Sneak peek 2

Today I (finally) get to post off my little contribution to Big Cat's art swap, for which the theme was 'In the Woods'. It was my fist attempt at being crafty with paint so it's pretty amateurish, but I hope she doesn't think it's too tragic.

Here's another little peek for you, Big Cat:



I hope they reach you before your birthday!

Sweet autumn glow

I couldn't imagine a more superb day to be stuck on campus at Melbourne Uni .... this crisp and sunny autumn weather makes my heart sing!

Feelin' folksy

This morning I found Julia Rothman's guest blog on Design*Sponge. I thought her tutorial on How to make a repeat pattern was very easy to follow and really inspiring (now I just have to find the skill to draw that well!)...

Her patterns remind me of the quirky folk art that always seems to prickle me with a gentle tinge of nostalgia. Something like this:


Anna-lisa's bala horse and goat

Hannah Kopacz' Bukarest skirts


a lovely naiive piece held by Superstock

... and this kooky little peacock found at .... um... I'm sorry I've forgotten! If anyone recognises it, please let me know!

Speaking of folk art, those of you who like embroidery might like to check out the Mexican Dress site, to download patterns and instructions for making a traditional dress or tunic.... very kitsch!

This is .... what reminds me of my mum

- fringed beach umbrellas, because as kids we spent a lot of time sitting under them with my mum, or playing near them in the scorching summer sun. The beach umbrellas I remember were sometimes floral, often yellow and orange and brown, or combinations of purple, blue and green like my Gippsland op-shop fabric. Succulent Designs have reinterpreted this idea with their pretty, modern fringed umbrellas.

BTW, here are some pics of my mum:





Her name is Sophie, and people say we look alike.

Flashback Friday

.... yep, on a Saturday. Unfortunately most of my pre-1985 photos are packed away in storage, so I wasn't able to join Angela's Flashback Friday thingy when it was a regular spot. I did find a few at home the other day though so here are a couple of flashback pics:

That's me sitting in the cabbage patch with my sister keeping watch (in 1974 perhaps?).


Washing our wonderful Kombi in the chilly English weather. We travelled throughout Europe in the Kombi and it was our family car for nearly two decades (until it got crunched by a careless driver).
I still love Kombis.

It's my birthday today

... see you over the hill!

Finishing school

I think I need to go to a finishing school ...
I'm usually very excited about new projects when I start them, but for some strange reason I often set them aside just before they're properly completed. I have many more unfinished projects lying around than finished ones - it's extremely frustrating, and I really should change my wicked ways.

Here are a few of my works in progress (I have oodles more stashed in various places around the house):




I made some luscious grey, red and blue felt by washing woollen jumpers in very hot water. It's oh-so-thick and soft!


My scotty-dog needs some ears. I cut his ears off the original fabric when I thought I was going to make a four-legged dog with an underbelly and a broad head, but I couldn't work out how to do it so he ended up being two-legged and earless :-/






.... It might be time to move away from the cutsie look now though. I like the beuys bunnies and fibonacci rabbits over at Das Kanninchen's Flickr set.

This is .... my favourite pair of shoes, which I would sleep in if I could

Please ignore my shuddering sobs of dispair as I illustrate some of the shoes that I really love, which (like most) are not produced in my size. Curses on my long feet!






If Minx and Camper were to increase their sizes just a little bit, all you'd have to do would be point me toward their stores with a bit of brass in pocket. Dangerous stuff!

I also found these lovely shoes on Flickr (posted by Swelldesigner, Archangelli, Juleslovespolkadots and Tiffanyinthetrees). There seems to be a bit of a theme going on here ...

Field trip

Three days of 'resilience thinking', consideration of complex adaptive systems, connectivity and people's connections to the land ...








This is Lenny Clarke, a wonderfully engaging man and Elder of of the Gunditjmara/Kirrae Wurrung people, with his recycled microwave-letterbox:


... and this was part of a museum exhibit, paper in a typewriter, that really made me feel that I'm part of the 'older generation' now! Click on the picture to enlarge it if you're having trouble reading it ....

Drowning in bibliographies

... and I thought my research was going to be fun!

(Pic from allposters.com)