artwork around the house

i am cleaning out my studio slowly. i always need to de-clutter and sort through my space before i can begin making new work. in this sorting process i decided that i wanted to hang some of my artwork around my house. this way i can clear out the studio, but also i can spend time with my work up and out of boxes.

 

i installed the forest road 16 slumped piece in my kitchen

on one of the rammed earth walls near the back door i installed the birch tree forest black panel

 

it relies on the right light but to see it clearly but i think it works here

 

another black tile with image of the city roof tops of kiev is positioned over the sofa in the lounge area

and a triptych of branchy trees is located at the base of the stair case.

its been this way for almost 2 weeks now, and i am really enjoying having the artwork hanging around the place.

and my studio has less stuff in it now. just need to find a few more pieces a good home, and then i can starting thinking about what i want to make next.

back to work

after my trip to melbourne for my exhibition 2 weeks ago, last week was back to work in the studio. i have some pieces to make for a group show that opens in november.

i ordered a shiny sparkly new apron from here and it makes cold working fashionable and dry. also is nice not having a strap around the back of your neck

and in the cold shop my task was to cut these large cylinders so that they are ready to go in the kiln

 

i had to extend the bed of the diamond saw out to the left to hold the size of the saw, the clamp is holding the wooden bed in place. then i had to cut the base off of the cylinders

and while i was avoiding doing this cutting on the saw, once i got started it went really well.

 

both bottoms cut off the cylinders - easy.

 

then i had to extend out the saw bed in length again so that i could cut down the length of one side of each cylinder to remove a section. this looked even scarier, but again after avoiding this task, it all went incredibly well.

 

the section that is removed from one side of the cylinder will allow me to then set the cylinder up in a kiln to slump it open.

 

a couple hours later in my sparkle apron and all the tricky saw work is done. 3 cylinders ready to go tin the kiln. more on the tricky kiln work soon.

productive procrastination

recently i have been quite busy. so busy i have not made it back to my quilt to get it sewn together. when i finally had some time on the weekend instead of sewing the quilt i decided to make a pressie for some friends. productive procrastination. i downloaded the pattern and instructions here. 

 

then i went through my fabric stash and sewed together bits to make a piece big enough to use and the binding i needed to make a bapron.

 

this is it sewn together to make large enough piece of fabric and then cut out.

 

the binding from the shoulder seams around the bottom helps give it shape and make it look like an apron. 

this is the finished piece. with red star neck. I actually made 2 of these to give to our friends.  they are really cute and were well received. the only thing i would change is the name, bapron sounds a bit gross, i like baby apron better.

next project finish the quilt top.

procrastination or progress?

i had a long list of things to do this weekend and a few deadlines coming up.
i didn't get far on the list. but i did finish sewing all these little squares together.



procrastination or progress? i am not sure.

patchwork pillows

the other day i gave myself a little treat and made some patchwork pillows for borris' new sofa.



they are log cabin style, inspired from this blog here.

this is the same image without the flash. the rest of the tutorial i followed is here.

and this is them on the new sofa. i like that they not relying on being perfect and measured, but a bit wonky instead. this little project has also inspired me to start thinking about my next quilt project. the hard part will be deciding which one to do.

studio closing

in a months time the studio i am a part of will be closing. the owner of the building wants it back. the studio has been operating for quite a while now, so it is a bit of a shame that we all have to move out. here are some photos i took the other day when i was procrastinating.

this is my space, i will start packing it up over the next 2 weeks.

it is a beautiful space to work from and to just spend time in. i am lucky to have had the chance to work out of here.

procrastinating

the other day i spent the afternoon procrastinating on making my artwork by cleaning out and sorting my sewing space. it has been a while since i have sewn anything and i thought a once over might inspire me to make some stuff and keep me busy while i avoided the real work i had to do.



well mission accomplished. i found all these beautiful fabrics that i have just waiting to be made into something i can wear.



and i re-found these patterns that i have been meaning to actually use. i the pattern on the left will be the next quilt i start.



and if you can believe it i found all the pieces (none lost) already cut out (i think i cut them about 3 years ago now) for a short sleeve button up shirt. just like one i have been wanting to buy. needless to say i have already ironed this and will start putting it together as my next project.



if all that wasn't enough, when i was recently visiting a friend in melbourne i also purchased this new book. it is an english translation of a japanese book of simple dress and shirt patterns. and i love everything in it! it is my plan next year when i am unemployed to make everything in this book. i guess i should really start buying the fabric now while i still have a paycheck, so that when i have time i will be set.



here are some pages from the book, of my absolute favorites. the hardest part will be deciding what one to start with first.

the patterns all really suit my style, nothing too fitted, most patterns pretty straight in their cut and simple in the design.

i might even be able to use some of the fabrics in my stash on some of these patterns.



at the back of the book are instructions with illustrations in how to make them, and then there is a pocket at the back with the actual patterns ready to copy and make into the clothes.

all this for only $30! bow cool is that. i got it from tessuti fabric. and if you order online it arrives in the post beautifully wrapped.

SALT shakers

today - in an out of character move for both me and my friend, was spent making objects for an exhibition that opens tomorrow night. we had this idea a couple months ago now after we were invited to be a part of a group show called Salt.

it has been organised in the same gallery and by the same person as the rust exhibition where me and the same collaborator on these salt shakers made a chandelier.



the idea was simple enough, to make salt shakers re-using bottles and rubber corks.




we just had not gotten around to actually making them.

i had a made a prototype for an image about a month ago; so we knew how to make them and that it would work, we just haven't had the time.

this is the image of the prototypes:



these are the ones we made today.



we decided to stick with the one style of salt shaker for this exhibition. it is nice to make something that isn't stressful, is useful, and with a friend so you can have a good time together and get some work done.

the exhibition opens tomorrow. i will try and post some images - if i take any.

new work....maybe.

this is the rough draft of an idea for some new work. maybe.



i have had the wooden bases made, and then i made the glass domes to fit.



then i started saving things from my garden, that i found interesting to put inside them.
like this dried garlic flower.

or this dandelion puffball seed ball.

and this dried branch from a native tree.

i am just not sure they are done.
or if they are too simple.
or if i should keep making them for this group show i am in in november about gardens.
or if they will look good displayed together in a large group.
or if i should add some text.
or what.

so for now they sit in my kitchen awaiting for the answers to come to me.

the problem with making stuff is....

....what to do with it all.

i am not sure if it is the spring weather we have had recently, or the fact that hard rubbish in this area is soon and i should maybe take advantage of that, or that i know that in a few months i will be moving my studio but today i found myself going through some stuff in my studio and thinking what am i going to do with all this? especially some older work.

at the same time i am about to start making some new work - but i have to stop and ask myself why. what am i going to do with more stuff?

this problem might not bother everyone but i am a person who is sensitive to clutter, and would rather see things put away and surfaces clear of clutter.

the question is what do i do with these items in my studio?

these panels are made of 2 panels of flat glass with an image etched onto the surface and have ink rubbed into them, made for an exhibition in 2008 and never shown again.

this wall piece made of car mirrors hangs i my studio, i like it but don't know what to do with it. and oi would like to reuse this technique again one day. maybe i should keep this one?

these mobiles are from an exhibition in 2006. i only have one left, but it is a big one. i do have one hanging in my home and like it but what do i do with the last one?

this is a collection of 90 cups each with a drawing on them. these cups were done over a period of 3 months while i was overseas, a drawing a day on each cup. when i look at the cups i recall the days, so i feel bad getting rid of them, and i like the idea, but the drawings on the cups are not special enough to make the piece work. i would like to revisit some kind of time piece again. but what to do with these now? who needs 90 cups on 3 shelves?

i only have about 6 of these left, and again i like them, but what to do with them now?

and finally these three wall pieces, that i made and exhibited in 2008 but never again. i don;t even like them much anymore, i am glad to have made them as they led to the work i make now but bow what to do with them?

so if anyone who knows me wants any of these let me know soon, i would far prefer they live in some one's house and be enjoyed rather than in a box in my studio.

unfortunately if i do have any exhibitions they usually require new work, and i can not show these items again easily.

or if anyone has any other good ideas let me know.