{ kass } an artistic journey

a day of rest

ah Sundays, the day of rest granted by the Lord.

So I had a large sleep in - 11.15am wake up. Niiiice. I have an empty house so I can pretty much hang in my pyjamas until mid to late afternoon. Niiiiice. A day spent in front of the TV.

Except for those bloody Poms who've ruined everything. I forgot, you see, that at Wimbledon, they give the players Sunday off, as a day of rest.

Did they consider that I might have wanted to spend MY day of rest watching THEM slog it out over five sets on TV, while consuming food and beverages that are really not good for my waistline? Did they consider that, being in the northern hemisphere and not too far behind time-wise, it would be my ONE chance to watch these matches without causing sleep deprivation? NO! No they gave the bastards a day off anyway. What is most riling is that usually because of London's crappy weather they are FORCED to play Sunday to catch up on matches. No such joy this year for this tennis fan, the weather has been fine and they get the day off.

So not happy, Jan.

I guess the one upside I can think of is that my mate Stannas is in London covering Wimbledon and HE might have got a day off, so I guess I can be happy for him. Then again, he gets to watch tennis all week and get paid for it, so no. Bugger that!!

rest in peace, jane mcgrath

I woke to see on www.news.com.au today the news that Australia lost one of it's heroes today. The death of Jane McGrath, wife of former champion cricketer Glenn, lost her battle with cancer, aged 42. She initially beat breast cancer, then a secondary bone cancer. In late 2006, just after losing her friend Belinda Emmett, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Jane's courage and determination over the past 11 years has been inspiring. She appeared to enjoy life and fight hard for her health and happiness. Although she lost the war, she won many battles, including her desire to be a mother. James and Holly were lucky to have such a wonderful mother.

It is the work of people like Jane McGrath that makes a difference in the lives of others. Through the McGrath Foundation she has campaigned for research into breast cancer and her death will only serve as a reminder of how important it is for all women AND men to help find a cure for this disease. It is killing too many of our women, in Australia and overseas.

May you rest in peace Jane, you have fought a courageous battle. And may the road ahead for Glenn, James, Holly and their family be one in which the load lightens a little each day, with their guardian angel watching over them.

I should be packing

but I am not....but I should be. It's less than 48 hours from departure and I haven't started packing. I guess I have all of tomorrow....

so I handed in all my Uni work and now I wait. I dont get results til July I think so I need to be cool with putting it out of my mind. But I want good marks. Killer marks actually. Because I worked so hard.

I can't believe it is really only 2 days til I go to PEI now. It has come around so fast!! They have broadband internet where I am staying now so I hope to be able to update regularly. It will be a busy time but I am excited now! 

Last night we had my sister's engagement party. She looked lovely and my nephew, J-Man, said a little speech and then sang us the A-B-C song, Bob the Builder (twice) and Hi-5 theme. Who knew they were engagement party anthems?!?!?! It was a lovely night and it was good to catch up with people.

So yeah - watch for updates form Canada and everyone stay well while I am gone!

meet my new friend

This is Viv. She's named after Vivienne Westwood.

I bought Viv today at Lincraft for $120, which I was pretty happy about as most I had seen were significantly more expensive. Now the real fun begins!!

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!!

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!!!!

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....

out of the mouths of babes

on Tuesday night, I went to my Dad's to measure up my sister to use for the clothes I am making (I couldn't measure myself accurately).

J-man (aged almost 5) asked if he too, could me measured up, which I duly obliged him - what choice did I have when he appeared in front of me in his singlet and undies?

After I was finished I was walking out to leave and my sister says to J-man, "c'mon its time to have a shower, I let you stay up a bit late for Aunty Kass to measure you but it's time now".

To which he replied:

"(sigh) Mum, stop busting my balls".

lazy sunday at home

I am so glad to be home and not have anywhere to be today. I have worked or had Uni 6 days straight and I am exhausted. Today is my day off and I am happy to be home.

I went to the footy last night and watched the Bombers beat Carlton - one of my favourite things in life is beating Carlton in footy, so that was great. Naturally I sat with Uncle Lindsay and Aunty Karen (my godparents) which was excellent too. I miss them during the summer when I don't get to see them every week or 2. They are very special to me.

Work was hectic this week, really busy both with customers and rearranging the store. I am now going to be based permanently at our Brunswick store. It's a good little store so I am pleased to be there.

Uni....well I handed in my bags and my working folio this week (reluctantly!) and I feel a bit lost without them here to work off. I have other work to do but it's nowhere near as motivating! I have some stuff to do today but it wont take long (I hope).

Hmmm...what else? Well my sister Lyndell got engaged last night to her boyfriend, Andrew. We really like Andrew so we are pleased they are going to spend their lives together. Andrew is fantastic with Jakob and very kind to him, and Jakob loves Andrew, so that to me is the MOST important thing. I think a wedding is some time off yet but that is fine - they're young and there is no real rush, is there?

My Dad has come home from hospital today after having a small operation late Friday. He is going really well and should make a full recovery. He was at the same hospital Mum was at a couple of weeks ago (she had her gall bladder removed) and where my great Aunt still is. I swear I could and should set up camp in the carpark, I have been there so many times in the past few weeks! Even the nursing staff are starting to remember me!

That's all I can think of right now, have a great week everyone!