A Day with Dylan

I had originally asked Dylan if he would like to come and stay at my place for a few nights in the Holidays
He was very enthusiastic, until Bridie was packing his stuff to come yesterday. He has not actually had a sleep over before, so the idea was great, just not the reality
So we started off with a day here.
He was a bit fragile as we drove off, but picked up when he spotted the ferris wheel at Docklands (knew it was the Show that he had seen last week )as we went over the Bolte Bridge, then the sights over the Westgate.
We started the day down at Altona beach that he really wanted.
As you can see it was a lovely day

tentatively trying the water  

Collecting some shells

We were discussing the source of the hole.

The rocks

 Again reality was not the same. The water was cold, the sand felt funny on his feet but I pushed on and we walked to the breakwater and he climbed the rocks and declared it was 'Awesome" and the "best day of my whole life"  

he was looking for fish 

he didn't need any help

Good balance 

'I'm near the deep water"

mid jump

landed safely 

why walk the path when there's a wall!

chocolate ice-cream!

Then walking out on the pier 

Then using his Ninja bow he got at the show. Arrows stick to the glass!

My bow's a bit big But he has an arrow in it 

We finished off the day with taking Spencer of a walk and stopped in local playground
He watched some films on iPad and then did some craft and colouring in (preferred that to paint)
then we went home for tea.

WOW Wellington

A last minute decision had me joining the Phillipa Stitchbury Support team for her entry in WOW.
This is the 2nd time I have been but in 2018 it will the event's 30th Anniversary.
Phillipa has entered many times and last year won the Aotearoa section
(link below)
Wow video Phillipa's winning design is the Black red and white dress with the red feathers collar
This year she came 3rd in the Avant Garde section

The  Showplace a few minutes walk from my hotel

Phillipa and Mark 

The support team in appropriate dress
One entry she had was a pink sunset Punk look of the Pancake Rocks

Alternate years they have children designs, or Bizarre Bra!  A really popular section
This year's winner Come fly with me.

Come fly with me  Stainless steel 

men often model them .this is called Braparazzi!

There was a tribute exhibition to a young woman, Clare Preamble,  who has won many sections and started designing when she was six! and was the youngest overall winner at age of 18. She died in December at age 34 from Melanoma after a crowd-funded trip to Germany for experimental treatment failed. The sought-after couture and jewellery designer, known most notably for her work at Weta Workshop, crafting costumes for movies such as Prince Caspian and Avatar.

One of the prizes is a 4 week workshop in Weta (NZ film workshops) or Circe du Soleil.

Clare and one of her creations 

 I missed out on the visit to WETA workshops which the group had done the day before but it sounded fabulous so will book for when I go next time.

Past costumes were in stores all over the town There were some in a pink container in Lambeth Quay with porthole windows you could look through Phillipa's Flock Frock was in one 

Shops also do window dressing to keep up with the show.
This is dress pattern paper
A sign says it's 'WOW! Haute Couture meet Lady Gaga'

Tea cups and wallpaper 

The overall winner, Supreme Award and David Jones Avant Garde Section winner Supernova by Gillian Saunders of Nelson, New Zealand. A star explodes in a far-off galaxy. Made with recycled leather, gems, marker pen ink. She hand marked with texta every scale and suck on the sequins by hand 

There is always a show as you can see in the video, but we were less than impressed this year. It was spectacular but disjointed and not any clear Aotearoa (New Zealand) display 

But not disappointing to put us off going again! 

Phillipa has started on next year's idea