Textiles Workshops & Pop-Up Store, Sydney

A few of my talented COFA companions are having this very good-looking Pop-Up Store at Gaffa Gallery from the 12 - 17th November.

The workshops, ranging from zine-making to crochet are sure to be creatively inspiring. Make sure you book yourself a place!

Head over to Alex's site to do so.

Work in Progress

My talented sister and I spent a Saturday at COFA hanging (me) and photographing (Hannah) the work I've completed so far for my Master of Design Degree.

It was great to see my work in progress on a white wall, hanging and interacting with their partner-designs.

The top samples are rust dye experiments, the large sample is an indigo-dyed felt. You might be able to see how breezy it was that day in Sydney!

Thanks Hannah for capturing the work for me with your unique eye.

COFA Exhibition Announcement: Art, Design, Textiles, Sculpture, Ceramics and More!

In two weeks I will be showing my work in progress at the COFA Half-A-Desk group show. It is the first time my small samples of felt and small drawings will be shown outside of my studio in the flesh.
It's also a great chance to see the work that goes on at The College of Fine Arts as there will be 59 other students with half a desk to fill with their creations.

Consider this your official invitation. Hope to see you there!

Embroidered Teabag Drawings by Missouri Bends Studio

Embroidered Teabag Drawings, a set by Missouri Bend Studio on Flickr.

This small series of stitch and texture are beautiful.

Textile Trip to Melbourne

A stitch and dye sampler created in Roz Hawker's workshop over two days.
A first glimpse of the rainbow shaped theme of the week.

 Last month I travelled from Sydney to Melbourne to attend India Flint and Roz Hawker's workshops that were part of Beautiful Silk's Natural Dye Symposium. This had been a long awaited trip to immerse myself in dyeing and stitching for three days. Heaven! And the best way to learn anything. I'm looking forward to trying out some of my learnings with my local vegetation. I have three bags of various bits and pieces at the ready to start the alchemy!

Waiting for my early morning Melbourne tram. A novelty for Sydney-siders!

Road tripping with a pit stop at Beechworth, Victoria.

The rainbow that farewelled us from Sydney.

The rainbows accompanied me most days via Sophie's lovely necklace gift.

Publisher Textiles Sale - Today & Tomorrow

Nabbedd myself some great cushions and printed fabric meterage at the Publisher Textiles Sale today. If you're in the area and pop by you are in for a treat!

Walter G Pop Up Shop at Barometer Gallery, Paddington

I had an invigorating conversation with Lauren and Genevieve from Walter G today. I scooted past their Pop Up Shop to see their beautiful products in person.

They were so generous in telling their stories of working with artisans in India where they live for 3 months of the year working to produce raw and beautifully patterned fabrics. Not only are they skilled textile and product designers with an amazing sense of aesthetic, but have deep knowledge of traditional block printing and dying and collaborative skills.

They are at Barometer Gallery until 1st July 2012 selling and chatting about their wares.

Barometer: 13 Gurner St Paddington.

Images 1 & 2: Emma Peters
Images 3, 4 & 5: Walter G

Wondering Around Wandering by Mike Perry

Wondering Around Wandering Video Preview from Mike Perry Studio on Vimeo.

Work So far... Monograph featuring a conversation with Ed Fella, and introductions by Jim Datz and James Victory

This book was an automatic boost of goodness. Thanks Mike Perry. What made it even greater was that I could borrow it from the COFA library. I love new books at the library. Hurrah for student life!

Dumbo Feather Kickstarter Project

My Dumbo Feather Collection.

I've subscribed myself and lots of friends over the years to this lovely magazine. It has provided much encouragement and insight into the big choice of following your "heart lines".

I've had a few pauses between subscriptions and I've always found myself missing the Dumbo Feather immersion. This can be identified by copious cups of tea, lounge sitting and a sprinkle of heart-warming Dumbo Feather happiness. I think some of my favourite interviews they have published have been with India Flint, eco-dyer and magic-maker, and Sabrina Ward-Harrison, artist and teacher. Beautiful encounters with creative and inspiring people.

This month Dumbo Feather is on Kickstarter in the hopes that they can start developing an iPad app. I hope they reach their goal as everything they do is full of integrity and beauty.

Frank Chimero: The [Thrilling] Shape of Design

Earlier this month I went along to see Frank Chimero talk at the MCA as part of the Vivid Festival. Much of his thoughts on what makes good design resonated strongly with my own. His ability to package his thoughts into appealing narratives must certainly stem from his years working as a graphic designer and design strategist. 

I was particularly interested in Chimero's thoughts on writing, whether his design practice influenced his process, and how he found the process of writing. I got the chance to grab the microphone during question time to see if he ever found the flow that happens during the design process within the writing process.

It was quite comforting to know that he battled with wrangling the words into a finished book. 

Since the talk I've been flipping through the e-book version of "The Shape of Design" and furiously thinking about his approach.

Design Theory needs to be relevant, exciting, accessible, compelling, stirring, thought-provoking! So much of the musty-dusty journal articles out there are just so... mind-numbing. As a Design Lecturer it's quite difficult to motivate students to understand the mechanisms and methodologies of design without sending them to sleep. I'm going to be passing this book onto them as required reading. Something tells me that it's going to get some fresh young minds excited about their potential careers.