many successes!

Lots of good news lately....I applied for casual trading at several markets from Newcastle to Sydney.

I dont know whats up with the mob from The Olive Tree Markets, they are frankly bizarre to deal with. They called for applicants to attend their market three months ago and never acknowledged a single piece of the correspondence I've sent over months. I presume they got my application as they selected me as a finalist in their Xmas poster competition and that entry was sent to the same email address....???

Pleasingly, professional responses from all the others. Boho Banjo has been selected as a trader at Bondi, Mosman and now PADDINGTON!!! I'm so thrilled to be accepted there. Their selection process is rigid and sellers must prove they are genuine artisans (not manufacturers, importers or resellers). It is probably the best high quality art market to be represented in in Sydney. Rodney and I hope to make our first appearance there on Saturday 14th December. A day before that we will be at the Mosman Twilight Market 4pm-9pm on Thursday 12th.

I heard from USA artist Lesley Riley that the book she edited "Quotes Illustrated" will be on the market from December 6th - today. My work "The threads that run through" is in the book. With Rodneys help I'll put a link on the sidebar soon for those interested in checking it out or buying the book.





Last, but not least, the next issue of Downunder Textiles will publish a 2 page spread about the cloth cuffs I've recently been making, with references to my mixed media art.

Win some, lose some,,,,

Newcastle City Council selected my digital image "Fly with Peace, Love, Goodwill" as one of the images they will be illuminating city buildings with from the 29th November through to Christmas! I'm really thrilled as I love making digital manipulations but often struggle with using Photoshop, so this is a huge affirmation.

Digital image by Pearl Red Moon, "Fly with Peace, Love, Goodwill" 2013

Then shortly after hearing that delightful news I received a phone call from Paddington Market in Sydney. Paddington is renowned as possibly Sydneys most high end art and craft market and is notoriously difficult to get accepted into. An application I made about 6 years ago was rejected. A few weeks ago I girded my courage and put in another application to become a trader there.The phone call today was an invitation for an interview to show my wares....so I'm hoping and hoping they will find my Boho Banjo womenswear a desirable commodity to include in the market.....

Down Under Textiles magazine asked me to submit an item about my art so I've been busily writing that up all morning. I think it will come out in their January 2014 edition.

The only indifferent news I've had today is that the poster design submitted to Olive Tree Market wasn't selected as first, second or third placegetter.

weather ...or probably not...

Rodney and I drove the four hours to Sydney yesterday, planning to set up our marquee at Bondi Markets today. The weather forecast was looking dubious all week and the day has turned out worse than predicted. It is cold, windy and constant rain...so we will probably not unpack our woeful caravan to set up shop. Not only will patronage be significantly down at the market but theres the risk of getting the stock wet and damaged.

So we will try to make the most of the day while in the "big smoke" and have a drive around to check out some of the undercover markets.

This is a picture of another tunic dress I made recently. The fabric of the bodice is a hand block printed cotton voile from a vintage indian saree. The skirt is a polyester lace repurposed from skirt that I spent a lot of time appliqueing with raw edged strips of the cotton print. It has an irregular hemline. A picture of Frida Kahlo is the focal on the bodice. The garment is Australian size 14-16-18

Tunic "The leafy shade" by Pearl Red Moon

The bodice with image of Frida Kahlo

A close up of raw edged printed cotton strips that are appliqued over the lace

I'm a finalist!

whoop whoop!!!

The poster I submitted to the Olive Tree Market Christmas poster competition has been selected amongst the finalists.

Check out all the finalists and vote for your favourite - https://www.facebook.com/theolivetreemarket

new cuffs

New cuffs made a couple of days ago

Mixed media cuffs by Pearl Red Moon, 2013, opened out

Mixed media cuffs, by Pearl Red Moon, 2013, standing upright

The cuff with the Frida Kahlo image is sold.

Rodney and I will be setting up the shop at Bondi Market, Sydney this weekend. The market at Bondi Primary School is every Sunday.

adornments

I still haven't found time to photograph all the new clothes!

Then the last couple of days I got engrossed in making some wearable adornments. Below is a picture of a mixed media necklace. The lovely focal picture is a miniaturised version of one of Rodneys portraits - "Violet". The dangling motifs are hand embroidered as is the larger one above the picture of Violet. I've forgotten what the polished stones are the necklace is strung on.

mixed media necklace by Pearl Red Moon with face by Rodney Swansborough 

Then I made three cloth cuffs.

Cuffs standing upright

3 cloth and mixed media cuffs by Pearl Red Moon, 2013

In another week or 2 I'll open another section in my etsy shop for adornments. The cuff in the middle featuring the image of Frida Kahlo has already been sold. The other cuffs are $55 each. The necklace is $95.00

One image can go a long way....

Newcastle City Council are also having a Christmas competition for artworks to display in the shopping area. So I pulled up "Aussie Icon" again and did some more manipulations in photoshop.

The original work was intended as an ironic interpretation of traditional european virgin icon images. The "virgin" figure was overlaid onto a lavishly warm backdrop resembling the brilliant rust orange colour of the australian desert. The little paisley motifs drifting around the central figure sort of vaguely resemble aboriginal motifs....

Aussie Icon 1, mixed media canvas by Pearl Red Moon, 2011

The Newcastle Council are calling for images that refer to Christmas. As a secular humanist there is no religious iconography that would be meaningful for me. I came up with this which is called "Fly with peace, love and good will"

Fly with peace, love and good will

Olive Tree Market Xmas comp

I designed and entered this poster in the Olive Tree Markets Christmas poster competition. The "Virgin" figure is taken from my mixed media work "Aussie Icon 1"

more lovely things

I have been really busy. So busy I keep putting off showing the new creations on the blog...now I have a backlog to blog about....

I've made about 10 new garments in the last couple of weeks that haven't been seen here or put in my etsy shop. Here are 2 gorgeous tunics from my "Celebrate India!"series that are made from vintage sarees. The green one called "Green fields" is pure silk, the grey one called "Beautiful Horizons"  is a polyester georgette. Both are beautifully hand embroidered and beaded.

Green fields tunic

Beautiful Horizons tunic  SOLD

The items haven't been put in the Boho Banjo etsy shop yet.

I'm keen to get into my sewing room and keep working on what was started yesterday. Working in some of my favourite colours - bright magenta pink and purple.

I hope to find time this evening to show more of the work

new wearable art

New clothes made in the last 2 weeks!

I call this dress "Denim Vines" because the blue of the print looks exactly denim blue to me. The grey appliques of squares resemble a lattice that the vine grows on.

The dress above is the "Flowers and Stripes" I just finished this this afternoon. Mostly printed cotton homespun except for the gored parts of the skirt are repurposed from a second hand viscose skirt.

See my etsy shop for more detailed information about sizes and prices if you want to know more.....