First week roundup

Well it's been an interesting first week of my artists' residency at the Yarra Sculpture Gallery, and I think I've learnt a few things:

Firstly, I like this! Going into your studio and working each day is a real luxury. Perhaps a little unsustainable in the very long term, already jobs are being put off till 'after June!'

Secondly, you get faster and faster at crocheting! Videotape is not the most forgiving medium to crochet with, it's sticky and awkward. I am glad I chose a larger crochet hook than I've worked with before.

Thirdly, you get time to think about other projects, problems are thought through and hopefully solved.

Fourthly, I do miss being at home when the boys get home. Not that much is said, or great problems solved, or they need me to, I just miss it.

And lastly, there is alot of bits and pieces in a videotape, many of which don't seem to be able to be used for anything else! I am playing with some of the bits and pieces, but even so glad they aren't used anymore.

So, on to week 2!

Abode

Abode was the theme for my work last year and relates to the structure we live in, not really referencing the idea of home, which is not necessarily a physical place. As I look back over the last twenty years and the journey that started with the Cerificate of Art in Studio Textiles at the Melbourne College of Textiles it's interesting that the theme crops up in a variety of work. (By the way neither the course or college existed when I finished the course and now the course also doesn't exist in any form..all a bit sad, really)

I've been pondering this, and have come to no conclusions. I've never been particularly attached to a house, even my parents' home which I grew up in and where my parents still are. 'Home is where the heart is' really rings true for me. My parents, husband, children, sisters, wherever they are, are the places in my heart. So this preoccupation with the physical reality of the home is interesting.

I'm now aware of it, so it comes into my drawing:

And what I'm working on:

Catching up!

I've spent this week trying to catch up with all the 'other' work that I had, so I can be the artist for the month. One of the last jobs is a set of hats for a friend. She bought one, black with buttons that she's ordered four more, in the colours of her choice.

As you can see they're a fairly simple hat, it's the embellishments that make it a little different. I've had fun playing around, so much so, I might just make some for the stall.

Oh, and if you say there's only three, she already has one, it is Winter!

The first day of work

I am intending to treat my month of Residency at the Yarra Sculpture Gallery as a full-time 'job', the first I've had in over 20 years! The family have been told, though already failing as no-one is taking ownership of the growing mountain of dishes! To that end, yesterday was my first big day! It did involve getting there late and a lunch with my husband, but nobodies perfect.


I did do some sampling. I have to try and work bigger than usual so brought in some big crochet hooks to work with and tried using the tape doubled.

I finally settled on which crochet hook felt and looked best. Unfortunately, not the biggest one, but big enough. I've already started on a rough circle for the bottom of my first 'nest'. It needs to be about the size I need to sit cross-legged on and is about the size of a seat....getting there.

I did my first drawing, it is tiny, but it is a nest! And I settled in a bit more.

Yarra Sculpture Gallery - Winter Residency

I was going to get all serious and talk about opportunity and risk, but....I'm just so excited....I am going to be a full-time artist for the month of June!

To explain...the Contemporary Sculptors Association runs residencies over the Summer months and Winter months at the Yarra Sculpture Gallery, in Collingwood. They've offered them again this Winter, the first being for June, and I'm one of the artists! You can see the previous residencies and see how much work they've done. Basically, you get 24 hour access to your studio/gallery space for the month. There is an open studio weekend and that's about it really. As I said, I get to be an artist for the month.

Here's my space:

 The aim of my project is to develop my High Rise works to life size. That's why I want the big space. I have no idea how much work I'm going to be able to get done in the time, but looking at the previous artists work, it seems quite alot.

I hope to get some drawing done, further explorations of ideas and materials and I hope to blog, more consistantly, about the whole experience.

And, here is my studio, ready to go!

Plastic spinning

As I look forward to Experimental Spinning on Saturday, I realise I haven't even said anything about last month, and, we had such alot of FUN!

It was a plastic month. I've spun with plastic before and got some great results.

This time I had an ulterior motive as I wanted to have a go at combining some stashed acrylic yarn. Yes, I'm the person who everyone gives it to, and, I just can't say no.....

Even to pink!....

What I wanted to do was spin plastic around the acrylic and see if the colour would show through but be a bit more subdued. The result is not too bad...

Now, I hear you all ask, what are you going to do with it? Well may you ask...but I want to make some more nests....

Anyway, there were some amazing yarns created, combining yarns and plastic. We did discuss what you might do with these yarns and thought that things like little bags, you know, for phones and other young stuff! might be fun. I am looking forward to seeing what the others come up with.

Little treasures on sale!

Yesterday the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria had one of the twice yearly Textile Bazaars they hold at their guild rooms. I generally try and get to these as they are that wonderful jumble of all sorts of textiley things that just makes you feel that if you hunt hard enough you might just find a treasure!

It was easier getting there this year as it was held on the same day as Experimental Spinnning. I was still later than I wanted to be and sadly followed a big bus load of ladies down from the country on a road trip, and, the early crowds. Oh well.

I did manage to pick up a few little gadgets that I will add to my weaving equipment. A rug beater, another simple shuttle, some plastic bobbins that I will work out if my bobbin winder can handle and crochet hooks.

More crochet hooks! They look good!

AND, there was a treasure...

Eventually worked out what it was, a cone winder, or holder, not sure which, but potentially useful nevertheless. It has 'Passap' on it and I assume it is meant to be used in conjunction with a knitting machine. I will be useful somewhere....Luv it!

The Queen of Canine Spinnables!

Sometimes a project comes along that you just have to do. It's a challenge and interesting and, more importantly, it's of special importance to someone. Just such a project has come my way thanks to the meeting place that is my local cafe 'Bien' at the Greville Rd shops.

One of my 'neighbours' has asked me to spin Samoyed hair from her previous dog. She has collected the 'blow' each year from her Samoyed and kept it. She has also lent me the book 'Knitting with dog hair' from which the 'Queen of canine spinnables' come from. This was obviously a special friend and  a labour of love.

Some has already been some spun in Tasmania and a lovely job. She has a little knitted sample and the halo is just amazing. It's like Angora rabbit and you could argue just as soft.

So, with all this in mind, I need to spin to match the current sample, but I want to create something that will reflect my own interests and fulfil the need to have something that reflects the relationship. At the moment we're contemplating a woven rug and I want to keep it as simple as possible and add interest by spinning two different yarns: a plyed yarn to match the sample and a single to add contrast.

These are my first samples and I'm very happy with them.

Now I have to spin bigger samples, 10g plied and 10g single. This will give me an idea of how long it will take and, more importantly, how much length I'll have to play with!

Home is where the heart is!

The City of Banyule has just opened its first dedicated gallery: Hatch Contemporary Arts Space....Hooray! What was the Banyule Arts Space (no it really wasn't a gallery), has been renovated inside and beautifully done, and looks like a proper gallery, though they're apparently still working on the lighting. It's also been given a facelift on the outside.

It's now very bright. If you want to visit it's at 14 Ivanhoe Parade, Ivanhoe and is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. The exhibition runs from the 4th April till the 11th May, 2013.

The very first exhibition in this new space is Home: Reframing Craft and Domesticity, curated by Claire Watson. The exhibition is divided into 'rooms' where the works, both from the Banyule Art Collection and  from a variety of artists have been selected. It includes work  from woodworkers, ceramicists, embroiderers, jewellers and all sorts of contemporary art relating to the theme of Craft and Domesticity.

There is a program surrounding the exhibition with workshops, talks, to try and involve the whole community in the opening of the new space. For more information you can visit www.banyule.vic.gov.au/arts

I have been lucky enough to have some of my work selected for the exhibition, three of my little empty nests sit in the 'lounge room'.

It's a jam packed exhibition and well worth visiting. Hope to see you there!

Yes, I do have a new wheel

I'm not really sure why, but when you have one spinning wheel, after a while, it seems to need company and eventually you have more! I have four. Now to justify the first three is sort of easy: one is my first wheel, an Ashford traveller, which lives at the beach; the second is a traditional Ashford, which I keep for my general, everyday spinning; the third is a Poly wheel, which is for all my big chunky spinning.

Surprisingly, I have been on the lookout for another wheel, but it was supposed to be for fine spinning and portable. Unfortunately, my friend Marion from Fancy Spinning a Yarn had a lovely wind wheel for sale. I resisted for quite a time, but finally succumbed.

Here it is:

 It's a wonderful quirky wheel that I've seen over the years. Everyone who has one loves them and I've had a spin on them and they're a very gentle wheel. Needless to say, I've always wanted one. It does fulfil one of my needs it does fold like this:

It's an Ettrick wind wheel and there's a history I don't quite know, but they weren't the original designer of the wheel. It has changed over time and they're still currently being made. Check out Ettrick. There's an interesting website, Australian Spinning Wheels, that has a brief description of various Australian wheels, including the wind wheel.

After my spilling of oil on the drive band, the wheel is slowly returning to normal...note to self...be careful with oil!

Back from Harrietville

The annual Handweavers and Spinners Guild weekend at Harrietville at the Mountain View Retreat, proved to be slightly different from the past few years. This year, my photographer friend, Leanne, was asked to take a class teaching us how to take photos of our work. This encouraged me to take my photography a little more seriously, so each morning I took a quick walk to get some exercise and take in the surrounds.

We also stayed on an extra night and went off to Lady Bath falls in the Mount Buffalo National Park, Leanne, to take photographs, me to sketch and Rhonda wandered further on. A lovely afternoon, that was terminated by the impending storm. Funny sitting in sunshine, listening to thunder!

I liked my photographs, you should see Leanne's, but had a frustrating weekend with my spinning. Note: DON'T drop oil on your drive band, it will slip for the rest of the weekend! It's my new wind wheel and it's still not quite right, nearly.

We drove back through Milawa where we stopped at Brown Brothers and I tasted and bought some wine for my husband. Oh, and I managed to stop at First Editions going up, to buy, and going down, to introduce my friend Rhonda to their wares!