getting my craft on

One of the most common questions I am asked when discussing what I do is "So, what do you make?". My response is "oh, nothing", usually blaming this on lack of time, skills or both. I've dabbled in crocheting, done a sort-of Fashion Design certificate so I can 'kind of' sew, got frustrated by trying to cast-on when taking up knitting. However this evening I decided to give cross-stitch a go! I was spurred on by a few things; my daughter learning it at school, reading a book on Subversive stitching and some excellent examples in the 'Indie Craft'book. I also feel that cross stitch is similar to loose sketching, which is an activity I like to do.
I decided to stitch a Morrissey song lyric 'Lifeguard, save me from life' - and so far, so good! But let's see...it's not completely out of the realm of possibility that it won't get completed.

An artist whose work is inspiring me at the moment is Hildur Bjarndottir, especially her work 'Untitled' from 1998. Love how fine the thread is and of course the skull imagery.

To help with this I am going to attend a new craft collective and hopefully this will provide the push I need to get a craft project finished and then when I get asked the question I can so, "Oh yeah, I cross stitch a little...".

An update to my previous post - it was me who read the timetable wrong. Very sorry to the organisers. I am presenting Wednesday morning - eeek!

Also writing an abstract for an upcoming conference Console-ing Passions. I'm really excited about this one, think it would be a great opportunity to present my research, plus it sounds very interesting.

Apparently I am supposed to be presenting a paper at the soon approaching AAANZ Conference but when I looked at the timetable earlier today, my name was not there! Really hoping that this is just a small oversight. It did put me in a slightly bad mood for the afternoon. Or maybe my mood is to be blamed on todays heat.

Some brilliant news though...my mum via my brother made a huge Morrissey poster for my wall. I am yet to see it yet but have been tolda that it is HUGE. Thinking that I will put it in the hallway entrance, just so visitors know exactly what to expect upon entering. It is this picture



Will post a picture when I have it in the house.

Not much else has been happening in thesis land. Suddenly I feel very tired and I'm not sure if that is a symptom of knowing how much work is left to do. So overwhelming. But tomorrow is a new day and I am going to make the most of it. Cut down on internet blog reading (hard when writing a thesis on blogs but it must be done), prioritise work before I start and stop procrastinating start writing. Phew!

craft crossover

Cate Blanchett in crochet dress by 'Romance Was Born'
Sia performing at the recent ARIA awards

I've never been very good at drawing

So when I am laughing at these 'Awful Fan Art' posts from the website I do so with a full understanding that if any of my pictures were ever found they would end up on this site too...but so funny! Wish I had seen this when writing my Honours thesis on fan art.

something I really wish I could do...

Throughout my time writing my thesis there have been so many events I wish I could take part in, while also recognising that there are heaps of great things that I have been lucky enough to get to do. However this really would be my ultimate dream come true...http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2010/11/11/social-science-phd-internships-at-microsoft-research-new-england-spring-summer-2011.html

You don't need to click the link, basically it details the Microsoft Summer research internships - one of my dreams...likely to remain unfulfilled.

This morning we had a 'end of year' session to talk about our year - based around the theme of travel - spoke a bit about my travel last year to Limerick for the Morrissey symposium and my trip to Sydney this year for a conference. It made me realise that I didn't travel as much this year as last and that post-grad students are a pretty well-travelled bunch of people!
Now I am writing yet another conference paper for my first presentation in my home town. It is on blog aesthetics, allusions to still life and 'branding indie craft blogs'. As I am in Visual Arts, this 'visual/aesthetic' element of the blogs has always been lurking around in the shadows and now is a good chance to address these ideas. Why do we like what we see? Is there a difference between screen image and the object? Do we prefer the screen image?
My own interest in this research topic stemmed from my own affectual feelings towards the images I was viewing on the blogs, the 'perfect' product shot, inspiring home ideas...now to analyse all that.

It's been a while

Is there anything ironic about researching blogs yet having no time to author one? 


As I get ever closer to finishing my thesis I want to make a more concerted effort to start/maintain this blog. It will be good for me to do with this space what was my original intentions; to keep track of my own research and as a kind of space to unload all I am thinking/seeing.

Today I had two books arrive in the post. I am very excited to start reading 'Indie Craft' by Jo Waterhouse...the cover looks pretty awesome.