{ kass } an artistic journey

lots of photos

lots of photos of what I have been making...

Tartan cushion

Made from tartan, black painted canvas, a zipper, button-up lace and I added a kilt pin after I took the photo.

Brat Bag

I saw a painted illustration recently of black on black and I loved the effect so I reproduced it on this bag, and I am so happy with the results. It has black painted canvas, black denim sides/gusset and black "liquid" vinyl strap. Here's a detail shot:

Mini Bag
Again using the liquid vinyl and tartan material (can you tell I like those?!), this bag is 6x4 inches.

Then I added a wooden skull thing which I painted and covered with dimensional adhesive and beads. I can't remember where I got the wooden thing, I think at a scrapbooking thing maybe? I attached it with Liquid Nails!

post coming soon

...hopefully with some photos and news....

mother's day

mother's day is this sunday and is always stressful for me. My mum is the world's hardest person to buy for - she says don't buy her something, but if you don't buy something, you just know she is shitty. What's worse is that she has everything - knick knacks, perfume, she's had enough Bunnings vouchers to last forever. It's hard to buy something.

So this year I have made her a gift - a handbag. She has seen what I have been doing for Uni and has been impressed so I thought I'd make something specially. Here it is...

Materials: Canvas, muslin, vintage inspired lace and ricrac, thread, cotton fat squares (brown fabric inside), zipper.

The bag

The back

Inside

I now just HOPE she likes it!!

you cannot understand how much

I want to attend THIS....

Art Fiber Fest

*praying to the Tattslotto gods*

photography work this week

I was really lucky to be asked by the University to photograph some events this week, including three graduation ceremonies. All I had to do was take photos of the guest speakers, then afterwards photograph the VIPs upstairs. It was a pretty easy job really, but I wanted to do a good job so that I might be asked again.

The Uni have produced 3 media releases which include my photos:

http://www.acu.edu.au/media/media_releases/repository/death_penalty_abolitionist_acu_nationals_newest_honorary_doctorate/

http://www.acu.edu.au/media/media_releases/repository/juvenile_justice_advocate_receives_acu_national_honorary_doctorate/

http://www.acu.edu.au/media/media_releases/repository/acu_national_welcomes_cross,_icon_and_message_stick2/

so I am really thrilled about that. Another exciting fact is that one of the honorary doctorates, Lex Lasry, is a good friend of my Mum's and was involved in the release of our friend Peter from Sierra Leone a few years ago, so it was especially nice to see him recognised with the honorary PhD.

Some snaps:

The Hon. Lex Lasry, QC

Mr Eugene Cullity

where it's at

so I dyed my hair black. I don't know if it looks THAT black - tomorrow when I get to Uni I'll find out (if people notice!)

Things are crazy busy right now but in the best possible way.

I have 2 weeks of Uni left but I have an extra week to finalise my Urban Brats stuff so things there are going well. I am pretty happy with how things are going although the photos I am showing don't do justice to how good some of it looks. I've really outdone my own expectations on this and it feels GREAT - it's not often that happens because I usually set myself goals that are not realistic.

I am also starting work on an exhibition which I am going to curate in 2009 (hopefully March) showcasing the wearable art of recently graduated and unrepresented artists - hopefully to coincide with Melbourne Fashion Week. I have got several interested and extremely talented artists so now the work begins to secure funding and a venue. But it's exciting and I think could be a really innovative addition to what Fashion Week offers to Melbourne.

It's now less than 4 weeks until I go to Canada. My work visa cam through so I am all set there. I cannot wait to go honestly! AND I will be able to see the Sex and the City movie over there so that's exciting too - I am busting to see it! I'm hoping to buy a camcorder to record my experiences while I am there, especially in the setting up of the exhibition and opening. What a wonderful record that would provide! I am hoping to pay for that using money I am earning doing some photography work for the University.

Otherwise, everything is well and happy - crazy busy but I love it! I am reading comments and replying when I can - thankyou to everyone who keeps reading even when I am slack in updating! And also thankyou for the kind emails and messages I've had recently about my uni work and all the encouragement. It means more to me than you can know!

And hey JESS - it was ace to see you today at DFO! I did eventually find some black pants that aren't for anorexic models!!!!

new bag

Design: Urban Brats (c)
Materials: Denim, Muslin, lace, DMC thread, acrylic paint, rhinestones

***

Sorry for the lack of checking in this week, I have been super busy (I worked an extra day) and I have been fighting a cold. I was meant to go to Yarrawonga today for my niece's christening but I didn't react well to my dinner last night and wasn't able to do the drive.

Not much else to report at this stage - of course there is HEAPS happening but it's all under wraps right now!

finished skirt

I think the blocked in black makes a huge difference - don't you?

fun times with kass and lee

last month Michael and I had the pleasure of attending Nic Anderson's wedding. It was made especially fun by the attendance also of Lee and Andrew, and Lee and I decided (both sober I might add) that what Nic and Trent needed was LOTS of photos of us....and they'd kindly put little disposable cameras on each table....so we happily obliged....

the puck funk skirt continues

I added some more red netting underneath - and I think it needs more black and silver? any thoughts?

dont I look my most glamourous?? And those socks - I tell you, it's Paris here I come!! HAHAHAHA

My sewing machine has actually been playing up recently and I thought today I would have to buy a new one. But alas I took it to Spotlight (where they must think I have nothing else to do but shop there) and the lady there, Pina, helped me so much and she fixed the problem and taught me what to do in case it happens again. Thankyou Pina!!

Today was a fun day actually as I got a private tour of Marianna Hardwick, one of Australia's leading bridal designers (the who's who of Melbourne wear her when they get married). I work right next door to them and I went in the other day to ask if they had any old dressmaking dummies that they might be looking to sell? They didn't but the store manager, Susie, offered to show me around upstairs, where they make each dress to order. The dresses start at $3000 and that's for the very basic. It was absolutely STUNNING and such a privilege to be allowed to see what these masters do to make such incredible bridal couture. Thankyou Susie!!