Thursday 22 November 2012

Onion dress

Continuing on my journey of silk and onions, here is my latest little number off the table and out of the dye pot.
I love using these humble little scraps from my kitchen (and those of my friends too)


 Reversible A-Line dress, a shape that is so comfortable to wear and a favourite of many.


and here are my girls, keen to meet you... just incase you're tired of onions!



Thursday 15 November 2012

Onion and eucalyptus bolero

Last week's pieces are soon to be winging their way over to the USA to their new owner. She's also having this little number I've been working on this week to go with the duo...


a little onion/eucalyptus combination to wear over both dress and top...


A rugged garden fairy touch.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Onions and eucalyptus

Here's a couple of pieces straight out of the dye pot, to show what I've been up to recently. A couple of loose flowing original designs for the summer season.


This 'onion butterfly' came out of the wonderful cocoon below. A silk nuno felt A-Line top, reversible with beauty and originality.








This humble bundle produced a gorgeous light silk nuno felt dress.


I love unrolling these bundles and finding what beautiful unpredictable surprises are in store...


Romantic hints of violet, gold and orange in a poetic form. I love days like these!

Thursday 25 October 2012

Wild child

I said hey babe, take a walk on the wild side...



This sensuous feline was spotted in the Sydney bushland at dusk...


...resplendent in her native landscape.

More lovely photographs by Lisa Thompson.

Sunday 14 October 2012

Working those fingers to the bone

In my secret den of creativity, working away quietly on a dress for America. 



I find it amazing that my slow motions of laying wool fibre on silk, adding soap and water, rolling, pushing and prodding, soaking bark, simmering, placing the dress into the concoction......




... all these actions coming together to create a piece to be worn on the other side of the world. Will it tell its tales to its new owner? I hope so...



My wonderful photographer and friend Lisa Thompson snapped these images recently. Thanks Lisa!!



Sunday 2 September 2012

A blissful day



Welcome to Joss and Greg's beautiful wedding day...


An incredible winter's day in the Blue Mountains...


Classy, natural, eco chic, unique...


Romantic, poetic, whimsical...


Origami symbols made by the groom and the dress fabrics co-dyed by the bride...


Laughter, juggling, friends, family... a beautiful celebration of a harmonic life.

Beautiful photographs by Lucas Jarvis

This was a custom made dress I made for Joss earlier in the year. It was an inspirational experience where someone I had never met, found me through google search and we were able to thoroughly enjoy this creative developement together. We designed and explored the natural fibres and natural dyes to make up this original silk and merino wool nuno felt dress. 
It has flair, character, frivolity and eco sense, just like its wonderful owner. 

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Searching for serenity

June saw two of my creations being worn to celebrate love and commitment on two different sides of the planet. I feel extremely honoured to have my work treasured so. Lovely images to follow when life falls back into place for these wonderful, ecologically conscious brides...
My family and I returned to France during this time for work and to see family and friends. To dive into French early summer was divine to say the least.....  


On returning to the south west, I was instantly stunned by the calm that penetrates the soul. Granted, I was on holiday, which makes one slow down hopefully. But I was struck by the pace of life which is so much slower than that of Sydney, even when one lives in the outer suburbs with nature over the back fence. It did make me grieve and feel guilt at taking my children away from this wonderful environment.


It's complicated for sure having a multi national/cultural/lingual family. It's certainly a wonderful thing also. As a parent, making choices for the greater good of the family can be a heavy task. We know we are extremely lucky to have choices, to be able to move to the other side of the world for work, for family, for cultural experience, for language, for education. You inevitably gain in some senses and lose in others. 



Back in Sydney that treadmill pace of life has swept us up again, with school and endless activities and demands pulling at my sleeve. I am trying to remember that field of sunflowers and its peace, to have that serenity descend upon me... Thank goodness for the sunshine and the huge trees and those pesky bright squawking birds that I love so much. 
It is a pleasure to see my kids claiming their Australian heritage and exploring this land, its people and its ways. Difference is a wonderful thing to be appreciated not grieved and I am certain serenity can be found in the most unlikely places when searched for, if I can just remember to do so.
I wish you peace.

Wednesday 20 June 2012

Natural Beauty





Thinking of you... your day is nearly here. This has been the loveliest custom made experience I have ever had the pleasure of. Breathe.............

Thursday 24 May 2012

A very long engagement

A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of meeting a young woman through this blog, where through the magic of internet and typing in a few key words that were important for her, she found my work. We both live in the same city and it was a meeting of minds so to speak. She desired a special dress for that special day, but one with integrity and beauty, not your off the shelf meringue if you catch my drift...
From memory I think the search words were permaculture, natural dyes, wedding, felt (its a winter wedding), sydney... and if you put those together I think you probably end up with me!



So with many pleasurable cups of green tea, discussions of chicken coops and the pruning of fruit trees, not to mention public permaculture gardens later..... including a whirlwind course in natural dyes as she got hands on in dyeing the fabrics from self collected bark which is a story in itself...  plus a good month full of designing, felting and preening those feathers, we are nearly there.



Now it wouldn't be right to show the bride and her natural wedding dress before the big day, so I will only give a sneak preview (please forgive me dear!) and you can see the full spendor in another month or so. Beautiful days....



Made from responsibly sourced silk and Australian organic merino wool. Naturally dyed using eucalyptus bark, sap and onion skins.

Sunday 15 April 2012

Secrets brewing

There is a secret that is brewing, stewing...


... a creation is evolving within the chrysalis, ever so slowly and delicately...


...seductive and unique...     with a special purpose in mind
shh...........................................................................................................................................................

Sunday 25 March 2012

Natural dyeing with plants course of course

A group of enthusiastic and highly curious women gathered this weekend past at Newcastle for an initiation into the mysterious ways and endless meandering paths of natural dyeing....



Coming together with diverse skills and experiences, with different ambitions and predictions of where they wanted to take these new techniques and a joy of the discovery and limitless potential... 





For further information on future courses in natural dyeing with plants at Newcastle, contact Anne
anne@timelesstextiles.com.au

... and did i mention the cakes were divine??