NANS DATING A BIKIE COLLECTION
UPCYCLED PATCHWORK COATS
Nan’s Dating a Bikie is a series of up-cycled jackets and coats inspired by both my party lifestyle and my Nanas old sewing techniques. This project began in 2024 with a drawing of an octopus with its heads trapped in a hollowed animal skull. The affectionately termed Skull-to-puss became a series of sketches. Originally I intended these works to become paintings, however It turned out that I did not enjoy the process of translating the style of the original drawings to paint.
At the time I was working part time in an op shop and found myself overloaded by the sheer volume of fabric and textile waste. I noticed that the fabric prints I was drawn to; suitable for the dance floor, forest party or under black light, were the garments of questionable style, awful texture or highly synthetic fabric composition. Non the less I started collecting these garments, Any psychedelic inspired print, anything clashing or garish, naff or kitsch.
At home in my studio UV torch in hand, I began translating the skull-to-puss drawings and these up cycled waste fabrics, into patchwork textiles. Each work begins as a paper drawing, all pieces are hand cut, all the sewing is done on a domestic machine and all sequins have been painstakingly hand stitched. I think we can all tell the difference when we see something hand made,
With each new piece I am evolving my own language and process of patchwork. I love making them, from the initial design to the mini matching ar hand embroidered TIGGY X tag on the front. Perhaps they allow me to continue my op shop addiction, perhaps I am a masochist for painstaking hours at the sewing machine.
– The black light photographs have not been retouched and are true to their appearance when under UV (black lights).
