Holiday snaps taking me back to last week of super relaxation and nature.  Even though I'm from Tasmania, which I think has the most beautiful, secluded beaches (especially on the Tasman Peninsula), Wilsons Promontory was an undeniably incredible beach adventure.           

 

                       

I was quite sad that I wasn't able to spend longer there.  At least I know it's a place I would like to visit again.  Exiting this area, and entering phone reception once again, I got a peek of the first photos of Full Drop Collective's latest project, a zine compiled of patterns entitled 'Shape and Staple'.  I think everyone did an incredible job and the results are quite striking. Have a look for yourself in these photos I pinched from the Full Drop Collective Site, courtesy of Sophie Curtain.

 

Pendant Party

A personal project I've been plodding along with slowly has come to fruition this week.  It is an 'end result', but the materials and techniques have been so enjoyable to use that I think its just the beginning.   I get to experiment a lot with tactile mediums, and it was great to extend this to wax, leather, clay, shoelaces and bronze. 

I wanted to make a million things and had so many ideas, but my budget restricted this.  I was so torn on a recent visit to a Melbourne leather superstore (Lefflers) about not being able to buy all the colours I desired (all of them) !  Overall, the restricted budget  is probably a positive thing, as I tend to get overly excited and idea-crazy when I'm doing something new, sending my spending through the roof.

Knotting, braiding, twisting and manipulation of  yarns and brightly coloured kangaroo leather translated into wax  became the basis of the pendant I got cast into bronze.

So many tomatoes.  They won't stop growing!

Pink girly happiness

So many of the blooms in my neighborhood are this colour at the moment. Maybe because of the heat... Or the rain.... Or the bees...

These photos are taken just above the gate to my house. I love wandering around the block looking at peoples gardens. There's some really great ones around Brunswick west. My favorite make their ways onto the nature strips and seem to conceal and protect the house they belong to.

Harvest Textiles Christmas market

Work today was boring, boring, BORING! Yet I am excited, excited, EXCITED for Harvest Textiles Christmas market on tomorrow.  My class mates and I have been producing some very special products for the occasion including screen printed wrapping paper and a Full Drop Co. limited edition riso calendar which was included the thousands gift guide this week.   The calendar features textile design inspired illustrations from the clever Full Drop Co. gang, including a little something by myself.  I can't wait to browse the goodness supplied by other stall holders and do some not-too-last-minute Christmas shopping!

Fruits of labour

Laz and I planted some very small tomato and zuchinni seedlings a few months ago.  The plants are raging now, especially the tomatoes!  I spent some time yesterday looking up tomato relish/sauce/soup recipes as there appears to be quite a bumper crop in our little backyard.  I love cooking, but have never ventured into 'preserve' territory...

ideas people

I have been spending more time drawing and jotting down ideas lately.  It's great to have a little creative energy back after being so burnt out after the uni year was over.   Being on the look-out to clever ideas around me, I stumbled across Mimi Pong's 'shapes of things to come' pouches:

The internet is a great thing.  Especially if you like looking at pretty pictures of beautiful design creations.  I have been finding lately that accessability and awareness of thousands of talented artists/designers/textile peoples with successful careers can also be bit of an intimidating.  This is certainly my current feeling as I'm approaching my final year of uni.  Soon it will be over and there is always the possibility of being in the internet and publicity hustling game too...  This blog has been very helpful in getting me to put my work out onto the net, and therefore, into public.  Recommended it for all shy, easily embarrassed folks such as myself!

Shima-Seiki

My first shima design! Incredible to see something like this created before your eyes so quickly. Colours a little reminiscent of Hawthorn football club.  A few kind folks said 'bark cloth' colours instead.  The question now is what to do with the fabric since I am a complete novice on any sewing machine.

22/11/2011

Snippets of enjoyment from this week.  kiwi-fruit bear-face icy-pole...making pom-poms....dinosaur kits...beautiful colours and new-ish shoes putting a spring in my step.

14/11/2011

I have been 23 for a whole month now.  Looking at pictures of bindles on the net this morning.  I can't think of any reasonable explanation for this except that this is what happens when you have time to waste. I always thought they were only for smurfs and hobos, but have discovered a Louis Vuitton bindle also.

images from here, here, and here