Kris's Colour Stripes calendar

Wonderful calendar of her sketches produced by Kris, one of my favourite bloggers.
Check it out here.

Was ich im Herzen hab, das sag ich mit dem Munde.
Wer mein gesicht betracht, schaudt meines Herzens grunde.

What I have in my heart, that say I with my mouth.
Who looks upon my face, sees the bottom of my heart.

From a book published in 1694 called'The Revised Compendium and Engraving Booklet [with] hundreds of spiritual and secular heart seals/mirrors for a particular illustration of the Virtues and Vices presented and explained with hundreds of poetic conceits by Fabian Athyrus, devout in the praiseworthy Intellectual Arts'.
Discovered via Bibliodyssy- one of my favourite blogs.

For those who say they don't like country music...

Just give this a listen... Gillian Welch

A calendar of my collages, just $27 for sale now!

Just click here here to check it out.

Exhausted

I've been kind of lost in the world of Grant Applications for the last few weeks, spending almost all my time trying to collect all the bureaucratic bumpf necessary to apply for a grant to buy a water tank for the Northcote Community Gardens. Oh my lordy wordy it's a rigmarole, but I handed it in personally yesterday, so now we wait and see. You wouldn't think a water tank for a community garden would be such a difficult thing to obtain, but the world of bureaucracy obviously disagrees.
But Spring has sprung, and I am delighted to report that almost ALL my tomato seeds have germinated, plus my fancy French potimarron pumpkins (see photo) and even a few habanero chillis...yay! Cross fingers we get some decent rain soon to set them up for the growing season.

There has been no announcement of winners yet for the BSG photographic show, because they had so many entries they decided to take their time deciding and announce the winners on the closing night. My shots are (unfortunately) placed in the stairwell, despite me having them in there quite early for hanging- I think there's some favouritism going on about placement. But hey, they are up and they look good...and if you're prepared to risk breaking your neck as you come down the stairs you can get a great eye level look at them.
Thanks lovely Simone and Louise for your good wishes!

Talented Weezie

Here's my friend Louise's secret present she's making for me- how gorgeous is this?

Brunswick St Gallery show

I've entered these two pieces into the Brunswick St Gallery "Picture This" show which opens tonight- wish me luck!

The bees and I are happy.

Descending Blue

Spring

NOTHING is so beautiful as spring --
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden. -- Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

Gerard Manley Hopkins

My latest tshirt designs on Red Bubble

Urubbu

Just loved these cards from Urubbu!(Found via Karin's blog)

Avant card

I've been knocked out by the flu for a while, but am slowly recovering and my latest bit of news is that Avant cards who make all those free cards you see in cafes etc have offered to do a card of this design of mine. It could be over 6 months till it comes out, and I don't get paid, but still, it's nation-wide exposure for me and I get 1000 cards for free so that's cool.
Freezing cold, raining and grey today....and for at least the past week here in Melbourne...Spring, where are you???
Excuse me, must now return to the warm room to defrost.

Felt weaving results..

Way back in April I posted about weaving some wool tops for felting, and this little purse is the result of one lot...only took me 5 months...

Spoonflower fabric

The Spoonflower fabric is great - I'm really happy with it, and now I am plotting the next design to spend money I don't have on!

Mel Robson

If you're in Brisbane check out his fabulous exhibition "Keep Calm and Carry On" at Jan Manton Art by the fabulous Mel Robson...it's fabulous.