Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Fresh
I was invited to be on the judging panel of the Craft Victoria Fresh Award, a graduation design award for innovation and skill. These were some of my favourites:
Ceramic Slip Cast Crochet t-cups by Jo Quirk.
Industrially Recycled Rag Rug by Karen Gilleade.
Plot System by Laura Gardner; configuring a textile based on a plot system of lasercut dots.
Imagine Luxury by Crystal Dunn; a philosophy on transforming the myth of fashion imagery back to the ownership of the wearer.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Basic Luxury
Sunday, November 2, 2008
How Handmade is Your Handmade?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Bag Loads of Knitting
I made an emergency call to Pene Durston, (misspenpen.blogspot.com) for help. As part of the raw wool series; I needed to finish these knitted bags with some leather strapping, and she pulled out this very cool medieval looking tool for cutting leather. We both agreed; this is one of the reasons to believe in the Craft; ingenious ancient tools that can outlive us; a moment we'll remember at the age of 90, bent over handstitching beautiful wax thread on leather.
I don't think my bags could have looked so polished without her help, and fantastic collection of tools, leather, snaps, buckles; not to mention the neat starched demin lining with pocket. Thanks Pene!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Raw Wool
I've been developing a new Winter collection, and experimenting with mixing wool from it's raw to refined stage attempting to combine the material in all it's processes. From the raw fleece to course handspun, and various refined spun, bleached and washed stages, but what's most interesting is the wool maintains it's integrity (elasticity, odour, colour etc) no matter how processed. I just love it!!
Friday, August 15, 2008
More Summer Knits
Friday, August 8, 2008
Summer 08
Friday, August 1, 2008
Wabi Sabi
Dip Dye: I can get completely absorbed in the production process when each piece demands accuracy but also some creative license and accidental possibility; as oppossed to duplicating to fill an order for many of the same thing. The characteristics of the "wabi-sabi" aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity, simplicity, modesty, intimacy, and suggest a natural process. Production for Aurelio Costarella W09.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Artificial Fibres
Monday, July 21, 2008
Pleat Detail
Pleats
Rod McNicol
Friday, July 18, 2008
Aurelio Costarella
Working with the true master, Aurelio Costarella is no easy feat. The development of this latest piece took days handknitting that lace, and many scribbles on the drawing board writing that pattern. Also very sore fingers, there was a lot of ouch manipulating that leather cord into lace (on the collar); But there is joy at the end .......... and relief that it worked.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Knitted Seating
Squashy stripy knit wool beanbag that resembles a giant beanie (felt & leather base), and the striped 'daydreamer' daybed; wooden frame upholstered in knitted wool, on page below; Both were one-off commissions, but I put them into production after they were featured in Vogue Living in 1998. The beanbags are still available to order.
Landscape
Monday, July 14, 2008
Dreadlocks
This was a bit of an experiment. This technique I developed by a jaquard stitch knitted in wool on a domestic machine; using the wrong side of the knit, I felt it, and the thread floats all matt together. The result was this heavily textured fabric, yet light in weight, and soft. This piece was part of the W03 collection that Rod McNicol photographed; see earlier post: "A Portrait".