Paper Stitching

I was plying with some light watercolour paper over the holidays and found myself making this curious object. It's all stitched together and I tried to cut curves that I didn't plan first.





--mel

My new favorite book

This is my latest purchase in the book department. I love it. It tells the story of the two Chinese lovers and is also a diary and note book.

Got to love a good love story!

Belinda

Ram's horn guitar strap

I've just started learning the guitar, so I'm making this guitar strap for my teacher.

The tablet weaving design is very old - it's known as a Turkish Ram's Horn. I needed to weave two designs side by side to make the width needed. 50 cards, 200 threads - threading is slow, weaving is quick and heaps and heaps of fun.


--mel

Fendi fabrics in the Lisio archive

These photo's were taken some years ago at Lisio Foundation Italy. The fabrics were woven for Fendi baguette handbags (some images show made up bags). Unfortunately the images are not clear but you can still enjoy them.
Fendi

Fabrics woven at Lisio by Franz and Marta

Franz Ippoldt ( far left front row) At a family celebration.

Uncut gold velvet Obi

The above 2 images are of jacquard fabric woven at Lisio for Fendi hand bags. Images supplied by Franz Ippoldt

This text is taken from the Lisio website

Joint ventures with Fashion Houses

Its expert knowledge of ancient hand-weaving techniques gives the LISIO Foundation a versatility that can also be invaluable for the design of contemporary textiles. New, specially designed motifs can be created for a customer’s exclusive use, with a modular repeat or positioned as required. Extensive research is carried out to find the best way of producing each motif, combining modern designs with ancient weaving techniques or classic designs with the latest yarns. Experiments may also be carried out using ancient manual systems in an attempt to achieve particular effects found in original samples. This approach of experimentation and research has proved ideal for the production of limited quantities of exclusive creations for High Fashion.

Colourful Concert

I went to Greenday concert last night, and found myself taking photos of the lighting more than the band! I haven't altered the colours of these photos, only the scale.

Some Jacquard images from Lisio Florence Italy

These image were taken at Lisio in Florence Italy in 2007 by Holly, We were lucky enough to spend 2 weeks studying there on the antique jacquard looms. Thanks for the photos Holly.

Fondazione Lisio

A trip to the Power House Museum

I went along to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney the other day, as I was thought I saw that they had a 1920s jacquard head on display. It was on the website as being on display but I couldn't find it - just a remnant - some lonely jacquard cards -

So I wondered around the other exhibitions. There was an exhibition on design which the following images are from.

Textile by Reiko Sudo
Poyester organza, folded, heat set, between dye transfer paper, in a vacuum transfer machine, and heat cut.
made by Nuno Corporation, Japan.

Still Life by Gwyn Hanssen Pigott.
wheel thrown and slip cast in Limoges and Southern Ice Porcelain.

Bracelet by Peter Chang
acrylic, polyester, PVC, and silver

I took this for Belly
Art Deco Wallpaper Sample Book, France 1930-31

Catalogue by Liberty, London 1912

Detail of a Liberty Cloak on display
jacquard fabric, printed.

Unfortunately I forgot to get details of this beautiful ostrich feater hat.

And I had to find some waratahs
Bush Beauties by Bilton Burslem, England, about 1892.
pocelain depicting waratah and the Wonga-Wonga vine.
Sign reads -
'Befoer Bilton began working at Doultan in 1892, he travelled to Sydney to make drawings of the native flora to illustrate The picturesque atlas of Australia of 1886.
'While Bilton drew on his Australian sketches to decorate many Doulton pieces, this design is a copy of the bone china blank Wedgwood plaque he painted and fired in Sydney in 1886.

And to finish with a William Morris. I had only seen this print in books before.
Fabric by William Morris, England, 1917-23.
The 'Wandle' fabric design.
Looks a lot like waratahs to me but i haven't yet researched what it is.

--mel