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WoW 2015 – Pablo

 

So… it would seem that I am a terribly slack person when it comes to posting on my own website. I haven’t even made mention that at this year’s World of Wearableart Awards Show my entry PABLO was announced as Runner Up in the Children’s Section: Imaginary Friends. Pablo_OOmMCTo say that I was shocked and delighted is an understatement. More accurately flabbergasted and ecstatic! The show this year was very different to previous. Very different, but just as spectacular. I was able to learn that the model in my garment is named Laura. Laura was simply A W E S O M E. The choreography for PABLO and his “imaginer” a young boy brought the character to life. It was fun and whimsical. You can watch the highlights from the show HERE.

The Entry Kit with section details for next year’s awards is out. I have started on design concepts for an entry. I just need to settle on one clear idea and get cracking on it’s construction. The start of April will roll around way too fast!

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Hobart the White is in fact the 3rd! …the inside story

Hobart-the-White_wow300

Oh. My. Goodness.

Just completing an entry by the start of April was the target I set myself when I first conceived to enter in the World of Wearableart. The 25th Anniversary Show in 2013 saw my first attempt at putting together an entry. Gary was the product of my imagination. He made it to the stage as a finalist in the Weta Workshop: Crazy curiosities of the creature carnival section. Placing third in my section in this year’s show is almost too beyond my expectations I can barely fathom what just happened!

WoW 2014. This year I completed two entries in two separate sections: Children’s (one colour) and Bizarre Bra. A designer I met last year at WoW, and have since claimed as my friend, suggested submitting a bra to help with the chances of selection for judging.

I had a rough idea in my head how I wanted my creature to end up looking. I start with feet. The feet determined the character and kinda set the mood for the rest of the body. It was while I was working out the first foot that I thought they looked rather like Hobbit feet. I came up with the garment’s name “Hobart” from this. Shhh! Please don’t tell Sir Richard Taylor though!

toes foot-plan

foot-beginings foot-to-legHobart_b&w3

The hands and arms were created next along the creation path. The head and face were next. I’ll be honest. Hobart looks much more alienesque than I had anticipated. My original sketches had him looking far more ancient, mystical and peaceful. It came to be that I was creating a teenage yeti, not the old wise sage as I intended out to make. Which as I type this I realise it was pretty silly of me. It is the children’s section after all!

The body. The back flowed easily down from the head. Including all the scales which I had made separately proved challenging. In the end I was thrilled with how they looked. He has to have a tail and a chubby belly. I had designed the costume to be in 2 parts for ease of access for the performer. As I progressed I worked him out to be just a one piece dude.

Fast forward to current day. I arrived home from Wellington last night. Hobart would have been bouncing about the stage at TSB Arena as the plane’s wheels hit the tarmac. My WoW journey is nearly at an end for this year. Hobart and the WoW show have a few more performances yet to perform though. I bring home the joy of having placed in my section. I was on the stage and accepted my award from the Dame Susie Moncrieff. I have interacted with all the designers from New Zealand and the rest of the world. I fan grrrled out and met the wonderfully talented designers I admire David Walker (Lady of the Wood), Lynn Christiansen, Shaun Purucker, Svenja and Michelle Yeager & Tim Merz. My head is swirling with possible concepts for 2015. I’m tired but happy, thrilled in fact!

Hobart-the-White_stuff.co.nzAnd! Hobart made it in to the 2015 WoW Entry Kit booklet! Holy moly!

 

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WoW 2014 >>> The Big Reveal!

As a designer entering in the World of Wearableart you have two great big waits.

Entries must be uploaded by the cut off date at the start of April. A quick week goes by before you learn your fate. You are either unsuccessful and keep your entry, or you’re in the next round of judging so you ship it to Nelson in New Zealand. This is the start of the first wait. The results are sent mid July. It’s a good 3 months until you receive the notification on whether your entry will be in the WoW show or not.

The second and bigger, longer wait is until the completion of the Awards Show ceremony at the end of September. It’s another 2 and half months later ( 5 and half all up) before Designers can publicly share their creations with the world. An it is not a moment before the Awards show has completed with prizes and announcements issued. At the post-show supper aka party an “official” announcement was made, “Designers! You can now share your images!”.

Wow-waiting flow chart

It is with great anticipation and pride that I can finally reveal my two entries in the 2014 World of Wearableart. I have tinkered with the images which I used to enter the competition. I am very, very grateful to my friend Ben Nichols for capturing the stunning photos. And to my equally stunning friend Rocky Reed for agreeing to model my crochet brain eating zombie bra.

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you

Section: BIZARRE BRA :: Title: BRA_AAAAINSBra-aaains, Bizarre Bra, zombieBra-aaains, Bizarre Bra, ZombieSection: CHILDREN – one colour :: Title: HOBART THE WHITE

WoW, Crochet Yeti

WoW, Crochet Yeti

 

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Voodoo in FNQ

A chance error in posting images to the wrong Facebook page has lead to a few of my pieces now haunting L’Artté in Port Douglas, Far North Queensland.

The initial delivery consisted of a small contingent of Ritual de la Voodoo dolls and a 5 man team of Skulkas. Hopefully they’ll be snapped up quickly ready for another batch to follow in their footsteps.

5 crochet skulls, skulkas

2014-08-18 09.55.45

 

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I <3 being an in.cube8r artist!

Artist-#46I know that my critters are loving their time in my cube at in.cube8r. And I am so thrilled to be part of such a wonderful space. It was a thrill for me to see this feature pop up in Facebook.

My pieces have been turning over steadily since we moved in on Valentine’s day. I am currently developing some new creations to add to the collection. Sadly the yarn I used to create the Voodoo King (above) has been discontinued. I have used up my stash so I am in limbo until I can source an alternative. Hopefully with the onset of winter yarn suppliers will be launching new product to suit. In anticipation I spent an afternoon making loads of skull beads to adorn future kings.

That said I found a sole skein of the Voodoo King yarn in a sale bin. I have made one king with it; and plan to make a few more to send to the my cube.

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Double WoW!

Hooray!! I made the cutoff to enter the 2014 World of Wearableart. And this year I managed to submit 2 pieces. I am so relieved. My wrists are particularly happy that the mission is complete.

step 2 completeI am not able to reveal images socially prior to the Awards night in September*. So this will have to suffice as a tease for now. I am so fortunate to have talented friends who gave of their time and talents to help me create fabulous entry images. Talented photographer Benjamin Nichols of Big Fry Media volunteered his photographic mastery. A very brave Rocky Reed donated her body to my cause. She modelled for my Bizarre Bra entry.

For garment number two my dear friend’s daughter Charlotte agreed to let me torture her in the name of art. Torture in that the garment is a body encasing, entirely crochet monster. The day was warm and humid. Charlotte was a little trooper. My photographic skills however were atrocious. The images I captured were terrible. Sadly I don’t hold my breath that the garment will make the cut. I just hope I get one piece in to the next round.

*However if unsuccessful in making it through to the next round of judging I will be revealing them right HERE

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My in.cube8ion

Hello Melbourne!!

I first opened a cube space at in.cube8r in The Valley, Brisbane in May last year. Interest in my pieces and sales built slowly. Buoyed by strong sales in December I made plans to look into opening a 2nd cube space outlet in the Fitzroy in.cube8r Gallery for early 2014. The closure of the Valley gallery in February forced my hand and tah-dah!!! I now have my little critters occupying the front window of the in.cub8r gallery in Smith Street, Fitzroy.in-da-windowI am sooooo very happy with how the gang are settling in to their new home. Many didn’t have too much time to settle though, as they were quickly out the door and into a new forever home. This past week has seen me mass producing replacements. My wrists are a bit throbby, but it was well worth the pain. I didn’t think I could get 4 Voodoo Babies finished in a day. Let alone 4 Hipstas the next! I think most of my days ran at 14+ hours.

On Thursday I packaged up a big box and sent the critters via express post. It looks like they have landed and are live in the cube space NOW

Melbs-bound

Oh, and there’s a happy couple among the new pieces… Frankie and his blushing Bride
FrankieBride-of-Frankie

Along with the usual suspects Frankie, his Bride and the Voodoo Babies are a new member to the crew. So new in fact that I thought of it long before they were even a thing. They are HIPSTA ZOMBINOS!Hipsta***Caution: they want to eat your kaaaale***

The idea for these hipster dudes came from two main streams of inspiration. The first from my love of craft beer. There is a pretty strong beard culture going on in the bars that have the best beers in them. And the second is from my recent trip down to Melbourne to check out the gallery, drop off extra stock and see how my gang are going. My accommodation was in Carlton. A bit of a walk towards Fitzroy saw me marching in to hipster heaven. My cousin lives in East Brunswick. Hanging out with him in Hipsterland surely gave me the determination to develop a Hipsta Zombino worthy of all the joy I have in admiring their organic kale, chia and quinoa, craft beer and fixie bike riding lifestyle.

Please go forth and adopt a Hipsta or the Frankie couple today!!

Or you can grab a Voodoo Baby and wreak your post Valentine’s Day revenge upon those who done you wrong bwa-ha-ha-ha-haaaVoodoo-Baby

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WoW Gary!

I have been negligent in my postings and maintenance of my site. Post World of Wearableart in Wellington 2013 has been a busy busy time for me and my crochet hooks. And just when I started tot feel the glow of all that WoW was fade I received an email from the team. I can now share images of my garment “Gary” in action during the show.

Gary is currently living as part of the current exhibition The 2013 WoW Awards Show Exhibition at the World of WearableArt & Classic Cars Museum in Nelson, New Zealand, which runs until 14 May 2014.

Gary, Jessica Thompson, Australia
Photo Credit: World of WearableArt Ltd
Gary, Jessica Thompson, Australia
Photo Credit: World of WearableArt Ltd
Gary, Jessica Thompson, Australia
Photo Credit: World of WearableArt Ltd
Gary, Jessica Thompson, Australia
Photo Credit: World of WearableArt Ltd

 

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Going GaGa

crochet Lady Gaga dollFor those playing along at home you have probably thought “this isn’t what she normally does”! And you are 100% correct! I have made a mess of reproducing people previously. But this Lady is one turned out wa-ay better than I could’ve dreamt, drawn or hoped!

Crochet Gaga was a custom order for a friend’s daughter. Allie lurves Lady Gaga. Just quietly I have been delaying making her as I didn’t have 100% faith in my abilities. I think it’s the eyes that I struggle to get right. Monster eyes are a cinch! The devil is in the details. Getting human eyes correct is something that I will continue to work on and improve. Gaga wearing sunnies sure helped.

The lips are another “part” I have botched up before. I worked out a different technique this time around. I am super happy with how they look and will certainly be replicating them in future projects.

As for a pattern… well, I started writing as I went. There are ones for the arms, legs and about half the body. Once I got into the swing of it I stopped writing as I went. Oh well. Guess that makes her a one off piece.

A suggestion filtered through to me about making a Kylie. In a former life I was a super huge fan of Kylie Minogue. I still love her, but not as hard as I once did. Thinking about making her has made me feel all warm. Think I’ll be streaming Kylie tunes today. It’ll be a nice break from my rockabilly infatuation for the past few months…

A quick Google search for crochet Kylie Minogue dolls revealed only Kyles in crochet outfits. Not a amigurumi doll to be seen. Hmmmmm niche market? As a wise gal once sang “Better the devil you know”

Hope you love her Allie xxx

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Close Encounters WINNER!!

images of 2013 tree jumper

‘Tis Jumpers and Jazz in July season. The tree jumpers are installed and the winners have been announced. This week was simply INCREDIBLE for me. On Tuesday I was informed that my entry into the World of Wearableart (WOW) 2013 has made it in to the show. Friday night brought the announcement that my tree jumper entry was named the winner of the Excellence in Knitting/Crochet section for Jumpers and Jazz in July. I can only express my complete and utter shock on hearing my named called. The standard of work this year is absolutely incredible. There are some simply stunning entries. With both my phone and camera batteries both drained, I struggled to capture all the beauty. I did snap two of my faves. Follow the link to the Warwick Daily News tree jumper gallery to see more

These are 3 of my favourites….

Chickens-Day-OutA gorgeous ode to her little darlings in Chickens Day Out by Karina Devine

LichenSue Bauer’s lichen inspired beautifulness (image sourced from Warwick Daily News)

Misty-HillsAnd the sheer expertise and excellence in execution of craft by Helen Gross with her representation of her family’s property “Misty Hills”

Thank you Jumpers and Jazz for filling my heart and confidence with warmth. I am humbled and grateful for the recognition.

I have absolutely NO IDEA what to do for next year. The cogs are turning and I will start work on it in a couple of months…