birthday surprises

Yes, it is my birthday on the weekend, and my gorgeous and lovely colleagues at Propel Youth Arts WA just gave me an early pressie (because G and I are heading away for a long weekend holiday). How exciting!! I ADORE it! How lucky am I to have such amazing people in my life, and all around me. Thank you Propel family.

PS - I have a sneaking suspicion that this marvelous book may have been purchased from one of my favourite shops - William Topp! The wrapping is a give away! :)

Crochet a Rainbow

Thank you Sarah London. I have just signed up for the Crochet a Rainbow project. Even though I consider myself a reasonably proficient crocheter, I have not really delved into the granny square making in a big way. I have only ever made a few - never enough to make a rug! So I hope that this project will inspire me to make more. And at least I know that my contribution will assist in a rug being made, for a very good cause. My partner and I have been tearing up and been shocked and scared by seeing the enormity of damage caused by the flooding in Queensland, and it really is special to know that I can help in such a personal and tangible way. Even though the worst of the flooding is over, many people must be without homes, jobs, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, possessions. Sending thoughts, and granny squares. xxxxx

Pop up Market

One week away! I am a new team member of Made on the Left, and am totally excited about the Pop Up Market this coming Saturday at the Perth Cultural Centre Open Day! Who is going to be there? The MOTL crew have listed the very talented local makers and sellers here. Hope to see you there. . .

thank f*** for crochet!!

Two of my dear friends recently gave me this utterly fabulous belated chrissy pressie. I adore it. The phrase coined by one of them in a moment of desperation, and the design screen printed by the other. What lovely and clever friends I have! Hearts to you xx

sketchbook project

A friend (the lovely and talented petrafanella) joined the sketchbook project in December, and I was so excited that I decided to join in too! Since discovering the Art House Co-op website I have been incredibly inspired and visit their site regularly.

I thought I would share a few pics of my contribution to the sketchbook project - the theme for my sketchbook was 'things that changed things'. I decided to create a series of stitched images (using my brand spanking new sewing machine and embroidery foot!), inserted into the moleskine book (a requirement for submissions).

My pieces fit the theme, but are also somewhat autobiographical, depicting some parts of my journey of mental ill health and personal exploration. These things lead to my coming out as transgender - I am now one year into a physical gender transition.

It has been an exciting time trying out my new embroidery foot, and I am keen to practice more - watch this space for bigger and better projects!

Masterpeace

The ARTillery Youth Arts Festival, an Amnesty International initiative, was launched last week. I have been madly creating some art work for the Masterpeace exhibition (one event of the festival). Above is my work just completed, spread out on the floor. After trying various ways of installing crochet, felt and calico to the wall, we finally found something that worked, and my piece it up! I am really excited about the opening event tonight, at the groovy Manhattan's Bar.

Each of the 14 artists involved partnered with an individual at risk, presenting an art work that critically engages the viewer with stories of human rights violations. My work was informed by a political prisoner in Myanmar (Burma). Here is a little about my work:

In 1998, Myo Min Zaw was arrested in a local tea shop in his home town, in Myanmar (Burma). A second year student at Yangon University, Myo Min Zaw had been peacefully demonstrating and disseminating written information about human rights and democracy for his country. This year, he will have served 12 years of his 52 year sentence, including one year of solitary confinement, for his continued campaigning for human rights, despite being in prison.

His story is not a stand alone case, and despite Myanmar democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, being released recently, many others are persecuted and incarcerated for fighting for basic human rights – freedoms which are common place to young people in Australia.

My work “Tree of Rights” is an attempt to show a direct and familiar link between Myo Min Zaw – a prisoner of conscience – and me – representing an average West Aussie. Our lives and experiences now are vastly different, despite being about the same age, both having attended university, both having been involved in student politics and fighting for human rights.

Using traditional ‘western’ crafts – crochet and sewing – represents the familiar, something tactile, soft, and friendly, juxtaposing a story of harsh injustice, violation, and torture. The tree is a version of the ‘family tree’, where there are links of meaning and kinship along the branches. The links in this tree are significant, and I have used this analogy to try and evoke the sentiment and compassion found in your family tree.

I have chosen key people – many of them public figures - to show these links between Myo Min Zaw and myself. I hope that this highlights the importance of advocating for social change, and lobbying someone known to you can help make that change.

'tis the season!

Our tree is up! And I have been thinking about making some of these gorgeous decorations!