Final Week for 'ArtWear'Felt' Fibre Exhibition by Jelina Haines

Good afternoon everyone, just a kind reminder, if you haven't manage to drop to my solo exhibition at The General Store Community Gallery in Mt. Barker, South Australia, please do so. This will be the final week, the last day will be on Sunday 25th of May 2013. If you don't know the place please follow the route. Works on display are just perfect for winter season, handmade, unique and affordable.

Driving directions to 6 Albert Pl, Mt Barker SA 5251
1. Head south-east on Mount Barker Rd/Tourist Drive 57 towards English St
2. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Adelaide Rd/Tourist Drive 57
3. Slight right to stay on Adelaide Rd/Tourist Drive 57
4. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Mann St
5. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Hutchinson St
6. Turn right onto Albert Pl Destination will be on the right 

Nukkan Ya Uncle Tom Trevorrow

Nukkan Ya (Ngarrindjeri word for 'see you later' and in Ngarrindjeri Culture and Tradition, we don't say goodbye instead we say 'see you later'\) Uncle. You have inspired many and does not matter of what colour or where the person came from, you treated everybody with equal respect. I am grateful to know you, your guidance and advices will be forever remain in my heart. You have welcome my family with open arms and be part of your community at Camp Coorong.

To those wanting to know the funeral ceremony it will be held on 2nd of May 2013 at 1:00pm at Uniting Church, Meningie, South Australia.

............! WARNING !....................

Stressful and sad day today, someone manage to gain access with my visa debit account and stool my  personal information  to buy $AU 647.77 worth of shoes. For the person who used my information bad karma with get to you and I can assure you that.

Preying on innocent and honest hard working people. I don't know how you sleep at night knowing that you just stool someones money. The money you stool from my account supposed to pay for medical bills.

Are you looking forward for the winter, then this exhibition is perfect for you.

Hello everyone, 
You are cordially invited on the official opening of my Solo Exhibition on the 5th of May 2013 at 2:00 pm at the General Store Community Gallery at 6 Albert Place, Mt. Barker, South Australia. This exhibition will showcase new collection of ArtWear Felt Scarves and accessories perfect for upcoming winter season.

Another question raise online about my works

Someone ask this question online: 
What impact does Jelina Haines and the environment because of her designs and products? 

To the person who ask this question let me say first thank you.

To begin with,  the current  fashion trends demands a lot, we use so much resources without thinking about the implications and the future of our generations and the next generations to come.We have exhausted and over-stretch the land resources can provide.  Don't get me wrong there are a lot of consumers that are ethical wearers but sadly the majority of consumers are not. It's not that they don't care about the environment but like ordinary people (like me), we just making enough money to pay the overhead expenses.In addition, for the general consumers ready-made designer imitation are reasonably cheaper  and shoppers are quite happy to obtain 'the look' (Cox, C & Jenkins, J 2005) without realizing that it is more expensive because consumer has to buy more and replace the clothing because it is not durable and immediately shrunk just a few washes. I don't want to be a hypocrite because I do sometimes buy mass produce products but I always make sure that  the second hand clothing place has to be my first destination before I venture myself to the  bigger clothing store. Added to the shoppers dilemma is that well-made and handmade designers clothing and accessories are predominantly out of reach for ordinary shoppers. This is one of the reason that most consumer find it expensive to buy products that are made from environmentally and economically sustainable products and it is difficult to compete the giant clothing industry.

I will be honest with you it is not cheap to design and create wearable products that are made of sustainable raw materials. You have to come up a reasonable amount of outlay. It is one of the reason that I have opted to use materials that are source from recyclable materials such as old computers cables, wool/yarn, clothing that I can cut-out from OP-Shops. In this way shoppers/collections have more options.

The key of my works are to give shoppers/collectors a variety of products that they can afford (affordability, unique, well-made products)  at the same time making themselves fell good because I have given them a change to be part as environmental warriors. The most popular work I have is the necktie dress (seen here).  The necktie dress is made of 38 pieces of 100% recycled men necktie some are donated. This is where my designs and products come in,  eventhough that I do designs products for corporate collectors which is made of silk velvet and I use raw materials used for printmaking.  I do make sure, to my best of my ability to reduced my carbon footprint by disposing my waste materials  accordingly, safely and incorporating elements of products using materials that normally get end up in the landfill.  Using recycled materials on my design products automatically raise the notion of environmental conservation and this has been a great marketing tool and  create an immediate impact for the person who bought my works and those who have seen my works. In addition, my knowledge  and skills in costume designing   has  been useful for the Wilderness Society (Adelaide Branch and NSW), and the costume I made for the Greens (wakefield branch) of which was used for political campaign (if you want more details on other works I design for non-for-profit, you can view my CV on academia).

recycled neckties glasses and wine holder

In addition, I source my raw materials from sustainable materials such as hemp and silk. I also used fibre wool source from South Australian small business supplier. I always make a point of buying Australian products and promote Australian producers through my products. I always say, that in order to support small businesses in Australia we should help each other and promote Australian products first, most importantly supporting our Australian designers and creators.  So,I am sure that  my designs and products does create an impact in particularly in raising community awareness,  my designs and my products might not influence the larger skill yet but I am  making sure that I understand the grassroots level and community acknowledgement of what I do is part of that grassroots level that I am talking about. Of course other supports from giant clothing industry will be great but as soon as you mention ethical clothing, this is always bring a negative balance sheet for them.

I hope what I have written here, answered to your question, please don't hesitate to email me if it is not clear.

I called myself 'Innovative' because:

..............here's my story,

As a new migrant to Australia back in 1997 were unbearably daunting, feeling of fragmentary anxiety and hesitation of learning new language and culture, trying new stuff, food, ways of life, living arrangement and totally different environment, during that time assistance for new migrant was very limited, homesickness, and struggled assimilating to a new country was apparent and added to my frustration of being look down by employers. 

Nonetheless, the willpower to give my child a best of life in Australia I had persevered despite all the circumstances. Firstly, my idea of being an artist comes out from necessity, childhood experiences, being orphan- then adopted - I was able to finished my primary and high school, survival and willpower was the mean driving force. Comparing my life against to my son is absolutely opposite, he has the life that I always wish I had, parents that love him very much and giving him a life that I could not have.

It's not a desire to make money but a desire to create a new life, find my place in the midst of Australian Culture and making my contribution to the creative industry in particularly the visual arts and ultimately a sense of belonging to the country I called home. 

Being innovative is not just about inventing something or hitting that eureka moment  - for me innovative is all about the coping capability and ingenuity despite all the circumstances. I strive for the best of my ability and I shared my story, my skills, knowledge and ideas without hesitation (willingly without in returns). And being recognize  as a Filipino born - South Australian Visual Design Textile Artist who have dedicated her time, knowledge and skills helping others for more than 10 years voluntarily.

I called my work innovative because I create and design wearable clothing art products and accessories that cater  to the apparel needs of buyers looking for something unique, affordable and high end fashion as well as using raw products that are environmentally and economically sustainable. In addition, I acquire my raw materials predominantly in Australia, promoting Australian products created by South Australian Designer at the same time supporting Australian Small Business suppliers. And it is about time that we have to support each other and buy Australian products. In doing so, you are not just supporting one artist but the whole community. 

With limited financial support I have been able to device different ways and techniques  to design and create my artwear using upcycling fashion approach and thinking creatively of how I can produce arts products that are affordable for everyone and discovering things along the way that I never think would work. I am still learning and there are still lots of things that I want to learned before the flame of my candle light stop. 

Given the chance of having that financial support from generous benefactor, I would love to create or trained a community to be sustainable and earning a living from their art creations and I am sure that it will be a successful venture providing much needed help for the community living independently and sustainably . 

To the person who search the question online, this is my  response to your question and I hope that I have shade light of why I have chosen 'Innovative' to describe of what I do and so as my creative works.

Solar and rust dyeing on silk scarf