moyou

applying nori | furoshiki three

2011-10-06T19:19:00.000+11:00

Knowing that the nori is now the right consistency, I can happily move on to applying paste to a third stencil which can dry while I take some time to colour mix a new range of colours using straight 3% dye mixtures.

I chose to work with the first katagami stencil that I drew and cut for my JUMP project - the jitensha design in the urban series. Below are a few action shots of the pasting process.

The jitensha stencil pasted with nori

The big reveal...

Jitensha furoshiki drying after adding sand and stretching with shinshi

furoshiki two | pavement

2011-10-03T21:12:00.003+11:00

The second furoshiki - the pavement pattern from the urban series - is finished. Dyed, fixed and washed.

This furoshiki was over-dyed using the same strength of dye as the background colour and, as suspected, the dye mixture wasn't strong enough. The design is far more subtle than intended.

I'll take some more time to colour mix using straight 3% dye mixtures (rather than watering 3% mixtures down). Challenge accepted!

fixing | furoshiki two

2011-10-02T08:36:00.000+11:00

These furoshiki have been fixed using a liquid sodium silicate solution. This solution is painted directly on to the front of the furoshiki which is then rolled up in plastic for 2 hours before being washed thoroughly in water to remove the nori and any excess dye.

I find this part of the process to be one of the most exciting as well as the most harrowing. There is nothing more you can do at this point in time except to wait for the design to be revealed...

furoshiki two | dyed and ready to fix

2011-09-30T20:34:00.000+10:00

Three layers of dye have been applied to the second furoshiki and it is now ready to fix and wash.

You can tell the density and depth of dye, as well as the colour, when you look at the reverse of the furoshiki.

Below are a couple of images of the back of the second furoshiki before fixing. I am a little concerned that the dye mixtures used in the over-dyeing process might be too light but this won't be revealed until the design is fixed and washed.

dyeing | furoshiki two

2011-09-29T18:55:00.000+10:00

Now that the second furoshiki has been pasted with nori, it is time for the over-dyeing process.

Below are a few images of the furoshiki after two layers of dye have been applied. There is one more dry dye layer to go before fixing and washing out.

applying nori | furoshiki two

2011-09-27T08:02:00.000+10:00

With the batch of nori resurrected after returning it to a bowl over a boiling pot of water to reduce the moisture content, the second furoshiki was ready to be pasted.

To test the nori I decided to paste one of the more intricate patterns in the urban series - the final pavement design.

The nori appeared to be a much better consistency this time with no bleeding when the stencil was removed. It would seem that this stage has been rectified successfully. Yippee!

furoshiki one | tenjiburokku

2011-09-26T19:36:00.000+10:00

The first furoshiki is done. This furoshiki is tenjiburokku from the urban series - designed, katagami stencil cut, nori applied, dyed, fixed and washed.

Not a perfect rendition, which is always a little disappointing when so many hours have gone into the production of a piece, but I knew that the paste was too wet and hopefully I am able to take steps to ensure that this problem won't affect the next piece.

You can see in the images below that the dye lines are a little fuzzy and the density of the colour, especially in the fine lines, is not as dark as it should be in certain spots. This is because the moisture that seeped into the fabric when the nori was applied through the stencil inhibited the absorption of the dye in the next stage of the process.

The nori will need to be thicker with less moisture in the paste. The current batch of nori can possibly be resurrected by returning it to a bowl over boiling water and heating it until it re-thickens and loses some of the moisture content.

Onwards and upwards from here!

dyeing | furoshiki one

2011-09-25T21:04:00.000+10:00

A few images of the first furoshiki which has been dyed 3 times over the resist paste using the same strength dye mixture as the background colour.

It is definitely not as crisp as it should be but time will tell how much clarity has been lost because of the moisture in the paste. The next step is to fix the dye and wash the paste off.

applying nori | furoshiki one

2011-09-24T21:14:00.000+10:00

Ready to paste the first furoshiki - this is where the batch of nori comes in.

At this point the fabric is stretched taut on the table and nori is squeegeed through the hand cut katagami stencil onto the fabric.

After the paste has been applied, very fine sawdust would usually be sprinkled on top to draw moisture to the surface of the nori to assist with the drying process.

I was unable to find sawdust fine enough locally, and substituted sawdust for sand. The sand seems to have worked quite well in place of the sawdust on this design.

Ready to apply nori to the first furoshiki

The first furoshiki - pasted with the stencil removed

A detail of the furoshiki with paste and sand applied

After applying nori to this first design it was clear straight away that the nori was too wet. The mixture contained too much water and bled slightly underneath the stencil.

Any bleeding interferes with the next stage when dye is applied over the resist, so it is very likely that this particular furoshiki won't dye as clearly and crisply as it is meant to. Despite knowing that there is a very good chance that this furoshiki won't be up to scratch, I intend to finish it as a test piece.

making nori

2011-09-22T22:38:00.000+10:00

The time has come to make nori - the resist paste used in the katazome process. I anticipate that I will need to make a few batches before the end of the project because even with the addition of salt and slated lime (as preservatives) each batch will only keep for a few weeks.

Nori is predominantly made from a mixture of super fine rice bran and sweet rice flour. I haven't been able to find rice bran which is fine enough here in Australia and consequently bought a healthy supply from Tanaka Nao Seryoten (a specialist dye store in Kyoto, Japan) for this project.

After sifting and mixing the rice bran and rice flour, a little water is added to create a dough-like mixture which is then steamed for a few hours. After steaming, the nori is mixed vigorously while still hot until it reaches a smooth consistency with no lumps.

Salt and slaked lime are added to this smooth paste at the end of this process to preserve the mixture for slightly longer. The nori is then left to cool at room temperature before it can be placed in the fridge for safe keeping until it is needed.

Action shots - nori being vigorously mixed

colour mixing + background dyeing

2011-09-21T10:32:00.000+10:00

With the katagami stencils for my JUMP project taking shape it's time to start the next step in the process.

The first step is to background dye the pre-made furoshiki. For this project I am working with pre-hemmed, white, 100% cotton furoshiki that I bought from Tanaka Nao Senryoten, a specialist dye store in Kyoto, Japan.

Below is an image of the white furoshiki stretched with shinshi (bamboo sticks with small needles at either end used for stretching fabric and holding it taut during the dyeing process), ready for background dyeing.

As I did not want the background for this paticular furoshiki series to be white, it is necessary to pre-dye and fix the background colour before I can start the katazome process.
Working with Remazol dyes, I colour mixed and significantly watered down 3% strength dye solutions to create this range of colours.

With the dyes mixed and the recipes for these colours ready to go, I was ready to mix larger quantities and background dye a few furoshiki with the beautifully soft, large brush that you can see in the bottom left corner of the first image.

Prior to dyeing, the furoshiki were washed in hot water to pre-shrink them (being made from a natural fibre) and to remove any traces of sizing.

Soft mint green dye mixture - made and ready to use

Four furoshiki freshly dyed and drying

Hastening the drying process just a little

Once the background colour was completely dry I used a liquid fixative (sodium silicate solution) to fix the colour before washing thoroughly and drying again.

Four furoshiki background dyed, fixed and washed

And the final step in this stage of the process is to wash the shinshi before their next use to avoid cross contamination with any residual dye. The shinshi are placed in boiling water for 30 minutes at either end to remove any dye that seeped into the bamboo.

Shinshi boiling in a large pot

geometric pattern four | stencil nine

2011-09-20T08:08:00.002+10:00

And the exquisitely komakai (small/fine/minute) fourth pattern in the manhole cover series is cut and ready to unveil. This katagami stencil was many hours of concentrated cutting followed by an hour of careful erasing.

And a detail of the delicate design.

furoshiki design | nine

2011-09-15T08:15:00.000+10:00

A few progress shots of the drawing of the fourth katagami stencil in the manhole cover series.

This is proving to be quite a complex pattern to draw to scale precisely from the little scribble in my sketch book. Lots of measuring, followed by more measuring, while at the same time back-filling the motif as it rotates within the pattern...and making sure it is all connnected as a stencil should be! Whew.

And a detail of this intricate design. My work was often described as komakai whilst I was studying this technique in Japan. Komakai roughly translates as small, fine or minute. This pattern is sure not to disappoint in that respect ;)

geometric pattern three | stencil eight

2011-09-14T20:14:00.000+10:00

This is the third katagami stencil in the manhole cover series - finished and ready for pasting.

There are still two more stencils to come in this series, followed by a third series (the typographic series) which I will be working on whilst I start pasting and dyeing some of the initial designs.

furoshiki design | eight

2011-09-09T07:03:00.000+10:00

The half way point! Half way through cutting the eighth katagami stencil out of fifteen. A momentous occasion to be celebrated after drawing and cutting for a period of more than 47 hours over a number of weeks.

This is a progress shot of the third geometric design in the manhole cover series inspired by the stunning patterns of the manhole covers in Japan.

geometric pattern two | stencil seven

2011-09-08T08:36:00.000+10:00

This is the second katagami stencil in the manhole cover series. Cut and complete. This design almost marks the half way point in the stencil design/cutting process.

*NB: Large cup of chai latte in the bottom right corner of the photograph - this is my vice of choice to keep me going for long periods of time at my desk :)

I am aiming to design and hand-cut 15 stencils in total - 5 in the urban series (which you have already seen), 5 in the manhole cover series (underway now) and 5 in a typographic series (still to come).

After researching and practicing the katazome process in Australia over the coming months, I hope to complete a number of furoshiki using a selection of these stencils. These furoshiki will be created as part of my JUMP project, and will be ready to take back to Japan for critique with my mentor Keiko in mid-October (all going well).

furoshiki design | seven

2011-09-07T20:25:00.000+10:00

This is a small preview of the seventh katagami stencil. It is the second pattern in the geometric manhole cover series.

And a detail of the drawing - 2B pencil lead on the smoky scented katagami paper...just waiting to be cut.

geometric pattern one | stencil six

2011-09-02T19:34:00.000+10:00

The first katagami stencil in the manhole cover series is complete - yippee!

I don't know how many days/hours/months I spent dreaming up and sketching these design ideas...I wasn't keeping track of time spent at that point of the project...but I did take my time over the first few months with the design phase.

I do know that up until this point the completion of the first six stencils has taken a total of 21 hours drawing time, 16.25 hours cutting time and 2.75 hours finishing time - which comes to a grand total of 40 hours. Whew!

furoshiki design | six

2011-09-01T21:27:00.000+10:00

This sixth design marks the beginning of the katagami stencils for my second series which I have temporarily titled the manhole cover series.

This series is so aptly named because the geometric patterns are inspired by the many photos that I have taken of manhole covers in Japan over the last 5 years. I have to confess that I may be a little obsessed!

katagami stencil five unveiled

2011-08-30T01:50:00.000+10:00

The katagami stencil for the fifth and final furoshiki design in the urban series is done.

This design is untitled at this stage but should be named shortly. I have been thinking of calling it 'pavement' but if you have any inspired thoughts on a suitable title for this image I would love to hear them! I am open to suggestions.

This stencil required a high level of attention to detail both in the drawing and cutting stage due to the multitude of fine lines. It also took quite a bit of concentration as I drew the design to scale straight onto to the katagami in 'stencil' form - thinking all the time about which sections would stay when cut and which sections would go.

furoshiki design | five

2011-08-29T19:11:00.004+10:00

The fifth furoshiki design in the urban series is well underway.

The imagery in this design is of a manhole cover partially covered by a shop roller door - perhaps not so useful? I took a photograph of this anomaly in a little side street near K's House hostel in Kyoto, Japan.

Below are some progress shots of the katagami stencil for this design. Nearly there!

japanese iris | colour inspiration

2011-07-19T08:07:00.000+10:00

tenjiburokku | stencil four

2011-07-18T10:41:00.002+10:00

The stencil for the fourth furoshiki design, tenjiburokku, is done - hurrah!

This design forms part of the urban series and was inspired by the yellow braille blocks which are found on many of the footpaths around Kyoto, as well as in the train and subway stations in Japan.

furoshiki design | four

2011-07-16T12:30:00.003+10:00

The fourth furoshiki design, in what I am now calling the urban series, is nearing completion.

Below is a progress shot of the katagami cutting process - all of these stencils are cut by hand using the scalpel that you can see on the katagami in this image. It is a laborious but very satisfying process. Four years have passed since I last used this technique but I have rediscovered my love of stencil cutting since undertaking this katazome project. Such a joy!

denchuu stencil unveiled

2011-07-10T11:32:00.003+10:00

The katagami stencil for my third furoshiki design is finished - yatta!
(yatta= Japanese for 'it's done', 'I/we did it', 'hooray!')

This design is titled denchuu (powerpole). Have you ever seen such a complex powerpole arrangement? I can't say that I've seen anything even close to resembling this in Australia - not even in the centre of our biggest cities. And this powerpole that caught my eye in Japan was just tucked away in the middle of a residential area in Kyoto.

furoshiki design | three underway

2011-07-09T10:15:00.001+10:00

Cutting is well underway for the third furoshiki design. You can take a peek at the cutting progress below. These images were taken at the 2.5 hour mark, the 3.75 hour mark and the 4.75 hour mark.

furoshiki design | three

2011-07-08T18:12:00.005+10:00

A sneak preview of the third furoshiki design - ready to cut.

And a detail of the drawing.

wilting magnolia | colour inspiration

2011-07-05T08:06:00.001+10:00

furoshiki design | two

2011-07-04T07:21:00.001+10:00

The second furoshiki design - complete! Drawn, cut and waiting on my desk.

This design is titled densen, powerlines in Japanese (thanks to Mel for her investigative work!). Inspired by the multi-layering of powerlines criss-crossing overhead - a sight frequently seen in the densely populated cities of Japan. Just thinking about looking up and seeing this sight makes me a little nostalgic.

lucky

2011-07-03T13:00:00.004+10:00

Slightly belated, but I still feel very lucky to have won this beautiful miki.o 'what's for dinner?' notepad in recent months. Thank you! It has made our weekly grocery shopping trip a dream - and is a good reminder to myself continually throughout the week of the meals that I have planned :)

jitensha stencil complete

2011-06-22T18:33:00.003+10:00

The katagami stencil for my first furoshiki design, jitensha, is complete! It was 4.5 hours of cutting in total and about another half hour of finishing - erasing extra lead from the surface of the katagami so that it wouldn't interfere with the pasting process.

This image was taken about 3.5 hours into the cutting process:

And the finished stencil!

furoshiki design | one

2011-06-21T08:03:00.001+10:00

The first furoshiki design is drawn and the cutting has begun!

It took 7 hours to draw this design onto the katagami (waterproof stencil paper used for katazome). I have titled this design jitensha, which means bicycle.

The furoshiki that I have chosen to dye are 54cm square (medium sized) - and this is reflected in the size of the katagami design. The images below are a progress shot of the cutting - it took an hour to cut this small amount...I foresee many hours ahead!

designing

2011-06-20T07:14:00.002+10:00

I have been working on the first furoshiki design for my JUMP project. Designing, sketching, drawing and finally cutting - the first design is well underway! Some progress shots to come soon...

banksia in bloom | colour inspiration

2011-06-19T11:06:00.000+10:00

repeat repeat exhibition opening

2011-06-18T09:47:00.001+10:00

Thursday last week was the official opening of Repeat Repeat at Megalo Print Studio + Gallery. It was a lovely evening with many people crowding into the gallery on a chilly Canberra night. There was good company, yummy nibbles and wine, and of course beautiful textiles adorning the gallery walls!

Below is a quick snap of my three lengths in situ which I took on my phone on opening night. I hope to get back in to Megalo during the next week with my camera whilst the exhibition is still showing to take some better images :)

'ka' ripi-to

2011-06-17T17:22:00.003+10:00

These are a few images of the third and final design that I have been working on recently for Repeat Repeat. The first two images are sage green pigment printed on green organic cotton canvas offcuts, and the final detail is sage green pigment printed on lovely grey slubby organic cotton/recycled hemp blend - yum!

repeat repeat

2011-06-07T10:45:00.009+10:00

The three new hand-printed typographic lengths that I have shown in progress in recent posts are ready to exhibit - yay! They will be on display in the group exhibition Repeat Repeat at Megalo Print Studio + Gallery from today (Tuesday 7 June) until Saturday 25 June 2011. The official opening (for those who are in Canberra and surrounds) will be held at 6pm on Thursday 9 June 2011.
Would love to see you there!

This is the exhibition poster for Repeat Repeat printed by the lovely staff at Megalo and showcasing a design by Indigenous artist Ceretha Skinner.

metres of 'a'

2011-05-23T17:28:00.004+10:00

With a little time up my sleeve and a few extra hours in the studio I made the most of having this pattern on screen and printed some extra lengths with the 40-50cm wide offcuts from previous printing endeavours.

stormy sky | colour inspiration

2011-05-18T17:01:00.000+10:00

the second length

2011-05-17T19:27:00.001+10:00

With a fresh container of pigment mixed and ready to go, the second length for exhibition was waiting to be printed.

colour matching

2011-05-16T08:24:00.001+10:00

After printing the 'a' pattern repeat test in sage green on a linen off-cut and loving the result, it was necessary to colour match the pigment that I had mixed in order to have enough ink to print the actual length for exhibition
...the nitty gritty reality of the studio!

Testing the repeat

2011-05-15T10:52:00.001+10:00

After stripping and re-emulsing the large screen that I am using - it was time to test the repeat on my second design. I have to say that I am very pleased with the result. This 'a' pattern will be the second length for Repeat Repeat.

autumn leaves | colour inspiration

2011-05-14T12:46:00.003+10:00

colour mixing

2011-05-12T18:53:00.002+10:00

A happy evening of colour mixing pigments in the studio for upcoming print projects :)

exhibition preparation

2011-05-11T19:42:00.000+10:00

After a few more hours in the studio and a couple of test runs of my new 'f' pattern, I have printed the first length for exhibition in Repeat Repeat at Megalo Print Studio + Gallery next month.

sunny autumn morning

2011-05-10T18:07:00.000+10:00

A brisk sunny autumn morning in Canberra - chilly but beautiful!

back in the studio

2011-05-09T13:20:00.011+10:00

The small hiatus since my last post has been filled with much busy-ness and excitement.

We celebrated our engagement (resulting from a wonderful beach proposal in December last year) by sharing a delicious BBQ in a local national park with family and friends on a gorgeous day in late February.

Since then I have been very excited to be 'back in the studio' - designing and printing. Most recently I have been occupied on studio days with preparations of new designs for a group exhibition, Repeat Repeat, which is being curated by, and held at, Megalo Print Studio + Gallery in June 2011. The first design that I have been working on is a new 'f' pattern. This is the first test printed in red water-based pigment on organic cotton/hemp blend fabric.

kyoto series gift cards

2011-03-03T20:54:00.003+11:00

I have recently uploaded this kyoto series of gift cards to moyou's etsy store. I took these gorgeous photographs in and around Kyoto, Japan whilst living there in 2006/2007. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

JUMPing into 2011

2011-03-01T11:22:00.007+11:00

I'm VERY excited to be able to share the news that I have been selected as a JUMP mentee for 2011. Yippee!!

JUMP is the Australia Council for the Arts' national mentoring program for young and emerging artists. It is the largest national artist mentoring program, and I feel very privileged and fortunate to be one of 49 young artists from across Australia to be involved in the program this year.

I am being mentored by Keiko Kawashima, a leading arts professional who is the Director of Gallery Gallery and Kyoto International Contemporary Textile Art Centre (KICTAC), based in Kyoto, Japan. With Keiko's guidance and assistance I will be working to produce a body of katazome work between now and October 2011.

I am looking forward to this new focus and my mentorship immensely. I can't wait to share the progress of my work and this forthcoming journey with you :)

rapture by ThongbaiTatong

2010-08-20T13:48:00.003+10:00

I awoke to discover that I had been featured in this lovely Etsy treasury listing by ThongbaiTatong titled Rapture. Thank you!

[wintery tones] treasury listing on etsy

2010-08-18T19:03:00.005+10:00

A newly finished treasury listing on etsy...the black/white/grey tones inspired by the chilly wintery day we've just had.

laser etched acrylic stud earrings

2010-08-16T20:07:00.008+10:00

These little stud earrings feature a segment of an original moyou pattern laser etched into black acrylic. Detailed, intricate and almost weightless, they are now listed in moyou's online store (listed in AUD) - with free shipping throughout Australia :)

resurfacing

2010-08-13T20:53:00.004+10:00

After surviving a very busy few months in many areas of life I'm so pleased to be resurfacing and making it back to all things creative. I look forward to sharing this exciting rekindling with you.

rainy day garden | colour inspiration

2010-03-05T17:40:00.002+11:00

shop handmade...an exciting new venture on the horizon!

2010-02-19T07:40:00.007+11:00

Watch out Canberra - a beautiful new store is coming soon to Civic...and Moyou can't wait!! Shop Handmade: A designer collective will open in the coming months on City Walk in Canberra's CBD. Shop handmade will be located at Shop 20, Allara St (on the corner opposite The Canberra Centre).

Shop Handmade is an exciting new concept store which is being created right here in Canberra to showcase a gorgeous array of talented Australian designers and artisans. As some of you may have already guessed, it is an extension designed to compliment the very popular Handmade Market: Canberra's Upmarket - established in 2008. Keep your eyes peeled for further details...and check in on the Shop Handmade blog.

my little marigold | colour inspiration

2010-02-10T16:15:00.004+11:00

felt brooches & rings in the making

2010-02-03T16:47:00.003+11:00

I have been squirreling away for the past month working on an order for a new stockist. Very exciting times!! The following images are of the combination felt & acrylic brooches & rings in progress.

Given that this order will be on it's way to it's new home tomorrow I believe that it would be appropriate to unveil this exciting new Moyou stockist...Moyou is coming to Sydney! This order is on it's way to the Art Gallery of NSW.

The Art Gallery of NSW shop will be stocking Moyou for the duration of the Hymn to beauty: the art of Utamaro exhibition (February 13-May 2) showing in the Asian gallery, ground level. I too hope to be able to make it along to see this exquisite Japanese woodblock print exhibition in the next couple of months!

ceramic tumblers in progress

2010-01-20T11:55:00.003+11:00

I'm working on a large order at present & the time has come for the ceramic tumblers! (I'm very excited).

They have been thrown, glazed & fired by a wonderful Canberra ceramicist, Chris Harford of Spinning Gum Pottery, and now I am applying my original patterns to them as silk-screened decals.

Once I am done with my portion of the process they will return to Chris for their final firing which adheres the decals to the glaze. Lovely!!

new market dates for 2010

2010-01-11T12:48:00.009+11:00

A new year has heralded a new schedule. I would like to take a moment to let you know that there will be a slight change to Moyou's regular appearance dates at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra this year.

Previously you could find Moyou at the Old Bus Depot Markets fortnightly, but 2010 will see Moyou attending the markets on the 1st Sunday of every month (please see the dates listed in the where is moyou next? category on the right side of the page). This will hopefully increase to twice a month in October, November & December in the lead up to Christmas - please stay tuned for confirmation of this closer to the end of the year.

Remember that aside from this regular outing at the Old Bus Depot Markets and at various other market events throughout the year, you can always reach me here on the Moyou blog, via email (amy@moyou.com.au), or by phone (0425 882 989). Looking forward to the first Moyou market date on February 7, 2010!

*This photo is an office shot...I find it difficult to post without an image - so even though this one doesn't really relate to the content of this post, I thought it was appropriate given that today is my first day back in the office :)

in bloom | colour inspiration

2010-01-05T23:46:00.002+11:00

happy new year

2010-01-04T22:38:00.004+11:00

A new year, a fresh start & another beginning. I look forward to a creative & exciting 2010 and wish you all the same.

I hope that you had a wonderful break over the Christmas/New Year period & could celebrate this time amongst family & friends. Here's to 2010...Happy New Year!

Inspirasia - Fitzroy & Windsor, Melbourne

2009-11-26T14:59:00.004+11:00

Just a quick post to share a photo of a mannequin in the window of Inspirasia, my lovely Melbourne stockist, wearing a fabulous dress accessorized with a Moyou felt neckpiece. My gorgeous sister snapped this shot walking past the store one evening (thank you!!)...

a new venture (& an explanation for my recent absence)

2009-10-06T19:08:00.003+11:00

I have to apologise for my recent absence from the blogosphere...but I can assure you that I have a very good explanation! Aside from the fact that the hours and the days and the weeks just keep flying past, I have been an extra extra busy little bee.

Just over a month ago a very good friend and I made an exciting decision to start a business together...our new venture is almost a month old and I am really pleased to be able to share a few tangible pieces of our recent adventures with you :)
Jackson & Kerr - the partnership of Megan Jackson and myself - launched at the wonderful Handmade Market here in Canberra early last month. We've attended 2 markets at Canberra's own Old Bus Depot Markets in recent weeks and are enjoying the debut of our new little business.

We are creating a unique range of eco-dyed, 100% certified organic cotton t-shirts that are made and designed right here in Australia. With styles for men, women, kids, infants and babies - there is a fit for everyone!

If you are interested in reading more or following our journey, please feel free to visit our blog at www.jacksonandkerr.wordpress.com. And if you can't make it to Canberra to see our lovely t-shirts in person, you can also see them online through our etsy store or our Australian store.

handmade in bloom | canberra

2009-09-09T10:21:00.005+10:00

That's right...the wait is over - Handmade Market is on again! Hurrah!!

The next Handmade Market - Canberra's UpMarket - is on this coming weekend. Handmade in Bloom on Friday September 11th (6pm-9pm) and Saturday September 12th (10am-4pm) is set to kick off the same weekend as Floriade. What better reason to come and kick back in Canberra!?

Handmade will be moving to a new venue in the lovely Yarralumla Woolshed...and for the first time will open on Friday night with a twilight market before the full market day on Saturday!

Without a doubt it will be another fantastic event...lots more space, wide aisles, tons of parking, fabulous new retailers, new products from your favourites...we hope to see you there!

blossom | colour inspiration

2009-09-07T21:09:00.001+10:00

moyou in sydney | young blood: designers market

2009-08-11T19:12:00.006+10:00

Moyou is very excited to be traveling to Sydney this weekend for the fantastic Young Blood: Designers Market, at the Powerhouse Museum.

The coming Young Blood: Designers Market is being held as part of Sydney Design 09. Showcasing approximately 50 of Australia's emerging talented designers, it is sure to be a wonderful event! The Powerhouse Museum is located at 500 Harris Street, Ultimo in Sydney and for the first time Young Blood will be held in the Powerhouse Museum's main gallery - the Turbine Hall.

Admission to the museum/market will be $5 (a fabulous 50% discount off the regular $10 admission fee) - and on top of this I have a special 2-for-1 offer that I can email to you if you are interested, which will see you and a friend enter for a total of $5! If you would like to receive this special 2-for-1 offer please contact me via email: amy@moyou.com.au

Young Blood is on Friday evening (August 14) from 6pm-9pm and Saturday (August 15) from 10am–5pm....so if you're in Sydney this weekend and you're free, please come along, say hi and see Moyou's gorgeous range in person!

sunset | colour inspiration

2009-07-12T19:17:00.007+10:00

moyou in sydney | magnolia square

2009-07-07T22:39:00.006+10:00

The past week has been enormously busy but I just wanted to share a couple of images from Moyou's stall at Magnolia Square in Sydney last Thursday, Friday & Saturday.

a new moyou range | sneak peek

2009-06-27T21:06:00.005+10:00

I can hardly contain my excitement about this new project...and it has been difficult keeping it under wraps for so long. It is nearing completion and I can now show you a sneak peek of this secret-squirrel range that I have been working on.

A couple of early pics of the coming Moyou handmade ceramic range - currently undergoing their 3rd and final firing. They will have their grand unveiling at Magnolia Square Sydney next week.

the sink | colour inspiration

2009-06-26T07:48:00.001+10:00

pieces of you—gorgeous clothing!

2009-06-23T09:19:00.002+10:00

If you have never come across this stunning label, I would like to take the time to introduce you to Pieces of You and the lovely creator, Melanie—she is a regular at the Sisters' Market in Brunswick, Melbourne and can also be found at Red Hill Market, Flemington Market, Shirt & Skirt Market, Rose Street Artists Market and in-store at Olive Grove.

Pieces of You is the brand of Melanie's gorgeous clothing range created from upcycled fabric which she reinvents into amazing garments and accessories. I must confess to starting a Pieces of You collection in my wardrobe...impossible to resist! You can see some of her lovely pieces on her flickr site and read more on her blog. Divine!

moyou in melbourne

2009-06-22T07:48:00.009+10:00

After a whirlwind couple of weeks (and months!) - I'm back. I feel as though there is so much to tell and share and not enough hours in the day! Sadly, I will have to keep this little catch up brief as I must get back to an application and stock preparation for the coming week...more about that soon!

I was lucky enough to spend 3 days in Melbourne over the weekend of June 13th/14th to attend the wonderful Sisters' Market and to check out the amazing biannual Melbourne Design Market.

At the Melbourne Design Market I was very excited to meet/catch up with the following fabulous people...the 3 lovely ladies (Bianca, Lara and Tegan) from Ink & Spindle (you can see some lovely photos of the Ink & Spindle stall at the market here), Shannon from Rabbit and the Duck and Nicola of Nicola Cerini. I was also absolutely thrilled to have the time and opportunity to stop by the gorgeous Ink & Spindle studio on Monday before flying home to Canberra. My only regret is forgetting my camera...but what a wonderful, wonderful trip!!

(*Please Note: The image featured in this post is by spin spin and has been used under the Creative Commons license)

grey felt earrings | new to moyou

2009-06-05T15:25:00.008+10:00

A gorgeous new colour addition to Moyou's felt earring range—perfect for winter!

I have just uploaded this beautiful pair of grey felt earrings to my etsy store. So deliciously tactile and unbelievably light...you hardly know you're wearing them!

felt earrings | new to moyou

2009-06-03T17:09:00.002+10:00

I'm very excited to introduce Moyou's gorgeous new range to the online realm - beautiful felt earrings...

These earrings feature a segment of an original Moyou pattern that I have personally designed laser cut into beautiful 100% wool felt. They are fabulously intricate and wonderfully light—you'll hardly know that you're wearing them!

Please feel free to drop by my etsy store for a closer look at these lovely pieces and keep an eye on this space for further colours and patterns...coming soon!

moyou in melbourne | rose street artists market

2009-05-01T10:29:00.005+10:00

Moyou will be in Melbourne again this weekend for the Rose Street Artists Market. I'm very excited as this is my first time at this market and I've heard such wonderful things about it!

The Rose Street Artists Market is a weekly outdoor market in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Located just off Brunswick Street (at 60 Rose Street) it is a wonderfully central location and very easy to reach...so if you're in Melbourne this weekend and you're free, please come along and say hi! The market is on Saturday May 2 and open from 11am–5pm. I look forward to the possibility of seeing you there :)

felt rings | new to moyou

2009-04-28T18:47:00.005+10:00

Things have been rather quiet on the Moyou blog front in recent weeks—my apologies for the lull...I'm afraid that daily life has been rather overwhelming of late but things are starting to settle a little now. And thankfully I have internet access at home again (greatly missed for a short period after moving house!)

So to launch back into the blog realm I'd like to introduce you to my new range of felt rings. *Felt!?*—I hear you say. Yes, felt! Beautiful, soft, tactile felt.

These gorgeous rings feature a segment of an original Moyou pattern that I have personally designed laser cut into beautiful 100% wool felt. This medium is a renewable and environmentally friendly resource and I'm so excited to be able to use it to transfer my intricate textile designs into jewellery.

For a closer look you can find these unique rings in my etsy store...and be sure to keep your eye out for my limited time FREE shipping offer on 'new items'!

Yass Scouts 5th Market Day Festival

2009-03-13T07:48:00.003+11:00

Tomorrow (Saturday 14 March) will see me load up my little car and trundle out to Yass for the Yass Scouts 5th Market Day Festival. An annual event, the Market Day looks like being a wonderful day out with at least 63 stallholders set to attend.

The Market Day Festival is being held in Riverbank Park (on the corner of Main Street and Rossi Street). The weather is forecast to thunderstorm (at some stage) with a 70% chance of rain...so grab your umbrella and come along. Every stall site should be set up with a gazebo/tent so you can jump from cover to cover and still have a great day. I hope to see you there!

(*Please Note: This image has been used with thanks to ajft under the Creative Commons license)

Sisters' Market

2009-02-25T07:25:00.004+11:00

I know that it is still a little way off yet...but I'm excited.
Moyou is coming to Melbourne!!

You will be able to find me at the fabulous Sisters' Market on April 18th & June 13th, 2009. A little bit of background—Sisters' Market is only held once every 2 months in the Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick VIC and proudly supports beyondblue—the national depression initiative.

moyou flickr group

2009-02-19T23:53:00.010+11:00

I have just created a flickr group to showcase the lovely creations out there being made from Moyou fabric.

If you have used some Moyou fabric in any of your projects please feel free to come over, join the group and add your pics to the flickr pool :)

Crafting A Green World | Eco–Friendly Fabric

2009-02-16T22:24:00.010+11:00

I'm so excited to have been featured in this fabulous post by Jackie on Crafting A Green World.

You'll also find Aunty Cookie, Hollabee, Umbrella Prints, Of Paper & Thread and Pippijoe, some other wonderful Aussie textile designers, listed on Jackie's round up of Top 10 Modern, Eco–Friendly, Printed Fabrics on Etsy. Yippee!!

handmade with love | 7 february 2009

2009-02-03T20:31:00.008+11:00

...4 sleeps and counting!!

We've almost reached the second wonderful Handmade Market, Canberra's quarterly Upmarket. This fantastic event is going to take place again at Albert Hall on Saturday 7 February from 10am–6pm.

There will be over 70 fabulous retailers (designers/artists/makers/craftspeople) and it is sure to be a wonderful day. For further information on the designers/artists involved be sure to visit the Clever Designer People page on the Handmade Market website. You can also catch up on all of the lastest news & designer profiles on the Handmade Market blog.

handmade with love promotion day |

2009-01-28T08:07:00.008+11:00

Handmade With Love is coming soon to Canberra!

Handmade With Love is the second Handmade Market, Canberra's quarterly Upmarket, and this fabulous market day will be held on Saturday February 7, 2009 at Albert Hall from 10am–6pm.

In anticipation of this wonderful event a small selection of Handmade With Love stallholders (including Moyou) and the fantastic organiser, Julie Nichols, will be attending a promotion day at the Canberra Centre on Saturday January 31, 2009. We will be situated on the ground floor of the Canberra Centre outside Smiggle (near Cotton On & Target). Come along for a sneak preview & a chance to buy some of the gorgeous, unique products that will be available at Handmade With Love.

new stockist | design a space

2009-01-20T08:31:00.003+11:00

All packaged up & ready to go...a beautiful range of Moyou jewellery is ready to hit the streets of Melbourne!

From tomorrow you will be able to find Moyou stocked in the fabulous Chapel Street store of Design A Space Retail Gallery. I can't wait to get to Melbourne and see it with my own eyes! Perhaps a trip is in order...

200th comment

2009-01-15T17:43:00.005+11:00

Wow. It's the start of a new year & I have just reached my 200th blog comment! It's time to celebrate. I want to send a BIG thankyou out to each and every person who takes the time to read my blog...and an extra special thank you to those who stop to comment—it is great to know you are there :)

I love comments, I really do, it is so lovely to log on and to find some contact with the wider blog realm—so to say thank you I would like to offer $15AUD credit in my Moyou store to the 200th commenter on my blog

...and the lucky recipient is Chrisy of Sophism Press.
Congratulations Chrisy! And thanks again to everyone who has left a comment. I really appreciate it!

small red acrylic etched rings |

2009-01-12T18:48:00.003+11:00

There is now a selection of 3 gorgeous patterns to choose from in the small red acrylic etched ring range online in Moyou's Australian store.

The rings also now feature a beautiful decorative hammered sterling silver plated brass ring base. The ring bases are 10mm/0.4" wide and completely adjustable. They are soldered at the point where the ring adjusts so that the adjustment is hidden. This makes for a more attractive ring—a nice change to rings that adjust through a split in the back! Lovely lovely.

Please feel free to head on over to Moyou's store & have a closer look at this lovely new range.

acrylic etched rings | moyou on facebook

2009-01-09T20:23:00.004+11:00

The first of Moyou's acrylic etched ring range can now be found online in Moyou's Australian store—yippee! There are two sizes (small & large) in the red acrylic currently available...but keep your eye on this space, there will be more colours and patterns to come soon!

You can now find Moyou on facebook. This global group is open for anyone to join and members are free to invite others along as well—the more the merrier! Joining Moyou on facebook will provide another great way for you to keep up with Moyou's movements & every once in a while you will be eligible for member-only offers & sales. Why not pop over and join today!?

happy new year | and the winner is...

2009-01-08T18:09:00.003+11:00

Happy New Year (and belated seasons greetings)!! I hope you had a lovely Christmas break & a wonderful start to 2009. I apologise for my blogging absence of late but rest assured I'm back on deck ready to kick start the year...and what a busy year it looks like being!

Thank you to everyone who entered my 100th post giveaway. I really appreciate that you took the time to comment—such lovely feedback, thank you, thank you! Having finally made it back to my computer, I have drawn the lucky winner...

Congratulations Kirsten! (author of the fabulous assemblage blog) who said:

'congratulations!
my favourite item?
well, i am loving light grey at the moment but i cannot choose between the concentric arrow or concentric circle. in warm grey. LOVE them.'

Thanks again for your support :)

new japan photo cards | 100th post | a giveaway

2008-12-19T14:40:00.006+11:00

I have a (reasonably) new series of cards—all images that I took around Kyoto whilst in Japan over 2006/2007—that have just gone up in my store. They have been beautifully digitally printed, bonded to high quality 200gsm card (nice and thick!) and come with an envelope—ready to be written on and sent, given as a gift or kept to be admired.

AND...this is my 100th post...yippee! In honour of that fact, I have decided to have a giveaway. I will be giving $30AUD credit in my new store to one lucky winner chosen at random. If you would like to enter my little giveaway all you need to do is leave a comment on this post about either:

1. Your favourite Moyou product
(and perhaps why it is your favourite—design, colour, shape, etc.) OR

2. An idea for a new Moyou product that you feel would fit nicely amongst my existing range...

I will draw a winner at random after 5pm (ADST) Monday December 29, 2008.
Good luck!

new stockists | wooden & acrylic rings

2008-12-09T20:48:00.005+11:00

Hello...I'm back! I'm sorry for my recent absence and the long silence between posts. The last 3 weeks have been incredibly busy in the lead up to Christmas business–wise, with the winding down of the university academic year and with filling orders for some wonderful stores now stocking Moyou products.

You can now find a beautiful range of Moyou products at the fabulous new National Portrait Gallery Store (right here in Canberra!) & also at the Tamworth Regional Gallery Shop. If you are ever in the vicinity of these fantastic stores, be sure to stop in for a look!

I have been busy working on this new addition to the Moyou jewellery range—a selection of gorgeous wooden & acrylic rings. Currently you can only find these lovely pieces at the National Portrait Gallery Store, the Tamworth Regional Gallery Shop or directly through Moyou at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston.

new moyou store—in australian dollars!

2008-11-19T07:59:00.003+11:00

I am excited to announce the arrival (and unveil) my new Moyou store. If you head on over to take a look you'll already find a great list of items there—all in Australian dollars! All of my fabric by the metre, fabric packs & a range of wooden earrings are listed & waiting to be purchased :)

congratulations...

2008-11-17T15:22:00.005+11:00

I would like to send a BIG thank you out to everyone who participated in my little birthday giveaway. I am looking forward to having some time to sit down and peruse the lovely blogs that you left comments about. After a fantastic weekend of markets I have finally made it back to my computer and drawn a winner...

Comment Number 4 | redmag of Waiting in the Capital who said:

'Happy blogiversary.....choosing only one fav is hard....I'd have to say at the moment I'm really enjoying checking in with nanette over at rummage.typepad.com. Her photos a devine, her posts are smart and its lovely to read about someone who is enjoying living in Canberra when there are soooo many people who complain about it.'

Congratulations! Could you please email me your contact details and I'll get your little Moyou gift pack packaged up and sent out to you as soon as possible. Thanks again!

fabric packs | order | final day of giveaway

2008-11-14T16:03:00.005+11:00

Whew! What a busy week it has been. I feel as though I'm constantly *go go go*...and life it is set to stay that way until Christmas arrives. Ah well, I do love what I do and I certainly wouldn't have things any other way.

Today I've been busy preparing more stock for the coming weeks of markets. Tomorrow, if you're in the area, you'll be able to find me at the Queanbeyan Artists Market. It is being held at 'The Q' (Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre) from 11am–4pm and should be a wonderful day out. On Sunday you can visit me at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston. Hope to see you there :)

I also finished this earring order for Moose: Art for Living and posted it off today. Very shortly you'll be able to find these lovely wooden laser cut earrings here, along with my hand-drawn range of jewellery.

And last, but definitely not least, you only have a couple of hours left to enter my bloggy birthday giveaway. If you would like to be in the running to win a little Moyou gift pack all you need to do is leave me a comment here with the name of a favourite blog and why it is so special to you by 8pm (ADST) tonight: Friday November 14, 2008. Good luck!

screenprinting in progress

2008-11-13T21:01:00.006+11:00

Just a quick post to show you a few pictures (please excuse the quality of these images...I took the photos on my mobile phone) of the fantastic screenprinting day that I had today. I love printing! My screenprinted linen tea towels are back in stock (in a lovely new colour as well!)—yippee!! Well, they will be after tomorrow once I've labeled & packaged them all :)

a lovely interview, an etsy treasury listing featuring moyou & two giveaways |

2008-11-12T13:49:00.005+11:00

A lovely interview |
Over the weekend I was interviewed by the lovely Amy (of Doobleh–vay) for the wonderful Scoutie Girl blog. Amy is writing a new feature for Scoutie Girl titled Brief Introductions, where she chats with indie designers & artists. I was lucky enough to be invited to participate and the interview was posted yesterday—you can find the whole post here if you would like to read more :)
Thank you Amy & Scoutie Girl!

An etsy treasury listing featuring Moyou |
November 8th saw this little kuma (available in my etsy store) hit the front page of etsy in a lovely treasury listing compiled by 3fun (who creates amazing felt jewellery). Yay!

Giveaway One |
The fabulous Modish blog is currently holding Part I of their enormous November giveaway. This lovely batch of handmade goodies is valued at a huge $778 and you can enter the giveaway here.
Entries close on Sunday November 16 at 11:59pm (PST).

Giveaway Two |
Don't forget to enter my birthday celebration giveaway if you'd like to be in the running to win a little Moyou gift pack. All you have to do is leave me a comment here with the name of a favourite blog and why it is so special to you by 8pm (ADST) Friday November 14, 2008. Good luck!

moyou | happy blog birthday & a giveaway

2008-11-10T20:31:00.007+11:00

*...happy birthday dear moyou blog...happy birthday to you!*

Today marks the one year anniversary/birthday of my little blog. A milestone well worth celebrating, I believe. From my very first post one year ago to my 93rd post today (almost 100!)—I feel as though I have had quite a journey in the space of a year...and I'd like to celebrate this with you by way of a little giveaway (what better way to celebrate a birthday than with presents!?)

How to enter Moyou's blog birthday giveaway |
To join in my birthday celebrations (and be in the running to win a little Moyou gift pack) all you need to do is leave me a comment on this post with the name of a favourite blog and why it is so special to you by 8pm (ADST) Friday November 14, 2008.

Please feel free to enter more than once if you would like, but you will need to leave a different blog reference with each comment to be entered into the draw multiple times. I will draw a winner at random after 8pm on Friday evening. I look forward to learning about (and reading) some lovely, new blogs and wish you all the best of luck for the draw!

Moyou RedBubble Sale |
As a final birthday celebration I am having a sale in my RedBubble store for the next 3 weeks (until Sunday November 30, 2008). The prices of cards have been drastically reduced, and at such a wonderful price they would make lovely inexpensive Christmas gifts.

100th comment

2008-11-07T10:23:00.004+11:00

I love comments on my blog, I really do, and I am ever so grateful that people take the time to read and to comment. It is nice to know that you are there. So for all of these reasons I have decided to give $10USD credit in my etsy store to the 100th commenter on my blog.

So without further ado...the recipient of my 100th blog comment is the lovely Melanie of Kimono Reincarnate. Congratulaions Melanie, and thank you to everyone who has stopped by and left a comment. I really appreciate it!

lovely sites & an etsy treasury listing featuring moyou

2008-11-06T19:59:00.008+11:00

I have just discovered that some lovely blogs and an etsy treasury listing featured Moyou last week and I'd like to share them with you.

I knew something must have happened because my views for this pair of etched wooden earrings (available in my etsy store) jumped up exponentially overnight. I was lucky enough to find that I had been featured in the treasury listing shown below and it had made the front page on October 31st. Yay!

October 30th saw Moyou featured in posts on two separate blogs—what a wonderful day! A lovely post on Creativadoration titled 'Screenprinted Fabrics, Mate' featured this screenprinted fabric (available in my etsy store), as well as other Aussie designers including Umbrella Prints, Aunty Cookie, Of Paper & Thread, & Hollabee. A second post on Tiel's gorgeous blog, Tsk Tsk, titled 'Thinking Local' featured this pair of acrylic laser cut earrings (available in my etsy store) as well as the work of six other fantastic Aussie designers. If you're interested, please feel free to pop over and have a look at these lovely posts—you won't be disappointed!

moyou | here & there

2008-11-05T15:36:00.003+11:00

I must apologise for my absence over the past few days. It has been a busy (and slightly interrupted) week. Busy with orders, preparations for the anticipated Christmas–rush, & with final classes & assessment preparations for university; & interrupted by a public holiday here yesterday in the ACT.

In the meanwhile a few lovely things have taken place that I would like to show you...

Modish opened their Modish Holiday Marketplace on November 1st, 2008 & I was lucky enough to have secured a place in the November Jewellery section. There are so many wonderful designers & stores to see on the Modish Marketplace in a variety of sections including jewellery, art, bags & purses, eco– friendly products, home goods, papergoods and more. You really should pop across and take a look!

And then November 2nd brought about a lovely write-up on the wonderful Esta Sketch blog. I feel so lucky to have been included in a gift guide post, with a pair of my alphabet-o etched wooden earrings being featured. Thank you!

black & red laser cut earrings | a new range | new shape

2008-10-30T00:02:00.004+11:00

I have a new colour and a new shape in Moyou's delicious laser cut earring range to unveil...

4 patterns etched into 2 shapes (the rectangle, as previously seen in the red tint acrylic range and arctic ice acrylic range, and [the new] oval shape), in red tint acrylic and black acrylic. These gorgeous accessories are so very light and so beautifully patterned—you won't find anything else quite like them!

A selection of these lovely earrings have been added to my etsy store or, if you're in Canberra, feel free to swing by the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra this Sunday to see them in person :)

new (reduced) etsy shipping prices

2008-10-28T20:40:00.002+11:00

Following on from my etsy pricing dilemma post yesterday, I have made some adjustments in my etsy store. Due to recent fluctuations in currency values I have reduced my shipping prices on ALL items to maintain competitive pricing in the current market.

The big news |
Every item now has FREE postage within Australia!! (and international shipping prices have been drastically reduced!) So if you're thinking about Christmas presents, or would just like a look, please feel free to visit my shop.