Illustrations by Raquel Marin

Love this lady's aesthetic, even if I don't understand Spanish.
If only I was doing this now..instead of contending with the consuming hordes...sigh.

Terribly clever teatowel..

by Able and Game.
Anyone who travels on public transport in Melbourne understands the depth of love this journey requires...

Inaluxe

Just spotted these beautiful images on a few of my favourite blogs and tracked them down to an Australian etsy store Inaluxe....Groovy.

Geninne's divine birds

These heatbreakingly beautifully painted little birds were available at Geninne's etsy shop, but I think I missed out becuase she is now on holidays. Wise woman.

Mel Robson's latest..

Mel is hopping off to Alice Springs for a while- can't wait to hear about her new life in the heart of Australia, and all the wonderful creative inspiration she'll find there.
Lots of luck to you and your family Mel!

Birdy fridge magnet...and garden.

Having recently discovered a passion (if not a great skill) for embroidery, I have been playing with some new stitches and they sort of turned into this little bird and its rose garden.
I turned them all into fridge magnets with some self-adhesive magnetic canvas, and the bird has flown off to live on my friend Louise's fridge (Happy Birthday Weezie), but the 2 little rose gardens ended up with me due to their slightly weird shapes.
They do make me smile though whenever I go to get out the milk...

Good point.

From Jen Bekman by Craig Damrauer.

Life etc

This time of the year always seems to get a little crazy, but I must admit I'm feeling it a bit more than usual this year. Everyone seems more frantic and on edge, and I just want to jump off and disappear into my own little QUIET world. What is it with the approach of Christmas and the apparently synchronised increase in general noise? Sigh.
Anyhoo- one thing that always relaxes me is looking at all the beautiful clever things that people out there are making while sitting in my nice comfy quiet room with only the hum of the computer to damage my ear drums.
The above is another lovely piccie from a lovely blog I found earlier...Vintage Moth/Down Abbie's Road although it could have been taken in my own garden today!

Generally not a fan of things that are too cute...but

...could not resist these ridiculously charming mice at Mouses Houses.
I mean really.
(Thanks for the link Marijka!)

Garden blackboard

This is a cement chair in my backyard that I mosaiced the top of last year, but as we often sit in low-slung butterfly chairs just near it, I found myself unhappy looking at the exposed cement on the side.
I am also currently going through a phase of painting everything that stands still long enough with blackboard paint...so guess what happens next....


And a Japanese Zen Buddhist quote from Issa completes the picture.

Car free roads- if only...

Loved this print by Tatsuro Kiuchi sent to my by Jen Bekman.

Bec Andersen

My friend and terribly clever textile artist- click here to see her website.

Mini rant about Halloween

O.K.- I'm pretty much a pagan and my birthday falls on the 31st October, so I'm all for celebrating the seasons, but hear me fellow inhabitants of the Southern Hemisphere! Now is NOT the time to celebrate Halloween- we are in a glorious Springtime- one of the best we've had in over a decade- with rain and daisies and butterflies and fruit trees in blossom and fertility-what on earth are you doing trying to celibrate Autumn and the harvest festival now?
Quite frankly- it's ridiculous, and more than a little embarassing..don't you know where you live?
Please don't do it.
We can do all of that in our Autumn when we can actually go and pick the pumpkins from our own backyards- not now when the only pumpkins you'll find are ancient and their seeds ready to be planted not harvested!!!!
Think about it...and revel in the sunshine and smell the jasmine...and go plant some pumpkin seeds.

Busy month

I've had a bit of a busy spell with a show opening and a trip to Qld. I'm not someone who enjoys being busy, but in this case both were lots of fun. The Innerscapes show was wonderfully organised by Nahomi Yoshizawa, and the Opening was delightful with plenty of people and atmosphere. The Adrianakis Fitzroy Gallery is a super space too- very "old Fitzroy" according to Ben- usefully located opposite The Standard Hotel as well.
Woodgate was splendid as always, and we had a truly magnificent sunrise one morning.
Now suddenly it's the end of October, and I'm another year older...how can that be? It's Halloween for those in North America, but Spring Solstice for us here in the Southern Hemisphere- either way dancing under the moon is strongly recommended.

Sometimes it's a costume sometimes it's a disguise...by Amy Rice

Just love this postcard design (and its title) from the marvellous Amy Rice.
I know just what she means.

Geninne's art blog..again

Loving this blog- such beautiful images...and I want Geninne's house!

Innerscapes exhibition

I have three prints in this upcoming group show- and I'm very keen to see the other artist's work too (a few are Red Bubblers too so you can see their work via Red Bubble.)

Primos by Robert Garcia

This painting by Robert Garcia fascinated me for some reason I really like it. Sent to me as part of a regular newsletter from Jen Bekman.
And another of his, "We Are Who We Are":

Spring is here ...finally!

Today was a perfect Spring day- bright sunshine, an intense blue sky and a very slight breeze to dry the washing. Oh my goodness- what a relief. I spent most of the day outside planting seeds and soaking up the sun- with no shoes on even!!!
And check out my fabulous cauliflowers- this is number 3 so far, each as perfect as the next with pretty much no help from me whatsoever. Ain't Mother Nature grand?
I also made a fabulous nettle soup from the nettles that grew on my plot at the Northcote Community Gardens, using Christine's super recipe- it's on the blog,you can see it here.

Violets for Ros

Happy Birthday to the fabulous Ros!I had fun picking violets from my garden and making these sugared violets and cupcakes for Ros's little birthday party we had at the Northcote Community Gardens today. Hope you had a lovely day Ros!

Tom's Special Box

Kerry-Ann (my mail-art buddy) has a very special little boy, Tom, who was wondering why I kept sending stuff to her, and he was worried I'd forgotten about him- so of course I had to reassure him that he was unforgettable with a little customised art box. I painted the top with blackboard paint and lined the inside with felt, and included some goodies like pencils and chalk- plus Ben made a superduper mini blackboard duster especially to fit. It was so much fun to make, I hope he has as much fun using it!

love is a place....

love is a place
& through this place of
love move
(with brightness of peace)
all places

yes is a world
and in the world of
yes live
(skillfully curled)
all worlds

ee cummings

Retail therapy

O.K. what do you do when you've just spent a gazillion dollars on renewing your passport in the vague hope of actually using it one day, and have just had truly hideous and quite frankly- scary photographs taken of yourself to flash at future unsuspecting customs officers?
Well you go out and buy a heap of pretty papers you can't afford (and technically don't need) to make yourself feel better of course! Guess what? It works!!!

Endings and beginnings

I was quite sad to read that one of my favourite art blogs Dear Ada may be ending- at least for a while, but I was very happy to read the reason for it too- good luck Birdie and thank-you for all the wonderful art you have shared.
Happily I have also just discovered another wonderful blog Geninne's Art blog and here are some delightful hand carved stamps made by Gennine. She also takes some truly beautiful photographs of her art,home and collections of things that inspire her.
Lovely.

Mail Art 2

Here's my next sending to Kerry-Ann in our Mail Art project.We've often discussed our favourite seasons and so I decided to put that into this piece- especially as I am avidly watching for Spring blossom and leaf buds at the moment. (If you can't quite read the letters it says "I know you love Autumn the best but my favourite Season is Spring) We are certainly having a grey and wet Winter this year, but Spring is around the corner...hurrah!

Talented Friends

Here are two beautiful little Mixtape zines made by my multi-talented friend Shelley. They are beautifully drawn and tell really enchanting little stories- I found myself sighing a little at the end...in a good way.
They have been sold at Polyester in Melbourne (even though Shelley is originally from Vancouver and now living here)and I can't wait to see what she produces next!

Mail Art No 1

Here is my friend Kerry-Ann's first contribution to the mail art exchange she and I have set up. I think there's a great cubist feeling to this- and you can just make out the bag designs that it's woven out of. Such a delight to receive in the mail! Thank-you Ms Kerry-Ann!
(I forgot to photograph the first one I sent her- but will definitely pop up a piccie of the next one I do- this is fun!)

Snazzy little box

Today is freezing cold- and I mean cold -like 8 degrees inside the house at midday cold- but I've had a lovely time making this box for Jemima's birthday.(Very belated-sorry Jemima!)
It also does contain something, but I can't show you that because Jemima hasn't received it yet.
I put the heater on high, shut the door to my little room and began painting and cutting and gluing happily away until suddenly I had this snazzy little box in front of me. The lid features a 60's or 70's style hankerchief I found the other day at a great little local collectibles shop. (It was probably printed much later than that, but who knows?)I'm really loving the colours with the ribbon trim and the little modelling clay heart I made and stamped with a J.
Sigh- such small things but they bring such a feeling of joy!
Happy Birthday lovely Jemima.

Playing with old designs

The other day I recieved a big box of my old designs which didn't sell from Lewis, and have had fun sorting through the contents. Some are pretty horrifying, but some are actually quite lovely, and I decided to cut and paste some new designs from the old onto my Spoonflower site. Here's a very simple little blossom plopped onto a blue background that I may just have to order for myself. Might make a nice spring curtain/teatowel/bag or skirt?

Amy Rice

As a continuation of my love of all things bee-esque, here is a new piece from the wonderful Amy Rice and another with puppies....irresistible, right?