A present for Mila

It's been a while since I have made one of these machine embroidered canvases. Over the years, I've made them for neices, nephews and friends. This is for Mila's first birthday. School is out for the next few weeks, and I'll be weaving instead. It feels luxurious to have time set aside for making new work. I'm excited by all sorts of possibilities and quietly hoping that the work will good enough for an exhibition next year. I've picked up some of my yarn and there is more on the way. Tomorrow I'm off to see the Vienna Art and Design exhibition at the NGV with my sister. We are both lovers of Schiele's work - the way he paints hands, and his use of colour. He makes a great shade of pink! I can't remember the last time I was so excited about seeing an exhibition. I never usually take along a sketchbook, but I think tomorrow might be the exception.       

Colour mixing

The sun filtering through the window this afternoon was so lovely that I couldn't resist setting up to paint nearby. I've always found colour mixing difficult, but I've gotten better at it with practice. I usually work back from available yarn types and colours to make a palette. I don't have the patience for dyeing yarn. So though this was to be playing with geometric pattern, I ended up with something much more organic. I can't really use these for my weaving work. Once they are dry, I'll probably add some fine line work. But right now, I can't get enough of acid green, bright orange, pastel shades and a grey or two. 

It all starts with a brainstorm

Brainstorms remind me of my childhood. Now we call them mind maps, but I much prefer the former. The word suggests something of the unpredictability that comes with making and creating. So this is a brainstorm for some new work. Although I haven't had any time for weaving in the past month, I’ve just been offered a residency. I finally get to spend some serious time in front of a loom. Exciting times ahead!

Oranges and Lemons

The trees are full of ripe oranges and lemons. Once seeing them, all I could think of was cake. I had one of those internal fights with myself. While my head was saying 'no baking', I couldn't help but ignore it. After a quick scan of my cookbooks I settled on a Ottolenghi recipe. Orange, lemon and polenta cake for which I substituted semolina. It looks rather pretty once turned out onto a plate, with rounds of caramelised orange slices now sitting on top. All it needs is a light glaze with some apricot jam and a cup of tea. Again, no photographs, you're going to have to use your imagination on this one, and I might have to mark a little more work to deserve a slice. Right now, I'm so thankful it's a long weekend. Back to work for me.   

 

Winter setting in

 

The view this morning as I drove to work.

A new sample, a new book

I've finally gotten around to photographing a sample for a new range of scarves. The colours available in cashmere from Avril are pretty amazing that, amongst others, I couldn't resist using the super saturated turquoise for this small run. I really want one for myself, but I think I'll be last on the list. Once woven, the final design will look a little less like stripes and more like large blocks of colour. When you're using cashmere, you don't want to hide it in the warp yarn. Using a double-faced twill means that the colour will be saturated on both sides. Oh and Nigel Peake, he's awesome too!

 

Pop Craft

I've been trying to fit everything into my week since starting a new job. Let's just say there hasn't been much time for weaving. Pauline, a talented friend has opened a pop up store on Lygon Street East Brunswick called Pop Craft for which I was to supply scarves and jewellery. The jewellery is complete and hangs alongside work by label Stella Has Knits. The weaving however, will take me a few more weeks to finish. The store occupies a single shop front in the Harvest Textiles building and sells beautiful knitting yarns, along with work from emerging designers and installations by local artists. Gus Kemp's work features this fortnight. Also on offer are classes by amazing hand knitter, David Pearce and machine knitting classes by Leeana Edwards. If you're in the neighbourhood, it's worth a look. More photographs to come.   

Doughnuts

I've been wanting to try my mum's recipe for doughnuts for the longest time and finally got around to it today. Unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence of my labour. It was late in the day when I got started and by the time I had filled half with pasty cream it was dark outside. Bomboloni have to be my all time favourite sweet. Saint Johns Bakery in London still has the best I have ever eaten, and will probably remain so until I return. As to my effort, a ten out of ten by my sister and a superb from my niece was high praise indeed. I've been staying at a friends this week, so perhaps I'll have to whip some up to say thanks. So, here are some other things I've been working on and looking at. My yarn has arrived and I've been lusting after so many of the interiors in Handcrafted Modern. Thanks Rowan and Saan.    

Necklaces

It's been a little quite on my front, but I've been busy with new things. My yarn order arrived so I can finally start weaving my scarves and a little collaboration with jewelers Rowsaan has yielded this; a Huon pine pendent with a sterling silver hand made clasp and silk kumihimo braided rope. All for a limited edition project in the works. Will get back to you with opening dates.

Blooms

A garden rose, just because I love them. If I'm on a leisurely stroll, I can't help but smell any rose I happen to walk past. No stealing was done in aid of photographing such blooms, I promise. This is from my garden and its fragrance is so lovely. After all, who could resist something that smells delicious and is the most beautiful shade of lavender? Not me!