Taken for Granted

I have a tatty collection of flotsam and jetsam found at the beach and dumped just outside my studio door. I love my little treasures but go past them dozens of times every day without giving them a thought. Time to look carefully and to appreciate the textures and patterns created by a combination of the forces of nature and the forces of bugs and creatures unknown.





 

SHRUNK SILK - AGHHHHHH

I was really happy with the colour once the silk had dried. It took 2 hours to iron, in 35 degree heat, but I must admit I have air conditioning in my studio -  so it wasn't really much of a chore. I was just a tad surprised to find that once I had draped the lengths of fabric over the screen, they had shrunk by a good 20% - a combination of boiling, hot machine drying and hot ironing! I had allowed for 5-10% shrinkage, not 20%. No matter. I had bought extra silk 'just in case' of such emergencies, so I dyed some more, a slightly deeper colour, and the extra seams will add extra interest.

The collecting, dying and stitching of individual componants is coming along nicely.

JEWELLERY

I am going to Brisbane tomorrow to take some jewellery to a gallery I found in Fortitude Valley.  I love the selection I am taking - my favourite wabi sabi series. They were in the Noosa Regional Gallery shop and were selling well until I was swamped by some fabulous competition! Time for a new outlet. It is always hard 'putting yourself out there' as an artist.

These earrings are made with teabag tissue, watch parts, freshwater pearls and silver plated wire and beads. I rarely use sterling silver because I want my jewellery to be affordable and not too 'precious'.

The neckpieces are made from antique barbed wire, hand fabricated rusty wire, 'Picasso' stone, dyed teabag and silverplated findings and stainless steel wires.

UP AND RUNNING

My friend Fiona has just helped me set up my blog site - wabisabiart!  I hope to use it to share my creative adventures with the world!