Caz Guiney » cazguiney

Aldi hacker for knicker knacker!

cazguiney — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:49:08 +0000

One of my favourite blogs is Ikeahacker so you can imagine how pleased I was to pick up the little beauty below at Aldi in Heidelberg West for only $9.99.

Flat packed with glue, a paint brush, 16 screws and instructions WITH WORDS!!!!!!!! (Not really necessary as I am a seasoned assembler of flatpack stuff but nonetheless a bonus for some). Competition for Ikea on all levels.

Perfect for collections fo all sorts……a touch of Biggi Spiro, some Wola Nani Crafts, caravans, West German vases anything but CD’s which should remain hidden. (Will be wall mounted when I have more time. Already late and I have to drive to San Remo – near Phillip Island for a TAFE Conference in the wee hours of the morning……check out the accommodation……Silverwater Resort).

It’s not all about Biscornu, tea and the couch ’round here….thank goodness

cazguiney — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:07:31 +0000

Have booked tix to see these gorgeous girls from First Aid Kit play at the Toff in Town. Check out their well crafted harmonies. This youtube video has had more hits than all the Fleet Foxes uploads of the original……and the girls obviously wash their hair.

I also have a ticket to see the brilliant Rufus Wainright in October………….. Spring is in the air!
Check him out at 12 years old…….he already had the groove and the eyebrows. You also get a fix of 80’s suburban fashion……the peach leisure suit is a fave.

Biscornu – French for what?

cazguiney — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:23:25 +0000

My latest project is not jewellery but a skill based exercise for a related idea I have brewing. I enrolled in a 6 hr cross stitch course in my local hub at The Lazy Daisy (Heidelberg Nanasville). This was no cool innercity, retro craft driven stitch and bitch session held at a groovy pub this was the real deal. I was expecting to be given the task of cross stitching a bunch of flowers. Well I couldn’t have been more delighted with the task they set. A Biscornu! What the heck is a Biscornu?

A biscornu is a small, 8-sided, stuffed ornamental pincushion. They are typically able to fit in the palm of your hand. The name is derived from a French adjective, meaning skewed, quirky or irregular.(Wikipedia). To be making a quirky 3D object had me hooked.

The colour scheme incorporated my two favoutrite colours, green and orange (kitsch to match my kitchen) and pineapples too! I got more than I bargained for…not just cross stitch but rhodes stitch, eyelet, rice double, smyrna…..I could hardly keep up.

Rhodes Stitch – lovely in the variegated cotton – this shape forms the pineapple.

Eyelet stitch – also known in stitch and bitch circles as Cat’s bum stitch!

I finished the top within a week but ended up with a permanent headache and a stiff neck. I had recently been prescribed glasses and thought I must have overdone it. As it turned out I had a headache virus that seemed to last for weeks so I couldn’t consider getting back to the Biscornu………it was terribly frustrating. But alas weeks later I am back into it but taking it slowly. No more 4 hour stints.

The front complete……except for the edging…..

……and the back. Stitching the 2010 is an incentive to ensure I complete this labour of love by the end of the year. There is no possible way of speeding up the process (and I must say I took to the process rather instinctively). I must say I am enjoying not contemplating the cold studio but sitting in front of the heater watching iView. Shit it’s cold!

Sorry for random colour crap images – late night photography, crap inconsistent light. When complete I will take a better shot. Back to a cuppa tea, Collectors and my Biscornu…….I officially belong in Nanasville.

A biscornu is a small, 8-sided, stuffed ornamental pincushion, usually made out of Aida cloth or linen. Embroidery or cross-stitch is used to decorate the top and bottom of the cushion. A button is typically secured in the center of the cushion to give a small depression on the top. Beads, tassels and other objects can decorate the biscornu. They are typically able to fit in the palm of your hand. The name is derived from a French adjective, meaning skewed, quirky or irregular.

RMIT Jewellery seminar registration

cazguiney — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:31:21 +0000

If you are keen to attend the upcoming seminar at RMIT titled ‘Jewellery Practice as a Site for Enquiry’ you are required to register. Click on the this RMIT link and it will take you to a PDF of the registration form. It is only $10 for students and full registration is only $20. The PDF also has information about who will be presenting. Should be good value for money………. best start preparing!

Hide and Seek

cazguiney — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:49:51 +0000

Last night I went to the opening of Hide and Seek a joint exhibition of Sam Scott and Caroline Phillips at Red Gallery in Fitzroy. Sam and I studied Jewellery and Metalsmithing together at Monash Uni in the mid 90’s and have been friends ever since. Her work in this show is fresh and exciting and answers some of her relentless questions “Who am I? Where am I going? What am I doing?” Congratulations to a friend who has made some beautiful, engaging work (including some works with strong jewellery/neckpiece forms). Yey!!!!!

Sam Scott: Cell/Sea Sponge, 2010, brass, sea sponge, stainless steel wire, 75×30cm

I’m in!

cazguiney — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:23:45 +0000

My paper for seminar at RMIT ‘Jewellery as a Site for Enquiry’ was accepted. Keep the 6th August free.

Wilma’s ‘Christmas Beetle’ opal ring

cazguiney — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:16:55 +0000

For those in my family the following images will bring memories flooding back of mum and dad dressing in their 70’s finest perhaps heading out to a ‘do’ at the LTAV or dinner with Noel and Shirl.

The white gold and opal ring with 4 diamonds was made by Graeme Kellet our ‘family jeweller’. Some of you may be fortunate enough to know Graeme from NMIT.

The prong/basket configuration underneath is exquisite. This sort of thing is not normally to my taste but the sentimental experience along with the 70’s aesthetic has always struck a chord. As a child it reminded me of a Christmas beetle and I have since discovered (to no surprise) that it is actually a term used in the opal industry.

And now for some images of the proud owner photographed in her native environment ‘The Temple of Wilma’. …………and a little birdie tells me that the jeweller in the family might just be next in line…….I hope the 5 sisters aren’t reading this. Trust me it won’t be subjected to any bin artistry.

No Cigar but Merry Christmas

cazguiney — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:05:45 +0000

Didn’t make the grade for the Heidi Gallery range but rather relieved. The obsessive collecting of utensils had been a labour of love until the possiblity of it becoming a production range. I had family members scouring op shops in rural Victoria friends on the hunt in Melbourne. I would sweat each time I went op shopping and came out empty handed……..not my idea of a leisurely scavenge. Like ‘em or not looks like Christmas presents for 2010 are already sorted!

Jewellery Practice as a Site for Enquiry-Call for Papers

cazguiney — Thu, 13 May 2010 10:36:26 +0000

Sorry about the size of this but I received it as a jpeg and it went all blurry if I tried to reduce it. The info on the right will dissappear as this post dates. Diarise this event. Should be great! Just what the jewellery community in Melbourne need. Real talk!

‘Hostess’

cazguiney — Thu, 06 May 2010 11:58:01 +0000

'Hostess'

Craft Victoria New Craft Proposal for Heidi Museum of Modern Art

When I read the words ‘50’s domestic sensibility theme’ in the brief , I thought, ladies stirring, ladies baking, plates of slice, BBQ’s, salads, plastic, Tupperware………. utensils! My utensil collection, whilst being added to regularly is boxed up in my studio eagerly awaiting the right opportunity to be transformed into wearable jewellery. So above we have a selection fashioned into a series of wearable brooches titled ‘Hostess’. I am still awaiting the verdict as to whether Heidi will stock them. It is a world away from the sort of work I have done previously but enjoyed the plastic, the recycling and the colour palette. All my faves; Tuppaware, Decor, Rosti……..