Skip to main content

March Madness


 'Mad as a March Hare" ... so the saying goes - describing the  excitable behaviour of hares in March.
I must admit I am feeling a little "hare-brained" this month with so much happening.
The first big March event was the culmination of 'Spreading Wings' the community art project I coordinated for International Women's Day. The concept was to work collaboratively to create a fibre sculpture in a series of free textile art workshops. Eight workshops were held and over thirty people participated, learning textile art techniques and contributing to the sculpture. The unveiling was held on the eve of International Women's Day. The following photos tell a little of the story...
Sculpture framework -  the beginning... 
Workshop Preparation 
Happy workshop participant 
Busy workshop participants

The "unveiling" : Happy International Women's Day!

Then the next day off to Hervey Bay, Queensland to lead a Wise Woman workshop. What a keen and talented group of doll makers and welcoming hosts,  so it wasn't all work 
Wise Woman workshop in Hervey Bay. 
Wise Women Works in Progress 
Sightseeing in Hervey Bay with my generous host
Postscript: The bird sculpture was named Adelina ( Spanish name meaning 'noble and winged') and was auctioned with the successful bid being announced this week.  The proceeds of the auction will be donated to support the work of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo who is a spiritual leader and teacher of young Buddhist women.  (Learn  more about her life in the biography and film, Cave in the Snow). 
Thanks to all contributors to the project which in turn will help so many more women in less favourable circumstances than ours. 
The project was sponsored by Timeless Textiles and Newcastle City Council with support from the Rotary Club of Wallsend-Maryland, Huntington Estate Wines and LamboArt. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks ....  The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and  message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or  my husband or from off cuts gifted to us  from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks.   Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt  or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as w...

29 Faces

"29 Faces " is an online art challenge - blog and Facebook . The challenge is to create a face each day of September ( with one day for catch up) .... I decided to take up the challenge to practise drawing faces for my dolls and to practise techniques with coloured pencils.  I received a set of 60 pencils  from my daughter last Christmas so I wanted to be sure I used them before next Christmas! I love making tags so I combined tag making with "29 Faces", so I will also have some unique Christmas gift tags for gift giving  this year. Here are the first 9 faces for the first 9 days of September 

Wednesday's Child /2

Work in Progress - 3 of the 193 for "Stitched Up"- Wilma Simmons   The work for the "Stitched Up " Project  continues. See the previous "Wednesday Child" post for the background to this art project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Newcastle Industrial School. I have been documenting the progress of my work, so I thought it might be interesting to share some of the early stages of the "stick dolls" ... Here are some of the beginning steps.. Sticks collected while walking the bushland in my neighbourhood  Drying and getting rid of any insects - oven heat 75 degreesC for approx 1-2 hours.  Trimmed and cut if necessary  Ends sealed with matte sealing solution.  Drying  - solution goes on white but dries clear.  First wrapping - foil to create a body shape  Second wrapping - stretch fabric.  Third wrapping - fabric strips  Some stitching - more stitching and embellishment to ...