Voilà!

Off the radar for some time now... I have been busily preparing my new studio space. Here is a little sneak peek of the new home of Jack of Diamonds Knits situated in a bustling Brunswick warehouse of studios which is home to many creative folk including the very wonderful Sunday Morning Designs and Copy Boy.

The abridged tour starts here at the blackboard wall and Doublet...

...just across the other side you will find bobbins and bougainvillea atop a rather archaic filing system...

...and the already full pinboard here showing the work of the talented Joceline Lee and Ernesto Caivano...

...some sample swatches and recent acquisitions...

... shift your gaze westward and sneak a peek at some of the yarn collection and while you are here I'll let you in on the next pattern I plan to release this month...

...meet the Perseus Tunic, cap sleeved, wide roll neck and super stretchy thick fabric - all done in one piece on a single bed punchcard knitting machine...Voilà!

Tattoos Are Art...

I was involved in a recent discussion on the topic of tattoos. I was a little surprised to hear several women voice their dismay at young women choosing to permanently ink themselves. I live in Melbourne after all and this fair city is fast becoming the home of the sleeve tattoo... Given that I am working on a new tattoo for myself  and am an avid admirer of the craft of tattooing I though I might share the work of an extraordinary tattooist who lifts this trade into the realm of fine art.

Whip Shade 3 - tattoo on leather

Whip Shade 5 - tattoo on leather

The woman responsible for these four works is Amanda Wachob. She resides in New York and her practice includes not just tattoos but also some extraordinary experimental works on leather and fruit (yes, fruit!). No matter what her canvas, she clearly wields the tattoo gun as an artist's implement.

. . . in love and war

To complete the all is fair . . . collection - two new images featuring 'The Plackard & Fauld' skirt and 'The Gorget' collar are up here

all is fair. . .

An excerpt from my new knit collection all is fair. . . 

brought to life with the extraordinary talents of photographer Michael Wiggett and jeweller/model Tae Schmeisser