tjoyy

Glorious Mud

2011-08-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

Remember that fantastic winter ending Sunday a few weeks back? I was playing in the mud all day with some kiddies celebrating National Tree Day.

It took a little bit to get some children's sleeves rolled up -but once they started it was impossible for them to start - nothing lovelier than squeezing gooey squishy mud between your finger tips!

I loved the minimal impact of the project - all the materials came from the site and when we finished for the day they returned to the site. Here is a link to a fantastic kids land art site for more inspiration.

Photos by Liz Martin

Drawing Girl

2011-05-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

beauty

2010-12-15T03:05:00.000-08:00

Saturday just passed I took the train to Melbourne to attend the opening of Places and Pieces - the show just looked fabulous - curated by Rebecca Jobson and furniture design by Erik North.
And this photo of the show is by Rochelle Marwood.

An article about the show is coming up in a local paper on Friday - looking forward to reading the text by Megan Spencer.

But before the opening spectacular I did some sticky beeking around the Nicholas Building - unfortunately a day late for the open studio event - although I did meet a wonderful woman, Robyn, and had a great chat in her studio Harold & Maude. Her work is all about found objects, recycling, remade and renewed. She works also with fabric and paper and pretty much anything. She does a lot of styling for events and has an amazing can do attitude which she celebrates - lovely.

Ever since moving into Melbourne back in the early 1990s (not 1900s) I have loved the city and loved this building.Here is a pic of a paper Christmas decoration she gave me on my departure - what joy and beauty!

Also opened up an world of pondering of how I might set a commerical studio up...

Embroidery hoop wall hangings for the Square Market this weekend

2010-12-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

I like these ones they are lovely and calm and make me think of late 1940s hats.

They are easy to hang on your wall and would make a great gift for someone who has everything!

You will find them at the Knotty Ladies stall at Bendigo's first handmade market The Square this Saturday. The Knotties are having a fund raiser for KIVA. Doors open at 10am at the Bendigo Town Hall - closing at 4pm.

I'll be there doing last minute Christmas shopping

We Want Your Pants!!

2010-12-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

Dirty Denim is a new project I am starting with a wonderful Bendigo based textile artist Verity Lougoon.

We have a show coming up next December at the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre.
Along side the show will be textile workshops in green screen printing, hand sewing quilts and embroidery.

Want to learn more about denim and its tragic impact on the world check out this great video "From Crop to Swap". Video by Planet Ark

Image by Brendan McCathy

work in progress for Knotty Ladies

2010-11-22T02:43:00.000-08:00

Very busy - not sure what or why or how. But I have some very exciting projects cooking for 2011! and will share with you soon

Visited my sister and her son today - he is like a strawberrry - so sweet and lovely - I have to restrain myself from cuddling him all the time. She is announcing her new etsy store site soon and in ten weeks a new bubba.

Slowly getting new works made for the Knotty Lady's fundraising stall at The Square : Bendigo's Handmade Market.

Gorgeous image by imagesbygail.

Finally I am back in the studio

2010-11-10T11:29:00.001-08:00

Well for a moment there I thought I was never going to pick up a needle again - I fluffed about cleaning up my studio, got the sewing machine serviced, cut out material and gathered patterns and put projects together in little bags - and now I have finally finished something!

I has been a very special making year for me with Places and Pieces, The Enlightenment Project, Easter in the Conservatory and some smaller commissions. Not forgetting Knotty Ladies came into being!

Right now I am enjoying making gifts for Christmas and sewing for my daughter.

The skirt above took about 15minutes using a tutorial by Oliver & S dead easy I am pleased to crow.

These are some flags for my nephew - he is turning two early December - easy and satisfying to bring them together. I have finished off some other gifts - but I can't post about just yet!

Recent Drawing: the pair

2010-11-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

Places and Pieces online

2010-11-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

Last time I posted about this project we were in the studio, now thanks to the brilliant curators at Craft Victoria Places and Pieces is about to become an exibition. You can see some of the works online here!

This show is opening on Saturday the 11th of December - but will be up in the Encounter Window at Craft Victoria a week before this. Included will be works by students from Bendigo Senior Secondary College, Castlemaine Secondary College and from Karen women who are now residents of Bendigo.

It is exciting to have worked through from talking about a concept, responding through making and now to soon see all the works shown together - can't wait!

My studio

2010-10-29T20:41:00.000-07:00

I have been kinda having a rest from making stuff and haven't really spent much time in this space. I am gearing up to do a whole lotta making here as of next week - picked up my freshly serviced sewing machine for some major making.

It is interesting that most of the projects I am working on are machine stitched rather than hand sewing - which I usually do!

The basket in the foreground is all packed up for Knotty Ladies - which took place a few nights ago.

Gossling a new EP NOW AVAILABLE!

2010-10-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

I am blessed with a family who is very creative and the best part is often we collaborate on projects together.

My sister in-law is GOSSLING and she invited me to design the cover for her most recent album called Until Then.
Also involved was a designer I admire greatly Jaci Lowe.

It will be available on the 5th of November 2010 from JB Hi Fi

It is a beautiful melancholy album - whilst sketching and preparing for the design I was often weeping in my studio.

Moopy notebook cover

2010-10-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

Ah another very late, yet hand made birthday present - for my sister. Pattern from Meet me at Mikes book.

Sewn up from Liberty fabric a gift from my mum for my last birthday -all the way from London.

Darling sewing machine is at the doctors getting a service - has been working very hard this year and needs some fine tuning before I get stuck into my Christmas gift sewing - have cut out a number of pieces on Monday night at the studio.

Did you know I was published in a quilting magazine!

2010-10-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Remember this yoyo quilt project from Easter? Well somehow it got a little write up in an Australian magazine called The Australian Quilters Companion - this happened some months ago - but it all got lost in the mess of crazy life that has been happening around here.
This is a work by Lori Kirk that was on at Craft Victoria earlier this year - just love it!

on horse back

2010-09-25T03:06:00.000-07:00

Felt works for Fathers Day stall

2010-09-18T04:27:00.001-07:00

Yes - its true Fathers Day was nearly a month ago - but I can still show off some felt badges I made for our local school's Father Days stall.

I have been distracted some what from the computer - preferring books (Northline : a novel / Willy Vlautin These is my words : the diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 : Arizona territories : a novel / Nancy E. Turner - both highly recommended) and and also falling heavily into the world of Ree Dummond.

These pins were inspired by Meet me at Mikes

Check out the moustache here - now that would make a fine father's day pin.

What was the Enlightenment

2010-09-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

The launch and also the closing of the Enlightenment Project took place last Sunday - launched and closed by the Victorian Arts Minister Peter Bachelor. I now have two fabric cubbies in my car port - not sure really what to do with them now. Any cubby lovers out there?

Here is the Minister & also a Councillor of the Macedon Ranges - wouldn't it been lovely if they hopped into the cubby and grinned from in there?

The day before was a Children's craft anoon hosted by the generous and hard working volunteer friends of the Kyneton Museum.

Speaking of brilliant cubbies and textiles work check out these ones below & for more information follow this link

I also love this perminant cubby made by children from the Melbourne University Early Learning Centre, souced from the blog Let the Children Play.

Young Places & Pieces Artist's new Works!

2010-09-15T17:10:00.001-07:00

Here is a proud little post of new art works by the young students I worked with at Bendigo Senior Secondary College whilst on residency there for a project called Places & Pieces.

This one is by Karly - it is called Felt Master Piece 2

A Piece of Lace by Akasha

This lovely ceramic braclet by Simone called Hope and Dreaming

Eve Lace and Night

A selection of my Places & Pieces Jewellery

2010-08-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a fantastic project called Places and Pieces, which has seen me as an artist in residence at the Bendigo Senior Secondary College. Tomorrow is my last day - it has been a memoriable and life changing experience and I hope I have the opportunity to work in a high school setting again. The students were wonderful and very inspiring.

These images are of works that I made in response to the Places and Pieces Theme; jewellery and body adornment pieces that reflect their place in a geographic, cultural and personal sense.

I made them back in May - for some nervous reason it has taken me sometime to post them.

Places and Pieces in the studio

2010-08-18T04:28:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that I haven't posted for a while. I've just been managing to keep my head out of the water - life has been very busy with two comission contracts finishing up this month.

The following images are of some of the wonderful students I have been working with over the last four weeks from Bendigo Senior Secondary College for Places and Pieces, a found jewllery project.

Next week we will be finalising the works getting ready for our December exhibition!

Look at them all working away, very proud of them.

Recent works on paper

2010-07-20T04:02:00.000-07:00

Tired last night and couldn't think what to do with myself (as completed trashy novel the night before) and then I remembered DRAWING!!!

Here is what arrived:

On the peak

Camping in Balance

ABC Sampler Drawing

2010-07-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

Winter Salon

2010-07-16T00:41:00.000-07:00

This is a new work that is accompanying Mem Fox to a wonderful little group show that I was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in.

It is opening today (the 17th of July) at 12pm - 4pm at LOT 19 Castlemaine.

Unfortunately I am not sure if I will make the opening - Kd had a bad night with the beginnings of a sore throat - let's see what the day brings....

Recent Drawing inspired by the Dunkeld 2010 International Tree Drawing Competition

2010-07-07T03:23:00.000-07:00

Join in the Dunkeld Tree Drawing competition for National Tree Day

Yep they really need to be scanned before submitting - and remember it must be in black and white...

But these works are directly from a Sampler in the Kyneton Museum - by a young woman back in the 1800s.

Plently more drawing fun there and also stitching these works up for my Kyneton exhibition happening in September!

She has arrived!

2010-07-06T02:35:00.000-07:00

A little while a go I posted about a doll I started to make for Hj and I am proud to say that I have finished it - although the sewing is not the bestest of all bestest I love her & I hope Hj does too!

Here she is sitting in a doll crib that my Grandfather made for me & now Hj's Great Grandfather. I am also giving this to Hj for her fourth birthday. I made a little quilt for her and today I found some doll blankets that my Great Grandmother made for me!

Today she started playing with my old barbies - I am so glad Mum saved them. I would have thrown them out for sure. We spent quite a bit of time playing together today - didnt get any of my household chores done!

Observation of Design Elements

2010-07-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

I have to admit making jewellery is a new adventure for me and Places and Pieces is just the push I needed to try out this addictive form of making.

This post is a tutorial about using observation of design in landscape to create a body of work. It is aimed at year 11 students and is to be delivered as a hand out to complement class discussion.

In future posts I will provide tutorials on making paper jewllery using two techniques!

Selecting line, colour, tone, texture, shape, sound and form to create new jewellery that reflects place in a geographic, cultural and personal sense.

This is a native ground cover I discovered one day on my regular walk. I have been walking along this industrial path next to a factory and train line for nearly a year and never spotted this brave hardy plant before. It was a joy to discover in an area so dominated by industrial activity.
I was taken by the sweet, round petite shape of the leaves, the bending, yet reaching form of the braches and the mono, flat and blending tones of the bush. Picking a stork I popped it in some water and took some sketches. My drawing is dominated by line and shape.

As I worked drawing I reflected upon another artist’s work that I recently viewed, by David Neale. As I drew I thought about ways I could replicate these elements in 3D

I thought about using:
- small stones
- clay
- paper
- fabric and leather

I thought about these materials because they are familiar to me and I have a great deal of confidence and pleasure in using them.

The resulting works from my drawing and playing I will post in the coming days.

An Enlightment update

2010-06-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

My residency with the Kyneton Museum is kicking along and I would like to share with you the most recent fabric donations!

These donations are unfortunately anonymous. (thank you!) I am eagerly awaiting further pieces to come on in with recent local media activity.

These scraps are left over from my children's pinafores and some patchwork pieces that were never made. Anonymous Donator

Memories of a life when there was time to sew! Fabric from favourite times which never quite made it into a quilt, and some that did. lovely light and flowery fabrics from little girl's dresses made throughout the '70s and '80s for my friend's children. Hard to believe that I have held onto these scraps for so long! Anonymous Donator

Lace from my outfit when I became Godmother to a darling girl now 26 years old! Anonymous Donator

Online I have found some projects that I find inspiring and add a to the context of this project - I really like Craig Walsh's (Australian) project Digital Odyssey. Check out the patchwork screen that was made to show local stories from people who have donated items about the idea of home.

The second project is Passage Quilts by Sherri Lyn Wood (USA)who I think works on a commission basis to put together "grief quilts" and also within a community arts project.

Craig Walsh: Digital Odyssey, A Museum of Contemporary Touring Project is a two-year tour and artist residency, which brings internationally regarded Australian artist Craig Walsh’s distinctive artwork to locations throughout the country. For this innovative and ambitious project, Walsh is travelling around Australia in a mobile living and working environment, developing and presenting temporary or semi-permanent large-scale public projection works that are responsive to regional history, local stories and the surrounding landscape.

He is currently in Cairns, and we are inviting the local community to get involved in the construction of the collaborative screen for the Cairns installment of the HOME project.

Craig and Hiromi will be setting up in the artist run gallery Crate59, and we would love Cairns locals and visitors to visit the gallery to contribute materials and get involved in the making of the screen. Your participation could be as brief or as long as you want. You can even just drop in for a coffee to have a chat and find out more about the Digital Odyssey project.

Items donated can relate to what ‘a sense of home is’, or could be textiles and objects constructed specifically for the project. When the screen is complete, it will be hung and large-scale videos of people discussing what home means to them them will be projected onto its surface.

Passage Quilts : An active bereavement & transition process utilizing the clothing and materials of life by Sherri Lyn Wood

French Hand Sewing

2010-06-28T04:11:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended a great little morning stitching workshop at the Bendigo Art Gallery - all about French Hand Sewing.

I learnt how to pin tuck as above - I think I will be using this one quite a bit
fun, simple and effective.

I am hoping to get into sewing some pretty nighties for summer soon

Attended a fantastic show of drawings at La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre on the weekend by Philip Hunter

I love seeing drawings for joy, lines for love. I like also how his drawings are so silent and speechless. Inimate nothing - just like the place I came from and carry within me.

Philip Hunter
Untitled (Acheron) 1997 charcoal and conté on paper

tees on me and him and an Ep cover commission

2010-06-14T03:15:00.000-07:00

The famous Gossling presented me with her tee shirt yesterday - one for me and one for him!

Last year I helped Gossling aka my famous sister in law with her first album cover and lucky for me she has transformed the design into a t-shirt!

Dont' we look like chubby rockers!

Luckily for me she has asked me to do her second album and we have started tossing around ideas.

This image is by Birdy & Me

Image for Kate Vigo

I really like the work by Luci Everett

Somehow I am also thinking that the work of Alphonse Mucha will play apart in the concept development.

A doll

2010-06-10T03:56:00.000-07:00

This is a project I have wanted to start and complete for some time & that is to make a doll for my darling Hj. Nothing is more wonderful than having her along side me all day long. I cried myself to sleep the other night thinking that she will be going to school soon & we wont be together all the time.

Darn school - I really don't understand why they need to be there 5 days a week.

The doll pattern I purchased from Wee Wonderfuls. It is a cute and easy pattern (I am making Kit!) - although some of the drawings were not marked correctly and I had some trouble with sewing as the clothing is just so tiny!

But I hope it is the first of many dollies - did you know that I have four nieces now!

Project Patchwork

2010-06-08T14:18:00.000-07:00

Last month I was invited by Lizzy to participate in Project Patchwork. A little parcel of lovely fabric arrived in the post and away I went. I got most of it sewn up on the train last week to a workshop in Melbourne - just to find the venue was locked and I had to turn around and travel right back home again!

Project Patchwork is a collaborative quilt to raise funds for the Australian
Cambodia Foundation.

My job is to contribue throug designing a patch using swatch of fabric.

I hope to recieve some raffel tickets soon to sell to fund raise for the charity.

Here are some images of my work in progress.

Lizzy emailed to say he project will be featured on Michi Girl , The
Design Files, Sarah McNeil's blog and will also be promoted by Craft
Victoria.

But it is a great opportunity in the planning and organising of a group that I hope to get off the ground with the Bendigo Sustainability Group next month in Bendigo - Knotty Ladies - but more about that soon.

Ps the dancing girl at the top she is going to appear somewhere in my patch!

The next sampler step

2010-05-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

Goodness the wonderful world of blogging has lead me to this woman - At Swim Two Birds and her stitching.

She has given me colour and also play. A way forward with my samplers project and they gorgeous shapes and forms. Thank you!

Knit knit knit patchwork dog drawing

2010-05-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

An embroidery of one of my most favourite drawings

2010-05-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

Recent Drawing

2010-05-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

Guache on water colour paper
Flags and castle

Sampler Love

2010-05-24T03:31:00.001-07:00

Following on my last post behind the ideas for the Enlightenment childhood and play also have a large role in this body of work. Whilst checking out the textile catalogues I found a number of works made by young women under the age of 14 years. On viewing they are quite extraordinary needlework pieces and all are items called "samplers".

Taken from wikipedia it defines a needlecraft sampler as "A (needlework) sampler is a piece of embroidery produced as a demonstration or test of skill in needlework. It often includes the alphabet, figures, motifs, decorative borders and sometimes the name of the person who embroidered it and the date. The word sampler is derived from the Latin ‘exemplum’ - an example."

Here is a link to make your own sampler and also a link to images of samplers

Below is a series of image from the Kyneton Museum Samplers.

Kyneton Museum 3143
Sheet of Handworked Samples c1880

Eight small samples of hand work, knitting, tapestry, button and buttonhole cross stitch and fancy work. Produced by L.Banks at Standard Level 4 in 1880

Kyneton Museum 215.00
Sampler c 1895
Childs sampler in shape of tiny apron including green waist straps decorated with green embroidery, various designs, leaf pattern, drawn thread work and 2 button holes

Kyneton Museum 3267.00
Sampler
Large embroidery sampler of alphabets and numbers with verse, animals, flowers, birds red, blue, green, orange, yellow, grey wool at the bottom the embroiders name "Emily Fracis Victoria Hamilton" Kyneton August 15 1891

(detail)

Kyneton Museum 5676.00
Child's Sampler
Child's sampler of stitches, white material with blue stitching, button hole, blanket, feather etc

The Story of the Signature Quilt at Kyneton Museum

2010-05-23T17:55:00.000-07:00

My role as an artist in the Enlightenment Project is to provide a more lively engagement (through interpretation) with stories triggered by significant objects and collections at the museum - as opposed to the use of text information panels.

Working mostly in textiles at the moment I was immediately attracted to their enmormous textile collection and also inspired by the wonderful show, The Presence of Things: sense, veneer and guise, curated by Stephen Gallenger way back in 2005. (sorry could only find awful links to this show!) In this show fourteen Australian artists and crafts practitioners created new contemporary art works response to the embroidery and lace collections of the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria. Simply new sunning works were made in response to selected pieces from the guild's collection and they were exhibited together - making for a sensory joy of possible links, leaps and relationships.

On my first visit to the Kyneton Museum on my residency I fell in love with the signature quilt - for its age, quality of stitch and it's story. The story of the signature quilt was shared with me by an extraordinary woman called Pat who has volunteered at the Museum for many years and knows the collection very well.

Way back in 1905 women from a local church decided to fund raise for a charity by making a quilt - not only were women involved who had extra ordinary stitching skills but locals were invited to participate through purchasing a quilt section and writing some text to be included on this leaving the donation and the message to be embroidered at the local milk bar. (I like this touch).

So the notion of community quilt is the direction I have taken this project - inviting community members to both donate fabric to be included in the quilts, to donate a patch or their time stitching them together. I will be posting soon the very first collection of fabric and quilt stories that have so far been donated.

Here is the twist in the project the final quilts will be shown on cubby - house like frames referencing the story of the museum how its form documents story of Kyneton. The museum being an icon architectural monument documenting the towns journey from a small settlement to a rich booming town with a large and grand bank being built.

I hope also to touch on an include sampler embroidery works I have recently had the pleasure of viewing at the museum last week - but more about these later in a future post.

More details about the signature quilt is detailed below.

346.00 Object Name : Table - Cloth
"AUTO GRAPHED TABLECLOTH"
Brief Description: Linen cloth embroidered with Kyneton local organisation symbols and the names/autographs/signatures of donors, by the congregational church ladies guild as a fundraiser for a mission to India in 1905. The cloth comprises seventeen sections stitched together with torchen lace insertions and edging. Bought by Mr Albert Young at a Dutch auction. Full list of transcriptions of names from the signature embroider is stored with card.
Length 2220mmm
Width 1610

Donated by the Kyneton Historical Society

The signature quilt

detail : torchen lace insertion

detail : embroidery patch

The resulting works will be on show during September during the annual Kyneton Daffodil Arts Festival. I hope through viewing these new works that the audience appreciate the historical relevance of stitch in community life. Also accessing objects/items from the museum that are rarely shown due to the challenges of showing textiles - their fragility and also sheer space that is required to show them.

Lastly I wanted to acknowledge here an artist who has worked a great deal with museum collections in Victoria Malcolm Mackinon

And from the UK a research project that is within a university, rather than a museum that collects clothing stories from the local project local communities and every day people.

And finally a note about a contemporary community fundraiser quilt project I have just been invited to participate in called Project Patch Work - but more about this later

Orange Scarf

2010-05-19T00:14:00.000-07:00

I am on the hand made - eco-friendly birthday gift roll for May - having completed a gift for an old uni girl friend whose birthday I simply can't forget as it is a few days after mine!

Although I have dabbled in the world of scarf making a little this one is much more ambitious and is inspired by the Ballarat based artist Nin Coutts-Slater. Year ago when I managed an artist run space she did a residency of stitching up found fabric into fantastic creations. I was very jealous but it has taken a few years to get around to having a play.

Proudly I took it home from the studio and my husband asked if I had cut it up from a table cloth - resulting in an instant sulky me .

2010-05-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

Card board city - made by father and son
Image from the book called Heads On and We Shoot: The Making of Where the Wild Things Are

Remember yonks ago I was carrying on about this cardboard city - that I saw in the film Where the Wild things Are - I dearly love this work for it sheer playfulness and joy in making - not to mention the colours.

Recent Stitching

2010-05-16T02:12:00.000-07:00

The Enlightenment Project Needs your enlightenment

2010-05-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

Taking place at the Kyneton Museum, Victoria, Australia the Enlightenment Project is about creating interpretive material to tell stories triggered by the museum site of the old bank building and significant collections and objects it holds.

Inspired by the abundant textiles collection of the Kyneton Museum I am seeking memorable fabric scraps; it could be a treasured t-shirts, jeans or perhaps a tea towel.

Donations will be patched worked into cubby play for the Kyneton Daffodil Arts Festival this September at the Museum.

Drop off your fabric, clothing item, or table-cloth/tea towel with a 20 word memory statement to the Kyneton Museum. Please note donations will not be returned to the owner!

I am also seeking some stitches to stitch their hearts warm doing some English Paper Piercing - please leave a comment or email me info(at)tamaramarwood.com

Places and Pieces

2010-05-05T04:34:00.000-07:00

Excitingly I have recently signed on a new commission initiated by Regional Arts Victoria in partnership with Craft Victoria called Places and Pieces.

Places and Pieces is a unique partnership between arts, education and emerging communities in Bendigo and Castlemaine. It aims to inspire artistic excellence in secondary school students through the making of jewellery and body adornment items using non-precious found materials.

For those of you who are curiously wondering how I got involved as I am not a jeweller - the brief also seeks new works to be created that that reflect their place in a geographic, cultural and personal sense. Which of course all my practice is about relationship to place.

My favourite bit is that new works are sought that are made from found materials, natural materials and reclaimed materials.

So to get myself into the mood for this project I have been doing a little bit of research, collecting images and links. Mostly thanks to the online commitment of Craft Victoria and the Melbourne based curator and writer Kevin Murray. Each of the artists I have drawn out elements that will start creating the scaffolding to build 5 weeks of workshops around for Year 11 students.

Taken directly from Kevin Murray's current curated show on in Perth Can jewellery function as an instrument of change? Includes the work of Melbourne jeweller Vicki Mason. This is her work depicted below:

"Her brooches are modelled on the wattle, rose and oregano plants, beautifully rendered in powder-coated silver and coiled ribbon. These plants are common features of suburban gardens in Australia, but Mason argues that they represent a common bounty, which she links to the elusive prospect of Australia becoming a republic".( Text taken from here by Kevin Murray)

Elements I will draw from her work include:
- form inspired by nature
- making contained within a structure - in this case a black edging
- texture
- bright colour use

Above is work by Julie Blyfield
"The natural materials chosen have the potential to be reduced to a jingoistic ‘green and gold’. However, in Blyfield’s hands, the subtle and limited colour palette of olive green, black, orange and blue/greys with occasional highlights of gold, reveals a much more sophisticated appreciation of our national flora." (text by Bin Dixon Ward)

Elements I will draw from her work include:
- form inspired by nature
- the monochromatic use of colour

From Little Fish Studios

Goodness I really like the combination of fabric, stitch (of course) and twigs/sticks - just lovely and very exciting

David Neale

I also like these words to describe his work: "Through the considered play of opposites such as flat vs deep, austere vs ostentatious, rough vs refined, previous vs poor, shiny vs sfumato, gravel vs gold and some vs none."

Thoughts from Kate Rhodes essay - Forest or the Bush What Jewellers tell us about Nature
Patricia Anderson Book Contemporary Jewellery: The Australian Experience 1977–1987 for its historical overview of jewellery and she writes:

Fifty thousand years ago hunting man wore the teeth and claws of animals to transfer their ferocity and strength to himself. By the time agricultural and urban communities were established throughout the Near East and around the Mediterranean, there was the belief that the … natural world could be controlled … by votive gifts of jewellery to the gods and the adornment of temple statues.1

Still looking at Anderson's historical text, in Australia during the 1970s and '80s saw jewellers who had predominately trained in art schools, rather than workshops, once again look at the natural world as a close source of inspiration. They produced specifically Australian works in an abstract mode. These designers used handmade paper, grass, bleached tree roots, feathers, stone and palm fronds, as well as gold and silver and other metals, to reproduce the Australian landscape, and often the Australian bush more specifically, in its textures, colours and forms.

And just for me here are some other late night thinking ideas

- collecting discarded metal (no plastic on the front) badges and drilling holes and then threading embroidery thread through/grasses etc - inspired by a logo for a really great cause I spotted on the front of my husbands soccer magazines that are taking over our home - never thought they would be any much use other than collecting dust!

- t-shirt inspired jewellery - bead making, foundation for sewing on beads etc
Links to tutorials here
t-shirt bangles
t-shirt necklace
recycled jewellery tutorial links

Some Good Stuff

2010-05-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

IvivaOlenick

a review/interview

new fabric store in Bendigo

world inspiration

envy

great quilt designs - simple and strong

Great sewing for girls

eco fashion and a helping out kit

Washed Up

2010-04-26T03:40:00.000-07:00

A little gift for a nice niece's third birthday - instant success and a request from a certain soon to be four year old for her birthday too!
Pattern Inspiration here.
Sustainably harvested wooden cooking set found here

Last night at the studio

2010-04-21T03:04:00.001-07:00

Last night continued on with my home made birthday gift challenge - goodness with a birthday nearly every week and it won't get any easier with an ever expanding family! But I do love making things - would do this any day - really can't stand shopping.

Here is my second scarf attempt and also a little handbag pouch for secrete note book writings or list making stationary - something ensures my hand bag is always heavy to lug around. Again these gifts are made out of fabric cut off that would have otherwise been thrown out or discovered in op-shops. (OK op-shopping I can manage)

Here is a another treasure sporting her Christmas gift.

New Baby - she is a gift - but so far away my heart cries

2010-04-20T04:31:00.000-07:00

How can I ever be as clever as my sister to make a precious beauty such as she?

Madeleine Joyce Whitty
3.36 kgs
Born 4.05 am 20th April

And a little passage I have been musing on from my current favourite author:

"She is the gift that carries our songs into the ocean where all stories mingle. Too soon many things will claim her - the man she loves, the children she bears, the tasks and the duties that bind her to life - and so a mother loves a daughter as something more precious than any love, because though we many love her with an infinite tenderness we much teacher to swim."

The River Wife by Heather Rose

Last night at the studio

2010-04-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

Last night at my Tuesday night studio evening I finished off some packaging for a recent commission by the local government - possum costumes!

Then I did a bit of procrastination - from my last post you will see that I am starting a new project and just a bit reluctant to take that first big bite - come on MUMMA you can do it!

But I did turn my procrastination into something productive a little sewing project from a fantastic op shopped tea towel for me - covering my journal and my daily to do list book.

Other side projects I have on the go include sorting my business out and making business cards for my mum - check this fantastic sewing design idea for cards.

Here is my daughter's first sewing project I also mentioned in my last post - she is 3 and half - we did it next to the camp fire whilst camping last week - her brother did one - but his still is a work in progress - I made his a little more complicated. Wish I got some shots of them sewing - but really had to keep them focused and pour all of my attention onto them.

Gearing up for a new commission

2010-04-12T04:03:00.001-07:00

This isn't my work - but from rubycrownkinglette, whom I often admire on flickr

I am collecting some images, some works that are propelling me into my next commission - The Enlightenment Project.

What I am liking here is the use of found material, whimsy and joy. I like the out door-i-ness and the collection of material to become.

Other works of mine that are ticking over include this little collection of oddments (which really what a museum is all about is it not - oddments?) Like these lovely little bits of rolled up paper.

When watching Where the Wild Things Are I nearly passed out to see in the little boy's bed room a city structure of some sort made up out of rolled up cardboard - oh to have a still of that scene.

This Friday on my visit to the museum again I need to take some additional shots of the outside collection of machines and sheds - full of inventions for men to make order of agriculture. All rusting and mostly weighing a tonne - but I like the idea of these bits and bobs complementing the shadow houses.

Actually it was a camping boredom distraction activity that I planned for the kids that has also fueled my need to make stuffed things. More about these creatures soon...

Hand Bag Embroidery

2010-04-07T04:10:00.000-07:00

A special little find for me from a festival I put together a while back - this unknown child's drawing was stuck to the eco-cubby. When I saw this I wished and wished I could draw as wonderfully as this and at that moment I ripped it off the wall and stashed it to steal at a later date....

And this embroidery work is what arrived - another hand made gift for a family member - with pleasure time for me to kitch out.

Found another embroidery artist to admire this week - I especially like how she has commericalised herself!

Just quickly you can check out my Easter sewing efforts here. Thanks to Molly Chicken for her tutorial here. Although not sure if I will use again - receivers were a little confused - was it a bird or an egg?

Visit the yoyo dragon in Bendigo's Conservatory

2010-04-02T02:34:00.000-07:00

I don't think this dragon would make any grrs or grunts, just a plop plop plopping sound as he trotted along sniffing and enjoying autumn gardens. He has a pleasant dreaming nature and is always hopeful to find some wings to fly.

You can visit him now during the 2010 Bendigo Easter Festival at the Conservatory. He is on show with another artist Georgina Duckett.

This light-hearted work represents a mythical creature, transformed into life by imaginary play and joy. It’s soft decorative patchwork body is hand stitched from second hand fabrics using the patch work technique yo-yo.

Inspired by a yo-yo patchwork scrap a dear friend gave to me and I have had hanging in my studio for some time now. Other background information about the work can be found here.

Comically chair legs poke out from the bottom of the work, wearing tailor made frilly socks. Invoking creative childhood cubby play. Like Sun Loong’s ancestors, its physical form takes on the combination of many animals.

Stitching is apart of the stuff we do

2010-02-08T01:55:00.000-08:00

Kd is into his second week of school as a Grade One boy & also a new school. One of our "start-of-a-new-year" ritual is sewing key tags together. Here is 2008 and then 2009
This is the orginal image - I nearly passed out when Kd handed it over - as it is so detailed - but I think we did an Ok job! Kd stitched the black line around the outside of the design.

Below is an image my darling brother in law sent through of my sister soon to have her baby in April with her birthday scarf on. Her birthday was in Novemer, and I sent her gift to London via the ocean - I think she got it mid Jan! It includes french lace left over from my wedding gown, placed over some lovely velvet I found.
I have also fallen in love with this amazing paper sculpture that Kd created a few weeks back - completely brilliant

Oh when will I ever be brilliant? Speaking of embroidery brilliance check out these embroidered chairs.

More gifts

2010-02-02T02:10:00.000-08:00

Living up to my hand made pledge here is my next gift, placemats, for a certain sister in law - who also happens to be a super star. (can you iron out those wrinkles for me?) - pleased to note all made out of reclaimed fabric - aside from the threads.

Unfortunately this is not my creation - but that ruffle has most certainly stolen my heart - a bit of a fan of frills.

I would happly hand my soul to the devil for this table cloth - especially if it comes with a matching apron.

You can read more about the creative frill girls here.

zeitoun

2010-01-25T15:24:00.001-08:00

Thursday night in the bath I finished ready ZEITOUN by Dave Eggers. I chose to read this book as it is one of the books to be discussed on the ABC program the First Tuesday Book Club.

I would have NEVER chosen to read this book. At the moment I have a secrete fad on Scottish historical romances (which somehow in my early thirties I have started reading the same books as my mum that I swore I would never read)

I would have NEVER chosen to read this book as I find it hard to read hardships and tragedy. The imagery of awful things humans can do to one another tends to stay with me and although this can be good triggers to revoke feelings of thankfulness for the peace in my life they push the world and humanity into a deep bleakness.

However Zeitoun I am glad to have read - not for its writing quality, more for its revelation and power and frailty of modern human civilization. It is a true account of a Muslim families experience of Hurricane Katrina and then the hurricane of American authority and paranoia.

The power of compassion and respect for all life is the greatest gift you can give to any person you meet in your day or talk to on the phone.

Easter Art in the Conservatory

2010-01-23T03:28:00.000-08:00

Like this patchwork? I just love them. I discovered them in a library book I recently took out and was delighted the direction they provided me for my first 2010 commission with the City of Greater Bendigo - Easter Art in the Conservatory.

They are images soured from Quilting, patchwork & applique : a world guide by Caroline Crabtree and Christine Shaw.

The idea of the commission is to create an installation of new work that celebrates Easter Bendigo style with a Chinese influence - in this case coming through the use of the colour red.

The circle is a found piece of paper from a recent workshop my kids did at the local Chinese museum - but I believe the curved form plays a major role in Chinese culture.

Both patchworks are Chinese children's hat - the first being a three dimensions fierece tiger face to protect the child. The second being a festive hat; the red colour, the fish, the pomegranates, lotus and gilded toad are all auspicious symbols.

The work I have said I will make is a "decorative patchwork quilt featuring the colour red draped across 5 to 6 chairs in a row. The work will be playful and cubby like - invoking thoughts of handmade and creative childhood play and imagination."

The work represents a mythical creature, transformed into life by imaginary play and joy. Its soft decorative red dragon body is hand stitched (gee don't think I will be hand stitching any more!) fabrics using English Paper Piecing - actually I am thinking of machine sewing using a rectangle pattern that has flaps of curved shapes that I will hang tassels off.

I haven' drafted up the pattern yet - but have drawn up many times in my head.

So these patchwork masks at the top of the blog are the lanching point for the head of the creature I am making - I am yet to nut this out.

I have collected the fabric for the dragons body - this Wednesday evening I am taking the PLUNGE and starting.

Will keep you up to date.

Introducing the Enlightenment Project

2010-01-19T10:49:00.001-08:00

This year I am working as an artist on a variety of Central Victorian Projects, including the THE ENLIGHTENMENT PROJECT, with the Kyneton Museum and Macedon Ranges Shire Council

On Sunday I made my first visit to the museum and was taken by their amazing collecting of objects and also textiles. (not to mention the wonderful staff who I will really enjoy working with) This post documents the very beginning of my research and relationship with this venue.

The Enlightenment project is about creating interpretive material to tell stories triggered by the museum site of the old bank building and significant collections and objects it holds.

I was fortunate to be approached by another local artist Tara Gilbee to work on this project,.

Through collaboration between Kyneton Museum and the artist the Enlightenment Project 2009/2010 aims to;
• use multi-media to provide a more lively engagement with the museum site and its collections, rather than simply static artifact displays
• make Kyneton Museum collection and stories more accessible to the community
• increase Kynton Museums engagement with its local community

I think the staff at the Museum are doing a pretty good job engaging the local community - the day I attended the museum was very busy with lots of people of varying ages coming and also an exhibition taking place as well as a garden party. The collection is well displayed, with a variety of existing interpretation materials for adults and also children.

The first object that stole my heart was this lamp shade. I was taken by its whimsical shape and daring nature.

This shape has completely made me smitten and I can see it coming into another body of work I am creating at the moment for the City of Bendigo Art in the Conservatory Project - but more about this later.

My role is to create textile shelters and surfaces. I am hopeful that this form and method of construction might some how feed into this process. My sister gave me a book on making lamp shades from wire - I wonder if I still have it or did I pitch it in the move to our new home?

I am booking in more time to go through their catalogue cards for textiles, however I was fortunate to view their signature quilt, made back in 1905. This quilt is huge, perhaps 2m by 3m white thread on white linen with hand made lace. Completely breath taking, and I am looking forward to researching all the stitches used in this work. Stitching words, can seem to be very easy, but it isn't and I have always struggled with choice of stitch.

The signature quilt was made by the women on Kyneton as a fund raiser for children in India. Local families purchased squares of the quilt, then the women donated their time to make the work.

I think this method of representation, piecing of fabric together to make a whole is also something I would like to draw from as well. Interestingly the local milk bar facilitated the donating of money and documenting people's names to be embroidered.

A blind took my fancy too for its pattern and use of mono tone and shape through light play.

I liked also the picnic rugs and blankets in the cabinet about Picnics at Hanging Rock. I believe the final work will be exhibited outdoors in the evening - kinda nice idea of people sitting on textiles as well and also reflecting in the mystery around famous picnics at Hanging Rock.

The Handmade gift giving challenge 2010

2010-01-15T03:42:00.000-08:00

Waste.

As a mother I can't seem to stop creating it.

One way I thought, and a way also to enhance my skills as a maker, is to attempt to give all handmade gifts this year.

After a disasterious Christmas due to a extreme sporting (!) injury I simply didn't get half of the presents made that I would have really liked to have made. There are some bloggers out there who have really drilled into me the need for planning and scheduling. Especially when you are a working mother.

Some resources out there to help me get going include:

Balancing Everything: the Daily Stuff that Needs Doing
Planning with Kids explains why her Christmas Planning spreadsheet is completely essential

So I wonder - does more planning mean less waste?

Any howse in the fever of January making New Years promises last forever I have been planning gift making and some how achieving my modest goals. (although making a few minor short cuts here and there)

Baby gifts for Ariya

These gifts pattern and instructions starting points are from Bend the Rules Sewing, which is a fab book and I have called upon often. Resulting in large library fines.

home made christmas gifts

2010-01-08T23:19:00.000-08:00

My nature got the better of me today and in my hast to clean up our computer I deleted all my Christmas files and also all my files from 2008. PLEASE shoot me.

Here is a little of what remains from Christmas. My making gifts - jammies for Hj & Kd - unfortunately don't have a shot yet in them - as made cute jammie shorts too - Kd's t-shirt was made from scratch which was quite an achievement!

This is a recent embroidery I did as my Marwood Chris Kringle to my sister NJ - from a fabulous drawing by Kd - just love his drawing!

words written and to write about my work

2009-12-05T02:56:00.000-08:00

...an ecology of place ... explore relationship between European identity and Australian landscape ... Holly Story

I found this today - the artists work and her web site I am not so keen on.

Here is an article about my work - havent posted as made me kinda cringe. But reading again this evening not as bad

some baby gifts

2009-12-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

Recent studio follys.
Wont be driving on the machine for a while - managed to tear my calf - vey painful and stuck on the couch

Here is a link to a great tutorial to make a crayon roll or pencil holder, which is very similar to what I have made.

Advent Stockings

2009-12-02T03:08:00.000-08:00

Last night I hauled my husband off the couch when I got home from the studio to put up these blasted Christmas Advent Stockings that I have been working on FOREVER. See a post in July here and another in November here.

Unfortunately I did not plan this project very well - I ran out of space cross stitching the numbers on, I ran out of ribbon, now I have ran out of fabric and missing 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13!!!

So some are finished off without love and in mismatched I-thought-I-found-the-right- fabric from a op shop - oh well.

The kids loved them this morning and they are an excellent bribe to get pesty children off to sleep.

Here is a link to other advent making ideas for kids - much less elaborate than mine.

and here from sew mama green

Check out this cute advent pic and here

Best not to follow any of my advice.

Ps did you spy my Italian oven just sitting there - hoping that I may be cooking in this for Christmas lunch - my first attempt at a Pav.

some stitching artists who I fall over

2009-11-30T18:11:00.000-08:00

Miko Sato

Takashi Iwasaski

Sustainable Textiles

2009-11-30T16:25:00.000-08:00

I went to talk a few weeks back now, hosted by the local Sustainability Group and presented by an artist who has not long established herself in Bendigo - Vertiy Lougoon.

Opened my eyes up to the long series of processes to making fabrics - let alone making them into a garment or item. Such as the material that the fabric is made from - fibre plant or animal or a synethetic process and the resources that go into growing/making these such as water, land and chemicals - then the process of making the fabric again using engery and often unethical work processes such as child labour, then the dying and the waste, vast amount of chemcials and water used in this process too! Completely NUTS!

Very overwhelming and depressing - making with fabric from the op shop really makes sense or refashioning even better.

here are some businesses in Australia who inspire me greatly:
Bird
http://www.slingfings.com.au/
Maike
Gaye Abandon

Here is a list of green tutorials here from Sew, Mama, Sew

My favourite materials are horse hair fabric and embroidery floss - a good project for me is to sort out how sustainable they are and if there are any alternatives?

The images dont really relate to my post today - however they are off the new decorating activities taking place around our new home!

Waterford House

2009-11-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

This is Waterford House in Avoca, Victoria. Years ago J and I fell in love with this home so it was with great pleasure to show some of my work here as apart of the first Avoca EcoFestival.

This bedroom has inspired the painting for our hall way - loving the black doors and the ceiling to floor curtains.

The garden has been designed by a local landscape artist Mel Ogden. I just love the use of slate - I would never have entertained this idea due to the heat that slate creates - but doesn't it look great!

Waterford House is central to the Avocal project initiated by Lyndal Jones. She is interested in working across community with artists from around the world - creating works that focus on climate change and in particular water use. The house stands directly facing the Avoca River.

Complementing the art show was a festival in the town - having talks and also fantastic second hand clothing stalls. I was a good trigger thinking about the content for the Sustainability Festival I am putting together this coming March.

Did any plans work out for October? Some...

2009-11-02T19:46:00.000-08:00

My last blog post was for the very end of September with a list of plans, goals and achivities I wanted to achieve - here is a bit of a reflection on how I went:

Moved House CHECK

1. Making

Make Kd lunch bag FOUND A SUITABLE ONE IN THE OP SHOP CHECK

J present CHECK

Inspiration and pattern from Meet Me at Mikes

Finish Christmas Advent stockings NEARLY Four down - twenty one to go!

Finish Hj Dolly Cot Quilt cover CHECK

and for the detail on the back stitching (tried out a new quilting technique)

2. My Business

Develop map for my web site re-development SORT OF - I APPROACHED AN AMAZING DESIGNER TO HELP ME OUT IN EXCHANGE FOR SOME ART WORK & ALSO APPROACHED MY BRO TO HELP - SO HELP IS ALL GOOD - JUST UP TO ME NOW

Experiment with making work documentation process
SORT OF - STARTED A MAKING JOURNAL

Approach darling brother to re-work web site CHECK

Blog here three times a week and plan these posts HELL NO

Get Knot Ladies cranking SEE DEVELOP MY WEB SITE AND ALSO MY SISTER SENT ME THIS LINK TO GET THE INSPIRATION BURNING.

3.My Health
Commence eating and exercise diary on a daily basis
- really wanting to loose 5kg
TRY I HAVE PUT ON 5KG

4. My Family
Regular weekly family activities
- Monday night drawing
- Wednesday night bush walk & board games
WE ARE STILL TALKING - DOES THAT COUNT?

Did I mention that I moved house last month....

Not sure I feel up to planning for next month - although hope to make lots of Christmas cards and finish my Christmas shopping and making :)

Planning

2009-09-28T03:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Neglected blog. I am back with lots of plans for October - despite moving house again and supervising builders

With the graceful inspiration of Planning with Kids I am announcing my goals for this month. - What the go is at the start of the month you write up your goals then review again at the start of the next - to see how you went.

So Here we go

1. Making:

Kd lunch bag
J present (pretty sure he dosent read this but will keep hush, hush)
Finish Christmas avent stockings
Finish Hj Dolly Cot Quilt cover

2. My Business
Develop map for my web site re-development
experiment with making work documentation process
Approach darling brother to re-work web site
Blog here three times a week and plan these posts
Get Knot Ladies cranking

3.My Health
Commence eating and exercise diary on a daily basis
- really wanting to loose 5kg

4. My Family
Regular weekly family activities
- Monday night drawing
- Wednesday night bush walk & board games

Did I mention that I am moving house this month?

Water Colour

2009-08-11T05:05:00.000-07:00

Like so many parts of my life I have only a few hours of a week to enjoy my studio and also what is at my core - creative play. sigh

Often I say quietly and gently to myself - just do bit by bit - keeping my hand in with only a few hours a week in my studio will give me a base (although slim) for when I don't have extra hours in a office.

Tonight I enjoyed water colours again and took a new tangent in my drawing inspired by Iamana who I happened to bump into in (now days very rare idle flickringing)

That couple of hours of just playing and enjoying my own thoughts and company - my mouth closed to conversation and diversion- is so very healing and completely renewing.

Making for posting gifts

2009-08-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Gee I finished up Uni in 1996!!! So that officially makes me OLD. And keeping me in check and order is my good friends from those days. We are scattered all over Victoria and maybe see each other once or twice a year. (I must admit they are heaps better at getting together than me - I always have some silly art project on).

I am missing them at the moment. My family and I are going through a major transition at the moment physically and I am having lots of inner questions about art and also all those years I worked on art that doesn't seem to have given me much of a professional foundation at all - other than my own shear joy and pleasure.

These girls have known me much longer than my husband and have witnessed me go through all sorts of phases and silly decision making and they just know how to make me feel good about myself. Thanks girls.

So writing a letter will have to do for the moment. Also it is Kel's birthday next week and made her a little pouch to pop Mum's new book inside. (pattern from Bend the Rules Sewing)

This bit of floppy sewing is a cover for all our letters to go in - the pattern adapted from a design from Meet Me at Mikes - but I must admit that the pattern and design in this book is missing a few instructions - and have adapted a few times.

This time instead of writing I drew - Oh I had forgotten you black ink and paint brush. I am glad you didn't forget me. xxx

Hope they make for special posty love surprises.

Only time at the moment for quick pencil sketches

2009-08-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a friends art competition I started a drawing piece as a design for an embroidery work -but haven't got very far. This moving house thing seems to take up a lot of time. Thankfully our weekends aren't taken up by open house days any more.

Bulls are appearing all of their own accord in my work. What joy.

Lighting my life

2009-07-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

Busy day today. It started with a yoga - gee my teacher is brilliant - she is in her mid 60s - vibrant and wonderful got me doing hand stands and backbends and really brought me out of my repetative negative rut xxxx Often I walk away from this class with lots of new insights into myself. Today I reflected on some of my tatics to stay distant from people - such as being a teacher or leader.

Then breakfast with another special woman my nan - she is in her early 80s and is managing at home still without her husband - sad but curageous. Nan tells me is often is shocked at how lonely old age is. Yet she is bright, loving and positive. I left with a lovely warm belly.

Then work for a few hours and ticked 3 things off my to do list. YAY

Then off to a Home Birth luncheon that my darling husband cooked to share; yummy mini pizza squares. Below is a picture of my hyped up children, myself and my darling midwife who, with me and my husband, delivered both our children in our home.

Here is another woman who takes my breath away and leaves me tinged green. Elsa Mora - she is American and some how I stumbled over her flickr then blog site - she is an incredible artist (snipper and crafter) and a shining beam on celebrating ourselves as women. (that is if, dear reader, you are a woman!)

Avent in cross stitch

2009-07-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

Getting stuck into a project that I have thought joyfully about the past couple of Christmas's. A cross stitch Advent stocking.

Mum taught me how to cross stitch, with careful references to the revered cross stitchers in our family and close friends (Great Granny and also Wendy, Mum's best friend who passed away after fighting cancer).

As usual, the desired has been fired by a blog post by Soule Mamma back in 2007.

I have been collecting little trinkets and I will also make bits and pieces for the kids to open each day leading up to Christmas. In previous years I have simply made an Advent activity calendar in envelopes. I also spotted an great dead bush for our Christmas tree this year too.

I am looking forward to having a house with more space in it to enjoy Christmas this year (hopefully!)

a little gift

2009-07-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Protecting women's choices

2009-07-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

I entered into motherhood guided by other women who supported me to give birth to both my children in my own home.

It was an extra-ordinary experience and has given me a strong bond with my children and family and also great health. - no birthing complications or illness picked up while being in a hospital. As Home Birth Australia say "birth is not an illness".

The picture above is a little bit confronting with its rawness, but it is the moment of the first embrace between myself and my new born son.

Two things are happening in Australia's law and health sector including the Exposure draft of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 (Bill B) and a Senate Inquiry into Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners)

What is concerning for midwives who provide the support and resource for women to both at home is the bill does not provide midwives with indemnity cover to attend homebirths.

For more backgound information visit Midwives Victoria blog.

A friend has emailed through a information sheet that you can use to assist making a submission in response to these proposed legislation changes. Please contact me and I can email through to you.

what I have been sewing and plan (hope) to sew

2009-07-11T22:36:00.001-07:00

This a work in progress shot of my first doll's quilt. I had never heard of these before until reading the blogs such as;

Loobylu
Wee Wonderfuls
SouleMama

They looked pretty, easy and fun - nothing keeps me happier and grounded than a good session of hand stitching!

So I decided now that all my gallery commitments are almost over I thought it was time to make making for my children (especially my daughter) a priority.

I was planning to give it to Hj for her 3rd birthday with a doll (that I also plan to make) and a beautiful crib that my grandfather made for me - but I think it will be a Christmas gift now.

I am using English Paper Piercing technique, a method of patch working I have used for five years - but the first time using a template that my Mum made two quilts from, for me when I was a little girl (but I don't have them any more - one of the greatest regrets of my life)

The fabric is sourced from local op shops, old table cloths and sheets. I enjoy using these treasured finds. Environmentally friendly and finding them is way less stressful than shopping at those commercial places - like the horror shop spotlight.

Examples of my other patchworks can be found here and here

More posts coming about my Christmas sewing I have started too! And just to prove that I am not completely mad check out this brilliant mummy blogger

Hand Crafted Landscape at Ararat Regional Art Gallery

2009-06-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hand Crafted Landscape completed its showing yesterday. It was a wonderful show at a wonderful gallery.

Although the Regional Ararat Art Gallery doesn't get the visitation that inner Melbourne might I experienced a great show that is a turning point in my practice.

It also knocked the puff out of me (hence no posting for some weeks now)

- I am working extra hours for the next six months as well as moving house as well as turning 34 - plenty of excuses there for not sitting on a lap top and just hopping in bed really early and reading lots of books.

Not only has Handcrafted Landscape provided me with space for reflection - but also another opportunity to produce new works for a Sustainability Festival taking place in Avoca in October with the Avoca Project.

Reading Report

2009-06-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

So while I haven't been even thinking about blogging I have been READING:

After the first death,Robert Cormier (teenage fiction - blow your mind away and takes you into corners of your mind to examine Fear)

Sleeping dogs Hartnett, Sonya Harnett (teenage fiction - blow your mind away and takes you into corners of your mind to examine Fear)

The long way home Audrey Howard (trash - great for a bath)

The witch's trinity, Erika Mailman. (trash - great for a bath)

Garden spells, Sarah Addison Allen. (trash - great for a bath)

The omnivore's dilemma : a natural history of four meals, Michael Pollan - watch your supermarket world fall upside down....

The discovery of slowness : a novel, by Sten Nadolny ; translated by Ralph Freedman. I completely recommend that EVERYONE must read this book.

It was report and parent teacher interviews a week or so ago - Kd went OK - in my clean up of the filing cabinet I had a quick skim over my reports to find the comment from my darling Year 5 teacher:

"For a person with such reading talents as Tamara has her word attack skills are limited, and this area of learning is still below that which is expected of her." Report from Mrs Richards Year 5 1985

My Grandmother was informed by Mum's prep teacher that Mum would never write properly - however Mum recently published and launched another book Star Jumps - I havent read this since last year as it makes me cry - it is about the farm that we grew up on. I miss this place terribely - the other night I dreamed I took my children there so they could hear the sound of the wind during winter.

The wind there explained everything and was like a good book to read - the ultimate winter comfort.

oddly the sameISH

2009-05-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

This scroll thing was in the AGE a few weekends back and also in Home Beatiful before Christmas (in my clean up I managed to throw the edition of the magazine out!)

It is by nobody&co - hit products in their side bar then hit scroll table.

I should email them... maybe we will become brilliant friends and they will commission me to do heaps of embroidery work for them - custom made for their rich clients...

I made my scroll table called This Fountain Operates without Water back in 2005 as a studio residency with the Castlemaine State Festival.

Is this sheer coincidence - crazy how we both have used that RED pattern....

A funny weekend

2009-05-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

Oh we had lots of laughs this weekend. Starting with Friday nights decision to go to Pizza Hut for tea (lovingly renamed as Pizza Palace by Kd)

We were seated next to the all you can eat desert bar, which had a whipped ice cream dispenser on hand. My darlings couldn't get enough bowls of ice cream with chocolate sprinkles (making for my decision that this was the first and the last time we visit Pizza Hut) - however Hj got stuck under the ice cream and as a result a mountain of whipped up swirls poured over her hands - which alarmed her greatly - and us awful adults nearly wet our pants with laughter. Oh it was silly.

And this is what can happen after a meal at this fine eatery;

Then it was the Multicultural festival on Saturday. Our children came home looking like this:

Then lots of Mother's Day joy....

some new exciting things

2009-05-09T04:35:00.000-07:00

Some images of a commission I am working on for the end of the month. A gift for two special girls. I would like to make a special acknowledgement to Molly Chicken and her inspirational tutorial.

Our house has sold offically (although they haven't put up a SOLD sticker across the front of the for sale sign)

a talk at Shepparton Art Gallery

2009-05-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

Wednesday... well it is Saturday now - sometimes life just get so busy and I never get a chance to post a blog that I have written up in my head.

Wednesday was a special day a trip to Shepparton Art Gallery to do a talk to their Friends of the Gallery Group for Come on the Scene.

I also had lunch with a very special friend, who lives in Mooroopna (just out of Shep in the country with lots of native birds and peacefulness) with her beautiful children and (also beautiful!) husband. - not to mention her incredible garden.

I really enjoyed the collection of ceramics at the gallery. While viewing their collection I had some lovely thoughts about the links between ceramics and textiles. But as usual my brain has drawn a blank and I can't for the life think again of any of my insightful thoughts... I really must get into the habit of writing things down more (not just a list of all the jobs I want to get done...)

This is some of the wonderful sublime work by Gwyn Hanssen Piggott

And these delightful little pinched animals wanted to come home with me forever. They are by Stanislav Halpern.

I am getting a little concerned with by absent mindedness. Is it a Mum thing or could it be linked to my recent head surgery?

On ya bike ya mug

2009-05-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

ooops - when asked on live radio craft artists I am into I FROZE and simply could not answer. Simply hanging my head in shame - lots of nervous laughing. Gee I could have a least said my Mum and my sister (who is an extraordinary stitcher).

Ok I am going to pick up my game.

Here is Miss Pen Pen - I like here work as she lives her craft - teaching at RMIT, running a store called cottage industry in Gertrude Street Melbourne - that sums it up really. She is living it!

Umm I would like I could promise to post regularly about artists - but I can't promise anything other than cooking regularly for my family and staying true to my constant nature of being dazed and confused.

City Connectors

2009-05-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

At 7pm tonight you can hear me on the air waves in our fine city on Pheoenix FM Central Victoria Community Broadcasters 89.5Mhz. My darling friend Elly Coyle has invited me onto her program Bendigo Framed, a Craft Special. She has a panel of guest including myself Clare Fennessy, Christi Ferguson and Dean Stanton.

She suggested that I might provide a list of films that a good to stitch in front of - seeings I claimed last week that I am the only person in the world who has embroidered in front of Wolverine. But it isn't really a film that I would highly recommend - it is series of disappointment after disappointment.

However another film, rather a documentary, I recently viewed was Of Time and City - also about disappointment. I will be stitching watching this one again. Really opened my eyes up to the impacts of the first and second world war on Brittan and how trapped people become in terrible government planning and decision making. No wonder they immigrated here.

See - High profile now!

2009-04-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

A dreadful quality scan of a little promo write up in this month's Art Monthly for Handmade Landscape. Opening in less than four weeks ARRRGGGHHHH!

Really I am quite excited - it is a complete joy to be working with the Ararat Gallery and I am fortunate enough to be taking workshops at the gallery with children and teenagers.

Pumpkin Eaters

2009-04-26T05:12:00.000-07:00

A few Saturday nights ago a wonderful thing happened - I turned on ABC2 and came across the film, "The Pumpkin Eaters". An extraordinary film from 1964 about a mummy, and her life. LOVED IT!!!! - I loved it because she was just making her way through life and finding strength after strength to give love to her husband (who was a real pill) and her children. (oh her poor darling boys at boarding school).

Oh did I add that she always looks fabulous and so does her home!

A blog I found writes "By my lights, a "pumpkin eater" is a gullible person, one who (figuratively) can swallow most anything, and doesn't seem to be daunted by whatever the pain of doing so is." But you know I don't think you are gullible for swallowing pain - I think Pumpkin Eaters is really exploring the notion of unconditional love.

Here is a photo of my special place that heals me and helps me build love and understanding inside me.

And here is a source of pure love - a drawing by my son - the source of inspiration for my recent embroideries.

Childfriendly

2009-04-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

Last week I put my hand up to join a local committee the child friendly city working party.

Did you know that Bendigo is the first city in Australia to be recognised as a Child Friendly City by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 2007. That is pretty exciting!

Not long ago I had a job interview with the Children and Family services with the local council to be one of their project workers and put together their children's festival. At the interview I experienced total memory recall of a past life working in a local government setting and it wasn't the greatest! So I decided to stick out my current job, despite working within unrealistic hours and goals. - but then who isn't?

So I hope through joining this committee I still have the opportunity to focus Council's activities more sharply on children.

There are a lot of things happening with children services and schools here that make me cross - this concept of SUPER schools, the one stop shop for childcare, kinder and maternal childhood services - madness - completely kills community, culture and simply builds a bigger bureaucracy for people to wade there way through - forget encouraging exceptional children, families. This is one reason that we are selling up and leaving the community we are living in. I am not keen on my children growing up in a SUPER sized community.

2009-04-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

I have been absent for awhile - not sure what happened there; maybe the school holidays?

School started again on Monday - which Kd and I are very disappointed about - I really can't work out why children need to go to school 5 days a week - We had wonderful holidays with sleep overs at Grandmas (so J and I could have our own little children free holiday - and of course J got food poisoning...), a trip to the beach with cousins, socceer, friends over for plays and plays at friends houses - bliss really. - But not much time in the studio and online.

Here is a new work I have recently completed for a fundraiser for a Artist Run Space getting itself set up in Warrnambool - called the "F Project".

This work is called piece2 (which is an OK name - struggling to get at the bottom of what I am on about.) I ended up settling on piece2 to relate to another recent work called piece - Animals are starting to appear in my work!

The fabric I worked the "bull" up on is a treasured find from an op shop - I think the lace is hand made. The stitch I used is called Holbein or double running stitch - "...it is worked in two stages and creates the same effect as backstitch, but gives a much neater appearance on the back of the work. Holbein Stitch is traditionally used in blackwork..." from The Needlecraft Magazine of Embroidery Stitches. - my little sewing bible!

I must also add that the "bull" is copied from a darling drawing that Kd did a few months back - the bull is grazing and looks like a creature that lives in the sky - timeless. I have been scanning a lot of Kd's drawings and will be setting up his own flickr account soonish(!) to share his amazing creations.

After my next show is over I really want to focus on not only sewing for the kids - but teach myself Blackwork. Ah YES after the show is over I am going to....

Handcrafted landscape

2009-03-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

Last week I finally organised a photoshoot for promotional images for my next show coming up (next month!) at the Ararat Regional Art Gallery. It was a pleasure to spend an hour or so with the wonderful photographer (and not to mention mother) Gail Hardy.

In the weeks leading up to the exhibition I am putting together a post series on topics related to Handcrafted Landscape.

inside a caterpiller

2009-03-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

Latest Music

2009-03-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

Remember that embroidery for that music star I did - well her Cd is now for sale.

And here is the latest film clip coming out of Sailors Gully, Eaglehawk. Critics have called labelled it laid back beats, underscored with a consistent ferocity engaging hoo-la type moves.

fixed to a line

2009-03-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

Doesn't it look like our house is being gently pulled up into the sky?

Our house is on the market now - a for sale sign out the front and it is listed on a real estate web site.

It has been hard work getting it ready for sale. We are all really enjoyed having a de-cluttered living space - much more livable!

Saturday night I finished piece for the Castlemaine State Festival it is ready to be packaged and delivered tomorrow. This work is curiously biblical. Reminding me of the story of Noah and the great flood and the promise of peace and goodwill after destruction.

But is also makes me think of this photo at the top of this post our house. Of the power line connecting us to the grid - but it looks like our house is about to lift off into the sky. Perhaps there is a another work to be made of our house at the end of the stick the dove is carrying.

I wish I stitched this whole thing in grey and didn't introduce colour. I thought the blue would give the feeling of hope - but it doesn't at all. A bird carrying a stick is enough symbolism of hope - colour really isn't required at all.

More Quinn

2009-03-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

He is nearly 10 days old now! Off to visit him today with a yummy tea for Quinn's Mum & Dad.

Isn't that turtle nearly as cute - pattern from Bend the Rules Sewing

I forgot to take a photo of him finished! My darn camera memory cards have died and my recharable batteries are not recharging. Blast technology.

Last week's stitching

2009-03-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Kd and I enjoy our studio moments together - but they are much more infrequent now that he is at school 5 days a week.

Kd drew onto the fabric using a washable fabric pen - I then embroidered the drawing - using colours that he picked.

Lots of Mum's have done this - and the inspiration for me came from Amanda Soule's book Creative Family and also the Angry Chicken's Bend the Rules Sewing - essential reads for any crafty Mummy.

Here are some lovelies here too

Wednesdays are my complete days of joy - as they are spent in the studio. Here is a sneak preview of my work in progress. Gee not sure if I like it - let's see what I think in the studio tonight.

This work needs to hurry up an resolve itself - due for delivery next week for a local festival - it is mentioned here

And Yes, I always sew with a hand gun sitting next to me!

Our new special joy

2009-03-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Darling Quinn, my sister's son, took a very long time to arrive. I was so very pleased and happy to have my sister call me in as a support person to her home birth. All together I was with her for over 24 hours - although she laboured much longer than this.

I was not prepared for the emotion of the birth - I have been crying all over the weekend.

But now deeply in love with this little boy. Isn't he just incredible.

No school today due to extreme weather

2009-03-02T19:52:00.000-08:00

floating joy

2009-03-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

Pencil drawing while Hj painting. Joyxxx

Saturday afternoon at View Street Festival

2009-02-28T12:31:00.000-08:00

View street was closed off the traffic with stalls, bands and kids activities. I ran into a lot of people I hadn't seen for ages - including my parents!

Colleen and I agreed that Bendigo know how to have a great festival and playground.

2009-02-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

My boys sleeping in xxxx

Art Cards

2009-02-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

Kd stayed home yesterday from school due to the high fire danger as did Hj. J and I both worked half days. I don't think the day was really bad as we were lead to believe. Oh well.

This means I have to now work a full day today on a Saturday all by myself in front of a computer - oh drats!!!

Wednesday was Kd's last preppie midweek holiday and we did some crafting. Kd is making art cards for an international kid's art card swap. We are also making a special bubby present too. Shhhh, keep that under wraps - this bubba is arriving any minute now!

Graduating to school Mum

2009-02-26T02:11:00.000-08:00

For me the start of the week I am at home mum - by the end of the week I am a project manager and glued to my emails and mobile phone.

I like both - but it is a strange uncomfortable juggle with the feeling that you never really do anything properly. Sometimes getting the kitchen bench wiped down, the washing on the line and beds made is a really amazing achievement.

This week however I did feel like I am a fully fledged Mum with kids at school. I am down to do reading with Kd's class on Tuesday afternoons and dance class for 2 year olds (and their Mum's) in the morning.

Then in those moments inbetween OPSHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or a sneaky five minute nap on the couch!

Our new 50cent mugga-chino Mugs!

Arriving Tuesday Evening she was still unsure of herself

2009-02-24T02:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday afternoon

2009-02-22T12:31:00.000-08:00

Had this drawing in mind for a while - another girl at the piano. These piano drawings started with my soon to be sister in law inviting me to do some drawing and stitching work for her first album.

But thanks also to that wonderful online drawing community out there - you keep me sane. The shot of my studio was inspired by Paper Crane.

But also I must admit the pressure I am feeling with a solo show I have coming up at Ararat - really having trouble balancing all my responsibilities and meeting creative deadlines. A deep inner trouble....

tjoyy

Glorious Mud

Drawing Girl

beauty

Embroidery hoop wall hangings for the Square Market this weekend

We Want Your Pants!!

work in progress for Knotty Ladies

Finally I am back in the studio

Recent Drawing: the pair

Places and Pieces online

My studio

Gossling a new EP NOW AVAILABLE!

Moopy notebook cover

Did you know I was published in a quilting magazine!

on horse back

Felt works for Fathers Day stall

What was the Enlightenment

Young Places & Pieces Artist's new Works!

A selection of my Places & Pieces Jewellery

Places and Pieces in the studio

Recent works on paper

ABC Sampler Drawing

Winter Salon

Recent Drawing inspired by the Dunkeld 2010 International Tree Drawing Competition

She has arrived!

Observation of Design Elements

An Enlightment update

French Hand Sewing

tees on me and him and an Ep cover commission

A doll

Project Patchwork

The next sampler step

Knit knit knit patchwork dog drawing

An embroidery of one of my most favourite drawings

Recent Drawing

Sampler Love

The Story of the Signature Quilt at Kyneton Museum

Orange Scarf

Recent Stitching

The Enlightenment Project Needs your enlightenment

Places and Pieces

Some Good Stuff

Washed Up

Last night at the studio

New Baby - she is a gift - but so far away my heart cries

Last night at the studio

Gearing up for a new commission

Hand Bag Embroidery

Visit the yoyo dragon in Bendigo's Conservatory

Stitching is apart of the stuff we do

More gifts

zeitoun

Easter Art in the Conservatory

Introducing the Enlightenment Project

The Handmade gift giving challenge 2010

home made christmas gifts

words written and to write about my work

some baby gifts

Advent Stockings

some stitching artists who I fall over

Sustainable Textiles

Waterford House

Did any plans work out for October? Some...

Planning

Water Colour

Making for posting gifts

Only time at the moment for quick pencil sketches

Lighting my life

Avent in cross stitch

Top article on birth

a little gift

Protecting women's choices

what I have been sewing and plan (hope) to sew

Hand Crafted Landscape at Ararat Regional Art Gallery

Reading Report

oddly the sameISH

A funny weekend

some new exciting things

a talk at Shepparton Art Gallery

On ya bike ya mug