gooseflesh

Explorative crochet

Little white experimental pieces are coming off the hook. They are part of an exploration exercise in form and texture. The hard-wired organic shapes dominate. What would they be like if I was crocheting in another world with non-carbon based life and different physical laws?  

.........and a group shot on the beach.

 
I have reopened my Etsy shop and listed some pieces of Generation II Softwear. The community attached to Etsy is fabulous and inspiring and I've missed it. Consequently, the Big Cartel shop is closing.

An example from the Gooseflesh Lab.

Bead Fever

Beads are fun to make and play with. They remind of my childhood. I love the colours the preloved tapestry wools come in.

Crocheted and fulled preloved tapestry wool.

Christmas Present

This new Coral Necklace is going to Vanessa in the UK. It was a commission and is her Christmas present. She make the most extraordinary necklaces herself.

Softwear Factory

New pieces from the Softwear Collection.

This Coral Snake Necklace was made for my friend, Cath, for her 40th birthday. It's very satisfying to make presents for people. I hope they like them too. The photo was taken in her stunning garden. It's full of orchids and bromeliads. The plant the necklace is hanging on is a Hoya spp.. The flowers are dark maroon, waxy and hairy.

I made this necklace for myself. Inspired by the anemone fish and coral

............ and some new pieces of Softwear have been added to the Gooseflesh Boutique

Catch of the Day

Phew! Just made the deadline.

I've been making Softwear for the Powerhouse Museum Shop. The pieces will be for sale in the shop, along with other contemporary jewellery, to coincide with DIANA: A Celebration. Her royal wedding gown, personal items and some of her jewellery will be on show.

This batch has been made in a "pale and interesting" palate; colours of seashells. The pieces are predominantly made from pre-loved tapestry wool but I've had to buy some extra colours as my vast stash is beginning to run out. The beads and buttons are also pre-loved. The braided cotton chord is new. It's so much fun to full the pieces.......they shrink into surprising little shapes. You can see all the pieces here.

All 17 pieces will also be for sale in the Gooseflesh Boutique.

The progress of the Coral Garden received many wonderful responses. Thanks everyone...... I appreciate it. I've decided to make it another whimsical hat because I love the response I get when I show it to people. My friend's and family try it on and instantly become vey silly......... my favourite thing. It will be going to LA in Jan'08 along with the Rubbish Vortex. I'm looking for someone very special to wear it on opening night.

Hi Dad! If you are reading this............ I love you!

Mimi

Julie from Knittingjuju, Michigan USA, sent me these photos of her daughter, Mimi, wearing the Firecoral necklace at a recent event. I love the way Mimi is wearing it - so beautiful.

Elegant Mimi
Originally uploaded by juju&jack.

Mimi
Originally uploaded by juju&jack.

Thank you Julie and Mimi.

New Softwear in the Gooseflesh Boutique

The coral theme continues with new versions of the crocheted and fulled coral necklaces. I have used red, polished and braided cotton cord with little crocheted beads at the ends, to tie around neck. Also two new nodule bracelets (not shown).

These pieces are all available in the Gooseflesh Boutique.

New Softwear for The Gooseflesh Boutique

A few more pieces for the Softwear collection.

Coral Necklace version 2. Crocheted and fulled from preloved tapestry wool and cotton cord.

Sea Urchin Bracelet (Flotsam Series). Crocheted and fulled from preloved tapestry wool, found button and shell beads. Props a Papua New Guinean Snake-skin headband and old cork floats found on the beach.

Both available in the Gooseflesh Boutique.

I have been called "Eagle Eye"

Had an idea for a project............ within a six month period, to furnish a house from scratch with found objects. Make a little doco out of the process.

This funny thing happens....... friends and family know I collect things and in our conversations mention they are looking for certain items. My radar goes out, and as if by magic, I find the item discarded somewhere in my travels. Recently I have found a beautiful teak table, a gas BBQ, timber single and double bed frames, a Moroccan leather pouf, a copy of the Women's Weekly Basic Cookbook (for my little sis), teak 70's office chair etc., etc.. A couple of years ago I found a Castiglione Arc lamp minus the marble base. The objects were mostly found on the side of the road............... all in good condition. Of course, there is the story of the book The Crochet Workshop by James Walters (posted January 14th, 2007). Totally bizarre.

While it's still raining I have been busy making..........bbzzzz............bbzzzz.

The Couch Shoulder Bag.

The Kalahari Bag (actually made a few months ago).

The Nelly Bag.

Bags are made entirely from preloved materials (except thread)

Patterns came from these Japanese Craft Books, The Book of Bag ISBN4-277-43006-6 and Handmade Bags in Japanese Fabrics ISBN978-4-9347-2516-2.

New woolly gems for the The Gooseflesh Boutique.

The Mermaid Charms Bracelet (made from pre-loved tapestry wool).

New additions to the El Nodule Collecione (made from pre-loved tapestry wool).

The bracelets are available in The Gooseflesh Boutique.

Spawning Coral

I cherish and admire the branching patterns of coral. A branching pattern is an efficient way to reach all the points in a large area moving along the shortest possible distance. Trees, river systems and blood vessels utilize the same patterns.

Images from a collection of tear-sheets and old books.

Coral for The Rubbish Vortex. Crocheted from plastic bag yarn. This is definitely an evolving piece. Thinking about a hanging mechanism....mmm... wire from ceiling and transport to U.S. for exhibition in January.

Tilda Swinton wearing a coral necklace that I adore. Must try and make one in wool. She's a fabulous actress. I loved her in the film "Orlando". She played an androgynous character who travels through time. Based on one of my favourite books....... Orlando, by Virginia Woolf.
I found this photo in an old magazine which I can't remember the name of.

Coral reproduce sexually. A polyp can be both sexes or either female or male. On the night after the full moon in November, coral polyps of the Great Barrier Reef release both sperm and eggs. The fertilized eggs float to the surface and drift with the plankton. Some settle on the ocean floor and start new coral colonies.

A lot of images again today and not a lot of words. Hope this post is a coherent record of my thinking and making. You get the drift.........