Hope to see you here...

ReLOVED: ReVAMPED

I've been busily designing, thrifting, collating and stitching up a gorgeous little fashion collection of one-off pieces for the catwalk fashion event coming up at the end of this month, Re-Loved Re-Vamped, formed by dynamic fashionista duo Hanny and Lee Dewar.

I just can't wait to show you what I've been up to, here's just a sneaky peek at something from some of the 5 local designers in the show...

Above: Tango & James


HannyD Creations


Chris Murray


Tamara Russell

Zoe Turketo

This event, hosted at Craft ACT, showcases sustainable and recycled fashion to the people of Canberra. Each designer has been given a brief to deconstruct, re-work and re-imagine existing clothing and materials into new creations, promoting a sustainable fashion culture.

"Re-Loved:Re-Vamped" will be held on Thursday 30 September in the gallery space of Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre in Canberra city. Doors open 6pm for pre-show drinks and nibbles. Admission is FREE! Come and join our fabulous designers who have worked so hard to create their fab collections.

Be there! Love Nina x

Don't Miss: Canning Stock Route exhibition

On now at the National Museum of Australia, and showing until January, this free exhibition is one not to be missed. I took my little guy along yesterday and neither of us wanted to leave! Here's a sneak peak at some of the amazing artworks in the exhibition - keep in mind, they are in huge scale... they take my breath away...

Nada Rawlins, Ngurra Artists

Left: Jan Billycan, Yulparija Artists Right: Jakayu Biljabu, Martumili Artists

Jukuja Dolly Snell, Mangkaja Arts

Don't forget to check out the interactive computers and squash a few virtual ants!

Recycle in style: A re-vamped preview

So inspired was I after last years eco fashion show Re-loved, as promised, I have been quietly working away on a delicious collection of fashion looks to present in this years show to be held at the end of September. The challenge: using only the most heinous pre-loved clothing and re-claimed materials, create a collection of 5 gorgeous, wearable looks.

Works in progress are looking good, but if you want to see the whole collection you'll have to wait until September 30. Until then, check out the Re-Loved blog for the latest info and designers. It's going to be gorgeous so don't miss it!

Love Nina x

A little exhibition...

A little exhibition I've been meaning to see, open until May 31st at the Jas Hugonnet gallery, is work by Natalie Mather - also known as Pony on her gorgeous blog Pony & Pink.

Natalie Mather
Knot
2010, Spray paint, synthetic polymer on plywood
60 x 60cm

Natalie Mather
Jurassic
2010, Spray paint, synthetic polymer and pencil on plywood
90 x 60cm

See more of her work here.

Interesting and colourful, like the girl.

Make, Believe

Gorgeous... An exhibition by Canberra artists Amelia Thompson (of local fashion label, Grazed Youth) and Anna Madeleine, featuring fashion design, mixed media and animation.

The guiding inspiration behind this collaborative work is the artist’s shared experience as young women at significant junctions in their artistic pursuits. Together they have explored ideas of growing up and being lost in an unknown world, and conceptually drawn parallels of their experiences to those encountered by the heroines of classic fairytales.

Make, Believe looks at the notion behind the games we play as children and the role that they play in us now.

The exhibition plays on contradictory references to the traditional, nostalgic form of the fairytale in contrast to the new and the modern. The artists aesthetically reference this through the use of a sepia verses technicolour, using the visual form of old-fashioned games in a new, digital way, mixing the familiar with the unexpected. This collaboration has seen the creation of a refined collection of original pieces which push the boundaries of individual mediums. The outcome of this is an exciting and dynamic collection of work.

The exhibition will officially open at 6pm Friday 16 April and will treat guests to a fashion parade and live music. Make, Believe will run from Friday 16 April- Sunday 25 April 2010 at ANCA Gallery: Rosevar pl, Dickson.

A Right Royal Affair

Lovely!

Sculpture: Skylen Dall

Polka Luka: Summer sale and exhibition

I've mentioned my adoration of the work of Polka Luka... now's your chance to grab Christmas presents (or something for yourself!), with a hot sale and exhibition on...

Says Alex, "I will be selling my current range as well as pieces from my previous ranges, as well as a variety of seconds, samples, and sales stock!"

Awesome! Check it out at The Front Gallery in Lyneham (right near Tilley's) from Thursday night.

Re Loved 2: Fashion re-cap

What happens when the task to create a Spring/Summer collection using only deconstructed pre-loved garments or factory off-cuts is given to six of Canberra's most talented emerging designers? A standing ovation for ReLoved2, showcased in the gallery space at Craft ACT , proving that we can reduce re-use and recycle in great style...

Above Left: The Renlee Label, by Karen Lee
Above Right: Polbymade, by Polly Stokes

Above: George, by Georgina Edwards

Collections from Canberran indie labels Craftilee, George, Handmade By Hanny, The Renlee Label, Hayley Caroline and Polbymade all made use of recycled materials.


Above Left: "Retro with a Twist" Handmade By Hanny, by Hanny Dewar
Above Right: "Misch & Me" Hayley Caroline, by Hayley Wandett-Smith


Above: "Misch & Me" Hayley Caroline, by Hayley Wandett-Smith

Above: "Sweetness & Bight" Craftilee, by Lee Dewar (in her own divine hot pink creation).

SO INSPIRED!
Thank you designers!!!

Stay tuned for Nina's collection at the next Re-Loved event! xxx

Frugal Fashionistas

Check it out at Benedict House, Queanbeyan. Pre purchase your tickets.

Vintage treasures: Fashion fair

It’s time for eager vintage lovers to descend on the Albert Hall again. Wrapped in scaffolding it may be, but the doorways will be wide open to welcome you. Once again, dealers from around the country will be selling fabulous period, vintage and retro fashion and fashion collectibles. The fabulous exhibition this time round will be Undercover: a revealing look at lingerie through the ages.

Albert Hall, Commonwealth Avenue Friday 23rd October 6pm - 9pm, Saturday 24th October 10am - 5pm and Sunday 25th October 10am - 4pm. Tickets at the door $12

The best kind of retail therapy - recycling at its best in a fabulous venue with good coffee on site. A great day out.

CCAS: Exibition opening

Re-loved: re-fashion

Designers and avid recyclers Hanny Dewar and daughter Lee have once again joined forces under the project name Re-Loved Creations to host Re-Loved 2.

Highlighting the innovative concepts of recycling fabrics for fashion, Re-Loved 2 will showcase Spring/Summer 2009 collections from Hayley Wandelt-Smith (Hayley Caroline), Polly Stokes (Polbymade), Karen Lee (The Renlee Label), Georgina Edwards (George), Hanny Dewar (handmade by hanny), Lee Dewar (Craftilee).

Re-Loved Creations was formed after an overwhelming amount of positive feedback following the first Re-Loved parade held at designspace@CIT in March 2009 (images above). Hanny and Lee decided this was something that should be done more regularly, and started work for the next showing in time for Spring/Summer 2009. All designers involved in this current Re-Loved venture were given a brief to deconstruct, re work or re-imagine existing clothing and materials into new creations to promote a sustainable fashion culture.

Re-Loved 2 is on Thursday 22 October 2009 at 6.30 pm at Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre, London Cct, Civic.

I can't wait! Love Nina x

On show: Imaginary Fairytales

Loving the looks of this upcoming exhibition featuring Claire Cimbora of Schmooks (I blogged about here) with Lisa Falzon and Marion Jones...

Above: "Around her finger" by Lisa Falzon; "The Garden Chair" by Schmooks

Imaginary Fairytales opens on Thursday October 8 at The Front Gallery in Lyneham. Gorgeous!

Knitters please: Stitching up the NGA

Sharpen your needles and prepare to knit! (There's phrase I never imagined I would use!).

Knitters are invited, by guerilla knitting group Knitta Please, to create pieces 10-20cm wide x 140cm long which will be stitched together to create coverings for 6 concrete poles at the front of the National Gallery of Australia.

Any colour, yarn or technique will be accepted, but extra points for originality - the brighter and wackier, the better!!! How awesome is this bus??? See more of their handiwork around the globe at their website here.

If you're up for it, and as slow as me - start your knitting now and follow the link here to find out where to send your knitting and when.

This event is part of Knitta Please, a festival of events from 5 to 12 July, which celebrates the final week of the exhibition Soft sculpture at the NGA.

Loooove it, can't wait to see it, installation takes place over 4 days at the Gallery from July 7th.