August 28th, 2012
1. vase obsession: i brought this one from mr.kitly and i’m filling with stolen-from-the-street pre-spring blossoms to max out it’s prettiness (at swim two birds pot holder from mr.kitly too).
2. re-discovering peter and the wolf: it was my absolute favourite when i was a kid (below is the record we had) and now my kids are loving it too. ari in particular, who listens to it low through headphones at night while he goes to sleep. we downloaded this version.
3. heading to brisbane: to speak at semi-permenant (melbourne one as well in 2 weeks). even after my recent flurry of talks the thought of public speaking still makes me ill, but i am looking forward to enjoying some queensland sunshine, checking out kirra’s show, and also hanging out with lovely leah all weekend long. as part of my presentation i’m including some words of advice, such as:
4. dreaming of spring outfits: i’m longing for that feeling of just wearing one layer and open toed shoes (fingers crossed i’ll get slice of that action in QLD). my current dream outfit includes: PAM dress, object and totem necklace and tsumori chisato espadrilles (available from pet shop girls)
5. guest editing lost and found newsletter: you can read my favourite melbourne tips here, and keep checking lost of found’s FB page to win a competition which will include an afternoon of shopping, lunch and my company in the very near future.
some other things currently happening on my computer: max crumb’s “maidenhair“, eat this food, and booking holidays.
any brisbane tips please send my way! in the meantime – BRING ON SPRING xx
Tags: guest blogging, kids, melbourne, other blogs, shopping, talks, things i like
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August 22nd, 2012
over the weekend a painted a mural at new local cafe john gorilla, which opened it’s doors to the public yesterday. this was exciting for two reasons: 1. i now have a cute cafe with decent coffee and seemingly delicious food and treats within metres of my house, and 2. this was the first mural i have both designed and painted, and i found the whole process incredibly satisfying. admittedly my painting technique leaves much to be desired, but at the same time i’m learning to love my own wobbly lines (just i don’t look too close).
john gorilla: 49 pearson st, brunswick west. open 7.30am – 4pm everyday. more info here. if you visit keep your eyes open for a table which i also painted. (last photo stolen from three thousand).
Tags: artwork, new work
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August 8th, 2012
last week i created a new print for the risographica 2 show, which opens at lamington drive tomorrow night. i think because i’ve been rather lazy of late (so many cafe dates, so little time) i really laboured over this one. i’m much better at working when i have a million things going on – something to be said for momentum i think. in my laze-about state i actually created 4 prints, but the breif only allowed for one – fingers crossed i’ve made the right choice.
anyway, the show is set to be AMAZING, with prints by many other JW artist including eirian chapman (that’s a sneak peak of her’s in the corner), kate banzai and kat mcleod. all the prints are editions of 10 and are only a gobsmacking $50 each! $50!!! i’d get in quick if i were you. plus a percentage of sales will be going to vision australia.
risographica 2 opens 9th august 6pm-9pm, and then runs until september 29. lamington drive – 15-25 keele st, collingwood. opening hours etc on the lamington drive website. (while your there you can pop into the new miniscapes shop too – it’s so good!)
in other news: like everyone in melbourne at this time of year i’ve been dreaming of warmer months. it’s having a strange effect on me and i’m developing an urge to make some clothes again. just 1 or 2 summery dresses, possibly with a custom print, to sell on my (soon-to-be-updated-in-many-ways) web shop? what do you think? should i enter the nightmare that is clothing production and go there all over again?
Tags: artwork, dreaming, exhibitions, jacky winter, melbourne, new work
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July 28th, 2012
all this talk about my book and i don’t believe i have exactly explained what it is about? well – it is titled “find and keep“, and it’s loosely about finding ideas and inspiration, and then what to do with them – how to put them into action. it also shows my working process – how i find inspiration and what i do with it. also, as part of this there are some DIY projects in the book. 26 of them in fact!
admittedly, the projects section was the publishers idea. it never dawned on me to do something like this, and when they suggested it, i was like – “oh yeah, i guess i could do that”. and honestly, i’ve never thought as myself as the crafty type (although a lot of people do).
i have absolutely nothing against crafters – the opposite infact, i envy their skills. but here’s the truth about my craft skills – i can’t sew to save myself, i knew how to knit once but promptly forgot and would not have the faintest idea what to do with a crochet hook. but the more i thought about it, the more i saw how my work did fit into the “handmade” (or craft) category. and then putting the projects together didn’t feel as foreign as i thought. infact, it actually became my most favourite part of the book.
now, i’m back to my normal working life – some commercial illustration here, few exhibition pieces there (more on that soon), and what i’m fast discovering, is that all i want to do is go back to making things with my hands. pinterest has definitely helped fuel this fire (i’m addicted – I’ve had to limit myself to looking at it once a day otherwise i suffer from complete visual overload!). some images i have found which have encouraged me plan some projects:
on my list: a bit of beading (image from here), a bit of braiding (fred butler head band, image from here; mato creative bag at totokaelo-art-object) and some site specific embroidery (chair by the amazing duo peter and sally necini).
i have put some of this craft urge into action recently. last week i made some cushions for mr.kitly which will be part of the “this space” installation which bree has put together at perimeter books. there are only 6 cushions in total – 2 which i dip-dyed and the others are one-off made from fabric i’ve collect from around the place. i think they turned out pretty:
the installation runs until august 11, and any cushions not sold there will be sold at mr.kitly after that.
if you have any good DIY inspiration links please feel free to send my way – i simply can’t get enough. enjoy your weekend x
Tags: beci orpin line, books, DIY, find and keep, melbourne, other blogs, things i like
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July 20th, 2012
i am giving a talk at this years ‘craft and design as a career‘ event put on by fantastic organisation craft victoria. it’s an all day event on the 16th of august, held at the NGV (i think?). lovely ebony from hello sandwich will also be talking, as well as many other good peeps. my talk will be focusing on collaborations. if you are interested, you can book tickets here. there is also a little studio visit and interview with me on the craft victoria blog today (above pics by beth nellie).
while we are on the subject, i will also be talking at this year’s semi-permenant conference: in brisbane (30th august) and melbourne (14th/15th sept). more details here.
happy friday!
Tags: interviews, melbourne, other blogs, talks
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July 17th, 2012
it’s tricky getting back into this blogging business. there has been so many things happening the past few days/weeks/months. the obvious thing – finishing my book (champagne all round!), but other things too. i’m just not sure where to start with it all. so i’ve decided to start with something completely un-work related. some things ari and i have been making together. he decides what we are to make, i do the cutting, we both do the constructing and he finishes it off with drawing the faces. i think he does pretty good ones too.
the owl was inspired by our current favourite book: ‘owl know how‘ (you can download the pattern for it here). the animation by these talented ladies is pretty great as well. we are also looking forward to getting our hands on this book by another particularly talented lady too.
ok. blog drought officially over. prepare for a flood of posts over the coming weeks. thanks for sticking with me.
Tags: books, colabs, family
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June 20th, 2012
i’m approaching the finish line with my book. i’m so glad to have it in my sights. it has still been taking up all my living and breathing moments, but all worth it. in between worrying about deadlines it has been nothing short of amazing – a completely different experience than what i thought. one of the best parts has been working with ms.michlle mackintosh. she is very talented and rare gem of a lady – part book-designer extraordinaire, part design-process councillor. plus she makes a very tasty lunch and an excellent cup of tea.
i am very much looking forward to life being normal again. in particular: wasting time on the internet, watching TV, going to bed before midnight, seeing my friends (i’ve missed you guys!), having a few drinks (probably more) and not having one thousand million things going through my head at any given moment.
thanks for bearing with with me. i’ll be back in full blog mode soon x
Tags: books, fun times
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May 30th, 2012
i have been lucky enough to be asked to participate in this exhibition – true self. organised by jacky winter and fabio ongarato, it is an exhibition of collaborations, chain mail style. eg – i was delivered a blank board, which i half-filled with my artwork (sneak peek above), and then sent it on to my first collaborator minna gilligan. i then received a half finished board from my second collaborator - emily green, which i completed (which was hard – was so beautiful when i received it didn’t want to touch it!).
there are some really amazing talents in this show: akira isogawa, tai snaith and maricor/maricar just to name few. i’m very curious to see how the boards i contributed too turned out, as well as all the others. if you are interested too, the exhibition opens tonight and continues until 24th june. oh and did i mention all the pieces are for sale and are just $200 each and all the money goes towards charity ‘fitted for work‘? all sounding pretty great to me.
true self: june 1 – 24, first floor balcony at GPO, cnr bourke and elizabeth st, melbourne. more info on the true self site
Tags: artwork, colabs, exhibitions, jacky winter, melbourne
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May 28th, 2012
this book is taking over my life. every-single-living part of it. and then more. but it’s a good thing.
all of last week was a particularly fun bit – a photo shoot for one section of the book. having never done anything like it before, i was nervous. but thanks to my very very amazing book designer michelle and the calmest photographer in the world chris – it ended up being one of the best experience’s of my working life.
plus as a prelude to the shoot i got to play stylist for a day and borrow props from my favourite shops – THAT was awesome. half my house came along for the ride too. it was pretty chaotic in the studio at times, but nothing compared to the mess that fills my home studio now. it’s like a gigantic craft bomb has gone off in here. and it’s not pretty, it’s just downright embarrassing.
anyway, photographs are all finished and look beautiful – i can’t wait to show. there is still a ton of work to be completed before the final goes off to press, so for the next 6 weeks or so i may be not around so much. i promise, it will be worth it (at least i hope so anyway).
oh, and PS – last week was also one of my first daily experiences of having to be somewhere 9-5 ever (actually was more like 8-6). i’m in shock myself that i have been working for 15 years and never been in a situation which required me to do it. so, i wanted to send a BIG SHOUT OUT to the 9-5er’s out there. here am i whinging about the trails and tribulations of running my own business when comparatively my shit is footloose and fancy free. only now do i value the luxury of being able to duck down to the post office/go for a bike ride/start dinner/drop in on a friend of a cup of tea at my leisure. how you guys get any non-work type things accomplished i do not know – but obviously you do! you guys are amazing!
PPS i also had many great helpers last week and i am indebted to you all!!! you guys deserve your own blog post so i will be doing just that closer to when the book comes out. here are some blog kisses for now xxx
Tags: melbourne, new work, things i like
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May 3rd, 2012
the pillowcases i designed for third drawer down are now available! they are titled ‘bear and girl dream’.
it goes without saying this was a GIGANTIC honour for me. i have loved and admired third drawer down since the beginning – their endless list of amazing collaborators has never ceased to amaze me (mike mills pillowcases too – whaaat?!!). plus their shop museum of art souvenirs is one of my melbourne (actually wolrdwide) favs.
you can buy the pillowcases online here and also at the third drawer down store (and maybe some other places too). one day i might have them for sale on my webstore as well. one day after this book is finished that is.
i also have one set to giveaway! please leave a comment below before midnight saturday (EST) and i will draw the lucky winner over the weekend.
* GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! thanks for all who entered!
Tags: colabs, giveaways, illustration, new work, things i like
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