The Western (early modern) alchemical symbol for earth is a downward pointing triangle bisected by a horizontal line.

I also wanted to keep my design simple with minimal materials so as to be in harmony with sustainability principles.

With this inspiration, I designed two large triangular pieces to create my headpiece’s shape. Using the tuck and fold fabric manipulation technique, I covered the triangles with silk dupion to create horizontal lines. The crisp tucks and folds as well as the shot feature of the silk create elegant movement.

I chose a silk dupion fabric that combines royal blue and golden threads to create a rich brown shot with purple effect. This combination and effect reminded me of lines from a classic Australian poem by Dorothea Mackellar: “I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of drought and flooding rains, I love her far horizons, I love her jewelled sea, Her beauty and her terror – The wide brown land for me.”

This headpiece is positioned securely on the head with a custom headband trimmed with velvet ribbon.

Note: Entries have been not been edited or proofread to protect the integrity of the maker's original meaning.