This piece I refer to now as ‘Palmland’ comprises three elements; the attributive frieze (frame); landscape (oil on aluminium leaf on canvas); metal lace overlay (12ga anodised aluminium wire). I dont know if they’ll all come together well, the effect can’t be judged until each element has been made even if I obsessively model it on photoshop. Not fully decided on the direction the landscape is going yet either but its just begun. It might end up being completely red. I’ve modelled that too. For making the lace fragments, all the tools are taped up to prevent scratching the surface which can happen so easily. Bloody taping up is half the job. The stencil took weeks to design to find the best fit in proportion to the frame. The method for applying it via mica pigment will be tricky and risky & I’m apprehensive about it & cant wait! Fear & loathing in craft land. And the Ikea rug I bought in London is ending its days in the studio & I love it here. NGL it wasn’t close to ending it’s days until I moved it down here.

I spent a week in Brisbane

On a more sombre note, Gordon Bennett at QAGOMA. We were at art college together. So powerful I could hardly breathe, walking through this show.

Those yellow handled pliers seen earlier were part of the tool treasure that Ross gave me. The screwdrivers clamp into slot heads, the micro hex keys are exquisite, the bearing extractor is….something I’ll never use but it is a custom made tool for servicing military aircraft and is therefore something that must be treasured & I’m here to do it. Making your own tools is what its all about, word.

The wind-up pug toys are naturally a gift from my brother Mr Mustang

Some lovely brass round tubing arrived from Hobby Tools while I was away & I was so excited to start using it as soon as I got back. This is 3.18mm & 3mm tube with a 1.4mm drill bit, I need to distribute the load of my mobiles in a more structurally sound way as the aluminium wire is too soft & heavy to maintain the wide lateral arrangement I’m after. This is going to be a large piece. I’m thrilled about the tubing & wire looking so good! My drilling jig is so cool! I hadn’t unpacked luggage before hitting the workshop, mad keen

Two doggas from I, Object at Qagoma. The whole installation was so beautifully lit

Time to talk sewing:

Comparing pattern shapes between the Named Keana blouse (just found out when looking for the link that this pattern has been discontinued, so the comparison is moot unless you already have the pattern) and the Closet Core Carolyn shirt (my fav shirt to make). I have done a comparative study on them both previously, here. This time I want most of the Keana with body and armscye of Carolyn because I like the fit of those. Also I may change the Keana collar curve to the Carolyn shape, it sits more nicely. I mostly want a new shirt/blouse without a collar stand which allows for piping, because piping, piping love is strong within me. I wonder how it will go, mashing the two sleeves & armscyes together… the Carolyn body & sleeve design form a rotated dart but theres a usual dart added to Keana body so…

….find that comparing sleeve head curves is hard…and kind of …stupid…

…Having gone away to think about it, it could be that I’ll just make a Keana, go up a size, lengthen it & slash & spread the body. I like doing that to most top patterns, now. Middle age spread! Middle age slash & spread, widen that waist. But I enjoy this daydream sewing planning, overlaying pattern shapes on others like this is a late night pleasure. You wouldn’t believe how often I do it. Maybe I should get the new Tessuti Ines shirt. Ines was a provisional baby name eighteen years ago but then I had another boy…. Its way too late at night right now….

THE NEXT DAY:

Planning on making the Heather Blazer (above left by Theory, I like the cutaway below the button) AND an oversized quilted parka (Frankie Shop) on right. Quite disparate outerwear garments but you never know how you’ll feel on the day. Not sure how to go ahead in making the parka oversized, is it just extreme dropped shoulder from a super wide shoulder seam? Its an unexciting design (Tamarack level of unexciting) except for the oversize & quilting. And it would have to be always buttoned/snap closed at some point or it’d just…fall off all the time.

Regard blazer fabric hunt:

Octopus or what!! Spoonflower gold! This would be a large scale print on cotton sateen, the bamboo & snakes is perfect but is actually a wallpaper

Then there’s this, both from Pitt Trading. Can you see the pistol in the print on the right? Cool hey. I’ve bought 2 meters of that. Wish I knew who the designer was. These two aren’t matched for outer/lining combination but I like the direction & I’m still thinking about getting the toile de jouy for another shirt. Its nice I like it

Prada-esque bengaline & palm trees on satin also from Pitt Trading. Also not particularly matched for outer/lining but I’ve bought 2 meters of each because they had a sale.

• Now I have compound choice paralysis.

• I’ll probably make a black blazer

• See you in May

LATER:

Spoonflower panel print & Mind the Maker viscose

Tessuti forever. Probably make a black blazer

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