Freeism/Freeists

I always find it so hard to define the art that I do. It fits no confines or styles, it is anything and predominately created in a fluxus type process. Automotism perhaps more apt. I am by no means a planner nor organised. I often find it hard to discuss processes or write artists statements and the bane of my life these last few weeks has been just that. Who cares who I am or how I got there, like it or don't like it.
So today I settled on an idea to save the fuss. I am going to use an already coined term, it is for an intellectual religion based thing, which is fine.
So this new term is freeism,. I am a freeist, considering all the work I am to do in the next 12 months has to be free and repurposed materials, it fits. Coined elsewhere or not.

Now at Wolveschildren

Sputnik & Mayhem have been busily rebranding and making new stuff.

Our Jewellery is now available at Wolveschildren Art Space in Humffray Street North, Ballarat.

A gorgeous little gallery run by the lovely Erin and Luke. They are open from 12 Thursday to Sunday.

We are also preparing for the Dana Street Jumble Sale on March 29th where we start launching some of our new repurposed homewares.

 

 

 New Key Techbits Necklaces

Recycled Copper Earrings

Little Miss Mayhems Organic Bathbomb as per the recipe in an earlier post. She loves making these and today we began putting them into packaging for her to sell at the school jumble sale. She is very proud of herself as any 5 year old Entreprenuer should be.

Recology @ San Franscisco Airport.

Last Year I was literally running with two kids in tow through San Fransisco Airport rushing to make a connecting flight when I stumbled upon what can only be described as one of the most exciting exhibitions I have seen. The Art of Recology. Suddenly the idea of repurposed art that i had been playing around with in my shed was all around me, in so many various and interesting forms.

I was already exhausted after a two week rushed trip from L.A. to Vancouver to the Canadian Sunshine Coast then Seattle, alone with a 14 year old and a 5 year old. I spent much of that time living and breathing art it all its forms and glory. Being that we were there for my son to recieve and international youth arts award and also sign to a small canadian gallery (yes at 14, so great to be awesome so young whilst some of us, sigh), I felt completely justified in bargaining a trip to disneyland in return for a well behaved trip to art galleries.
So here I was coming to an instant stop in the middle of the airport and feeling like I just wanted to look and touch and stare with no time to spare. I sent the kids running ahead to our gate whilst i rushed and took photos with my phone of everything I could manage loaded with bags and three fingers gripping my phone before having to sprint to avoid missing the flight. So although these are the worst photos this was one of the most life changing art experiences.
If you haven't been there, San Fransisco Airport is massive, it is a seriously long distance between gates. However the art is amazing, as i ran I ran past a couple of other really worthy exhibitions. I cursed our airline and their late depature that left us having to run between flights for weeks, I think I still do. I feel really driven to be working more towards getting a great collective like recology happening in Victoria, I would love it to be in Ballarat but it will be a long time before the uni steps out of the 50's to allow programs like this or Project vortex (next blog no doubt, my love affair with Aurora Robson and Project vortex).
Below is further information about the amazing work of Recology.

 opened March 16 in the United Terminal at the San Francisco International Airport. This exhibition celebrates the Recology San Francisco Artist in Residence Program and presents over one-hundred pieces made by forty-five artists. All of the works on display were made in the art studio at the San Francisco Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Facility and constructed from materials the artists scavenged from the Public Disposal and Recycling Area (or what we affectionately refer to as "the dump").

Founded in 1990, the Recology San Francisco Artist in Residence Program promotes recycling and reuse, and encourages people to reflect on how their consumption practices affect the environment. Artworks in the exhibition were selected by airport curators and will be on display through October 27, 2013. The Art of Recology is located past security so can only be viewed by those traveling, but if you find yourself flying United soon, allow some extra time to view this very special exhibition.

Some of my favourite paper dresses.

New Jewellery

New Products from Sputnik and Mayhem.

Finding new uses for computer waste has lead to a new range of jewellery.

The Jewellery is made from repurposed copper.

 

 Repurposed copper pendant worn by Hannah Connel.

Refashion @ Backyard Tasters

On February 21st The Refashion Show came to life with thanks to a group of very gorgeous models. Hannah Connel, Kate Souter, Amie Sexton, Aldona Kmiec, Colleen Filippa and Izzy and Menna, with a special thanks to Saskia Gallash who assisted the rolling of the unwearable.
The Backyard Tasters audience was treated to the charisma and flair of these amazing women as they paraded in the repurposed garments. A fabulous time was had by all. A big Thank you to Backyard Tasters and Deborah Klein.

r.

Menna, Hannah, Kate and Aldona.

Kate Souter in the inflatable pool and air mattress dress by Niki Lakerink

Menna and Margie Balazic, Model and Maker

Antoinette Stokell and Izzy, Maker and Model.

Amie Sexton bring sexy back in starbursts.

Menna in Modernusa, aptly renamed (Thanks Miss Erin), Dress by Niki Lakerink

Handmade paper dress modelled by the very gorgeous Hannah.

Colleen Filippa, dress by Niki Lakerink

Hannah wearing Demeter handmade paper from garden refuse by Niki Lakerink

Menna in Margie Balazic's gorgeous Alice dress.

Hannah in Denise Nichols Revamp.

Other blogs and photo's

http://www.aldonakmiec.com/ballarat-backyard-tasters-2014/

http://yumstudio.tumblr.com/post/77451277740/refashion-show-from-the-fabulous-niki-of-sputnik

Natural gift and pamper ideas and upcycling with kids.

One half of Sputnik and Mayhem is Little Miss Mayhem, a pint sized bundle of life, creativity and passion for the environment and the inspiring force behind lots of things I do. In fact she inspired all four pieces I am exhibiting in The Refashion Show. Upcycling with this little lady is loads of fun.

There is a great deal of recycling or upcycling you can do with kids. We save all our small packaging bags like the ones stickers come in and the like to use as gift bags, small jars to use for creams and almost anything else that might be useful for when we make our pamper products. We use a lot of organic and natural products and essentially make a lot of our own bath and skin care products, even first aid creams.

Bath Bombs.

1 cup baking soda/bi carb soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup corn starch
2 tablespoons Epsom salts or Sea Salt (this can be optional)
4 tablespoons coconut oil/Olive oil or Apricot Kernel oil
To scent you can use various mixes of essential oils. For relaxation lavender and vanilla essence or lavender and frankincense, uplifting lime and bergamot. The combinations are endless and for personal taste.

You can also add lavender or rose petals in for decorative purposes and food colour to tint.

In a large bowl, combine the baking soda, citric acid, corn starch and salts. Add all the liquid ingredients into a small bowl. Knead the mixture working the liquids into the dry ingredients, until the mixture resembles sandy with some larger chunks of oil. I

Working with 1 teaspoon at a time, slowly add the liquid to the dry ingredients, stirring it in immediately with a large spoon. The mixture will foam slightly with each addition, this is normal. Add the liquid until your mixture resembles slightly damp sand. It should still be primarily dry, but when you squeeze a handful together, it should stick in a lump.

Once the mixture is ready, Press it firmly and tightly into each mold. You do not need to prepare the molds in any way. Allow to dry for a minimum of 4 hours, or overnight. Remove from the molds and store in an airtight container until ready to use.

The molds can be anything from old chocolate molds to silicone ice or cake trays. Miss Mayhem loves making heart shaped ones or christmas tree ones for chistmas.

These bath bombs are a great gift and kids love the idea of giving handmade gifts. These can be presented in small plastic bags collected from packaging, organza bags or even handmade calico or fabric squares.

 

 

Creams

 

Most kids love a massage or to feel pampered. Miss Mayhem loves making her own cream and massaging her own legs and being accident prone she is often covered in cuts and bruises. Like many kids she is not a fan of antiseptics so we have a special cream that she can apply to her own cuts and another for the bruises.

The great thing about creams is that with a little research of essential oils you can make creams for just about anything and once you have a collection of your favourite oils it is quite an inexpensive process.

Base creams can be anything from organic coconut oil to vitamin E cream; it really depends on price and preference. I prefer coconut oil however it does get messy when it melts on hot days so sometimes vitamin E is a better option for kids.

Half fill a jar or container of choice with your chosen base cream.

Per each 100mls add 20 drops of essential oil. For example making a bruise cream in a 100ml jar you would put 50 mls of cream into the jar then add 10 mls of Arnica essential oil and 10 mls of Lavender essential oil. Put the lid on and shake the jar to mix the oils in, when the oils are combined add the other 50 mls of cream. Again shake vigorously until combined. Label the jar with either handmade or printed labels. This cream is also great for arthritis and inflammation; you can add frankincense oil to give it extra anti-inflammatory benefits.




Uplifting Pamper cream.

This is much the same as the bruise cream however rather than using arnica and lavender you would use a more citrus based blend like lime and neroli or bergamot.




First Aid Cream.

Again this is the same process as the above creams. The essential oils used in this cream are tea tree and lavender.

The only thing that changes with each cream is the essential oils you use and generally its often personal choice.

Using this process is not only great for making creams for kids you can also make your own face and body lotions for yourself or gifts for friends.




Some other ideas.

There are places online and shops around that sell shampoo and conditioner and shower or bath gel bases so you can make your own combinations. Which has been great with Miss Mayhem who didn’t like washing her hair. We made her own personal orange blossom shampoo with a base, neroli, patchouli and rosemary. Now she is happy to wash her hair and loves the smell.

You can also make household airfresheners and face mists for summer.
All you need is spray bottles, add water and essential oils.