Friday, July 5, 2013
By KYLIE WILSON
SKYE Blake can't wait for the 2013 Wangaratta Stitched Up Textile Festival to get underway today.
And that's because she is such a believer in the event's theme of "Recycle, Reuse, Re-invent" this year.
The colourful Wangaratta resident has been using recycled and repurposed clothes and jewellery for as long as she can remember, and even uses items to decorate her trusty moped "Anya".
"Recycled stuff's way more fun," she said.
"You can pull it apart and totally redesign it.
"I think it's important to take something old, and turn it into something new."
Some of her upcycled creations are on public display, alongside artwork using recycled materials by local school children, at the Post Office arcade in Murphy Street.
There's a utility belt fashioned from small bags, a child's belt, and a section from a friend's damaged leather trousers; a bag made from an old cushion and other objects found around the house; and a butterfly shawl including pieces crocheted from leftover and reclaimed wool.
Secretary of the Wangaratta Textile Arts Association, Kathy Beilby, said the festival looks set to be very successful with locals and visitors alike.
Bishop of Wangaratta diocese, John Parkes AM, will be at the Holy Trinity Cathedral at 6pm tonight to launch the festival, in conjunction with the opening of the Threads of Faith exhibition, and also announce festival competition winners.
The festival runs until July 14. with highlights including Stitchy Central at the Workshop Space at Wangaratta, 70 dressed chair entries at 28 venues as part of Dress the Town (a map of locations available at major festival venues), a Makers Market on July 14, work-shops, and much more.
More information is available on www.stitchedupfes-tival.com, or by calling 0407 219 564.