Sister in law Shirley is visiting from Esperance. The main purpose of her trip is to buy an outfit for her son's wedding in the US in July. Apparently all the members of the bridal party (male and female) are to be dressed in ivory and so her colour decisions were made for her.
We visited: 6 boutiques in Applecross (Riseley Street), 2 boutiques and a recycling shop in Applecross Village (Ardross Street) and 2 boutiques in South Perth (Mends Street). At one of the South Perth outlets she found a skirt that she liked and bought it. No suitable top though.
I asked if she had a dressmaker in Esperance - YES! So off we went to Fabulous Fabrics in Balcatta. We found a satin crepe that toned with the skirt for a camisole and some beautiful beaded silk organza for a long coat. Success at last.
I am so tired. I'm not sure whether it was all the driving or all the standing around or both. I did buy something for myself - a beaded bracelet. Cost me $10. Shirley spent a lot more than that.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Busy Day/Lazy Day
Yesterday was the first meeting for the year of Designing Women, a textile art group I have belonged to since its second meeting back in 2001. That meeting was held at a private house in a studio, but the group got too big for that to be feasible and we moved to hired rooms. Barbara, whose house it was, has not been a member of the group for a couple of years due to ill health, so it was lovely to have her return yesterday and resume her membership.
We had a very productive meeting, with an introduction to the Melville Textile Art project which is being co-ordinated by two of our members, and got most of the year's program organised. There will not be an exhibition this year, but we will take part in Artopia in October this year and book a venue for 2008.
In the afternoon there was a consultation workshop for the textile project. Unfortunately I couldn't attend. My sister and brother in law were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and as a member of the original bridal party I was obliged to attend. It was a very nice party, and that is my excuse for no blog entry yesterday.
When we got home I went straight to bed and have been rather slow all day. Not hungover, just slothful.
Below is a picture of the wedding. I am NOT going to post one of the same group 40 years later! Too demoralising.
We had a very productive meeting, with an introduction to the Melville Textile Art project which is being co-ordinated by two of our members, and got most of the year's program organised. There will not be an exhibition this year, but we will take part in Artopia in October this year and book a venue for 2008.
In the afternoon there was a consultation workshop for the textile project. Unfortunately I couldn't attend. My sister and brother in law were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and as a member of the original bridal party I was obliged to attend. It was a very nice party, and that is my excuse for no blog entry yesterday.
When we got home I went straight to bed and have been rather slow all day. Not hungover, just slothful.
Below is a picture of the wedding. I am NOT going to post one of the same group 40 years later! Too demoralising.
Friday, February 9, 2007
February is Group start up time
Yesterday I went to the first meeting for the year of the Machine Embroidery group at the Embroiderers' Guild, today I went to Contemporary Quilt Group and tomorrow is the first meeting of Designing Women. The second week of the month is the favoured time for most of the textile groups I belong to.
Yesterday we revisited basic free machine embroidery stitches. and started on a stitch sampler. As usual I didn't have the threads I really needed, and my machine decided that, no matter how much I loosened the tension of the spare bobbin case, it was not going to co-operate and make a nice feather stitch. Yet another UFO in the making, I suspect.
At Contemporary Quilt Group we watched the DVD of Quilt National 2004. Some stunning work - we needed a morale boosting talk after. Show and Tell was a bit limited because of the holiday break, but there were some nice examples of printing from a lino block, disperse dyeing using texture sheets and an arpilliero (?spelling) that a member's daughter had bought in South America. Diana also brought along the quilt she made that appears in the latest issue of Quilting Arts, and there was some fabulous vintage clothing. One was a Victorian capelet with a collar and long ties. Though solid black for a mourning garment, it was embellished with shiny black beads. I guess the desire for bling has always existed.
PS: Yesterday I just missed out on 10,000 steps: 9823. Today I forgot to put on the pedometer. Probably just as well. Even though we went for our walk early I spent most of the day sitting.
Yesterday we revisited basic free machine embroidery stitches. and started on a stitch sampler. As usual I didn't have the threads I really needed, and my machine decided that, no matter how much I loosened the tension of the spare bobbin case, it was not going to co-operate and make a nice feather stitch. Yet another UFO in the making, I suspect.
At Contemporary Quilt Group we watched the DVD of Quilt National 2004. Some stunning work - we needed a morale boosting talk after. Show and Tell was a bit limited because of the holiday break, but there were some nice examples of printing from a lino block, disperse dyeing using texture sheets and an arpilliero (?spelling) that a member's daughter had bought in South America. Diana also brought along the quilt she made that appears in the latest issue of Quilting Arts, and there was some fabulous vintage clothing. One was a Victorian capelet with a collar and long ties. Though solid black for a mourning garment, it was embellished with shiny black beads. I guess the desire for bling has always existed.
PS: Yesterday I just missed out on 10,000 steps: 9823. Today I forgot to put on the pedometer. Probably just as well. Even though we went for our walk early I spent most of the day sitting.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
More Fibre at the Museum
I thought I had rabbited on enough yesterday so I didn't mention two other fibre pieces we were shown. I didn't take photos - I was a bit shy about asking - so no pictures, sorry. The pieces were cloaks from New Zealand. I know nothing about these, so I don't know if they were good examples or rubbish, but I found them pretty impressive.
The first was (according to the accompanying card) "woven from flax with thrums inserted into the warp". Doesn't sound that wonderful, does it? But it was really interesting. The base fabric was a creamy-beige colour, woven so that it appeared as textured rectangles. The "thrums" were black, long curly pieces almost like the stuff you can buy to use as dolls' hair. I assume they were wool, but I have no idea whether it was the natural colour or if they were dyed. The overall effect was almost like a layer of freeform lace on top of the base fabric.
The second was a feather cloak. I wasn't able to look closely at this, so I don't know what the base fabric was like, but it had intricately woven bands at each end. The feathers were a muted pinky-brown, quite fluffy, with here and there the eye from a peacock's feather. We were told that it dated from the 1880's.
I do think it is a shame that things like this are not on public display. I have decided that I need to know more about traditional New Zealand textiles, because I am going to the Aotearoa Textile Forum on the Kapiti coast in September.
The first was (according to the accompanying card) "woven from flax with thrums inserted into the warp". Doesn't sound that wonderful, does it? But it was really interesting. The base fabric was a creamy-beige colour, woven so that it appeared as textured rectangles. The "thrums" were black, long curly pieces almost like the stuff you can buy to use as dolls' hair. I assume they were wool, but I have no idea whether it was the natural colour or if they were dyed. The overall effect was almost like a layer of freeform lace on top of the base fabric.
The second was a feather cloak. I wasn't able to look closely at this, so I don't know what the base fabric was like, but it had intricately woven bands at each end. The feathers were a muted pinky-brown, quite fluffy, with here and there the eye from a peacock's feather. We were told that it dated from the 1880's.
I do think it is a shame that things like this are not on public display. I have decided that I need to know more about traditional New Zealand textiles, because I am going to the Aotearoa Textile Forum on the Kapiti coast in September.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Museum visit - some fibre seen
We went out to Welshpool today to the warehouse where the major portion of the Western Australian Museum's various collections is stored. The reason for our visit was to see a Papuan dance mask that Kevin donated to the museum in 1962. It has been in storage almost all the time since.
While there we were shown a number of different PNG artifacts including some tapa from Oro Province. When we were living in Popondetta in the 70's I used to buy tapa from the women who made it. I did this on behalf of the Vocational Centre where I taught. The centre ran a small business and tapa was made into hats and bags or sold by the piece to tourists. The photo is of a piece of tapa that I bought for myself at that time.
Tapa is made from the bark of a species of mulberry. The pieces of stripped bark are beaten out over a log until they are flexible. Some pieces of tapa are huge, this one is quite small - about a metre by 60 cm. The very best tapa is as flexible as cloth with almost no holes. Thicker tapa with no holes is generally not as highly regarded as thinner tapa with holes, but even the best quality tapa must be decorated well to be valuable. Traditionally, the red in the designs is made from hibiscus gum, the black from charcoal. In the 70's these were painted on with brushes made from chewed twigs. Designs are usually based on natural objects - fish, lizards, palm fronds, but may also be purely geometric.
Tapa from some of the Pacific islands is varnished but PNG tapa is soft. It was used for all the things cloth is - wrappings for gifts, food and as shrouds, clothing, curtains, table and bed covers. I believe tapa is still being made but woven cloth has replaced it for everyday use.
The tapa I saw at the Museum was not the best quality and the painting was very poorly done. The line surrounding the red motifs was very definite, unlike the the soft lines and dots of the tapa I am accustomed to. It looked to be the work of a beginner or someone unaware of the traditional styles. The pic below shows the design outlines of a traditional piece very clearly.
PS: I walked 11023 steps yesterday. I have 9433 on the pedometer at the moment and I still have to prepare dinner.
While there we were shown a number of different PNG artifacts including some tapa from Oro Province. When we were living in Popondetta in the 70's I used to buy tapa from the women who made it. I did this on behalf of the Vocational Centre where I taught. The centre ran a small business and tapa was made into hats and bags or sold by the piece to tourists. The photo is of a piece of tapa that I bought for myself at that time.
Tapa is made from the bark of a species of mulberry. The pieces of stripped bark are beaten out over a log until they are flexible. Some pieces of tapa are huge, this one is quite small - about a metre by 60 cm. The very best tapa is as flexible as cloth with almost no holes. Thicker tapa with no holes is generally not as highly regarded as thinner tapa with holes, but even the best quality tapa must be decorated well to be valuable. Traditionally, the red in the designs is made from hibiscus gum, the black from charcoal. In the 70's these were painted on with brushes made from chewed twigs. Designs are usually based on natural objects - fish, lizards, palm fronds, but may also be purely geometric.
Tapa from some of the Pacific islands is varnished but PNG tapa is soft. It was used for all the things cloth is - wrappings for gifts, food and as shrouds, clothing, curtains, table and bed covers. I believe tapa is still being made but woven cloth has replaced it for everyday use.
The tapa I saw at the Museum was not the best quality and the painting was very poorly done. The line surrounding the red motifs was very definite, unlike the the soft lines and dots of the tapa I am accustomed to. It looked to be the work of a beginner or someone unaware of the traditional styles. The pic below shows the design outlines of a traditional piece very clearly.
PS: I walked 11023 steps yesterday. I have 9433 on the pedometer at the moment and I still have to prepare dinner.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
10,000 Steps
I have resumed the 10,000 steps program. The idea is that you do at least that number of steps per day to maintain a basic fitness level. The steps are measured with a pedometer. At the end of last year I was attaching it religiously to my belt every morning and achieving the goal most days. Then it was Christmas and New Year, and the daily walks became walks every third or fourth day. The week before last we started walking every day again, but the pedometer languished on the bedroom chest of drawers until yesterday.
It is very hard to do that number of steps when you spend hours at the computer, sewing machine or embellisher! Yesterday I only managed 8865 steps. Today I have done 10,168 so far and will probably clock up a few more before bedtime.
A few of the steps involved walking out to the back garden to examine my "alien flowers". The centre of the flower has opened out a bit more and there are more bluey-purple bits in the middle.
It is very hard to do that number of steps when you spend hours at the computer, sewing machine or embellisher! Yesterday I only managed 8865 steps. Today I have done 10,168 so far and will probably clock up a few more before bedtime.
A few of the steps involved walking out to the back garden to examine my "alien flowers". The centre of the flower has opened out a bit more and there are more bluey-purple bits in the middle.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Fibre is found in strange places
While I was looking for the photo I posted yesterday I came across a folder with a collection of pictures I took a couple of years ago at the last remaining ammunition dump at Woodmams Point. During World War II they were partially underground bunkers surrounded with high walls of cement filled sandbags, two metres or more tall, used for storing ammunition.
There used to be several of these buildings, but they are now all gone but one. The building is in very poor condition and covered in grafitti, but somehow the walls have survived without defacement.
And the fibre connection? The original sandbags have long ago rotted away, but have left their textural marks on the cement. You can clearly see the weave of the cloth, the seams of the bags and the stitching that closed them. And even, though not in this photo, frayed holes where sand spilled out.
There used to be several of these buildings, but they are now all gone but one. The building is in very poor condition and covered in grafitti, but somehow the walls have survived without defacement.
And the fibre connection? The original sandbags have long ago rotted away, but have left their textural marks on the cement. You can clearly see the weave of the cloth, the seams of the bags and the stitching that closed them. And even, though not in this photo, frayed holes where sand spilled out.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Slightly Productive Sunday
Yesterday I finished my contribution to the family blog, was happily writing away on this one, went to publish it and . . . the connection had disappeared and remained down all evening. So that's my excuse for no entry yesterday.
We are reconnected today and I spent hours surfing, looking for information and air fares related to a trip to the States in July for a nephew's wedding. It seems almost too easy to make all the travel arrangements on-line. But since we haven't actually decided on an itinerary it was just information gathering.
This afternoon I played a bit more with ATCs. I now have a pile of a dozen or so. There is a swap being organised to raise money for cancer research and I'd like to be in that one, but the rules say they must be in a series of 6. I am finding it very difficult. I have made series in the past, but never any more than 4 of a kind. I usually make an embellished base fabric, then use a view finder to pick out interesting bits. I thought I had a big enough base piece, but try as I might, I couldn't get more than 5 pieces from it. I will obviously have to make something quite a bit larger for this.
I remembered that I had taken a photo of the flower form of the seed pod pictured the other day, so I did some searching in the files and eventually found it. Isn't it a lovely bunch of tassels?
We are reconnected today and I spent hours surfing, looking for information and air fares related to a trip to the States in July for a nephew's wedding. It seems almost too easy to make all the travel arrangements on-line. But since we haven't actually decided on an itinerary it was just information gathering.
This afternoon I played a bit more with ATCs. I now have a pile of a dozen or so. There is a swap being organised to raise money for cancer research and I'd like to be in that one, but the rules say they must be in a series of 6. I am finding it very difficult. I have made series in the past, but never any more than 4 of a kind. I usually make an embellished base fabric, then use a view finder to pick out interesting bits. I thought I had a big enough base piece, but try as I might, I couldn't get more than 5 pieces from it. I will obviously have to make something quite a bit larger for this.
I remembered that I had taken a photo of the flower form of the seed pod pictured the other day, so I did some searching in the files and eventually found it. Isn't it a lovely bunch of tassels?
Friday, February 2, 2007
Natural fibre
This giant tassel is hanging from a tree at North Lake.The lake is now almost completely dry, but filled with bright green weeds. It was amazing to see a black swan stalking through them like it was swimming in a different kind of water. I don't remember the lake being so low before. This time last year it still had plenty of water in it. We will need lots of winter rain to fill it again. But there are still a lot of water birds around so I guess the weed provides them with good pickings.
This type of tree grows its older leaves into bunches. Usually they resemble balls or birds' nests. This tassel must be a least a couple of metres long. I had never noticed it before, but now I will look out for it.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
The things that you see
When we went for our walk at the lake this morning we remembered to take a camera with us. We could see this blue spot from quite a distance. I wondered if it were a flower that had grown up through the old stump. The reality was more amusing.
Isn't this seedpod marvellous? I have been thinking of a way to suggest it in fabric or fibre and I have an idea . . .I don't know what the bush is called, but the sequence it follows in its flowering is amazing. Before the flowers come it has protruding fat fingers (where the spikes are now) like an outspread hand. Then they split and the flower emerges. The long fine flower filaments look like a bunch of tassels. The flowers die and the seedpods dry out and lose their colour and eventually fall to the ground.
I look for the bush every time we walk this way, just so I can see what stage it is at. This is what it had to offer today.
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