Circa 78 Knot Necklace

Isn't this necklace lovely? I was going to buy it and jumped when I saw that there was a sale and it was below $10! But why doesn't Urban Outfitters ship internationally?! 

I would love it if one of you could help me out! But I think most of you are Australian readers. Dear Urban Outfitters, please start shipping internationally : (

Yipee! It's Friday

No pictures to share with you, so I'm rejoicing in all these awesome pages from vintage children books. So sorry I can't remember who are the awesomes behind these lovely pages. I got them all randomly online. And most of the time, they don't credit the illustrators. 

Darren and I will be spending our Saturday walking around near the Botanical Gardens, and we'll be heading towards South Yarra and to this little independent bookstore at Domain Road. It's gonna be a nice and slow Saturday for us. How about you? Any fun plans this weekend?

Shift, Group Art Show Opening Night

A bunch of us had a little group show opening on Tuesday night. There was so much good food and the artworks were all rad! Many came to support and enjoyed the food and all the booze. It was really nice.

Oh and yesterday, I visited Laith Mcgregor's homely studio. This guy does magic with his biro pens! ( ball point pens ) You should go check out amazing his work here.

In other news, I made myself a little necklace this morning and I'm now binding a few books. So I will have stuff to show for my workshop at Sticky in about 3 week's time! It's going to be a free workshop and I will be talking about my love for hand bound books, how I started making them, and show a little demo how to do a book like the one below. So if you're interested, do ring Sticky and let them know you would like to attend!

PS: You can find out more details from them too!

PPS: The book with 'Tiny bit of Magic' hand stitched on it's cover is available for purchase online here. The shop is run by the very talented Amy Borell and all the works are by artists/crafters from all around the world, and each artwork comes in limited editions of 13 copies! Do support us and the handmade community!

Alright, back to bookbinding!

After

After, a cute little corner shop just opposite the Victoria Market dry goods section. They don't have a website, email or any contacts but if you're in the area, do check it out. The little shop stocks handmade goodness, mostly made by Africans living in third world countries, who make such crafts for a living.

At first glance, you'll probably pass the shop without even looking. I mean, I've passed the shop a few times, because groceries were simply just calling out my name and I had my eyes all glued to the dry goods section. And this shop, sitting quietly in between some odd vintage shop ( which I've seen only open for business once ) and the ever so busy Macdonalds, one will simply walk past while rumaging through their packed grocery bag, trying to look for their coin pouch, etc. I know because it happened to me before. Haha. Anyway, the next time you're at Victoria Market, do take some time just to pop in the shop and peep around all those handmade wonders!

PS: I spoke to the brother boss of the shop and guess what? I'll also be placing some zines in the shop soon! Nice!

But yup, do check out this heartwarming little shop!

Wishing it was summer

Good morning! How are you today? I woke up today wishing it was summer or much warmer. (It's winter here in Melbourne still). Not one of my favourite seasons I must say. I much prefer Summer and Autumn. Anyway, here's what I did yesterday. I handprinted my etched drawings from copper plates!

Note to myself after my first two prints: I need to try and stop the yellow from reacting with my copper plate. See how it causes the yellow to turn slightly dirty? Hmmm. I used oil paints last week and it came out a nightmare! My yellow turned into this icky dirty greenish stuff! Anyway, after a few tries, it got better and it's almost perfect now!

I hope you like them. I've used a nice summery yellow in hope Summer or warmer months would quickly come. So there you go. Each print is printed on heavy weight, pressed printmaker's paper. And I'm thinking, I should put one of the prints up online for sale. 

There you have it, this Oh Honey! print is up for sale. The print comes signed! Oh and it's about slightly smaller than A4 so it should fit easily and nicely in frame. 

So, if you're interested in getting yourself this one lucky print, do hop on over to my online shop and get yourself one before it runs out! 

Should I print more? And put them online for sale? What do you guys think. Would you buy them? Haha. 

xxxxxx

It's one of those days...

When I feel horrible, sulky and uninspired. I tried painting and everything went wrong. So, I decided I should take a break tomorrow and try to not think about painting. 

In the meanwhile, I shall try and be a bit more positive and just smile and be thankful because I had a nice warm weekend. 

xxxx

See you tomorrow! When I'm all better!

A Week Of Special Stuff-Part 3!

I used to walk a lot. An hour to school and an hour back everyday. I don't particularly enjoy walking on cold days. But when the air is just right, when it's light and breezy with a bit of sun, I don't mind the walking. In fact, I quite enjoy it. 

Walking is good, helps me to lose weight, discover new places, and allows me to think. And best of all, walking's free! Alright, unless I get distracted like today, and ended up buying myself a cup of hot chocolate and a peach danish. Which by the way, was really really yummy. I love danishes. Did I ever tell you that?

Anyway, I walked quite a bit today. Even though it was kind of cold and gloomy. I had a mission and that was to go in search for some vintage florally wallpapers. I was painting and trying out the new bottles of interior paints I bought yesterday from Bunnings. And went on to sit in my studio painting words, letters, etc.

'Vanilla pie', 'Blueberry pie', 'Key lime pie', etc. I don't know where all this pie inspiration came from. But I just went on and all of a sudden, had the most awesome idea hit me from no where. And I knew I had to brave the cold and get my hands on some wallpapers to try my idea out.

You see, that's me. When I have an idea, I kind of like to jump in straight on it and start working. And usually you'd find me rushing off to get supplies immediately. It's weird really, but that's me.

Okay anyway, to cut the story short, no, I did not manage to find any wallpaper at all. Which was quite sad cause I walked a lot. But instead, I stumbled upon this wonderful little French shop. I didn't bring my camera along today so the picture above was shot on my iphone. Anyway, the shop's opposite South Melbourne Market. And it sells the loveliest french vintage items. Baskets, trays, key holders, pots, pans, tea towels, etc. But the price was way out of my budget. Besides I didn't need any of those things. I only needed my wallpaper. Haha. So yes, I left without buying anything. But well, if you're into french vintage stuff, and you're willing to fork out about hundred dollars and above, do visit this quaint little shop! : )

Alrighty mighty o! You all have a good weekend!

Darren's bringing me out on a fancy dinner date tonight, along with a visit to some nice Jazz bar. I'm excited and can't wait till he comes home from work!

PS: Oh by the way, if you do know of places in Melbourne to buy wallpapers like these, do let me know! I can't afford expensive ones so if know of affordable ones, please please let me know! Thank you! : )

A Week Of Special Stuff-Part 2!

This morning, I woke up a bit later than usual, because I was a bit sick, and made myself a nice cup of warm peach and apricot tea.

Following yesterday's special post,  I must say, tea holds a rather special place in my heart. It's funny because I'm not your typical everyday tea drinker. I don't drink tea on a regular basis. Instead, tea to me is sort of like a take a step back and relax, sort of drink. 

To me, a cup of warm hot tea helps me to relax and think better. I indulge in cups of tea when I'm stressed or when I'm tired but need to keep painting. I drink tea when I can't think of anything lovely to paint or make. To me, Warm Tea makes everything alright.

It cheers me up, perks me up, puts a smile on my face. You see, that's why I love tea. I've made paintings of my favourite tea box, and  even made my very first etching print out of a drawing of my cup of tea! 

If you asked what sort of tea I like, I'll tell you I like Orange Pekkoe, Peach and Apricot, Vanilla and Peppermint tea. How about you?

Does my post make you want to drink some tea as well? Haha. Alright, you should go make yourself a nice warm cup of tea. 

Take a little mid-afternoon break and have a sip!

xxxx!

A Week Of Special Stuff!

This week I'll be taking part in Pip's fantastic-very special-idea! And I'll be blogging about little special things that makes my heart skip a little! : )

I popped by this charming little street yesterday for some very good iced chocolate and latte with Darren. The sun was just right to capture some photos. We visited Jasper's Coffee. And the iced chocolate I had, it's real good. You should go try it too! 

Brunswick street is really special. I love it there. Apart from Degraves and a few other streets, Brunsiwck makes it into my top 5 favourites! I remember being able to spend an entire afternoon there on my own, just sifting through racks of vintage clothing, finding really cool books and nice-smelling soaps and bits. It's awesome! And of course, you'll be able to find good food, and people-watch there too! I know my favourite pumpkin soup's sold in one of the cafes on Brunswick! Oh YUMMMM!

After our drinks, we headed down to Smith Street's Lost+Found and had lots of fun sifting through vintage knick knacks. I bought myself a beautiful pair of summery sandals. It's from the 1950s and looks really new still. I'm wearing it out today. I'm excited! 

I hope you all have a good Monday! 

To Market To Market!

On Saturday, I spent some time walking around Victoria Market alone. It's nice! And I love it there! (I'm a Market-ty sort of person. I looove doing groceries and the market! )

So, my weekend came and went and off you go, another week ahead.I took so many pictures this weekend, but I'll show them to you in a few posts. 

Ah, I can't believe my sweet sweet weekend is over. It's crazy! This semester is going to be whack indeed. So much to do, so little time. All my ideas are bursting out from my head. I want to do so much! : ) For now though, I'm going to concentrate on getting my first proper etching print printed tomorrow, interviewing more strangers for my project, tackle my next art history topic, finish my glitter text paintings, build a little mini tipi mock-up, and then attempt to make a tiny one which can fit a single person at one time.

Alright back to etching. See you! : )

PS: And Did you watch the Masterchef finale? I'm so glad Julie won Masterchef Australia! I started off liking Poh, but after a while, I got a little sick of her asian style cooking. Too asian for Masterchef, if you ask me. Haha. And her 'Food from Mars' cookbook idea didn't sound good to me. But I must say, her plating skills are So good! But still, Julie's family cookbook won my heart over. Go Mom-sy Julie!

I think I'm going to suffer from Masterchef withdrawal syndrome. Now what am I going to watch every weekday at 7pm? : (

My next art project

I can never tell you enough, how much I love Degraves street in Melbourne. The noise, the small alleys, cafes, roasted coffee, muffins, workaholics flipping through meeting notes, stylish boys and girls, friendly waitresses, buskers, crepes, flowers, vintage cruisers. I simply love it! So much so, 'm heading down to this wonderful little street to interview strangers for my next art project. I'm intending to ask them this question: ''If you could just stop what you're doing right now, and go somewhere nice, where would that be?"

I hope the people I ask will be friendly and provide me with sweet funny answers.

Crossing my fingers, wish me luck!

xxx

Pretty Things

I love receiving mail. And I'm sure many of you out there do too! I collected my little vintage Japan-made trivet yesterday. It was wrapped in recycled paper. And the seller even decorated my address with a cute fabric border!

I'll show you the trivet another time. For now, I'm showing you some of the wonderful goodies Ebony and Sarah both sent me while I was away in Singapore for my short holiday. You two girls are  so super awesome for sending me such ace stuff! You both made me smile in delight! Thank you for your wonderful packages!

Too cute for words right?

xxxx

I love exchanging mail. Nothing beats brisk walking to the post office to pick up a surprise package filled with awesome goodies! Melts and warms my heart totally!

Oh and tomorrow's Sarah's birthday! Everyone should hop over to her blog and wish her the happiest birthday! : ) She's such a sweet girl. Haha :P Happy birthday Sarah wiggidy wig wig! Quick stand up and do a wiggidy wriggly birthday dance! Hahahah!

Anyway, for those of you who ordered my zines, I've sent them all out on Monday, as promised!I hope they reach your lovely mailboxes soon!

See you!

: )

Sweet Clouds Of Mine

These cloud photos were taken while I was flying across Sydney, towards Melbourne. The sky was a nice light pink. It made the clouds look really pretty, like icebergs. And I found myself wondering if Polar bears were hiding in these iceberg clouds.

I think I might make a painting on clouds and icebergs soon...