ATASDA is developing a range of awards and scholarships as part of our objective to foster textile and fibre arts. See the quick links to State Branch opportunities for students.

In December 2007 Rosie Ashford was selected as the inaugural winner of the ATASDA Outstanding Student Award.

The following excerpt is from Rosie's Artist Profile, written by Anna Cahill and published in fibreline, the ATASDA magazine (see sidebar).

" ... Buying a sewing machine so that she could complete her HSC textile course, Rosie started to shift her focus from the designing she had always done, to bringing the designs to life. Having never properly sewn before, she taught herself what she needed to know through books or by working it out on her own. The most spectacular result was Rosie's major Textiles Project, an all-red 1850's style evening ballroom gown with contemporary aspects. It is a costume for Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, to match the Phantom's own red outfit. The skirt of the dress remains unadorned, however the bodice features velvet ribbons, braiding, thick piping in the seams, intricate embroidery and beading and well as lace and fabric roses that Rosie designed herself. At the back of the dress there is a prime example of how Rosie is able to imagine the results of teaming different materials together, with pink plastic buttons replacing the fabric covered ones conventionally used. Without completely planning the design, she began embroidering intuitively onto the bodice. This method is often employed by her, where she has just a rough idea before starting on the piece, using instinctive to create the final design. Her focus on colour is also displayed, with different subtle shades of red and orange used throughout the dress."

In addition to the Profile, Rosie's prize includes a Member Gallery page, which can be found here.

Jennifer completed year 12 in 2007 and is interested in textiles as a career, possibly in combination with teaching. Jenny loves being innovating and creative within her textile projects, exploring many different decorative and embellishment techniques. Her year 12 Gypsy costume has been selected for the Texstyle Exhibition at Vaucluse House and includes hand dyeing, pin tucking, felting, machine and hand embroidery, chenilling and more.

	Gypsy costume - detail
Four piece gypsy costume, consisting of a silk hand dyed blouse and pin tucked cummerbund, a hand felted vest featuring machine and hand embroidery and a gored skirt featuring soluweb, hand and machine embroidery, chenilling, bias transfer and a ragged fabric hem.
Rag doll, complete with hand embroidered face and bloomers. It includes a variety of different seam and him finishes, creating a pleated appearance on the hem of the dress	Crazy patchwork cushion. Combines different textured fabrics with embellishment techniques such as beading and embroidery.	Hand sewn bear

Sarah completed year 12 in 2007. She is passionate about exploring fashion and textile design and is intending to study fulltime at FBI Fashion College Glebe in 2008. Sarah has been selected to model her creations in several fashion shows at national level, including the APEX Teenage Fashion Awards National Final in Geelong, October 2007.

Sarah's major work for the HSC Textiles and Design subject is displayed in the Texstyle exhibition at Vaucluse House. In this piece she used a range of techniques including embroidery, beadwork and dyeing.

Front		Back

Nadia is planning to study Design and Architecture at UTS in 2008, having completed her HSC in 2007. Nadia was inspired by her cultural background to imagine a patriotic hero figure, a kind of Afghani "Zorro". She created a costume reminiscent of the Mexican Zorro, but including headware based on an Afghan pakol hat, and a mask formed from a collage of images of the Afghan people.

Costume includes a pakol-style hat, mask with collaged images, lustrous coal-black cape and laced shirt with machine embroidery detail to elaborate the Afghan concept.

The embroidery and design on the top of the hat signifies the Afghan cultural designs. Embroidery includes sequins and mirrors.

Nomiki is studying at the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, progressing to the Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design in 2008. Nomiki's philosophy embraces beauty, elegance and perfection. She likes working with limited colours, introducing different tones and textures with fabric manipulation, embroidery and beading and often choosing to include quite heavy embellishment techniques. Nomiki would love to start up her own boutique, revisiting some of her jewellery making background, to create high-end, one-off couture.

The garment featured is my entry for the wool awards and it is called "Porcelain Beauty" - inspired by japanese designers

The bodice and base of the dress is made from 100% wool suiting material. The straps and base of the beading is made from a silk/wool voile. The skirt CF triangular panel features a wool tweed with the voile stitched on top where the beading is done. The fabric flowers are a combination of the silk/wool voile and silk organza, where the edges have been frayed and the centre of the flower features a Swarovski crystal.

Edwina is an enthusiastic supporter of ATASDA, joining immediately she found us in 2005. She completed high school in 2007 and is planning to study Fashion and Design at Mt Gravatt TAFE this year. Edwina utilises a wide range of materials, both natural and man-made, together with skills gained at school and in ATASDA workshops. Having attended the master class workshop with Carol Wilkes, Edwina has taken the opportunity to create art assessment pieces which can also be included in a future group exhibition.

Sculpture Dress - corset, showing teabag detail	Sculpture Dress - corset and skirt	Sculpture Capulet
Tie Dress. Part of tie collection.	My formal dress. Corset was started on a Kirry Toose workshop.	Tie corset and skirt. Part of tie collection.

Lauri will be studying Visual Communications and Design at Newcastle University in 2008, having completed year 12 in 2007. Lauri combines strong design skills with beautiful execution. Her hand painted silk bias slip with lace overlay is displayed in the Texstyle Exhibition at Vaucluse House. Her work features peacock feather inspired colours and shape, utilising a variety of decorative techniques including - bead crocheting, hand beading, silk painting, free machine embroidery and machine scallop edging embroidery.

Hand painted silk bias slip with a lace overlay

Detail showing hand beaded crocheted motif at neckline; machine scalloped edging on lace

Back view

As part of ATASDA's commitment to foster textile and fibre arts, this Award recognises students who display high achievement in textile arts and surface design. 2007 was the first of what will be annual awards. A nomination form for the 2008 Outstanding Student Award will be made available in the second half of 2008.