wren

Making up a bespoke bird brooch for give away winner-spectacular fairy wren blog writer Robyn...it's all stitched in soft browns and creams. The bird she chose is commonly known as a blue wren, but the female is brown and it's really called a fairy wren. She has the most beautiful photo of one on her blog banner...so sweet.

So, anyway, I don't want to spoil the surprise for Robyn which explains why you can only see the back. But also the reverse side of embroidery fascinates me...such vitality and chaos, the backs are all 'Jackson Pollock' (expressionistic)...

I'm trying to work some more of this 'energy' into my style somehow-capturing something of the dynamic between order and chaos in nature and bird life.

My latest works have been accepted for the 'Materialistic' exhibition opening in September at Reverse Garbage, so I will share some in progress shots closer to the show opening for those of you who aren't locals. Check back in for the update with the finished brooch piccy once it arrives safe and sounds with Robyn, okay! :o) happy creating,

xoKate

hello creative spacers! Been such a while since I have had the opportunity to get on here...I've been studying permaculture, growing a market, making some big changes to my life and of course CREATING!

The brooches above are my latest attempts at using recycled felt to create trees...they are all feeling a little to me like they are at the idea stage rather than finished pieces but I am liking the flow of them...

And this is this weeks main piece-as you can see it features lot and lots and lots of crochet bobbles! It's a hip/kidney wrap, shoulder wrap and cowl scarf all in one! As you can see in the following gloriously bad photos-taken with the aid of the mirror!

(note to self-I really need a photo buddy for portraits)

The wool I used was a scrummy thick 12 ply yarn from Cascade-it's called 'ecological yarn' I don't know the actual finer details and am hoping it really is eco friendly but at the very least it is un-dyed and minimally processed(it smells really lush and lanoliny and was a dream on my hands)

I made it up as I went along, feeling very strongly the need to make my work really stimulating and challenging lately-I have been pushing my boundaries and trying to rely less on patterns and more on my knowledge of stitches...it's good to have a bit of a repertoire of stitches and techniques to play with!

Happy creating sweet folks!

xkate

wet weather events

Hello! Sorry I have not been posting much lately-my home computer internet connections is on the blink, and relying heavily on my iphone and wireless cafes is not working out so well...I hope to get it all fixed soon.

Anyhoo-today I am online with my trusty usb stick at my lovely friend Sams! Thanks dear one!! LOTS and LOTS going on...will start with the good news...

The fundraiser at Reverse Garbage went brilliantly-the organisers did an amazing job; the space looked wonderful and the food was delicious and presented so creatively!

The whole feel of the night was so good natured, the live music and the auction was exciting-its a thrill to see the crowd joining in the fun and chipping in towards the fundraising! The event kick starts the fundraising process-for the the purchase of a permanent home, a purpose bought Reverse Garbage building. I would love to see this come into fruition!
I am thrilled to have a selection of my dash robin pieces in the gallery store.

I chose some Christmas style items;, some of my partridges, jacaranda brooches and few other good gift giving ones. Reverse garbage receives a percentage for these
sales, I am really happy to know that commission fee is going to a good cause!




So that was the highlight of the week. The rest though was more like a series of lowlights! Yesterday I spent some time reflecting and regathering my spirits with the help of this little love, curling up on my lap, purring and basically letting me be quiet and down. The disheartened feelings I had when two highly anticipated weekend markets were totally washed out left me very flat. This is the not so cheerful part! My hope and optimism about this business is at a low point.
Saturdays Christmas Brisstyle market was hit by such extreme weather, high winds whipping up and absolute down pouring of rains. Unfortunately quite a few of us had wet stock but the efforts of the organisers are appreciated. Helen was racing around with plastic sheeting and trying to keep every ones spirits up despite how frustrating it must have been for her, it was nothing short of spectacular and inspiring.

On Sunday I did not have high hopes for a clear skied day. I gathered at Northey street with the few brave souls who had travelled to our market site. Bob soothed our souls with some amazing music, the acoustics of playing under food connects huge new tent and heavy rain was so moving it raised goosebumps.

I felt negative and bitter and without the kindness and gentle support of everyone around me I would have felt worse-this was the site where one of the stall holders was meant to be!

Can you believe it?!?!
These feelings pass, Buddhism and counselling have given me some small seeds of patience and in some ways I know I am and even
feel lucky. Knowing this is passing disappointment, not genuine depression. I hope and work towards never facing depression again, I had a terrible time in the past with it and am thankful to have mental stability.

So instead of surrendering to feelings of failure I am cherishing simple little happy tasks, one at at time, and holding fast to moments of joy,

xoKate.

Hello! I am feeling full and lazy because I have been enjoying some yummy pain du campagne bread today. I picked up a loaf from Sol bread which is my fave bakery chain in Brisbane, they have shops in West end and New farm, a stall at Northey streets Sunday market, and maybe even more places, not sure?
Anyway, they make all sorts of breads, but specialise in sourdough. By happy coincidence my taste buds specialise in sourdough :o)

I stopped in quickly after dropping off some brooches and toys to Echoes Giftshop, in West end. Echoes is inside the premises of Reverse garbage and to have your work stocked there you have to use at least 75% recycled or reused materials. They take work on consignment(yay-no upfront fees!) and proceeds go back into their organisation to fund their education programs.


These brooches are a good example of the kind of thing I am interested in; re-purposing high quality materials. These are discs of thick clean white felt, used in the transportation of glassware, afterwards instead of ending up in landfill, these are collected by Reverse garbage. I purchased them from their shop front, decorated them with embroidery, stitched a brooch backing onto them and now they have returned to the premises, in the gift shop for sale. The only thing I have not yet found are recycled brooch pins. If anyone has any leads on this I'd love to hear of them, as my aim is to use only recycled items.

I am happy to have been able to create this 100% recycled baby cloud toy. I filled it with ordinary polyester stuffing offcuts from an upholsterers, which are again, from reverse garbage- clean, fresh and totally usable.
The bird symbol was a fine red woollen jumper, felted, and the white material is again, reverse garbage offcuts, from clothing manufacturing. Even the sewing thread is from reverse garbage!
I love using stuff which was otherwise destined to become rubbish-it really feels great, and seems so useful. Why do we continue to buy new materials, and manufacture and import so much stuff when we have vast stores of things, overflowing, cluttering up homes and businesses?

There are some things we have to buy new of course, but lots of crafting supplies, I suggest we simply buy new, without really considering the impact, source, workers who've made them ,etc, etc...
Anyway, I feel so passionate about this but will stop now to hopefully avoid becoming a 'ranter' !
Before I sign off I thought I'd show you my new glasses, picked up just today-how strangely comfortable they are to wear! I thought they'd be heavy and hurt my nose as I have never worn glasses before, but they feel great...what do you think?
My goofball son is pulling a face to show what he thinks of them, he told me, "you look good in them" after a pause, he amended it to 'not really good, but good."
Hope you're having a really good week,
xkate

blogging giveaway

My cat Tripitaka keeps presenting an offering for me...its an over sized bird brooch I made for my bag, and he finds it, 'kills it' and drops it at my bedroom door, its very amusing and a whole lot nicer than finding a real bird there.


I keep him indoors 95% of the time. The other 5% is when he has crept out. I never thought I would keep a cat indoors, because I think its sort of a prison like existence for an animal but after Max was killed by a car I seem to have become very protective. And Trippy is such a hunter, I have to protect the wildlife! I have never had a cat like him, he's on the hunt virtually every moment he's awake...even in the piccy above he has his paw on a bird ;O)


And speaking of birds....
you can enter my little dash robin bird brooch giveaway at the dash robin facebook page.
There is lots of dashy things happening, so much so that to keep you in the loop would create one helluva dull blog so I plan to use my facebook more as an updates place,
while on here more old school sharing thoughts and images blogging!
You can however take a look over yonder at the market list...(for example to see the 3 different markets I'll be at this weekend -with kids in tow-what was I thinking!!!)

So if you have a facebook account, become a fan of dash robin and this will also keep you up to date about all the dashing about going on :o)

xkate

my creative space

With special christmas markets coming up and my love of birds 'tis only right that I am making some bird brooches.


And I am sneaking in some crochet despite the weather-here's a flowery little detail...

This yarn for the flower detail is from the delicious fauve fibres bundle which I added to my stash. It's the top ball in this picture but is going fast! So happy using these lovely yarns!

I'm off to see what you've all been doing :o)
xKate

market days

Brisstyle eco market was so lovely. Setting up stall under a big shady tree was perfect and before the market officially started I zipped around the market and collected a few special goodies.
I have just about ticked off my entire Christmas shopping list. In the photo above you can see a beautiful silky oak owl brooch from Jettas nest, first edition of Bespoke magazine, plushy turtle toy from little jellygnite, air plant by Nell of feybles
and little soaps which will be perfect stocking fillers from warm sigh.

I will be spending some time this week working on brooches and toys, photographing them, etc because happilly I need to make more stock. It's really a joy and so satisfying to be making and selling what I love, that my little dream for dash robin of using materials (which I adore)-organic hand dyed yarns and special vintage remnants is being realised. Thanks to all the supporters of independent eco friendly craft who make this happen!

My music collage suitcase worked brilliantly for displaying my brooches and I have also just found out my lovely friend Nerida has grabbed a vintage blue suitcase for me which will be joining my eclectic collection of props and stands :o)

I had such a great day Saturday, loved sharing the eco stall with Vanessa, of little original who is back on the scene after a small break from the market scene-with very good reason!
I had a delightful morning meeting her adorable new bubsy.

It's really wonderful to display dash robin creations alongside her works, our items are unique and distinct from each others yet seem to really work well together. We will be sharing again soon at the upcoming Brisstyle designers market and I can't wait.

I think its true to say we are 'fans' of each other..we have down a couple of swaps and I am happy to have a few stunning little original vintage fabric and doily chickens and ducks decorating my house. They look gorgeously warm and friendly and children love them so much.

I will be updating soon about Village life too,
so please check back later in the week, won't you!
xKate

eco market

Not much to write of, or rather time to write it in as I am head down, tail up working away on brooches and other little eco lovelies for this weekend...I have the big Brisstyle eco market Saturday and my regular Village life market too.

xKate

creative space pretty things.

I spent some time with lovely Sarah Campbell in her new salon, it is sooo beautiful!
She has been working hard and has cast a careful eye over every detail. My favourite detail is the beautiful original art deco light....
And check out the wallpaper, isn't it just divine.

And she has teamed it with this...perfect.
Her salon is not your run of the mill hairdresser, she has created a beautiful serene space and has carefully sourced cruelty free and organic products.
For now I have left some tree, bird and flower brooches but I have some little thoughts bubbling away about designs which will suit the space...it's inspiring to have my work in such a lovely place.

I made a little sign up for my display, with this collage, one of my first dash robin pieces, back when I thought I would sell coasters(!) Anyway, it is still one of my favourite images and I hope suits her decor.



Onto other things now, I enjoyed the clear skies yesterday, didn't you?
Being creative is so fun when you can sit outdoors, working under a shady tree with birds telling their tales in branches above.
I sat in my yard working on some crochet and noticing...have you ever observed how many Australian native plants have red stems and shoots in spring? They look almost edible they are so fresh and rich coloured- like berries.
And I was so excited to realise the poor, stunted (cut down, now re shooting) Jacaranda tree in my backyard is blooming too...what a survivor!

have a beautiful week,
xkate
link if you are playing along with kootoyoo here

p.s- please click here to find out more about Sarah's hair and make up services

photographing work effectively.

Despite the spring windy rainy weather I got outside a little bit last week and following some tips from a selection of wonderful links which Melanie of Kimono reincarnate posted.
I decided to do a few new photo shoots with my latest work, and try and get some better ones of my older things. I tried to capture the fuzzyness of the upcycled felt in the pine tree
(dash robin tree brooch)

the softness of this linen-cotton blend thread...(dash robin nest brooch)

and the texture contrasts here of the glass and thread and bark.

Shape and colour was the main thing I was concerned about capturing here, in this last image. This is such a fantastic piece of fabric-I found it in a second hand/antiques shop in nearby Deagon, can you believe it was once a 60's floral cushion cover?
(dash robin bird brooch)
I'd love to know what you think!
xKate

spring blooms

Can you tell whats been inspiring me lately?

Such gorgeous blossoms!
another Jacaranda fan here...
...what an amazing tree!
xoKate
P.s-small lot (only 3 made-so far) of brooches available via here now

school holidays

The lads are on school holidays so we've spent lots of time down at the beach.

It's so wonderful to feel a sense of disappearing, wandering far off out at sea or hiding high up along the cliffs...

We're ignoring the seemingly new unwritten rules of 'children should never do slightly risky things' and 'children should never be outdoors in the rain'

The birds and wiggly wormy bugs seem to find our presence unremarkable.

Mind you the sea anemones might find it irritating being very gently poked with a stick..it's so hard to resist though as they curl up and unfold again, like a bud opening into a flower.

On the home front we've been crafting, reading, sewing, watching sponge bob+ and erky & perky, drawing, etc.
I am working on some new 'i love tea' brooches (after my last one sold on Sunday.)

Some amigurumi experiments have begun too... check in again later this week and we'll see how things progress!
xKate