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James Penrose – A Natural Born Talent
James began his interest in sewing at the age of 9 when he began creating various ideas and baby garments for presents for his younger cousins on his mothers’ Bernina sewing machine. Coming from an isolated farming area, with few children his own age in the district and parents who didn’t buy a television, James had ample time to experiment and play with practical ideas. When in grade 5, his teacher, noticing that he had a natural talent for the creative dress design area, set a class project that would enable him to create to his heart’s content. He did! And instead of one costume, painted or sewn onto the wooden doll that each class member had been given, James created and sewed a whole wardrobe and a bag to carry the items in! When James was 12 he won the People’s Choice Quilt Award at the Harrow Quilt Show. Although James’ mum sewed most of this first quilt, James had worked on the project for 2 years, designing the quilt and selecting the colours and fabrications. This was a great start as there were a few textile artists at that quilt show who were insistent that his talent be fostered and he was invited to take part in some of the workshops run by the Penola Textiles Group. Those at home however, already knew that he had been whipping up some very clever creative designs for Mum’s old Barbie Doll, and realised this was a natural skill and talent. An experienced and experimental textile artist from Mt. Gambier also agreed to share her knowledge with James and so began a friendship where valuable creative styles and methods of textile art were shared on weekends. Through Doreens’ help James received a scholarship in 2006 to attend the Longrenong Textile Arts Forum in Victoria and he created his first full sized piece of work here. A bustier, that took the week to make, was machine embroidered and designed by James, under the guidance of Kirri Toose, a well know Australian textile artist. He has since made and designed quite a few bustiers! Again his work excited a lot of interest and it was confirmed that he “had the passion”. James work for the 2007 Spotlight Competition was commended and by this time it was obvious that this ‘fad’ for sewing and designing with fabrics was here to stay, so he applied for and received, a scholarship to attend Ballarat Grammar for his years 11 and 12 VCE beginning in 2009. In the meantime, his future textiles teacher, had asked him to enter the Myer Australian Fashion Awards in August 2008 where James received the award in the secondary schools section as Achiever of the Year 2008. James, his family and teachers were all stunned, excited and proud and felt that it was now confirmed in the wider textile and fashion world that he had exceptional talent as a gifted textile artist in his own right. Of the five pieces James had entered in the Myer Australian Fashion Awards four were a result of his leisure time pursuits at home! James Penrose not only designs, creates and sews fashion costumes, but also enjoys making wall features, book covers and gifts. |
James is 16 years of age and lives in the country, near Harrow in Victoria, Australia.
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Bernina Young Fashion Designer Award 2008
Description: The entry consisted of 4 pieces – Lycra top and pants – Maori tattoo designs drawn on using vivid pens. Bodice / corset & collar - main construction made by soaking flax matting (dyed using Dylon dyes) in hot water and molding it on mannequin to achieve body shape. Later embellished with bike tyres, old compact disks, copper wire (retrieved from the inside of discarded electrical cable), found objects such as feathers, driftwood, shells, dried seaweed. Skirt – The frame is made from fencing wire covered with insulation tape and then covered with mesh fabric to create a base for the outer coverings to be attached to. The main skirt covering is made from layers of newspaper and super market plastic bags sewn together using a gather stitch. This covering along with spirals of sisal rope are hand sewn onto the main skirt frame.
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Winner: Helen Peard
