my creative space

my creative space is starting again for the new year ~ which is a good thing. i like the weekly structure that comes with playing along . . .

i've been working on this embroidery on and off over the holidays. i just didn't feel finished with this shape, from the crochet wall hanging that i've still yet to back.

the tricky part was figuring out how to transfer the drawing onto the dark linen. i printed a re-sised version of the pencil drawing, cut it out {just inside the line} then traced around it with a clover {love clover products!!} white marking pen, which irons off. i tried a couple of other not so great methods which didn't make me give up at all!

the question now is, how to finish the back! i've cut the linen around the cirlce so that it's flush-ish with the back of the wood and left the stitching exposed. i guess it's only the wall looking at my knots!

happy first creative space day! pop into kirsty's for more spaces :)

2 big tasks done, well mostly!

the *fugly* wardrobe on the left used to have an overbearing dark stain on it!

i spent 3.5 days sanding and painting it white! i almost didn't do it, as it's owned by the owner of the house we rent {he wouldn't remove it from the house when we moved in!!}, but i'm glad i did. it's made such a difference to the light and feel of the room. i just need to put some finishing touches on the handles.

the other task i've been meaning to do for ages is start a newsletter for new work/shop updates, sales and giveaways. i'd love for you to sign up {form is in the sidebar}. there'll be a newlsettery prize too :)

new prints

:: shooting . limited edition fine art print

i've made prints of my first 2 new paintings for the new year. {the other one is here}.
they are now in the shop.

have also been playing around with the design of my blog! there's lots left to do still ~ but i'll need to work on it when i can without stressing! one of my vague thoughts/wishes for the new year {not concrete enough to be called resolutions} involves trying not to stress about the work that i can't do/finish in the time available and even to limit the 'deadlines'!

a hard one!! it seems a bit counter~something too, as to get the most out of the short work time blocks, it's best to have a plan/list/deadline/goal . . . but, my expectations are often too great and the resulting stress is not do~able long~term!

. . . so, you might notice a few improvements here over time :)

did you factor in any stress~reducing thoughts for this year?

summer reading

2 great, excellent and fun books i've been reading over the holidays ~ i love them!!

can't believe i didn't buy camilla's book a year ago . . . it's so beautifully designed and made {thanks to my dad for getting it for me this christmas}.
heather's book is really enjoyable ~ i found it great for the technical info and project ideas and really great it terms of gaining insight into her processes and work.
{you can buy heather's book here}

power break!

:: spoonbill and egret
:: wetlands
:: frogs and bananna leaf

**images via tim olsen gallery

i spent two nights away from home in a glamour hotel ~ the olsen hotel ~ which is one of the art series hotels in melbourne. it features hundreds of prints of the work of john olsen {dr john olsen} and an original painting in the foyer. there is a small art library in each room and a lovely pool.

it was great! you know how hard it is to take a true break/holiday when the kids are little and work is at home . . . this is my solution {a bit indulgent, i know}. i slept 13 hours the first night! i read, swam, looked {properly and slowly} at books and magazines . . .

hoping to get into gear and do some work now!

thanks for the lovely new year messages ~ hoping that january is treating you well :)

new painting

i was inspired to share this painting i finished a couple of days ago when i saw kylie's gorgeous sketches {you'll see why!}. i used a little medium in this one, thinking a lot about texture that is incidental/not too intentional. i like the depth it adds. it's so much brighter in real life too.

i saved a new folder '2011' . . . 'painting' ~ yay!! soon to come: 'prints'. the brain is working, ever so slowly. how's yours going today?
:)

happy new year!

thanks for all the community blog spirit of 2010 ~ here's to another creative, fun, safe, connected year! are you doing something special tonight?
xx

getting ready for christmas

we are having fun getting ready for christmas. the silver tree is very small and actually has some decorations on it now {including a row of white flowers around the bottom, thanks to mr 6yr old}.
the present i'm most excited about is this t-shirt for hubby ~ a screenprint of one of mr 6's drawings! i hadn't screen printed anything since high school, but i have a couple of books on the topic and a little help from an art teacher {over the phone!} . . . it turned out ok! i had to paint in some of the lines afterwards as the paper i used in between the layers of the shirt were a bit jumbled rather than padded and flat {always in a hurry here}. no matter!
it was so lovely to trace/paint the drawing that i watched my son make ~ i really wanted to keep all his lines as they were. {to see the drawing and print properly, click on the image to go to flickr}.

are you organised for christmas yet??

i've discovered a new obsession . . .

a trend that i'm liking a lot ~ faceted + geometric jewelry . . .

:: bronze back to basics triangle earrings in bronze . uppermetalclass
:: willow pyrite gold studs . brianarose
:: solid satinmatt solitary faceted pure silver pendant . minicyn
:: rock and roll bling ring pyrite and sterling silver . markhed
:: faceted gold and sterling cube earrings . knockknockstudio


** images from the shops listed.

here are the mini collages that i've been working on!
i used some really lovely paper yarn to hang them with {bought from paperphine}. the yarn is stuck down with a layer of paper ~ which makes another mini collage on the back.
they will find their way to the shop, one by one . . .

happy monday! hope you're enjoying the lead up to the christmas/holiday fun.

fine art friday . jeremy miranda

:: please be careful
:: greenhouse island
:: greenhouse drifting

** images from jeremy miranda's etsy shop.
** please be careful as his work is on sale!!
** happy friday! hoping to pop in later to show off some new little pieces . . .

circa 77/78

this is the kind of thing we got up to when i was a kid! sent to my sister from a family friend from this era. my dad is on the left, then my mum and my sister and i . . .

by my 3 year old

love this 'drawing' by my 3 year old!
happy creative space day ~ even tho we are on a break :)

fine art friday . fleurografie

i really like these :)

:: swimsuit original etching
:: pas antilope original etching

**images from fleurografie's etsy shop

{} thanks to deannamaree for this interview
happy friday!

my creative space

after a strange start to the day: the coffee machine broke as i was making my coffee and thinking: i shouldn't be drinking coffee, i wonder if i'd replace this machine if it broke {might help me give it up}. . . never think such things!

came a kind of scattered space: vastly different things pulling me in different directions. . . these paintings needed varnishing {finally put the first coat on}, an early christmas present arrived in the mail {made me think of more christmas presents that need work/buying}, i needed a few extra things from spotlight {bought pip's book and want to make at least 3 things by tomorrow ~ should re-read her advice at the back of the book!!}, orders to pack/post and the hanging system for the little collages to make/test . . . a crazy picture here.

hope your space is serene and creative today :)
pop in to kirsty's.

** thanks to irene for including my print in this gorgeous gift guide ~ with many of my favourite artists :)