New work

Just had a bisque firing! Looking forward to glazing and making them all shiny!

Day 40-100 days of design project

Pretty gloomy day on Day 40.....so pulled out a bright top from the box of retro tops. A long time favourite. Love the combination of patterns and colours!
Photos by Ella aged 12

Day 39-100 days of design project

A crazy little jacket.  I have picked up a few of these over the years...all in crazy designs.
Photos by Clyde

Day 38-100 days project

A smock that I got at the hospice and added a bit of colour with some material from an old 'tea towel' for pockets. Not my favourite item of dress, but great for school. I teach 5 year olds. Pockets are very handy. 
Photos by Ella-aged 12

Day 37-100 days project

A while back I went through a phase of sewing lace crochet on everything! I do not buy new clothes (apart from knickers and bras)....so modify 'bits and bobs' I find. This skirt has been thrashed. I usually wear it with the necklace below by Wellington designer Black Swan. I found the lace in a skip bin that I climbed into. That is a long story!
 Photos by Ella-aged 12

Vases

Vases are such fun to make!

Last Sunday I did my first bisque firing in my gas kiln here at home. Big thanks to Suzanne down the road, who has a gas kiln the same, and talked me through the all day firing. Bloody scary, as I am not keen on loud roaring fire taken up to over 900 degrees.... and my last firing largely exploded (Not here-in another kiln). Pictures here are of vases done last year. Will be doing a glaze in next few weeks. Mostly dogs. Will post once fired. So nice not to have to transport my greenware 20 km to fire. 

I wonder if there is a market to sell retro clothes, art and collections. I plan to sell alot of my retro clothes and collections etc. So if you are interested in anything...let me know...time to move on...........? Is there a market for creative retreats...let me know any ideas....

Day 36 -100 days project

Ella had riding lessons very early this morning (Day 36). The lessons are in a gully at the local pony club. It was bitterly cold and in the shadows. I have discovered it is more exciting dressing 'Retro' on nice days. Today's offering is a farm singlet that I have added an old 'peggy' rug (from the hospice) to as a hood. It is very cosy to wear down in the studio at night and on the farm over winter. The earrings are a find from the hospice about 5 years ago. They are 'clip on' ones which can be torturous toward the end of a day teaching... BUT I love them and they are great fun. Man, it has got cold here. Winter has come sooner than normal. Mind you, living on the edge of Egmont national park . . . what can I expect! I have a love hate relationship with the environment here. It is full on. 
But I am still committed to the original idea of moving here to connect more with the environment and live in a more sustainable way. For me this is what the 100 days is about. Recycling clothes and making do has become my passion. I do not manage to do it perfectly every day but the goal is to work toward that ideal. I think it is hard these days to live in a sustainable way due to disconnected community. 
Photo by Ella- aged 12

Day 35 -100 days project

I haven't worn this dress much. I remember clearly the last time I wore it. The doctor rang when I was on holiday, 5 hours from home on top of Te Mata peak near Napier, to tell me that my daughter and I had tested positive for swine flu. It was a bit of a drama as it was at the start of the swine flu epidemic and was a notifiable disease. We had been very sick. I haven't worn the dress since as it triggers some pretty sick feelings! The dress has an intense koru type pattern all over it. The label in the neck indicates it is 1960 ish. The bag is a long time favourite. A hospice find with great detail in relief. 
The bantam hens in the background and Basil the rooster. . . that is another whole long story!

Day 32-100 days project

Not much to say around this one. It is from Hawaii and is lovely cotton fabric. I did alter the sleeves from the puffy long sleeves it had. Good one to wear to school with jeans and the yellow plastic sandals. But was rushing this morning so put on the white ones and for some reason that bothered me all day!
Photo by Ella-aged 12. There is a lot of grumpiness that goes into the photo taking at the moment. I get stressed by my photo being taken and Ella physically tries to mould my face into a smile by pushing parts of my face into the 'correct' position prior to her taking the photo. Wish I had worn the yellow sandals.  

Day 31- 100 days project

This dress has been around for about 20 years! The blues and greens in combination really do it for me! I like the basket. I have a collection of them. Years ago I worked for the IHC in Northcote and at their 'workshops' they made these baskets for sale. They are so practical and sturdy.The retro vinyl stuck on the base of the inside is a treat and matches the dress beautifully.
Photo by Ella-aged 12

Day 30-100 days project

I love this coat. The finishing and stitching indicate it was made at home by someone. It is lightweight nylon and the bright spots go so well with bright chunky 1950s beads on gloomy winter days. Lately I have dragged my collection of airline bags back into everyday use. Today I used an Australian airlines bag. It is such a cool 'garish' red. The local hospice is not as good a source of clothes as it used to be. Lots of other bargain hunters! The coat was a find last week for $2 and the bag was $1. I have also posted a picture of some of the other airline bags in the collection.
Photo by Ella-aged 12

Day 29-100 days project

Today the waterlogged camera finally died. Rest in peace sweet thing. It was such a cool camera. ANYWAY I am now borrowing one until I can replace it. I may have to do a few posts at once around the camera borrowing. The dress today is a tight and clingy number! It has not been worn much since Ella was born (12 years ago) as it is the kind of stretchy fabric that clings to every bump. Usually it hangs on a coat hanger over my wardrobe door as the pattern gives me pleasure to look at. I love the bold combination of colours.
Photo by Ella-aged 12

Day 28-100 days project

This dress has been a long time favourite. I got it about 10 years ago at the Salvation Army store for $3...couldn't believe my luck! It has been worn on a lot of occasions....weddings, funerals, anniversaries. It holds many memories.
Photos by Cecily. 

Day 27- 100 days project

On a bit of a theme of short skirts, tights and Doc Marten boots. The weather is REALLY cold and windy...it is making getting dressed in the morning a bit of a challenge! Jeans and big jumpers seem really appealing. This skirt has the 'A' line that I like in retro skirts and a cute little fabric belt. I consider the 1970's and earlier as retro. The 1980's is way to recent in my memory and it was a fashion decade that does not grab me!
Photo by Ella-aged 12 years old

Day 26-100 days of design project

Today a quieter outfit to suit the wild weather! Lots of thunder and lightening. The red vinyl jacket doesn't get out much anymore. A long time favourite but the lining has worn out. It hangs on a hook in my bedroom and when I look at it I get joy as it reminds me of many happy events. It was one of my first retro collection finds. I have had it about 18 years now.

Day 25- 100 days project

I love heavily patterned retro tops. So easy to wear. I have had this one about 10 years now.

Day 24- 100 days project

Lots of shiny black vinyl in the boots and coat today. This skirt must have been long at one point, but has been cut down shorter before it came into my life about 6 years ago. Mothers day today. Nice lunch out with the whanau and then trip to the beach with the dog.

Photos by Ella-aged 12

Dry points

Here are a couple of new prints from a series of 15 I did yesterday. Drypoint is such a lovely process.

Day 23- 100 days project

Today's offering is a bright and cheery number from the islands. I have always been a sucker for anything with a hibiscus on it.

Photo by Ella.