Showcase!

This month I have joined a group of fellow artists and crafters wishing to improve their on-line profiles by a bit of cross-promotion - a fabulous idea and one we all owe a debt of gratitude to the wonderful denthe for facilitating. 

The first of five artists I will be introducing you too is Kirsten, the artistic force behind Lillibean Designs and her esty shop, sensibly, LillibeanDesigns.

''FLOW"

Kirsten's big-eyed girls are highly reminiscent of the style of work popular when I was a child growing up in the 60's - brooding, whimsical, and very retro-esque. But there is nothing glib about her work - it is beautifully executed, with her clever use of materials including recycled text giving her pieces a modern twist.

postcard set

LillibeanDesigns etsy shop includes post card sets of 6 designs as well as the larger canvases, so it is possible to secure a sample of Kirsten's magical imagery for a small investment, or these sets could make a wonderful gift.

However, her original mixed media collage/painted canvases, either small or large, are very reasonably priced, so have a visit to her shop and browse the full range of images and detailed descriptions for yourself if you are on the look-out for an extra-special present, or the perfect accoutrement for your environs. 

Until next time...

I love you more than...

wimceexxx

Retro campers and kitschy kitchenesque

The little red caravan that could!

BrisStyle's craft caravan took the damp Brissy CBD by storm last Friday, with yarn-bombing, make-and-take, a Brown Owls meet-up, talks and demos all day, and BrisStylettes of all ages and shapes selling their hand-made goodness from cosy and colourful stalls. 


The caravan is a marvel - Helen, BrisStyle eventista extraordinaire, and beautiful Bel have done magic with their collection of retro lounges, beach brollies, and charming flamingoes!

I was also really tickled to see my own UFO's put to such good use at last by the Owls in their craftactive activities!

And I had a great time sharing a tent with the talented Anita from Mum's Cupboard (as in, what's in Mum's cupboard) for wimcee's first market outing for 2012.

Anita's Dr Mid-nite and Charlie the Owl glass stud earrings from her etsy shop
at http://www.etsy.com/listing/99280858/doctor-mid-nite-and-charlie-glass-stud

I've gone kitchenesque for the time being, which has been fun, in an effort to build up my stocks again after the hiatus. Had such a lovely time making five new aprons to take to market only to sell four of them before opening time...very happy for them to find good homes so quickly, but it threw my theme for the day just a little.

some new retro style aprons available from: http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=554834

All we need now is some old-fasioned Brisbane winter sunshine to smile on the market season in full swing. Here's to blue skies, with no early Westerlies!

great snap of the yarn-bombed BrisStyle flamingo from Little Chrissy at
 http://little-chrissy.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/brisstyles-soggy-but-awesome-craft.html

Aprons: a journey!

Making aprons is where I started with wimcee in 2007. I used gingham and added ruffles and frills and deep pockets, with extra long, extra wide ties to make a big bow at the back, but the first aprons were already over-the-top, using a slightly mad combination of prints and a liberal application of pom-pom braid and rick-rack. Not a lot changes. My aprons are still much to the same formula; I've tried different techniques along the way to gather and attach frills and to secure the apron and improve the fit, but the look is much as it always has been...aprons with attitude. 

 




Why?



I grew up in a 50's/60's environment, at a time when there was a great deal of spoken and unspoken conflict about a woman's role in the world. My childhood was populated by some interesting, intelligent and gifted women who nonetheless subscribed to a view of society as male-dominated. This may have been confusing, but it was all certainly interesting - the dynamics were never dull!








My aprons are part retro reference, part social dialogue - no answers, just questions, with certainly some humour but also a great deal of affection thrown into the mix. Not everyone gets aprons, but if you do then I hope that mine will sing to you!

wimcee has aprons for sale, and all the usual accoutrements as well, online at etsy and madeit, as well as personally at not one but two lovely Heavenly Harvest markets at St Mary's, Kangaroo Point, in September and the Mamma's Market at Buderim later in the month, so watch this space for more details! 

Vale 2010...

My blog, etsy shop etcetera have been neglected in the last few weeks with so many markets, such challenging weather conditions, and the wonderful trio of events, family arrival from o/s, Christmas all together again, and a major birthday in the family yesterday.

2010 has had ups and downs for the wimcee's personally, but overall it has been a wonderful and eventful year. I have enjoyed my sewing and crafting so very much, and I have delighted in finding others really zeroing in on the wimcee stall too and getting it...not everyone, and that's why an organisation like brisStyle can be so successful, as each creative member of the collective has their own individual style and stamp, and for each there is an equivalent mind-set out there amongst market shoppers that just gets, and loves, what they do.

For one who has spent most of her life painting, thrashing about, metaphorically at least, with the challenges of portraiture in particular, I understand only too well the lack of recognition, and appreciation, that crafting can attract in its public incarnation. Thank heavens for the legions of young women and men who have a very different perception via etsy and brown owls, cath kidston and rowan, kellie doust and yarn bombers, bloggers and city farms, lovers of vintage and retro, and so on and so on...all that is wonderful and exciting out there in the world of art-meets-craft.

Fancy fronting up to a day at the end of this week with a numerical nomination of 1.1.11! That's got to be the starting point for many great things to develop out of the new year!

Happy New Year!

Twinkle, twinkle, twilight fair!

The brisStyle indie Twilight Market twinkles again this Friday night (19/11) in King George Square, Brisbane CBD, from 5 - 9 p.m. - the perfect venue for Christmas shopping with a big range of hand-made, everything from homewares to hats, bikinis to brooches, softies to scrunchies, and all the way back. wimcee will be there with some really cute new embellished aprons, Ava the Advent girl, embroidered felt glasses cases, fabric journals and altered skirts, as well as all the usual kiddie couture, high tea accessories and bags of bags.

BrisStyle indie Twilight Market

Weeks of thematic living!

First there was the Week of the Ancients - is there the remotest chance that said Ancients may read a blog post and see themselves identified as such? Elderly family members who fly in for birthday celebrations, elderly family members who fly out to remote parts of south-east Asia, elderly family member who delights in a ritualistic visits to coasts north and south during his Queensland stay, much more sadly my elderly neighbours dealing with hospitalisation and the mind-numbing difficulties of traveling across town on a daily basis when you are 93 and rely on public transport...a week of being chauffeur and tea-maker, making easy small talk and functioning at a more gentle pace.


Then there was the Week of the Wonky Wings - or Weeks, as it's on-going. I had my (right) marketeer's shoulder under the knife and number three son had his (right) wrist pinned by our friendly Ortheopod, who is just down the corridor from our new best friends the physios, and they all live together is a little wooden house, or rather a big rabbit warren of a hospital, where the nurses are lovely but the night nurses are to be feared and avoided at all costs. Life here is one great comparing of slings and stretches, remembering appointments and paying medical bills.


But finally some sewing!


I had to miss Mathida's Market, a last minute no-show for wimcee, but am all the more keen for the coming BiDM, that BrisStyle market-of-markets, taking place on September 4th, 9-2, St Augustine's church hall and grounds, Racecourse Road at Hamilton.


Apart from a full complement of little girl's skirts, I have some new boy's bermuda-style shorts, lots of new hand-made gift cards, new bunting and some forays into hand-painted, stitched, and embellished accessories like some cute lavender heart sachets. 


More to come...watch this space.

BiECO-lossal!

reconstituted woollies ready for the BiECO

wimcee's next market is something very different - brisStyle's first ever eco market, on Saturday July 10th, at St Augustine's church hall and grounds on Racecourse Road, Ascot. Local etsians will be amazing us all with a wide range of upcycled, repurposed and vintage wares. While most of my usual stock is made from new fabrics and fibres, I have previously offered a few eco-friendly pieces, so the BiECO is a wonderful opportunity to devote extra time and energy to upcycled denims, reconstituted and embellished woollies, and all manner of wimcee-cal numbers put together from my supply of vintage fabrics, buttons, ribbons, trims and scraps. As usual, just never quite enough hours in the day and days in the week to make good all the ideas I'd like to try out, but so much fun -!

Mathilda mayhem

Another flurry of couturier activity, so to speak, with Mathilda's Market this Saturday (19/6/10) at Eagle Farm Race Course, Ascot, Brisbane, from 9 am to 1 pm...the first time I've been at Mathilda in the new venue, so looking forward to seeing how it all works, for them and for me. Lots of colour in my latest work (when was there never) with more skirts, more soft toys, more trousers and knits. Even if you have no small people yourself, Mathilda's really is an ideal shopping ground for gifts that are different and of a  high quality, so worth a look. And a preview of wimcee...

Summer sniffles

Naturally as I haven't markets to do for a bit I've now got the worst of bad summer colds, so only slowly putting together new stock for coming market days/nights. I spent way too much money at the Craft Expo on fabrics and trims, including more exquisite Japanese print cotton from the same people I have bought from at past markets...these superlative French and English design reproductions are printed on the finest of weaves in the most subtle variations of colour. Funky Fabrix are also back from a shopping spree in Japan so more joy there to be had I'm positive, except I need to not go anywhere for a bit or face financial disgrace.

Billie has a heap more of my skirts at BelleVille, and some winter jackets like this one with a custom quilted finish, so depleted racks at home. I will have more skirts again by my next market date - the very first BrisStyle indie Twilight Market on April 30th, taking place in King George Square from 5 p.m. - and I'm working on a few more upcycled adult's woollies, knitting needles also going clickety-clack with small people beanies, and a general sense of controlled frenzy happening in amongst family birthdays.