yarn bombing at beaufort street festival 2011

I am playing a game of catch up now! Filling you in on all the great arty craft things of the last few months. This pics are from last November, a collaborative yarn bombing piece for the Beaufort Street Festival with Loopopoly and MisterY Spinster.

Beaufort street festival: Community Yarnbombing Project

Hasn't time come around quickly - it is Beautfort Street Festival time again soon! And another exciting knitting project! This year there is a theme: The Fantastical Bird Park: Beaks on Beaufort. 

Louise Weaver image from here

Some amazing people (I know this because they have all inspired me!) have put together the info/guidelines which I am going to cut and paste in this post - in the hope that many perth knitters/crocheters will get creative and join in! 

Louise Weaver image from here

As well as the creative and talented local artists - Jude, Sandra, Elaine, Wendy - there are a few local businesses that are very generously supporting the project that I would like to acknowledge because they are awesome! They be Behind the Monkey and Bremick Group. If you need supplies/materials to work on your contribution, you could check out what is in store at the local Thread Studio. 

Here are the details . . . . 

Artist Inspiration:  Louise Weaver (pics above):

“Louise Weaver was born in Mansfield, Victoria, in 1966. She has an extensive exhibition history in Australia and overseas and her work is represented in major public and private collections around the world.

Weaver’s alluring anthropomorphic animals are supremely sophisticated creatures with their crocheted, embroidered and sequined pelts and their mysterious masks. “

Local Artist Jude Cornuel has drawn inspiration from Louise Weaver’s work and has begun creating some fantastical birds of her own that she plans to perch on Beaufort.  We would love to draw on Jude’s enthusiasm for Louise’s work and push this theme out into the Festival.

If you would like to participate around the theme, think and imagine –

·      Birds (Lyre, peacocks, swallows, flamingos, little ones, big ones, funky ones, crazy ones, cute ones, dramatic ones……all sorts of ones), birds on sticks, birds in trees, bird on a wire….

·      flowers, trees, vines, butterflies, insects, bees,  (after all they need a gorgeous landing spot & some friends from bird paradise!)

·      nests, eggs, duck feet (why not!?) decorated bird cages/bird houses etc.

and then think also of:

·      a huge stylized installation the size of an largish aviary that looks like a beautiful old fashioned birdcage, decorated of course with SOCK N ROLL* (Recycled socks made into rope)……….housing of course the most treasured birds sitting on their knitted, woven tree with maybe even a neighbourhood knitted cat checking out the whole thing…….

This installation will be installed in the centre of the road at a point to be confirmed in Beaufort St - surrounded by some knitted chairs for bird watchers, listening to tapes of birdsong and possibly some knitted telescopes for the real enthusiasts…

*SockNRoll is an initiative by local Artist Wendy Herington who collects the world’s odd socks and turns them into amazing balls of sock rope, which she then uses in her textile-based art.

So how do we do this?

·      Of course we need you!  In the first hand - To knit, weave, wrap, crochet, collage – as we did last year something of your choice – around the theme if you wish, to install in an area on the street.  Can be up a pole, tucked in a pothole, on a tree, rubbish bin – as before you will just give us an earmark of your proposed spot so we can check it doesn’t interfere with another art project etc. 

Your individual installation can be tiny or large.  Of your choosing.  We would ask that you donate your time and materials (and if you have extras you’re not using – maybe make them available to those who don’t have access to any).   You will be asked to install your own work and also DE install it if necessary

*N.B. We anticipate in a lot of cases the work will be ‘souvenired’ and you may not be able to take it back – so please keep this in mind when planning your piece.

·      In the second hand – we will need an adventurous group to work on the main installation piece.  This will require some people also who might have the skills and means to put together a large-scale cane or wire structure that will form the skeleton of the cage.  So some innovative strong souls with drills would be most appreciated!  Once the base is made then the group would decorate, make and house the cream of our flock.  Materials will be sourced & supplied for the cage structure as a group and decorated with the recycled SOCK N ROLL concept as well as knitting, crochet etc.

Please let us know when you register if you would like to volunteer for this side of the project – or if you would like to volunteer someone else (i.e. husband, lover, friend!).  Wendy can also guide participants in this project on how to recycle and work the socks. No previous experience is necessary!

So please, do get thinking and register straight away your participation details to Sandra Royer – see the details we need from you below.

SIDE PROJECT

We have been given an old pinball machine and have had a special request by Bremick Construction (an important participant of the Festival) that it be knitted and displayed on the day. 

It is particularly appropriate as it coincides with the theme of the Festival logo and we would love to do this for them.

Please consider joining this side of the project (as well).

FURTHER DETAILS & FAQ’S

We’ll keep you posted about details regarding installation and de-installation and any other info that might be pertinent as we go along.

If you have any questions please email Sandra on royer1@optusnet.com.au  or ring Elaine on 92277886 and we’ll get back to you a.s.a.p.

Yes, please do invite friends that may not have participated last year but have expressed interest.  All welcome. Have them email their details to Sandra.

Please note you do not have to be a formal Artist to participate – the aim of this project is to have fun, create impact and bring the community together on a joint creative endeavor.

Should you wish to install a piece outside the theme this is perfectly ok.

And if you are theming, feel free to ‘play’ with the theme and let your Imaginations extend the concept if you wish.

Got an idea for us to incorporate into this project – do sing out (oh, pardon the pun!)……

Get registered with us as soon as possible and let us know which part(s) of the project you’ll be working on, but if you need some extra time to ‘think up’ your actual idea and position on the street you can send that through separately.

PARTICIPATION REGISTRATION:

Send to:   royer1@optusnet.com.au

Name

Phone

Email

  

Proposed Project Participation:  *please indicate which you’ll be working on

1. 

Proposed Individual Piece - (e.g. Little birds in nest of flowers)

Proposed Location:  (e.g. rubbish bin on cnr. Broome/Beaufort etc.)

2.   Large Birdcage Installation

3. Side Project/Pin Ball Machine

4.  Special requirements:  (do you need any help? If so let us know – special materials you can’t get, help with installation etc. etc.)

Take a Knit down Beaufort Street!

Yesterday, the Beaufort Street Festival went off! What a fantastic combination of music, art, fun, excitement, people, laughs, great food, local shops . . . .

I arrived just after 5am, along with a whole community of local knitters, crocheters, and general yarn-lovers. And boy, did we brighten up the street! There was so much amazing work - I have to say I was totally blown away by the beauty, detail, and ingenuity of creations. And the sheer quantity of yarn tags! I have chosen a few of my favourites, and my completed monster bus stop to share with you. I am so glad I had time to take some photos yesterday morning early, as a trot over to Beaufort Street this morning was a sad sight - so many gorgeous pieces taken! All my monsters gone! I all hope is that they were taken into a home where they will continue to be enjoyed.

I also want to publicly acknowledge Elaine and Brodie from Behind the Monkey, who are on the Beaufort Street Festival committee and instigated the 'Take a Knit Down Beaufort Street' project. They provided the support, organisation, early morning cups of tea, and all round fabulousness!! Thank you Elaine and Brodie. (PS - If you like locally designed jewellry and art, check out the stunning wares at Behind the Monkey!)

The M O N S T E R bus stop!!!

Julie's bodacious bike:

Claire's totally tactile Thistles:

Sandra's detailed and delicate flower trees:

Jude and team's totally and fantastically huge hanging:

Dani and Nadine' spunky and splendid Freedom sign:

Judy's Doggy Poo Pouches - SO cute!:

Petrafanella's awesome Arrows:

Jo's very sweet post-teddy-bears-picnic washing:

Another one of many that I also installed. I like this one, as it shows a little of the great street art that lives on Beaufort Street:

More cleverly crafted creations! Unfortunately I don't know the artists personally to acknowledge them. And let me tell you that this is only a very small selection of the great yarn tagging that was to be seen!

M O N S T E R inspiration!!

As I have mentioned a few times recently, I am assisting with a HUGE yarn-tag project for the Beaufort Street Festival on Saturday 27 November. There are more than 60 people contributing pieces of knit, crochet, pom poms, and various yarn creations which is so exciting!

I have taken on a rather large task of yarn-tagging a bus stop. So, I have a chosen a theme that comes from the eternal child in me - monsters!!! I have been making monster softies for some time, and I just love that each monster is unique, a different colourful creature - and friendly, of course!!

With many ideas in mind, I take particular inspiration from these amazing artists . . . .

You should have seen my excitement to discover Benjamin Krudwig's etsy shop!!! I just love all of his crochet pieces, but this horned hat excites me so much that I just can't wipe the grin off my face! :D (did I mention the child in me?!?!)

Angela Davidson is another massive favourite of mine right now. I really love her unique creations, the texture and form of the cotton yarn she uses, and the bright colours. Jaw-droppingly beautiful and fun!

Although these next two are not crocheted, they inspire me no end! And I have a (not so) secret love for making softies myself . . . .! I really admire the personality that comes out in Ninon's work, and the combination of fabrics and shapes. Ninon also has a great etsy shop here!

Cottonmonster - magnificent monsters created by Jennifer Strunge - has the most gorgeous website!! You must check it out! The playfulness of these creatures really tickles one's fancy!

With all this inspiration, you can see that my mind and creativity is running WILD!!! How to turn my ideas into a bus stop covered yarn tag . . . . . .

. . . . . watch this space as my ideas unfold!!!

so, down at the northbridge piazza . . .

. . . . our yarn bloom is up! after a lengthy install process we have finally completed the largest crochet piece that we have ever done! Thimbles and Soup has been an amazing creative collaborator!! Thank you!!! xxxx

So, here are a whole lot of images, because I couldn't decide on just a few! Thankfully we were able to start the install process at the Propel Youth Arts WA office, just down the road - thank you Propel! The next morning we spent a good 4 hours getting our piece up onto the 8mx8m greenwall. The City of Perth have allowed us to keep our piece up for 2 weeks rather than take it down after the City in Bloom weekend - thanks City of Perth! They also got us onto local TV news, and set up a local street press interview. Overall, a really wonderful project for us.

Now on my mind . . . something exciting for the Beaufort Street Festival! Watch this space . . . .!

beaufort street festival

The Beaufort Street Festival is coming up - on the 27th of November. There is a secret (sssshhh!!) knit project being worked on behind the scenes, which will be installed along Beaufort Street in Highgate for the festival. I am really excited about this project, and am looking for some collaborators to assist in the knitting/crocheting/yarn-tagging of various places along the street. If you are in Perth and would like to join in, let me know (email is best: captainplaknit@gmail.com)!!