PROJECT OF THE WEEK - HAND DYE AND FABRIC FLOWERS

flower power

A lovely friend asked me to make some fabric flowers for her so I spent two days creating a spring bouquet that I thought I'd share today as it is so gloomy in our neck of the woods. First I hand painted canvas with a mix of fabric medium and acrylic paint. I use drop sheet canvas rather than calico as it has more texture and a heavier weight.

Making fabric flowers is essentially the same process as making paper ones but with added durability. It is a lot slower too so you have to enjoy and embrace the process. I made bunches of these flowers to sell a few moons ago and I found it very tough going on the hands and heart. It's much nicer to make this as a gift.

I tried playing around with different shapes and styles to add more 'realism' to the bunch. I absolutely loved the yellow one but stupidly only painted enough for two flowers. My next project is to make a huge bunch of yellow ones for someone special.

You could make them as present toppers, wreathes, boutonnières, garlands. Nature, as always, offers the best inspiration. RAMONA 

ps -spot the gold stamens? they are from a millinery supply store and add a nice detail.

WORKSHOP OF LAST WEEK - ANNA DAVERN STRING JEWELLERY

dream in neon

The year of the workshop is nearly at an end, can you believe we it? we have done concrete casting, macrame, kokedama, jewellery, dyeing, basketry, weaving, crochet, upcycling, bookbinding, origami, and this past weekend one of our favourites of the year - neon wrapped bangles with jeweller and artist Anna Davern at North City 4.

On the surface it would seem a really easy technique. Just wrap some cord around plastic tubing and voila - 80's inspired multi coloured wonders that can be worn as bangles, earrings, brooches or pendants. This is where a teacher is invaluable. There are so many little tricks and short cuts to make the pieces look really finished and indeed wearable that you could not tell just from looking at them.

Of course Beck, who is speedy gonzales when it comes to textile based craft made two beautiful hoops that she's turned into super stylin' earrings that have already received high praise on their first wearing.  I'm a bit more of a slow poke but was so happy with my bangle I've immortalised in a Christmas decoration.

This is possibly because it took me nearly two hours to make it and I couldn't face doing a second one without a bad midday movie to help me through! We had a fantastic morning sharing tea, talk and craft and can't wait to sign up for another workshop at North City 4. RAMONA

SHOW OF THE WEEK - LEAH JACKSON

domestic bliss

In the Woody Allen film 'Interiors' vignettes of beautiful objects are lovingly gazed on by a slow and melancholy camera. Time is taken, palettes are cool, shadows are long and the lines between space and object is blurred. Ceramicist Leah Jackson's exhibition, named after Allen's serious film, offers up these vignettes in a new body of work made up of domestic vessels and objects.

It's been fascinating to watch Jackson's practice develop over the past couple of years. The sweet confetti spots and nobbly surfaces are still there but scale has changed and been refined. The pieces now have a certain sophistication that make them desirable and aloof rather than kooky and fun. Both vibes are good but what's better is when Jackson brings us both so we can enjoy ourselves and feel stylish at the same time. RAMONA

Interiors by Leah Jackson

15-31 November

Mr Kitly gallery space

381 Sydney Rd  Brunswick

WORKSHOP OF THE WEEK - SANDRA ETEROVIC

a stitch in time

How is this for genius? First you get to spend the morning at North City 4 - the most inspiring space in Melbourne. You get to sit with the lovely Sandra Eterovic, one of our favourite artist/illustrator makers for a few hours recharging your creative batteries.

You learn some lovely new stitching skills and you've made your mum/aunt/bestie/girlfriend a perfect christmas present. It's all good! Book Here  RAMONA

SHOW OF THE WEEK - MARIAN HOSKING

postcards from the edge

It would be a strange thing to be regarded as a 'living treasure'. There are a number of those makers held in such high regard. Marian Hosking falls into this category and with 40 years of making and teaching behind her it makes sense.

What's interesting is how Hosking continues to be impressive as a maker, producing fresh new work combined with virtuosic skill. She turns to face the the natural world that operates on such a different timeline to our urban point of view. The change of seasons, the effect of drought and flood, the shifts and struggles our landscape offers up to this makers eye.

Hosking's new show Greetings From... at Gallery Funaki showcases her eye for detail and flair for surface treatment. Subtle and stunning at the same time. An important show, and a very beautiful one.

RAMONA

Greetings From... runs until November 23rd

Gallery Funaki

4 Crossley Street 

Melbourne City