I’ve been a bit slack lately, in posting, partly because there are some changes for our family with this new year, the kidlets are moving into new things, and out in to the world more, and I’m working on a big?  secret?  project.  I’m entering two garments in World of Wearable Arts this year, which is really exciting, I’m using some materials I made while at Art School, all those years ago.

Sneak peak one:

Sneak peak two:

So far, this project is not involving much sewing, just pinning, draping, and reading books about fabulous haute couture garments by Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior and just some of the wonderful illustrations of Ernst Haeckel, I’m loving it!

Some sewing..

Luna’s world is about flowers.

And Blake is into trains.

And cars.

Excitedly, Rob’s recent performance at the Silos, Concretions, was a hit, and he has just started a postgraduate year at Elam.  Busy times ahead…

Oh, so this WAS a while ago now, yikes… unearthing a disc of old photos, my statement and writing for my final year of my BFA.  I feel like re-writing it… good motivation to explore more crochet I suppose too!

A Galaxy of Polymorphous Organisms, BFA 2005.

Playfulness, humour and nonsense are key aspects of this installation.  The quirky art and illustrations of Dr Seuss has been the impetus behind the production these objects, which I see as absurd and dysfunctional.  The objects and their arrangement in the space is intended to create a sense of wonder for the viewer, to experience the fun and playfulness involved in making the objects and installing them.

As a process of iteration and repetition, crochet begins with a slip knot and involves creating a series of loops using a hooked needle, altering the topology of the original material from a simple length into a complex three dimensional form.  Fascination with the ability to control and manipulate these materials has driven my practice, resulting in ‘mutations’ of traditional crochet stitches.  Although techniques like crochet were almost abandoned due to the introduction of modern manufacturing, crochet has retained its thrifty nature and developed into a sophisticated craft.

My obsession with the various objects in this installation illustrates Freud’s theory of humans being “polymorphously perverse” .  In the early stages of an individual’s development, Freud believed that a person would find pleasure in any number and variety of objects.  Freud asserted that this changed over time, as obsessions developed and formed fixations on specific objects as a child grew.  Each object is a free flowing exploration of ideas, a response to my obsession, as manifested in colour, form, structure and scale.

Angela Carter 2005

1 Seuss, Dr.  (1971).  The Lorax. New York:  Random House.

2 Wikipedia.  (2005).  Sigmund Freud:  Psychosexual Development. Available:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freud#Psychosexual_development

More and more images…

I sold a few of these little precious ones, but most of them are still with me.  And YES it takes ages to make them.  And ages to install them.  They are all a little lost when you see them like this:

Photos of some older works, Luna and I had fun curating our ‘home gallery’ as she calls it.

I was interested in the how these shapes formed when I exaggerated certain stitches, at the same place in each piece.  Quite star shaped.

One fun way to get RSI.  These are really firm and hold their shape well, and yes, they take ages.

I was learning about juvenile jellyfish, hydroids and other marine organisms.

This is Toxic, it was at part of Desire Lines.  Did you see it there?  I was getting into octopus at this stage!  Giant octopus!

If you’ve been to art school you might have been lucky enough to have one of those classically trained drawing teachers.  The kind who maintain and enforce that subtle etiquette required when one person in the room is being a nudey pants.

The kind of art teacher who tells the class you must draw every morning for a few hours, in the hope that maybe those words will sink into at least one mind…  these drawings are all at least a couple of hours exhausting work, and if you went to art school you might know many gazzillion of these I have.  AND drawing was my favourite subject, AND had the best teacher, lucky me!

Anatomy was so hard, we drew from human skeletons, and live models, though I loved all those bones.  I still do.

We also drew from classical busts.

And still lifes.

In sorting out my work room I have unpacked some sketch books.  So exciting, some drawing projects as well as designs for other ideas, including set design for a sci fi play.  From AGES ago.

Above is the original drawing for my tattoo, I was making drawings of marine animals, here are some more…

I love tube worms.

Inspired by art work in some old undersea books.

Gotta love water colour pencils for vibrant drawings.

Pencil and ink..

My lovely sea horses are all coming along just well, swimmingly…  I’m enjoying using up some fabric pieces I’ve had stashed for years on one of my newest designs.  I decided to make some giant sea horses after I had a dream about huge sea horses, over one meter tall, they swam through the air, and were amazing, so real and just huge!

Here are the ones I have made out of a beautiful cot sheet mum gave me, they are sooo soft and snuggly, I have enough to make about three or four.  I have also used the material to make some scallop shell softies too.

I have been experimenting with some of the embroidery stitches on my machine..

Here are some of my newest little goodies, I have been working on them for a wee while and I introduced them at the Auckland Art and Craft Fair in December.  They come complete with instructions, pins, thread, all the felt and even stuffing and a needle.  Perfect for someone looking for a project over a weekend, if you’re newish to sewing.  You will learn how to sew blanket stitch, and you’ll have a pretty pin cushion at the end.  They are available in two sizes, just like the real thing, and in a variety of flavours.

I will list them on Felt.co.nz for next month and even have some new kits in the making for coming markets this year.

And Mermaid’s Purse will be there.  I’m so excited, I’ve been mad busy sewing, stuffing, cutting, trimming and naming loads of lovely treats for you to take home.

Tomorrow I have some pretty snugly sea horses needing new homes, and a nice bunch of Don’t Give Me The Chop! Carrots, and some very exciting Make Your Own Cupcake Pincushion Kits.  The pincusion kits have been a while in the making and I figure this months Auckland Art Craft Fair is THE place to launch them for all you craft loving shoppers..

See you tomorrow at the Aotea Center Foyer from 11am to 4pm!  Wohoo!

The sea gardens crochet coral reef that started this year at Auckland Museum will be setting down for the summer at The Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa, the opening is this coming Saturday.  I will be there and I’m planning on make some more crochet pieces for it, it’s probably one of my favourite projects, I’m so pleased to be a part of it.

So get hooking and make something to contribute!  Check out this website for the how-to’s and other info on the international Crochet Coral Reef project, The Institute for Figuring.

Also worth a look is Daina Taimina’s blog, Hyperbolic Crochet, she has also published a book on the mathematics involved with loads of beautiful photos.

It’s been way too long, I know.  What’s with all the gaps?  No posts?  No updates?  No news?

These days posts are typed one-handed while baby Blake sleeps on my other arm.  I’m actually getting really good at it.

Big news around here is that Mermaid’s Purse will be at next month’s Auckland Art and Craft Fair, and I’m so excited.  So excited in fact, I have been busting my guts to get some new products completed just for you.

Look out for my ‘sew your own cupcake pincushion kits’ and some more beautiful new sea horses.  You really should take one home, they are so cuddly.