Vote For the New Logo & Win!

So the Kreated logo has been bugging me for years (yes, literally years) as I tried to create something based around the "K"... and we ended up with the K you can see in the banner above. It irks me. I don't like it.... It's twee and a bit too... literal.

So yesterday I started playing with the shape again, eliminating curly bits and straightening legs, when, like one of those lightbulb moments in the cartoons, I started sketching question marks (in a reference to "who will you be today?")... The concept just FEELS right! However, I'm happy with both of these... and can't decide... Yes, I am the kind of girl who calls her girlfriends to help decide what to wear for a night out!

For giving me a hand in the decision making process, you go into the draw to win a $25 voucher from Kreated....

Just leave a comment on this post (or on the discussion board on Facebook) with the number of your favourite logo and why this is so....

I really need to get this moving (our very own website with shopping cart is in development at the moment and well, it's a little hard to design sans logo!) so competition ends on Friday (17/7/09)....

Logo 1

Logo 2

Logo 3

Who Will You Be Today? - A Give Away

We're in the mood to spread the love today so we are having our first giveaway!

There are two ways to go into the draw to win this funky textile & chain based Dorian Grey necklace from Kreated:

1. Become a Follower (see the right hand panel) of Who Will You Be Today, then leave a comment on this post with the answer to the following question: Who are you today & why? in 50 words or less along with your email address (so I can contact you if you win!)
   
   
2. Become a fan of Kreated on Facebook and answer the same question on the discussion topic Who will you be today? Giveaway. No need to leave your email address here as I'll contact you if you win via a message on Facebook.

For an extra chance to win, do both! A shortlist of 10 will be chosen randomly and then the most creative answer wins!

Giveaway ends on 5/7/09.

Love to Spare

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”

C.S. Lewis

****ONE ONLY****

****NEVER GET CAUGHT WEARING THE SAME THING AS SOMEONE ELSE****

Got some Love to Spare? Or maybe wearing your heart on your sleeve has become a bit tiresome? This 5x5x2 cm heart is the PERFECT solution then!

Simple and edgy but elegant on its own or a feature piece layered with simpler chains, Love to Spare is strung on leather from the infamous Sacred Heart Op Shop biker pants and chain from an upcycled dog choker chain. Hanging about 45 cms long, this piece is a definite one off due to the pendant itself being a bit of a find!

$45
(plus postage if necessary)

Only available on Made It (pick up available for locals!)

From Darkness to Light

... without darkness
Nothing comes to birth,
As without light
Nothing flowers.

May Sarton

Now, I must confess that I really, really wanted to call this piece "She has Big Kahoonas". Alas, I didn't have the Kahoonas!!

Continuing with the lava stone obsession, I wanted to contrast the natural, rough and organic texture of this stone with something ordered and structured like the crystal.

With the plains and jewel tones of this season, it works perfectly.

For the feminine warrior, explorer, fashionista... who am I to tell you what part of you this bracelet will express!

Perfect and simple on its own or layered with other black & silver bracelets, this single stranded bracelet with clasp features 3 large 20mm lava stone balls decorated with Swarovski flatback crystals.

Available on Etsy & MadeIt

Upcycling+Fashion = Trashion

Typical of the fashion world, apparently upcycled fashion wasn’t a cool or catchy enough phrase to describe this type of upcycling. Hence, Trashion was born.

From the Top of the Tree

On a top level, Barneys of New York collaborated with 8 rather prominent designers (Rodarte, Alexander Wang, Versace, Rogan Gregory, Derek Lam, Stella McCartney, Ann Demeulemeester and Bottega Veneta), and Elle to create Project Blue.

The sentiment behind Project Blue was to take donated denim, collaborate with the eight designers to create functional, wearable, amazing pieces, auction them on Ebay and then donate the proceeds to Oceana, an organisation who wins specific and concrete policy changes to reduce pollution and to prevent the irreversible collapse of fish populations, marine mammals and other sea life.

I have quite the obsession with turtles. I think I once decided to keep seeing a guy just because he had a turtle tattoo, so the work of this particular charity is seen as imperative in my world.

Baby Loggerhead Turtle (Credit: Oceana/Cory Wilson)

It begs the question of why this is not done more often on a commercial level by top designers.

Stella McCartney for Project Blue

The auction ran for 10 days with items selling for an absolute song (well in comparative terms that is!):

Bottega Veneta dress - $306
Ann Demeulemeester jacket, tank top and jeans - $140

Stella McCartney jacket and jumpsuit - $306

Derek Lam top and skirt - $306

Rogan dress - $251

Versace dress - $321.01

Alexander Wang jacket & shorts - $305

Rodarte dress - $1,875

Read more at Denimology & Outsapop

Derek Lam for Project Blue

MMM…

” LEATHER BLOUSON JACKET “

The jacket is made up of 14 backs of jackets and trench coats in leather.

Different leathers are superposed and give a gradation of shades going from white to black.

Born in Belgium, Martin Margiela worked as a design assistant for Jean Paul Gaultier for two years before starting his own label in 1988. Known for his innovative designs and avant-garde style, the reclusive designer who famously never appears on the runway or in photographs is a master of deconstructing and reconstructing garments.

Whilst Margiela also produces a traditional line, he also produces what is coined within the design house as the Artisanal collection, a collection of remade and restyled garments for men and women.

Artisanal garments by Margiela have been part of his collection since the fall/winter 1989-90 collection. Made by hand at the firm’s atelier in Paris out of vintage materials, the Artisanal collection is limited in quantity.

Whilst one has to concede that a lot of these pieces aren’t exactly wearable in the everyday, sifting through I did find some really unique pieces that could function quite well as statement pieces to blend with the everyday items.

” RECORD DRESS “

A crepe de chine dress is decorated with 33 and 45 rpm records.

The records have been cut, then shaped while warm to mould to the shape of the body.

” OVERSIZE T-SHIRT “
An extra large T-shirt is partially slashed in bands to create a circular motif.
The new armhole is made with a series of hand-made knots.

” FISHNET DRESS “
A fishing net is directly draped on a dummy to create a long evening dress.

” FOOTBALL JACKET “

A leather jacket is made of footballs. The balls are cut up, flattened and
applied on leather similar to the rubbery inner tube of the ball.

” PEARLY DRESS “
Vintage buttons are embroidered on a silk chiffon to create a bit-mapped effect motif.

Two rectangular pieces of silk muslin are assembled to form a dress.

The front is embroidered with various buttons of mother-of-pearl, metal, plastic to draw a mouth.

An abundance of rings, identity bracelets and chain necklaces in

silver and gold plate recreate the shape of an evening dress.

Next: Trashion’s Grass Roots Provide Fertile Ground

Off the Garden Path

My house is a mess... a tiny mouse house mess and not very conducive to pulling out the sewing machine and working with the great materials I found to upcycle at the local Sacred Heart op shop. But creativity does not halt it's pace at the sight of mess!

So, slightly off the garden path in terms of creating a collection, here are the latest creations from Kreated.

Bugged Out

Also available at MadeIt for AUD buyers

A piece that had remained unfinished for too long!

The animal symbolism of the dragonfly deals with prosperity, good luck, strength, peace, harmony, change and purity whilst the ladybird is a bringer of luck.

Amazonite is an extremely soothing stone. It calms the brain and nervous system , maintaining optimum health. At a mental level, it filters the information passing through the brain and combines it with intuition.

This necklace also contains natural, artificially coloured, pearls and silver/antique gold flower and butterfly charms interspersed between the amazonite.

The dragonfly is carved from bone whilst the ladybird is a cast plastic on an antique gold chain.

About 43cm long, with the ladybird insert sitting at 31cm.

Shiny New Hearts to Spare

Also available at MadeIt for AUD buyers

Another item from the Tin Man notion of the Yellow Brick Road exhibition, this piece combines textiles and metals in warm Autumnal colours for a truly unique look.

If you're like me, and wear your heart on your sleeve, here's three shiny new ones to use when that one wears out!

The "chain " par of this necklace is made from plaited fiber and antique copper, antique gold and nickel colored chain which joins onto an antique copper brooch pin.

Hanging from the brooch pin are three hearts, one in a bright silver and two in a slightly more nickel tone.

The necklace measures approx 50cm from top to the bottom of the longest heart.

Great to wear with woolens, plains or vintage dresses (or really, in what ever way that says YOU best!)

1 only.

Her Name Was Lydia

Also available at MadeIt for AUD buyers

Part of the Her Name Was... series, this necklace of purple textile and chain is an essential for any wardrobe containing chunky knits, simple blacks, pumpkin oranges, winter greys, conservative tans and beiges or jewel tone greens.

The fabrics used in this item are a printed silk and linen suiting.

Great for putting a slightly feminine touch to the rock chick look for this season and looks great layered with other chains or even with the complimentary tones in Dorian Grey.

This necklace measures 46cm (18.1 in) and the lower section contains feature textile balls ranging from 1.25cm (0.5in) 2.5cm (1in) in diameter. The chain varies in chunkiness throughout the piece to add texture and interest.

The Biker Pants Live On

 

Did you know it takes approximately 208 gallons of crude oil to raise one feedlot steer? And that's just raising the cow, not to mention the amount of energy that goes into creating the hide.

By upcycling materials, this 7cm wide by 13 cm long cuff, created from the pocket of an old pair of leather pants - (probably, given the opshop they came from, once the pride and joy of a bikie)- would be saving at least 2.6 gallons of crude oil in the raising of the cow alone....

Not to mention, the materials were purchased from the op-shop run by the Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Who would have thought reducing your carbon footprint could look so good?

Fully adjustable via the lace up chain system at the back, this cuff is edgy yet feminine.

Made from the to of the pocket of that infamous pair of leather pants, this is a narrower cuff with antique gold findings & fittings.  The chain on the front is sewn on with copper wire.

Both available at Etsy and soon at MadeIt for Australian buyers.

New at Kreated

I'm a little obsessed with recycled materials and antique bronze at the moment. The antique bronze works really well with this season's colours and who can't do with a spare heart if you're like me and wear yours on your sleeve!

Each piece is available at Kreated on Etsy or MadeIt

“ Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree ”

~ Emily Bronte

A wearable depiction of the bronze-golden hues of Autumn and the oncoming silver light of Winter, this 36 cm long chain with a 14 cm drop piece is perfect for layering with both shorter and longer necklaces.

The silver leaves are patterned on one side and quite light like leaves that you would see fluttering in the wind.

“Some people wear their heart up on their sleeve. I wear mine underneath my right pant leg, strapped to my boot.”
~ Ani Difranco

For those of you who love to fall in love and wear your heart on your sleeve, here's a spare one or two for when it doesn't go quite to plan.

The crystal is a recycled piece from an old necklace while the hearts are cast metal.

The Wicked Witch of the East enchanted his axe to prevent him from marrying the girl that he loved. The enchanted axe chopped off his limbs, one by one. Each time he lost a limb, Nick Chopper replaced it with a prosthetic limb made of tin. Finally, nothing was left of him but tin. However, Ku-Klip, the tinsmith who helped him, neglected to replace his heart. Once Nick Chopper was made entirely of tin, he was no longer able to love the girl he had fallen for.

Wicked Witch of the East or the love of Tin Man's life, wear his shiny new heart around your neck.

The chandelier crystal is recycled, old school lead crystal found when I was packing up my Dad's house (so there's a little bit of my heart in there for you too!)... I suspect it came from the chandelier in a house we had about 20 years ago.

Things that make you go mmmmmmmmmm......

Some jewelery pieces fill a need: you need a necklace for the dress you've just bought, the latest fashion says put so many bracelets on that you can't lift your arm or perhaps its time to give an old dress a new lease of life with updated accessories.


Other pieces, however, sing to you as soon as you lay eyes on them. I found one of these pieces recently as I checked out the work of a fellow Melbourne jeweller Erica who markets her wares under the branding Incalesco (which incidentally means "glow" in Latin).


Trilogy

I love the strange power in this piece (perhaps that feeling is the one I'm talking about... the singing) and I can't help but feel that there's a hidden meaning in there somewhere!

On a design level, I love the slightly unstructured nature of the silver balanced out with the structure of the stone.


Another piece from Etsy that I discovered and really enjoy the simplicity of and the meaning I add to the design is this pendant titled Stitched Moon by JuJubySarah, a US seller.

Incidentally, JuJu also has a meaning:
Juju, n: A word of West African origin, referring to the supernatural power ascribed to an object, fetish, charm or amulet. Aura or other magical property, usually having to do with spirits or luck, which is bound to a specific object; it is also a term for the object.

Funny, I have a friend who always uses that word ("Ooooh, that's bad Juju") and I thought he was making it up! Blogging... fun AND educational!

And last but not least, is the piece that inspired this post... unfortunately there are no images because it lives on in my memory as the one that got away! It was a crudely made silver piece set with 3 raw, brilliant, pulsating aquamarines and a few cut and polished ones at Living Energies in Southland. Set in a snake/branch like pattern, the pendant was about 10 cms long and sat beautifully right on my chest.... *sigh*

Off to bed with me so I can dream sweet, sweet dreams of the pendant I'll never have (and how I can generate money for the ones I can!!)

It's been an elephant like preganancy...

... but my jewellery baby is finally born and we have called it Kreated! I pity the poor elephant whose pregnancy usually lasts for about 22 months!

Kreated has been, well,created to play with this sense of wonderment, this thirst to try everything once, and turn it into accessories which help express any which side of ones personality. Be it Astronaut; Fireman; Sumo Wrestler; Pop Diva; Mother; Belly Dancer; Lion Tamer.........

As for me, my workspace could best be described as the “House of Stashes.”

There are stashes of fabric, piles of cookbooks, a box full of teddies (with various arms, legs & heads missing, displays of finished work,random notes & quotes fallen on the floor,bundles of wool that never quite made it to their intended jumpers, coloured pencils, paper, metal findings, semi precious stones in abundance, as well as drawers and boxes crammed full of nostalgia. All of this is inspired & driven by an affinity and obsession with texture & colour.

When exploring my background, it is evident that I have the vocational attention span of a child who, just because they still believe that anything is possible, one day wants to be an Astronaut, then a Ballerina, next a Mud Wrestler & then her best friend’s uncle’s pet cat. I have studied Journalism, Multimedia, worked as a Photographer, worked retail, managed an office and flipped burgers. And I still think I may want to try my hand at the Astronaut thing.

Having said that though, at some point in your life you discover which path it was you are meant to follow.... the path that lights you up and drives you like a steam engine! So now it's all about caring for my Kreated and watching her grow, influence and bring joy and self expression to the world around her!