New and Improved Mr Fox giveaway

While making a new mr.fox sample for the recent market display, I realised he was very fiddly. And really - does he have to be so tricky? Nope! So I made some slight adjustments and simplifications, changed the drawings and hey presto! Here is the new improved simpler more user friendly Mr Fox bag-tag craft kit! (here is the old mr fox for comparison)

To celebrate I am giving away 2 new and improved mr.fox bag-tag kits. Leave a comment here or over on our facebook page 
Giveaway will be announced in one week's time on Tuesday the 24th.

NEW KIT! chook egg cosy

A few years back, I had a German neighbour, Kathrin, who really went all out to celebrate Easter with decorations, mobiles, embroidered tablecloths, ornaments and crafts. Easter can be about so much more than chocolate!

So it is in this spirit that I have whipped up the re-sew-cool chook egg cosy. Like all our kits, it comes with everything you need to make a little crazy chicken egg cosy, all from recycled felt, vintage fringe trim, embroidery yarn and buttons. 

TO be honest, I am having far too much fun with these gals.

 

More creative spaces here

Rocking Horse

Really? Christmas? Already? 

Is Christmas so far away? Actually -  it's only 105 days, 9 hours and 48 minutes away!!!!

Here's a new rocking horse design for the sister outlaws' range of Christmas goodies which now has to make it into craft kit form and onto the website for sale quick sticks. Because now Christmas is now only 105 days, 9 hours and 46 minutes away!

Sorry - can't stay and chat! No dilly dallying! Work to do.....105 days, 9 hours and 38 minutes....

Introducing Mr Fox

The re-sew-cool mr. fox bag-tag kit will be making his debut at the Northcote Town Hall Winter Artisans' Market tomorrow!

He's packed with everything you need to get crafty and foxy!

Also there to entertain us tomorrow will be the hilarious looking comedy duo

 "The Signoras"

I sense a fun day ahead!!!

Formative Frida

 

Okay before you click away while groaning “not Frida Kahlo again. I’m so over Frida Kahlo...” Just wait! This isn’t the blog post where I write a reverential treatise to St. Frida, the Martyr of Mexico. I promise.

This is how it was. I was sixteen. My older sister Kate was studying art. She looked me up and down, and said, “You look like a surrealist.”

Why? With over large baggy shorts, belted, a mauve 1950’s floral blouse made from fabric reminiscent of shower curtains, strings and strings of beads, patterned tights and large boots,(what was I thinking???)I guess she had a point. For my birthday she handed me this book.

At that time, I was suffering a post viral chronic fatigue syndrome and more often than not, was in pain. I was an intense teenager with darkness and brightness jostling for the upper place in my identity. How could I not fall in love with this tiny but indomitable creative fire cracker? And I even have the same birthday as Frida Kahlo.

Over the years, the ubiquitous use of Frida Kahlo’s self portraits and images dismayed me. I used to feel the heat rise in my chest and blush of indignation colour my cheeks when I saw Frida’s face displayed on everything from home wares to fashion items. Like a secret exposed in public. 

Those paintings are so personal and heart wrenching and it seemed criminal for them to be commandeered, reproduced and enlarged and plastered over anything.

It is important to remember that Frida Kahlo was a painter of great skill. Her paintings are small and meticulously detailed. Look how small the painting above is and the incredible detail as you can see on the right.

At the National Gallery in 2001 to see the Frida Kahlo exhibition (thanks Phil for the photo!)

The paintings are introspective and powerful. They are mesmerising.  I went to see the “ Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera & Mexican Modernism” exhibition in 2001 at the National Gallery in Canberra. 

Looking at her paintings was like a punch in the guts.

So herein lies my dilemma. I have now created the re-sew-cool Little Frida Headband and need to do the product art work. What do I do for the cover? Do I draw a Frida Kahlo?

While I can now see the distinction between honouring her work, postmodern reworking of her art, inspiration drawn from her creativity and the blatant commercialisation of her image, my sixteen year old self would have a fit if I plastered Frida's face on a product. Mind you, my sixteen year old self was an idiot. But still - what do I put on the cover artwork? Any suggestions???

Little Frida

With Frida Kahlo as inspiration, I have made the "Little Frida Headband". It utilises the left over ribbed necks from the felted jumpers, with three dimensional felt flowers sewn on top. And it will be coming soon as a re-sew-cool make your own kit...

 

  

For more Frida-inspiration, look at these glorious images from designer Susanne Bisovsky.

 

 

And for the real deal, Frida Kahlo with flowers in her hair.

I felt horny...

 Hmm...I really didn't think this series of  blog titles through, did I? I felt brassy?

The recycled-jumper-felt french horn was quite tricky to make. I'm sure the french horn is quite tricky to play too.

The trumpet was a little easier.

I played the trumpet in my high school band (very badly). When I left the school I nicked an old battered one from the music room cupboard. It still hangs on my wall - because even though my trumpet playing was unsuccessful, I've always remained fond of the instrument.

posted by Julianne Sister outlaw

I felt acoustic

 Acoustic guitars can be real purdy.....





Here's a mock up sample for a future re-sew-cool kit to make a guitar bag-tag....

And for a purdy guitar - check out the glorious Gibson Hummingbird...

which not only looks gorgeous but makes even a novice guitarist, strumming chords, sound as sweet as honey.

And below would have to be my favourite cinematic guitar strumming moment - from the 1959 classic, "Orfeu Negro" or "Black Orpheus". The kids believe that the character of Orfeu makes the sun rise by playing his guitar.

Isn't it beautiful? "Ofeu Negro" won the Palm D'or in 1959 and best foreign film oscar in 1960.

Here's the beaten up, coffee stained sheet music of the title song which I've been carrying around with me since I was a teenager and first fell in love with the film. I stayed up late watching it on ABC tv with my best friend. My eyes well up with tears just humming the tune...

"Will true love come my way on this carnival day or will I be alone with my dream?'...





I felt rockin'

Here it is. The fender telecaster: The most hard working and versatile rock guitar in history. Here's a little history lesson...

Famously, when Bob Dylan  "went electric” (46 years ago almost to the day,July 25th 1965)he played a 1958 black fender telecaster and how better to cast off the shackles of folk music than with a tele?

But they don’t just come in black.

A sparkly razzle dazzle telecaster was played by Don Rich of the Buckeroos...well it was country music in the sixties and it matched the suits. BLING! Here's a bit of toe-tapping Buck Owens the Buckeroos playing, "Satan's Got To Get Along Without Me."

Jimmy Paige wrote the infamous “Stairway to Heaven” riff (bane of every guitar shop worker world wide)on this hand painted psychedelic “dragon” telecaster ... well...it was the seventies...Check out those pants!

Chrissie Hynde had an electric blue one...well It was the eighties!

Merle Haggard is famous for playing one and these days so does Frank Black from the Pixies. We're in good company.

My all time favourite would have to be Bill Kirchen’s 1959 model with maplefretboard and Sunburst finish -all of which has been worn off by years of playing!

And you can see how he wore it off here.In this amazing performance Bill Kirchen conjures every guitar player and style imaginable.

Now that’s a hard working telecaster.

And for all you Buddy Holly Fender stratocaster fans.... here's a clasic red strat...

I’m off to try and make a sunburst telecaster....and a sparkly one...and a wood grain one...

posted by Julianne Sister outlaw

I felt Classical

One of my daughters toyed with learning the violin in her primary school years - I say "toyed" because she NEVER practised! 

  

 And if there is one instrument that you have to practise, it's the violin. The paradox being that it is hard to practise because it sounds really awful when you start - but forever remains awful if you don't start! My Hazel never quite got the paradox. 

However, other Sister Outlaw children do play violin, and they even practise! Yay for Remy and Dan! Remy is studying hard for her theory exam which is coming up. This violin is for her. Hopefully it will be a good luck charm!

I used little beads for the fine tuners and scrolled the end of the neck. Need to find some smaller shank buttons for the pegs - the two big ones I put on look a bit funny!!

posted by Julianne Sister outlaw