Sketchbook project...done!

Here are some images from my sketchbook now winging it's way to New York. It was a bit of a push at the end there, but I'm really pleased to have completed it. It's full of my usual combination of collages and photographs and although it won't set the world on fire it was fun to do.The Sketchbook Project was a nice positive way to start the new year- what do they say? Begin the way you mean to go on? Well hopefully the rest of the year will be full of creativity too! (Plus I have a new job so hopefully that'll help with some inspiration).

Beautiful bees...again

Such a lovely drifty video spotted via The Spinx & the Milky Way.

honey harvest from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

Glorious garlic!

This is the most beautiful organic garlic grown and plaited by the fair hands of Nea and Carl and very happily being eaten by me and Ben. It was quite difficult to cut off that first head because it is such a work of art, but the joy of eating it has overcome that. It was hung outside for this shot only of course, and is currently taking pride of place in a nice dark, dry place inside the house- the dining room. It makes me very happy... as does the size of the Black Russian tomatoes I'm growing below.

Divine teacups

Spotted Cecilia Levy's ridiculously beautiful paper teacups on Poppy's blog and instantly fell in love. I did once flirt with a similar idea myself, but as with so much in art - overcoming the space between having the intention to make something, and actually making it is really what it's all about. We just need time and energy....and lots of both.

New Year

We saw 2012 arrive in our traditional way- champagne in the backyard and a climb onto the roof to see the fireworks. This time we actually had a really good view of them too- seemed like the finale was particularly spectacular, perhaps because the Arts Centre tower caught fire from a random exploding firework, terribly exciting I'm sure. Hmmm. I took the shot below just as Ben was climbing up the ladder- the golden orb spider was just beginning her night's work and she and the moon and Ben lined up nicely. Is that auspicious do you think?

Wilsons Prom

Just got back from a couple of days camping at Wilsons Promontory - such a beautiful place. When we walked down to the beach just before taking this shot we thought we'd missed the sunset but the show was just about to start. A great place to be to celebrate the Mid-Summer Solstice- even if it wasn't precisely hot. Merry Christmas!

December Pin board- slightly wonky.

This one is dominated by the most beautiful hand-made, printed Japanese paper, which I had to leave uncut for obvious reasons. Happy Mid-Summer Southern Hemisphereans!

Weezie's birthday spoon

I experimented with my wood burning tool to decorate a wooden spoon for Louise's birthday and she sent me a beautiful photograph back showing the spoon in use...nice.

December...already!?

I spotted this beautiful collage by Darrah Gooden at Tiny Fawn on Poppy's blog and it has just stuck with me. It's so sweet and simple but I know from personal experience that getting something so subtle and delicate like this to work using tissue paper is not as easy as it looks! I also love her birds...

More lovely Angie Lewin

Beautiful tape designed by Angie Lewin, Mark Hearld and Emily Sutton at the St Jude's website. I have also succumbed to the most divine tote from St Judes's using Angie's "Skye Sun" fabric. I can't afford a print but I can afford a tote...sort of...well my credit card can anyway.

November Pin Board- Green!

Birthday teatowel

Just received this gorgeous Lush Designs teatowel in the mail from lovely Anna (...nearly PhD) -thanks Anna I love it!

Mark Hearld

Although I admire Mark's art, it is not always to my taste, but everything Mark says in this video about art and creating is pretty much exactly how I feel - except perhaps the liking for stuffed animals...

Cover done...maybe..?

After chopping up all those old envelopes (mostly bills) for their patterned interiors this is what I came up with for the cover of my sketchbook (can't tell I'm a pattern designer/addict can you?)- and while I was at it I chopped into the cover as well, which of course then meant I had to start something on the inside... I'm determined not to be too precious about this sketchbook but to just keep working on it as I am inspired- there are quite a few pages to fill and my interpretation of the theme "nothing new" will be fast and loose! But it's fun!

Sketchbook ruminations...

Getting started on my ideas for the Sketchbook Project...the theme I chose is "Nothing New" which I have to admit was a spur of the moment, instinctive decision without an enormous amount of contemplation...but I like it. Lefty always wants to help by sitting on whatever I'm doing.