A Knitted Christmas Tree

A Knitted Christmas Tree

 

I knitted this tree so that we could put it up for Christmas.  Somewhat nostalgically I like to think of a spruce tree covered in frost and snow as the ideal tree as it is the sort of tree which I grew up with in the UK.  Hence the light green, white and silver colouring.  We also used real candles to decorate it, I can't remember ever having any accidently flare ups, the candles were pretty red twisted ones which went into special holders.

Here in New Zealand the tree of choice is a Pinus radiata which is mostly grown for timber and pulp and paper.  It is easy enough to find these growing by the road side as they seed freely, in fact the wilding pines have become a problem in some of the national parks.  They are often sold to raise money for local charities too.

 

 

 

Frances Jill Studd website

Midnight Collective

 

All images copyright France Jill Studd 2014

 

 

Kotuku the white heron in New Zealand

Kotuku the White Heron

 

The white heron is extremely rare in New Zealand and because of this has an almost mythical status.  At one time it's feathers were highly sort after and by 1941 only four nests remained.  Now the population is around 100 - 120 birds and it receives careful management around it's nesting colony on the West Coast of the South Island.  I was very surprised to see this bird preening on the banks of a small lake in Kapiti, I photographed it on Friday 5th December just two days ago.  In the background you can see the work progressing on the expressway which will cut through the centre of our community.  Also on the lake were black swans with their cygnets, and a pair of black scaup or diving ducks.

 

Kotuku in Kapiti


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All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014

 



 

Kotuku in Kapiti

 

 



 

Garden Paintings

A New Series of Garden Paintings

 

This is the beginning of a series of garden paintings, I have always wanted to paint gardens as gardening is one of my favourite passtimes.  When I was a child growing up in the UK my Mother, Grandmother and I would make weekend trips to visit gardens and historic homes, these are some of my favourite memories.  The neighbours and relations gardens were just as interesting of course. 

 

When we came to New Zealand in 1961 there was a whole new world of trees and plants to look at, I can remember sitting in the dining room at the hotel in Auckland where we first stayed and my Mother asking someone what the flowers were in the vases.  They were gerberas and we had never seen them before.  That was just the beginning.

 

 

 

This painting was made from photographs I took while visiting a friends garden recently.

 

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All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

Eighteenth Century Slippers

Sophie Bank's Slippers

 

This is a watercolour of some eighteenth century slippers, I have called them

Sophie Bank's Slippers.  Sophie Banks was Joseph Banks the botanist's sister,

I believe that they were close as siblings go.  Joseph Banks travelled with James

Cook on the Endeavour when they came to New Zealand to observe the transit of

Mercury in the North Island in 1769.

 

Joseph Banks was responsible for the recording of many new animal and

plant species.

 

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A Green Forest Moth

The Exquisite Emerald

 

This green moth is known as the Exquisite Emerald, it is a beautifully patterned insect

which lives in South Island forests.  As a forest dweller it rests on tree trunks where it is so well camouflaged.   The caterpillars live on wild buttercups which grow in the open

near the forests, this is the best place to see it.

 

It has a cousin which lives in both Islands but has paler markings.

 

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All images copy right Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

Pohutukawa leaves from the New Zealand Christmas Tree

Pohutukawa Leaves

 

I made some small watercolours of Pohutukawa leaves which I collected from Point Chevalier in Auckland.  A row of very old trees stands in front of the small beach which is so popular in the Summer months.   There was a carpet of fallen leaves under the trees, they always fascinate me as you can find so many different colours all at the same time.

 

This time of year the trees are sporting their new Spring growth ready to burst into bloom at Christmas time.  Their blooms are heavy spiky red bundles which cover the trees attracting nectar feeding birds and lizards and of course the bees.

 

At Cape Reinga an old pohutukawa tree is believed to be the leaving place for the spirits of the departed as they begin their journey to the underworld.

 

 

It is probably the best loved of New Zealand trees.

 

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All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014

 



Clematis in the New Zealand Bush

 

Puawhananga

Here is the puawhananga or New Zealand clematis growing wild in the bush.  This is one of seven varieties which grow naturally here, I have seen a beautiful green flowering one and also an alpine one but this is the most showy.  Clematis paniculata or puawhananga (flower of the skies) grows throughout the country in the bush, and is regarded as a harbinger of Spring by Maori.

 Across the valley on Waiheke Island I can see large showers of the white flowers, this plant is growing in the bush beside the cottage where we are staying.  It does particularly well here as there are no opossums on the Island.

 

 

 

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All images copy right Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

 

 



Knitted Art at Gallery

A Mingled Yarn at Tivoli

 

A Mingled Yarn is now showing at Tivoli, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland.  The exhibition includes knitted work made over a number of years for different venues, it was hung on a glorious Spring day on Waiheke Island.

 

The puawananga or native clematis is flowering in the bush in cascades of white against the dark green foliage, a lovely sight which welcomes us here each year.

 

The work in this photo is called 'Slips' for obvious reasons, and was made for an Art Fair.

 

 

If you are visiting the Island Tivoli is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays 10am - 5pm and is in Pendragon Mall, 118b Ocean View Rd, Oneroa. A Mingled Yarn will be on until October.

 

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A Knitting Exhibition

A Mingled Yarn

 

This is the poster for my exhibition at Tivoli.  

These are some knittings made from magazine features showing accessories and makeup. 

Makeup has a sense of theatre which is irresistible.  Even the word 'makeup' shows

that what it achieves cannot be real, just an illusion.  What is a 'madeup' person?

 

 

'A Mingled Yarn' will be showing at Tivoli, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland from

6th September 2014

 

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Two Great Uncles from the First World War

 

Archie Studd & Felix Alexander

Here is a photograph of my two Great Uncles who died in the First World War.

Archie Studd was a Private in the London Regiment (London Scottish) and died on the first of July 1916 in the battle of Gommecourt he was 26.  Felix Alexander was a Private in the Northumberland

Fusiliers, Norfolk Regiment and died on the 14th of November 1916, he was only 20.  They are both remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

Both my Grandparents spoke of them - they have always been remembered.

Archie is on the left and Felix on the right

they are shown here with a white poppy for peace.

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All image copy right to Frances Jill Studd 2014

Knitting for Exhibition at Tivoli

A Mingled Yarn

 

 

This work is going into an exhibition called 'A Mingled Yarn' at Tivoli, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland.  It is part of a collection of knitted art associated with clothing which I have been making for quite a few years.  This particular work is taken from a selection of swimwear which - although difficult to date - was referenced from the 1980s.  I have a particular love of magazine spreads and old magazines are a great source of material for my work.  It will be on view from early September until October 2014.

 

 

Trunks

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Marilyn Monroe's Evening Gown

Marilyn Monroe's Evening Gown

 

Here is a drawing I made of Marilyn Monroe's evening gown, the one she was wearing when she sang Happy Birthday Dear President to John F Kennedy.  A famous gown and occasion - I can hardly do it justice.  I have always been fascinated by the garments worn in historic moments, I wonder did the wearer have them made especially as in a wedding dress,  or did they make last minute decisions

looking in dismay at their wardrobe and rushing to their seamstress, the shops or dry cleaners.

 

This work will be in an exhibiton  A Mingled Yarn  at Tivoli, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland from the 4th September.  It will contain mostly knittings and some drawings, all from garments

which have caught my eye.

 

 

 

 

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.

William Shakespeare

 

All images copy right Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

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English knitted shoes

 

Knitted English Shoes

 

 

 

 

These knitted shoes were made from a photograph of some18th Century shoes worn by Emma Dobson of Chatham Lodge in Yorkshire UK.  They were made in yellow and brown kid and the little heel appears to be set well into the body of the shoe.  Dating from around 1792 they seem to have survived the years extremely well.  They remind me of my first pair of heels which were cherry red and chisel toed.  They will form part of an exhibition at Tivoli, Waiheke Island, Auckland in September this year.

 

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All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

 

 

 



Knitted French Shoes

 

 

Knitted French Shoes

 

 

This is a pair of French Shoes from the early twentieth century, they are going to be in an exhibition at Tivoli, Waiheke Island in September this year.  With a collection of knitted shoes, there will be knitted swimming togs and underwear.  The swimming togs and underwear I have knitted for this show come from fashion spreads and are a celebration.

 

 

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all images copyright of Frances Jill Studd 2014



Notes from the Wharemauku Stream

Notes from the Wharemauku Stream

I made this work after walking regularly by the Wharemauku. stream, a lot of things

turn up there even shopping trolleys so I have called it Residue. 
You can see this work at Expressions Upper Hutt until 10 August.

www.francesjillstudd.co.nz

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All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014



A Journal Page from Nelson

A Journal Page from Nelson

 

 

This is a page which I have made from a visit to the Abel Tasman National Park in Nelson.  Starting at Marahau we walked along one of the tracks.  By the estuary were hundreds of small holes made by mud crabs and in the taupata and sedge alongside we could see nursery spiders webs. 

 

 

 

 

The rocks on the beach were a mass of tiny mussels and fishing in the shallows were  black billed gulls and pied shags (silhouette on the right). 

 

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A Page from my Journal

A Page from my Journal

Waewae-kaka

This is a page from my journal made while I work on The Book of Flowers.  A common fern

waewae-kaka or tangle fern can often be seen beneath your feet as you walk through the bush. 

The orange berries of the native New Zealand iris mikoikoi are on the left, the silhouette of a native moth and the pale fern looper at the bottom and fallen pohutukawa leaves from

Raumati Beach lie in between.

By the tangle fern is the silhouette of a heitiki - an ancestor figure and the goddess of childbirth.

 

 

 

 

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all photographs copyright to Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

The Bumble Bee

 

The Bumble Bee

Bombus terrestis

Bumbus terrestis or the Bumble Bee was once called the Humble Bee because of it's hum.It's numbers are now declining due to loss of habitat and pesticides.  I made this work in celebration of these busy little creatures which hum in our gardens during the Summer months and in recognition of the loss

of bees worldwide.

 

 

 

 

Bombus terrestis is now on exhibition in the Small Sculpture Award at the Waiheke

Community Art Gallery.  It is made from knitted yarn wire and beads, and will be on view

until 13th April.

 

 

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all photographs copyright of Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

 

 

 

Kawakawa leaves for the Book of Flowers

Kawakawa leaves for the Book of Flowers

 

 

This small painting is of Kawakawa leaves, sometimes called the New Zealand pepper tree,

it is a native coastal shrub.  This variety is called Macropiper Golden Heart because of the golden splash in the centre of each heart shaped leaf.  

The leaves are often pitted with small holes made by a native looper moth. 

 

 

 

 

Maori custom uses the leaves as a head wreath for tangis (grieving and burial for the dead).  It is also known for it's herbal properties and can be made into a tea or chewed to relieve toothache.

 

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014
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Some Ferns for the Book of Flowers

 

 

Some Ferns for the Book of Flowers

I have seen the Rau-renga or kidney ferns growing on the banks of a tributary of the Whanganui Awa, they are a pellucid green and although it is a common fern it is a sight which is hard to forget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014

More from The Book of Flowers

 

 

More from The Book of Flowers

 

This painting is of another manuka flower, Leptospemum scoparium.  It is a rich pink and red

and although a wild variety can be found in gardens thoughout New Zealand.

 

 

 

 

These paintings will form an exhibition at the High Tide Cafe

44 Marine Parade, Paraparaumu during May this year.

 

 

 

All images copyright of Frances Jill Studd 2014