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.

 

 

Frances Jill Studd website

Midnight Collective

 

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

Midnight Collective

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). 

 

Midnight Collective

Jill Studd's website

 

All images copyright of Frances Jill Studd 2014

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.

 

 

 

 

Frances Jill Studd website

Midnight Collective

 

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.

 

 

Midnight Collective

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
Midnight Collective

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midnight Collective Environmental Blog

Jill Studd's website

 

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014