summer holidays to do it in!! By the end of this week, I was thoroughly over it all – nothing unusual there! It’s standard to sit there hating the pieces as you pack them. Luckily I know from experience that in another 5 months time, when I see them on stage, it will be another story!

The Hospital Bay

With this chapter over for now, it’s back to other projects. Unfortunately the focus of the last few months drew my attention away from other deadlines, and I missed out on being a part of the BVAC Pop-up shop at Mt Cootha Gardens coming up next weekend May 3^rd and 4^th. However, I will be hanging out there on the Sunday, and supplying the mannequins for the display there and later at Gallery 159 for the exhibition of works from Timeless Textiles from Newcastle – opening Mother’s Day. This meant the girls needed a wash and a respray, but of course, I made this the opportunity to resurface them properly – why make it quick and easy?. So I spent a few hours washing and sanding, with a few more of bogging, sanding and respraying ahead of me. I didn’t do them to the level I wanted when I used them for my exhibition a few years ago because I was, rightly, concentrating on the work itself! It will be nice to have them up to standard, and I will now make sure I store them better to preserve this hard work.

Before this event though, I will be at the opening of Studebaker of Australia’s new retail shop on Saturday 3^rd of May from 9am-1pm.  Studebaker of Australia will be the first retail outlet for Studebaker since they closed in 1966. 48 years later, two Studebaker nuts (one of them my very own Matt!) open a shop where you can source Studebaker car parts, accessories and merchandise. There will be great live music by the Mainliners and catering from the East Coast Muscle Car Club, and lots and lots of fabulous classic cars!

This weekend I went to see the Qld Ballets’ performance of Coppelia, and had a magical evening.  I truly had a fabulous night, from drinking lovely wines in the Russel St Bar, to my knowledgeable and equally enthusiastic neighbour, to the sheer pleasure and fun of a ballet classic performed so well. I can’t remember ever being so engaged in a performance – perhaps it was that I found it so refreshing after the drudgery of my own work!

So now I can focus on my TAFE work, unless another interesting project distracts me along the way...

Four days off, and I can’t say I’ve achieved much…… but I have enjoyed a bit of relaxation – quite the novelty to me! We enjoyed a trip to West End markets on Saturday morning, where I found this felted chooken selling her eggs – isn't she gawdjuss!! It’s a beautiful venue, with some impressive fig trees in         the surrounding park.

Last week my latest internet purchase arrived - a rolling stool so I can now wizz between my three sewing machines! It had a white vinyl cover, so I immediately made one up in dyed silk - much better!





Saturday afternoon we hung out on the front verandah in the beautiful autumn light, and Mishka was looking particularly handsome........

Also interesting but not so handsome was this gekko skeleton resting on the floor boards......
The studio is once again a shambles, although looked good briefly this morning - I could see floor! No more though, after trying to finish the last minute additions to the WoW works. At least I've worked it out now, and after sewing the wrong pieces together late this afternoon, I promised myself not to work on it any more today! Technically I have four days to finish, photograph, do dressing instructions and pack them - in a crate which I'm not even sure is going to fit them....
This time next week my WoW garments will be at the Mainfreight depot. All I can say is – it’s going to be a long week! I'm guessing there'll be a little bit of celebrating on that night - here is a pic of Matt & I getting some practice in this weekend!

Easter Break 2014

Hakaturi in the forest!

A studio shot of Hakaturi, apparently!

I was going to call it Easter Holidays, but seeing as it is only 1 week, I think the word 'break' is far more appropriate! It has been an action packed last week of college, starting with my Photoshop tutorial on Tuesday. Here I played with putting different backgrounds behind shots of Hakaturi taken in my front garden - loving the results!! It's great to have these options!

An underwater version of BioLumina

I also had a play with a pic of BioLumina from WoW, changing her colour and background. No, not really my photo to play with, and I don't intend to publish her more than this, but it's nice to work with images that are meaningful to me. Any issues, and I'll willingly take this down. I've also had a play with this years images, but of course, cannot show...
I believe most of you would already know that both entries this year have been accepted? This weekend I look at how to fit them into the shipping crate.....




Tuesday night turned into a trip down memory lane as I spent the evening at my mothers house with her and my sister. Ostensibly to discuss Maman's wardrobe for her trip to France in a few weeks, it turned into a photo-fest of my late Dad, to a soundrack of old records that my sister and I went mental to, plus a delicious meal, not to mention copious amounts of wine. I do believe Maman and I stayed up until 2am!! Slight fragility on Wednesday was the result, ie. I didn't make it to work!!

Mushrooms and Lichen

Thursday was 'Studio' day, and Janice sprung some eco-dyeing on us, as well as the sampling of a two-piece collar (always good to practice.) This meant a trip around campus, where along with all sorts of fabulous leaves, we found mushrooms and lichen to try. (Can I just say that the lichen was on wood destined for firewood...)

Silk scarves wrapped round reobar found in the TAFE nursery

Wynnum Rd/ Balmoral Cemetery

Bamboo on TAFE campus

Sadly, neither of these did very much, in fact, strawberry leaves were the major hit! It was great fun though, and I loved seeing my fellow students fascinated by the possibilities. It also meant I got to discover a little more of Mount Gravatt TAFE campus, and Janice discovered this lovely patch of bamboo, which I thought would be a fabulous background for a photoshoot. On my walk this morning I found a spot by a very busy Wynnum Road, looking up into the cemetery. Limited, I know, but not bad for down the road!
Also at TAFE is this lovely concrete structure, which I coveted for my WOW shoot this year, but due to weekend access issues, was unable to use.

Mt Gravatt Resevoir

Concrete Structure at TAFE

I also checked out the reservoir at Mt Gravatt, which has lovely textured walls as well as good access and reasonable privacy. Photoshoot opportunities everywhere we look - yaaaay!!

Gold silk and metallic silk organza

Following a visit by Laura Stead-Churchill at TAFE promoting the opening of the renovations at Indooroopilly, who have become involved with the Fashions on the Field at the Brisbane Racecourses, I got a wee bit interested in the idea of entering some of these events. I saw this fabulous book image on a book cover in the library, which was disguising a very boring book on  "An Ethonographic Approach to the Chinese Fashion Industry."
MEH!!
Further inspiration was found this morning in Style magazine with this fabulous shoe by Nicholas Kirkwood.
I believe my current design for 'Studio' could be modified to suit racewear, and I'm thinking about using this fabulous gold silk and metallic silk organza from my studio stash, and modifying some shooz in similar way to the above with some bomaki shibori frills. Be keeping you tuned soon! Happy Bunneh week, all!!