It's been busy!

Holy shizzle I am just getting over the opening weekend! Thursday night was a hugely packed affair, I was worried that some of the works were millimeters away from being knocked by bags and elbows, but all emerged unscathed.

I was exhausted from all the talking, 8cm heel-wearing, checking on children, shepherding bags away from the works, and half-finished conversations that go along with openings, but it was great to see so many awesome folk appreciating these three shows. I especially loved catching up with Simon O'Mallon, my teacher from TAFE in Adelaide all those years ago, who opened 'Shoe Show' with a fine, albeit nutty, speech.

I have heard Simons' stories many times, but it was good to get a refresher; how the Cordwainer's Guild is one of the oldest in London, and that he feels centuries of shoemakers hover at your elbow when you make shoes by hand. The best thing he said was that 'handmade footwear is the quantum physics of craft', I might get a t-shirt made with that emblazoned across the front.

On Saturday I gave a shoemaking demonstration at Craft Vic, to a bunch of enthusiasts and curious folk. I took a lot of hand tools, patterns, leather samples, and components used in the making of the Printemps shoe/spat. For myself, I stitched a pair of navy kid uppers with white top stitch, and partially constructed them so that I could show the different stages involved. I passed a lot of bits and pieces around for people to examine and hold, this craft of mine is very tactile, and I wanted to convey these properties during my presentation.

It seemed to go down well, most people have no ides how a shoe is made, from a drawing to completion, so I hope that a few light bulbs went off in illumination. Afterwards I hung around answering questions and chatting for a while, then I was all talked out and went home via Brunetti's to stock up on well-earned cakes!

There are more pics on the Craft Vic blog.

Monster Zoo

My Leo loves a good object, especially if it's a robot, a spaceman, a creature, or especially in this case, a posse of mischievous monsters. Yesterday we went off to Pieces of Eight, Leo was a bit hot and grumpy in the car, but as soon as we peeked into the front window, he shrieked, 'I love it I love it!'

I wished he was taller, so that I didn't have to lug him around on my hip to see all the work, but by golly, my 5 year old was smitten with these curiosities.

Each of them has a distinct personality, as the catalogue details, (some of them are responsible for nibbling holes in condoms!), and I particularly love the use of stones etc, which gives each of these critters such unique characteristics. The materials are precious, but the work is rendered in such an un-fussy way, beautifully made, and so humorous.

After we left Leo declared that we should go there every day to visit them, and we should tell all our friends, which is why I'm passing this crucial information onto you! We took a catalogue home, which has already been to kinder today for show & tell. (Leo is getting a reputation for being the kinder cultural attaché!)

On my bedside table

Long overdue this one.
As you are no doubt well aware I am a Star Wars nutter, and while visiting the current exhibition at Scienceworks I just had to get this fine book: 'Dressing a Galaxy - The costumes of Star Wars'.

Trisha Biggar is the inspirational woman responsible for the costumes of Episodes I, II AND III, this huge book shows the range of research, characters, fabrics and materials she has given life to. Categories include Military Wear, Padme's journey, Jedi vs Sith, The Galactic Senate, and Slaves, Rogues and Bounty Hunters. Many costumes from the original films are documented as well.

There is a lot of technique on display; hand beading, smocking, customising of fabrics, mold making, casting, hand tooling, dyeing, metal work - my thoughts go to the vast numbers of craftspeople having loads of late nights! Many of these crafty folk are Australian, as our labour was so well priced to make these movies here!

Excuse the cropping on these images, the book really is so big that my scanner falls short.


Zam Wessel - Bounty Hunter.
J'adore this one, a real action girl outfit, I would have loved a blue version back when I was a dreadlocked bike messenger. OK I would still like a blue version. In this image I spy a neoprene bodysuit, leather vest, gauntlets, shin guards, gloves, half skirt and chest plate. If William Gibson wants me for a movie, I'll have an outfit like this please.


Padme's Action Outfit.
There are moulded leather accessories hidden under the cape here, a holster and pouch, the colours are gorgeous and the scarf/cape has a big texture.


Baron Papanoida.
Leather trim aplenty here, but my heart swoons at the silver aiguillette, I have a new shoe design based on this feature alone. Who can guess who this actor is.......well it's none other than George Lucas.


Tion Medon.
I'm pretty sure this is velvet, the vest section is divine, again order me one in blue. This gent is played by the super-tall Bruce Spence.

Jango Fett detail.
This is a really technical costume, involving a lot of casting and metal work. There's a lot more metal than on Boba Fett's final costume, he had to make do with some trumped up cargo pants, but as we all know, he did a mighty fine job!
I'm wondering how those leather pouches stay closed, some form of magnetic closure perhaps?


To offer one wee criticism, from a footwear-focussed gal, there is not much in the way of the description of footwear. I have been wondering which pairs were bought commercially and customised, which ones were custom made etc. I am none the wiser, but I won't let it dent my enthusiasm for this great reference book!

Shoe Show

Finally!

After months of making, the 'Shoe Show' opens this Thursday. There are six shoemakers in total, and seeing as I have been cloistered away with my own pieces for months, it will be refreshing to look upon new work.




I'll be the one wearing these, the most girly shoes I have ever made for myself! I do love the opportunity to dress up, and I won't be able to wear heels for much longer, with all the bulging I'll be doing.



Listening to: Madlib - Slim's Return

My new project - due in April

Et voila.

Without sounding like a press release, this is the reason for my loss of mojo, the recent malaise, the rather constant nausea.

I do apologise for being a slack friend to many during recent weeks, with all the work for the Shoe Show, and this little babe, all I have been able to do is some vague tinkering, lots of sleeping, and trying to keep my food down.

I'm welcoming the supposed glow and surplus energy that the fabled second trimester brings, I'm hoping to get back into cooking, visit my long lost pals at capoeira, and catch up with some lovelies who I have been missing.

Enjoy your weekend!

She was a big freak!

Betty Davis floats my boat.

No, not the black and white film star with the famous eyes.
The other Betty Davis, once married to Miles, who can be credited for introducing him to Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, and for widening his musical tastes and inspiring the Bitches Brew album.


Betty Davis who was out there, flying her freak flag high, who couldn't be tamed, who had amazing live shows, who was boycotted and banned from being played on many radio stations due to her liberated sexual attitude, who has influenced many a musician from Prince, to Peaches and then some.



I guess I became aware of her music when I started listening to hip hop, and was trying to figure out where all the samples came from. As my interest in funk music grew, I found Betty, and boy is she a keeper! I love her, the sci-fi meets mythology costumes, those legs(!), the raw earthy vocal style, the amazing musicians - she has the rhythm section from Sly and the Family Stone on her first album and the Pointer Sisters on backing vocals. Sheez!


'Anti Love Song' from her self titled debut album, 1973


She only released three albums, in 1973, 1974 and 1975, none of them were commercially successful, though they are widely collected as cult classics, and then she was gone, living quietly as Betty Mabry to this day, refusing interviews.


'Git in There' from They Say I'm Different, 1974

Bless you Betty xxx

Ilma Lever (This one's for you, Pip)

Saturday October 24th
9 - 3pm
Station St Coburg

Ilma Lever's annual Spring Plant Sale, is such a cute day out in the sunshine.
Every year there is a huge selection of herb and vegie seedlings, flowers of all sorts, in fact I think almost every plant there is for sale, and let me tell you they are all bargains.

Sausage sizzle, preserves, raffles, tea'n'biccies, kids galore, butterflies, fish in the pond, great nannas and poppas, what more could you want?

eX de Medici

detail from 'Tooth and Claw' 2008/9

eX de Medici really floats my boat. Have a look at these images.

She is a combination of tattoo artist (recently featured on Artscape,) and fine artist with precision rendering in watercolour, pen and ink, and mica.

Her new show 'Sweet Complicity' is on at Karen Woodbury Gallery, 4 Albert St Richmond.

Spring

Much more goes on around here than just shoemaking, you know.
In fact, the spring rain and sunshine have turned my garden into a verdant spectacle, as these photos demonstrate.


When these beauties grow up they will be blueberries. I rarely get any, because Leo is so adept at spotting them first thing in the morn.


Strawberries on the make. Likewise to my consumption of these, Leo is the master.


Lovely lettuce. These have been growing away all winter, I think that I prefer a winter lettuce to a summer one, much longer growing time for starters. They are so darn easy - grow lettuce people.

Monsieur cabbage. Holy shizzle, these fellas have tripled in size since rain and sun have been arriving in equal quantities.


Pak Choy gone to seed, but the bees love 'em. There is a beehive in the neighbourhood, and I always let something go to seed. Earlier the broccoli was all a-flower, and the bees were so laden with pollen, their knee bags were bulging!

This above pic also has some are-they-ready-yet leeks. I love to grow leeks, but geez they take a long time. Some of mine are almost ready, and brown onions, and garlic too! We also have broad beans, carrots, cauliflower, and loads of flowers and herbs.

Listening to: Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer

Swarovski Mayhem

70 crystals, pink and red, to be honest it didn't take as long as I thought.
I have stuck on many a crystal in my time, and these were quite well behaved - there's nothing 5 minute Araldite can't fix!

Have to deliver all my footwear for the show this Friday, I am on schedule, no all-nighters or last minute panic attacks! Hurrah for the semblance of organisation!

Listening to: Wes Montgomery - Impressions