My half year in review!

Before I started this blog I thought about starting it for about a year or so....so I guess it make sense for my next blog post to be six months later, right?

 Yikes, this year feels like it has moved so quickly!   I imagine it will take me awhile to get into to the swing of blogging regularly, but here's hoping each post wont be be six months apart :)

So what have I been up to?

In June I started designing costumes for the stage production of "Mother & Son" written by Geoffrey Atherden, who wrote the original Australian comedy series in the 80s.

Photo Credit Lachlan Moore 

The Play was directed by Roger Hodgman and the set designed by Shaun Gurton was beautifully lit by Nigel Levings. Cast included Comedy Legend Noline Brown, Darren Gilshenan and Shane Jacobson. Nicki Wendt, Kellie Rode, Robyn Arthur, Sharon Davis and David Tredinnick.

As well as being a freelance costume designer, I also work with my two sisters Christina and Rebecca Hayes. We are sibling artist group under the name The Sisters Hayes. This year we design the set and costumes for a new Australian work "Walking into the Bigness". Which premiered at the Malthouse Theatre  in August.

Photo Credit: Pia Johnson

"Walking into the Bigness" was a emotional autobiographical play by Australian Activist, Playwright and Musician Richard Frankland.  Directed by Wayne Blair and Chris Mead, with Musical Direction by Richard Frankland and Monica Weightman. Cast included; Tammy Anderson, Paul Ashcroft, Lusia Hastings Edge, Rarriwuy Hick and Tiriki Onus. The show was lit by the wonderful Rachel Burke.

Simultaneously we also art directed the Malthouse 2015 Season Brochure  which is online now.

Once "Walking into the Bigness" opened my sisters, father and I were off to the States for my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary! The trip was amazing, it was wonderful catching up with my dad's side of the family and meeting up with old friends along the way. We also travelled down South for my first time and I fell in love, with the people, the food and the Bling! Here are a few Holiday snaps!

My Grandpa Harlan and Grandma Kay Celebrating their sixtieth wedding anniversary!
(photo by Christina Hayes)

My Sisters and I with our friend and artistic mentor Martha Mcdonald 
(photo by Rick Hayes)

My sisters and I with our Dad in Graceland!

Eating like the King in Memphis

So much amazing western wear in the Country Hall of Fame 

Shopping and Freaking out at Mood Fabric in New York
(Photo by Christina Hayes)

My Grandparents holding up a quilt that was started at my Grandmas kitchen tea. The squares of flowers with her friends and families names embroidered was found by my mother years ago, probably before I was born. My Grandmother said she wasn't interested in sewing so gave them to my mother in the hopes that she would finish the quilt. I found the squares still in pieces about five years ago and was determined to finish it. There was a lot of stoping and starting but when they announced a family reunion for their 60th anniversary, I knew I had to finally finish it. 

So here it is 60 years later! 

You can think of this if your ever feeling guilty about taking a long time to finish a project ;) 

When I returned from the States it was straight back to work. Due to the fact I work at Melbournes best costumes shop Rose Chong Costumes, back to work meant dressing up as a banana and awkwardly dancing in "Chong Kong" part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

In my banana costume consisting of a velvet unitard and a yellow petticoat worn
around the neck with banana's to hide the formentioned velvet unitard.   

One month few by and I was on another plane to Thailand for my dear friends Angie and Alex's Wedding.

The gorgeous Bride and Groom Angie and Alex sandwiched between
myself and fellow bridesmaid and business partner Lucie.  

Yes, I made my dress, and in my true fashion finished it the night before! I used a Vintage McCalls Pattern 6755. I wont say to much about it now as I would like to do a separate post later.

Vintage McCall's Pattern 6755 

I have also sewn up a few other things and started knitting a cardigan...but this has been a long post so I will save it for next time ;)