new stuff

some garments that have been sitting waiting to be stenciled for a while are now on Ozebaby.

recent custom

making lettering 3D

the next installment in the Year 6 and 7 classes graffiti and lettering lesson. It would be great if we could all use Illustrator to experiment with text design and make digital comics, but not only does the school not have Illustrator, but I also think that graphic design needs to be able to be done by hand as well as computer. Those who can only design on computers loose the organic feel in their design and graphics, logos etc.
Here are some examples to show the students what is expected.

I am finding teaching art is satisfying my need to create and therefore my business is taking a back foot at thre moment, I can't really be bothered with it. Later today I need to make a cubism, pop art and Matisse example, how exciting!

exploring traditional painting

The week before last, the year 4 and 5 students explored some traditional methods of painting using their hands and symbolism.
They had to paint a crocodile using a hand print for the head and knuckle prints to make the body and finger paint the tail and legs. In the background the were asked to paint Indigenous Australia symbols to tell a story. For eg, frogs near the crocodile may tell of the crocodile looking for food, or hunters behind the crocodile, the crocodile becomes the hunted.

Here are some examples of what they painted.

This week we will look at cubism and pop art movements, and the work of Matisse. The year 6 and 7s will continue with their graffiti unit, looking at making their letttering 3D and colouring techniques.

teaching art

I have my first teaching contract - teaching art of all things !! (jumps for joy).
I teach years 4-7, each class for an hour a week to provide teachers with non-contact time. In a week, I see over 250 children.
The school I am teaching at is a low socio-economic area so the students have limited art supplies if any, and so does the school. Unfortunately my ideas of sculpture an other 3D works have gone out the window.

However, I have developed a graffiti art unit for years 6 and 7 to work on with funky lettering, hookups, colouring and stylization. This guy, called Mr Wiggles, has the best learn to graffiti site

It has examples of lettering and tips with photos of colouring methods and making 3D letters. more on the other year levels soon and examples of work produced.

about time I updated my blog

it has been a while as I have been so busy of late. I haven't been doing too much dyeing, but am really loving rainbow spirals and new methods of applying dye that makes the most vibrant colours that need to be seen in real life to be believed.
I dyed a few customs the other day but am yet to take photos so here are some pics of recent stuff.

and I am really loving dyeing cuts of fabrics for nappies or pads. Cotton velour is my fav to dye, it seems more sturdy than bamboo velour.

these are bamboo velour
my favourite is 'Divine Feminine', it looks like a womb

and these are cotton velour

bamboo velor and rainbows

Rainbows galore and rainbow pad and nappy bamboo velor cuts. Stocking Thursday night @ 8pm at my Ozebaby store.
Don't fret if you miss out though, many more hand dyed bits coming in the next month.

learning to teach

My 2nd prac is well underway with my first week of full time teaching last week. Only two weeks to go and then I am finsihed. The class is challenging to say the least, but it is good, it is like behaviour management 101.
We are doing heaps of hands on stuff as much as they are difficult to keep organised and focused. Our science unit is on the needs and life cycle of plants and we are sprouting and growing beans, testing the needs of air, water, temperature and soil, and are also exploring competition in the environment, the effect of salinity of soil and drought.

Inspiration comes from everyday life
This art pic above is my 2 min example for the kids. It is based on the work of Margaret Preston, and Australian artist who loved to paint and print wildflowers. This pic is of the Sturt Desert Pea. Some children made such great pieces. It is made by having a heavy background on oil pastels and then covering with thick black paint and scrapping back the drawing into the paint, very effective.
It reminds me of these new dyeing styles I had been working with a few months ago, I might try to tie the two together for summer (if no one copies my idea before then ;) but I'll still do it if they do anyway LOL).

break from business

wow, didn't realise it had been so long since I had updated my blog. I am taking a break from business for a month or so until I finish study and make some great stuff for friends. I have some new ideas when I start selling again in October and will open to custom requests for both dyeing and painting.
I will have a large stock of spirals and mandala pieces for the spring/summer, and will again have many hand stenciled tees and singlets. I do the majority of my stenciling with dye so the fabric stays soft (unlike paint) and it will not fade or chip off.

busy busy

the GDUNH is keeping me very busy with sending orders and giving hints on the forum. I have some new products I would love to working on my I start my last practical placement for my Graduate Diploma of Education on Monday so it could be some weeks before I can really give any new products attention. The application for teaching in QLD has been taking a lot of my mind time too, making decisions of what are the best areas to apply in, where I might like to live and whether full time work is suitable for our family.
so not much time for my blog at the moment...

more GDUNH stock

this is the last on it unless I decide to make some during the month the hunt runs, which could be likely as I am loving dyeing at the moment, I love that it is unpredictable (painting is so predictable and safe) and I love that I can make something soft and fairy life one day, and something wild the next. So much versatility actually with dye. anyway, here is a pic or two. These rainbow spirals are all soft, neraly pastel in colour so the tees are not overpowering.

elements of my logo

for those who have asked, my logo comprises of elements from my hand dyed and painted tees I have made in the past year or so. I love animals being a bit of an animal liber, and Australian animals are truly unique. These are some of my favourites to date and what better images to have in my logo than my own!

inspired styles

Part of my new line includes mandalas inspired by timeless ideas and rituals of spiritual societies. These pieces are almost like artistic impressions or representations of yantras (magic symbols), fire yagnas (sacrifices), sand mandalas made by Tibetan buddhists and tribal and pagan images of fire dancing, tribal gatherings, initiations and corroboree events.
These pieces are also aimed at the crystal children being born at this time in the world. You can read more about them here. Here are some of my favourites so far from this new line.

This one is called fire yagna. 2nd one is flower and reminiscent of sand mandala of monks.


This is Lotus and is similar to yantras for the cosmos.

This doesn't have a name yet, but is similar to the Tibetan wheel of fire.

next field experience

I am due to start my next and final field experience in the 2nd week of August and it seems my Blue Card expires a week before. I am hoping with so many please, please, please please's that it will be renewed within the three weeks until I start prac. I am an optimist and am hoping the universe will provide me this small favour as I don't take or ask for much.
Graduation is in December and I am so happy it is nearly all over. I started studying the week my son was born and it has been a hard slog to keep motivated and on top of home life, family life, business and study. My application for teacher registration is almost complete for Qld and I am still waiting on my approval to teach in NSW.

GDUNH prize

is in the mail. To see all the fabulous prizes, click here. Don't forget to sign up as a hunter, only just over a week until the fun starts.

more hunt stock

I am nearly finished dyeing for stock during the hunt. There are a few bags requiring an extra colour from dip dyed and then they all need stenciling, and I'll be finished! I'm loving dyeing the bigger pieces as they allow for detail that just can't be achieved on small children's tees.

GDUNH prize

This hunt we have donated 'fire and ice' a hand dyed library or shopping bag and a hand dyed 100% hemp wallet with zip up coin and notes section and sections for credit cards.
Something for mum/dad this year in the wallet and the bag is the funkiest library bag for the littlins or a great shopping bag for the family.

Results

it's a bit too windy outside to get good photos of these drying, but here are some snap shots. The singlet (right) is dyed using a japanese shirbori method. The colours in the photo are really bad, it is so vibrant and really cute IRL. The Wondersuit (left) is dyed using a spiral tie.

These are part of my new range and will make up a large aspect of my market stalls in the future. This one is a sun...


and this is a eight pointed star. Colours are much more vibrant IRL. Will be up for sale during the GDUNH.

Dyeing Session

I realised today why I haven't done heaps of dyeing in a while... not only is it hard work, but I do it all in a 1m square space which is frustrating. Anyway, I had an appointment at lunch too, but got two hours done and nearly all 29 pieces started. Will take another few days, maybe 6 hours to get it all finished LOL.

First steps for me is to mix my dye. I have chemical sensitivity (long story) so I use a full dust and particle mask to mix dyes. You should use at least a dust mask, but I find even with a dust mask I get a migraine headache. Not a fashion statement to say the least, but safety first.

I keep my mask on until all dyes are mixed and placed in a bottle. I love bamboo skewers, they are the dyers best mixing friend.

Here are two shibori, Japanese resist, pieces. Colours look great from the outside, but this is my first attempt at this using that particular fabric. It is usually done with silk. I have used soda ash in two different ways on each so when I unwrap I can see which technique works best for my purpose. Hope they look as fab unwrapped.

These things have had the dye applied directly to fabric, but soda ash again in different methods. I am experimenting to see what works the best for me.

Pics of everything shown here rinsed in the next few days (maybe)