WOW... My emotions are in a spin... I have just returned from Mandurah.  My dress 'A fish out of water' was chosen by Today Tonight to be filmed for a little piece they are doing on Wearable Art Mandurah.  I was so thrilled and excited to get the phonecall - who wouldn't be? However... my head went into overdrive and PANIC!!!  I love to create, I have ideas swarming around my head constantly.. like the computer on with 20 working tabs!  but put me in front of people, cameras etc then I shrivel up... think rabbit in headlights.  I also like to be in control of my situations and so being put into hair and makeup (I own 1 eyeshadow and 1 mascara that is a couple of years old) and then in front of a camera and expect me to talk..AAAAGH!!  Anyhow what an amazing opportunity, I am just proud of myself for getting through it! I need to start working anonymously like Banksy!  So, the Today Tonight feature will be on next week in WA...

Moving on... This week marks the end of a Mural contest between local Rockingham schools.  I alongside another artist, Bec Inwood, worked in schools to promote the message 'Happy looks good on you'  
Two of my schools won, Makybe Rise and Montessori and it gave the students an opportunity to come along and have a go at painting on a wall!  Bec worked with Makybe and I helped Montessori.  So over a couple of days I drew up the outline onto a 6m x 2m wall at Rockingham PCYC then filled it in with some of the students.... The code in the middle reads 'happy looks good on you' in 'Pig Pen' code.. go look that one up!

So now the murals are finished I can get my head back into the Upcycle project that I am assisting as an artist in residence.  I have 5 schools this year all making a sculpture for Castaways... We have a net of fish, a triffid, a huge bottle, a tuart tree and a dung beetle and ball... all very exciting stuff and all the students are creating like mad.  It is a great one to be involved in.  

And lastly, if I have convinced you into buying tickets for the amazing Wearable Art Mandurah showcase and you live in WA... you can buy tickets here..​ Think tickets start at around $34 which is a total bargain for such an incredible show.  Till next time :)

It is now April... where is the year going?  It gets quite depressing as you get older to watch time slipping away.  I have been filling my hours with manic creativity though!  Two weeks ago my friend Ruth and I participated in Town of Claremonts ARTTRA2017 - Art Contained.  Our concept was a large cardboard diorama installed into a 3m cubed metal container.  You can see some photos here: 

WLast weekend was 'judging day' for Wearable Art, Mandurah.  So Friday night I finished glue gunning everything that wasn't stuck down and packed my Angler Fish called 'A fish out of water' costume into my car.  I decided to make a fish out of the one material that is wiping out our sealife - plastic.  A skirt, fins, neckpiece, 'light' and hat all made from handcut milk bottle scales and ironed and fused sheets of milk bottle plastic.  I had also purchased a morphsuit to be worn underneath and cut out the face.  Actually wearing the black suit underneath really pulled the whole outfit together.  I had a glimpse at some of the other entries - wow.....

So now I wait to find out in two weeks whether i made it through to the showcase - which is in June at MANPAC.  The wearable art journey is one which I enjoy greatly.  It is a totally different ball game to make a sculpture that fits a body and throws up several challenges.  This years piece has similarities with last year, both using plastic.  I also based both pieces on old corsets which I bought very cheaply.  But I have a different love for my outfit this year and I guess the fact it has a face gives it its own personality! When I receive the professional photos from judging day I shall pop them onto my wearable art page.    I already have 4 designs sketched up ready for next year!!!  For now I will enjoy the school holidays with my family as next term is a crazy one for me.  I have 6 schools to work with on their upcycled castaway projects... Happy Easter to you all :)

It is March, it is MAD!!  I am so super busy right now but all in a great creative way.  Dunsborough 'Sculptures by the bay' was a crazy 3 days.  A beautiful foreshore, an exceptionally well run and very friendly event.  A major plus being that it was my quickest install EVER!!!  30 minutes.... I have 2 lovely friends that would not believe it!  Castaways every year, I have the earliest install time and generally I am last to leave the beach!  My two 'diggers' 'coffee runners' 'lateral thinking' friends, Kristy and Dana expect to spend a morning on the Rockingham Foreshore every year and I never fail to rise to their expectations!  Anyhow, I digress...

My 3 jellyfish were hung up in a Bloom on a beautiful tree.  They swayed with the breeze and lit up at night with a super blue glow.  Almost a shame that the judges didn't do an evening walk.  My friend Ruth Acton, an awesome creative artist, won 'Emerging Artist' and also sold her piece, a beautiful big leaf made out of chicken wire and wrapped in weed.  
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The shadows it cast were stunning.  My smallest jellyfish sold on the last day and I have since received an email from the lovely buyer inquiring about buying the other 2.... so a very successful weekend.

I am now home and straight back into some other projects.  Through the week I am working in 4 primary schools creating entries with the students to enter into the Rockingham council 'mural competition' and also working with Ruth on the Town of Claremont ARTTRA 2017 Art Contained project.  Filling a 3m cube metal container with a cardboard forest.  So far I have made 3 rabbits, an owl and 8 birds... a bush and the beginnings of a huge tree canopy.  18 days left to go and a lot to do.

Finally I found out from City of Mandurah last week that my outfit for Wearable Art 2017 has been accepted on its photo entry. Yay - go me!!  So judging day is looming, April 8th.  I have a lot to do on my skirt but that is being pushed into the week before judging as I have that giant forest to create!  My piece has been titled 'A fish out of water' .  An Anglerfish made of plastic based on the plastic pollution in the oceans... I guess with scary statistics re. plastic in the seas, eventually our fish may well be 'out of water'... :(  ​

 It is pouring here in Perth today.  It is still Summer but I was ever so slightly tempted to chuck a few logs into our woodburner and light it up.. But alas, I am under the pump to get my Wearable Art piece finished so upto my cold workshop I go, armed with a steaming cup of tea and vast quantities of English Cadburys chocolate.  I have reached the point in this project that I hate... I hate so much that I just look at it, knowing what I have to do but not wanting to physically do it.  This is a huge hurdle for me and one that I must get over.  I made the base for the skirt and have attached all of my plastic scales.  I have made accessories, they are all complete.  I now need to neaten it, strengthen it and stitch on velcro.  EUGH... Stitching.. I just struggle.  I am so near finishing but this is now an uphill (and we are talking 80% gradient hill) race... a mental block... so, I procrastinate... 

I am so so busy right now, both in my head and in real!  Alongside Wearable Art, I have 3 jellyfish to complete for an exhibition down in Dunsborough  My EOI to fill a container with art for an art weekend in Claremont was accepted last week - I will be making a giant forest diorama, I am very excited to start this but am trying to hold myself back to finish other projects first... 'PrOcRaStInAtIoN'!!.  This term and next I will be working within several local schools to create a mural to be painted on a wall somewhere in Rockingham.  Having a hubby who is absent two weeks out of three and juggling home life and two boys into the mix makes for a very interesting life!  Add to that my appalling record of time management.......

Anyhow, back to my Wearable Art... this is a photo of one of my 'fins'  It is an arm piece, modelled by my 11 year old.  Made form aluminium litho plate and ironed milk bottle plastic - which gives a great translucency... My next blog I write may well have a full photo of my outfit as I have planned photos for next Tuesday, I can then send in my application and crack on with my jellyfish... Anyhow, I must make another cup of tea and away I go.. till next time :)

WOW... Here we are at the end of yet another year.  It has not been the best year for our little family but things can always get better.  I have a few projects on at the moment.  My wearable art piece this year is based on a report from WEF (World Economic Forum) that 

'Plastic rubbish will outweigh fish in the oceans by 2050 unless the world takes drastic action to recycle the material'

So I am building a wearable art piece inspired by an Angler Fish made entirely out of... you guessed it... plastic.  The Angler Fish itself is a fairly ugly bony bottom lurking bizarre fish, named because of its amazing ability to lure its prey with an inbuilt 'luminescent organ' called the 'esca'.  In most species,a wide mouth extends all around the anterior circumference of the head, and bands of inwardly inclined teeth line both jaws.  An incredibly strange yet intriguing species.. Furthermore, they mate for life when they have found their partner.   Because individuals are locally rare, encounters are also very rare. Therefore, finding a mate is problematic. When scientists first started capturing ceratioid anglerfish, they noticed that all of the specimens were female. These individuals were a few centimetres in size and almost all of them had what appeared to be parasites attached to them. It turned out that these "parasites" were highly reduced male ceratioids. This indicates the anglerfish use a polyandrous mating system.  Thus, males never mature without parasitizing a female, and die if they cannot find one... Rather sad... but amazingly interesting.  This is the photo I have been inspired by, An Anglerfish found off of the Queensland Coast... funny looking little thing!!! 

I am also working hard on creating my 'Jellyfish' for Dunsborough, 'Sculptures by the bay' which is at the end of March.  I will be making 5 that glow in the dark and will hopefully be hung as a 'Bloom' in a tree.

I hope to be able to stock my Madeit shop this year too.  I have a few wall art and jewellery pieces left over from Tiny Treasures so need to pull my finger out and take photos....  So much to do that it becomes a little overwhelming... so I don't do it... then the deadline is oh so near and i PANIC, will I ever change??!!

Happy new Year to you... I sincerely hope that 2017 is a fantastic, kind, inspiringly creative year for all....

So, Castaways is over for another year.  It was a really lovely 10 days.  I worked in the childrens tent all week, it is a fun job!  Surprisingly I sold a birdie.. which was such a lovely end to the exhibition.   I always say that if I don't have an idea for the next exhibition by the time it ends then I won't be entering the following year!!... however... I have an idea in my head... so we shall see. 

I am currently hurriedly working on creating a huge amount of stock to take down to Tiny Treasures in mandurah.. I have created Long Legged Birdie brooches, pendants, resin coated mini canvas ( a picture of one below), gift cards and wall art... it has taken a few weeks and I am nearly at the finishing mark... just to label and package.

I have applied for a spot in the Sculptures by the bay exhibition down in Dunsborough in March and have also sent in my application to participate in next years Wearable Art... Exciting times..  I have sketches and scribbles pinned up everywhere and cannot wait to get started!!  

Enough of my procrastination.. to my 'she shed' I must go... Fingers crossed no flies have stuck to my resin overnight... :) 

Only a few days to go until Castaways 2016.  I have been procrastinating yet again.. I am on the verge of finishing but seem to have come across a mental stumbling block...  I just need to attach wings and waterproof the birds.  I realise that once that is done I cannot re paint them and i am struggling to paint their eyes.  In fact, I have repainted their eyes, all 6 of them around 5 times now... I am still not happy but need to convince myself to just waterproof them and be done with it!  

I have drilled over 1060 plastic lids, with a 12mm hole to thread onto rebar.  Besides ripping off a corner my thumb nail whilst drilling and bruising the palm of my hand forcing the lids onto the bars these are now complete:​ 

​I actually hate the anticipation of this event as every year i am in panic that my sculptures will break on the beach.. and this year, it is probably the most likely.  I have had the integral framework snap inside two of my birds and i will be holding my breath all morning Friday!  Have a great week... 

I ran a workshop on Saturday.. showing 18 art teachers how to prepare, melt and use plastic lids.  It was great fun and they had some inspiring ideas as to what to do with the discs...!  So, as I am moving onto other things i thought someone might like a list on 'how to'...?  I have been fine tuning my process for a while now.. but it is relatively simple.. You will need:

• A flat plate sandwich press
• Teflon Sheet (BBQ sheet)  I buy mine for $5 at Reject Shop, I cut it in half
• Some lids, preferable HDPE as they melt at a low heat and are not too stinky... if you are brave then experiment with other plastic.. BUT MELT THEM OUTSIDE
• Heavy books

Method:

1. Pick out the little paper discs inside the lids
2. Wash your lids.. I throw a whole load into the washing machine! If not washed the milk or juice residue will burn onto the discs leaving brown marks....
3. Dry lids
4. Stack your lids in little piles of two or three... depending how you stack will depend on the end shape!
5. Place a sheet of teflon on sandwich press, place your little piles of lids on top, cover with other sheet of teflon
6. Press... They will take a minute to start melting and the upper plate of the press will touch the base plate when ready... you can flip your little teflon parcel halfway
7. Carefully remove the teflon parcel and place under heavy books until cool... I like to stand on them too (on the book)... I have 3 sandwich presses going at the same time.. 
8. When cool... create.. they can be drilled easily.  You can also take a rolling pin to them when removed from the press and still hot, over the teflon to 'sqoosh' them more!
9. You can experiment with plastic beads, mirrors etc... just make sure you are outside or in a very well ventilated room.....

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Hope that all makes some sense and you have a go!!!!  Any questions..?  Ask away!

Have been working on my birds... I have one near completion and two that are 'stuffed' and ready for their paper mache layers.  Gluing layers of paper mache starts to get a bit boring, however, once dry and painted I can start on the feathers.  I get to read my old books at the same time as cutting out the feathers!! These birds were born from my love of children's books.  I have piles.. and piles.. and piles.. oh and a couple of suitcases full... All of them pre date 1979 as I only collect 'vintage' ones!  Ones that have lost their spines or been scribbled in go to my art room to await 'rebirth'  All of my birds have a covering of book pages and each feather has been cut from a page.  The majority of my birds will be black and white with a pop of colour on the wings, tails and legs...:

My statement:  
These birds have been born from my love of books, both reading and collecting. I have suitcases overflowing with vintage books for children, who knows of the effect that the digital revolution will have on the paper word. Books allow me to grow wings and be transported to other worlds, give me comfort and provide a bond with my children who are also avid readers. Inspired by Dr Seuss, these Long Legged Birdies have bodies made from pages of books that have been rescued from the bin, ripped and spineless; the pages are now reloved and given ‘life’
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‘From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other but when books are opened you discover that you have wings’ Helen Hayes 1900-1993

​Sadly my schools are now coming to the end of their sculpture time... Happily they all have an amazing piece that they are very proud of.. Cannot wait to see them all on the Rockingham Foreshore in October.

Between now and then I have a few EOI's to write up and also to prepare for a crazy Castaways week in the school tent.  We are creating puppets this year and I think I have invented something pretty unique - I shall pop onto my next blog... the wait will be worth it... I promise!!

 Both my boys are now back at school.. Halfway through the school year here which is crazy!!  With this term brings Castaways.. I only have 3 lessons left with each of my schools and they have come a loooong way with their sculptures... I now need to start mine!  

I have cut 2 wood templates out and fitted one with metal tubes which will allow for the legs to be slotted in.  It has been covered in scrunched paper and 'shaped'  Beak applied and one layer of paper mache.   Paper mache tip no. 1 the curvier your surface the thinner your paper strips need to be.  Paper mache tip no.2 when working in a cold house, use warm water (for no other reason than it keeps your fingers warm)...!!  

I aim this year (7 years in) to be fully prepared and able to install my birds within two hours MAX... Kristy and Dana, if you're reading this.....!!!!!!

I also received an application for Sculptures by the Sea and am tempted again to apply... I would love to be accepted and experience the vibe at Cottlesloe... we shall see.  The first deposit for my studio/shed has been paid and so I hopefully will have a fantastic working space within a couple of months.  I am soooo excited.. 

Anyhow i shall leave you with some little photos of my Castaways birdie no. 1 taking shape.  Although it is a little hard to see, 'he' is around 1 metre from tail to beak 'tip'... :)