Monday, October 31, 2011

To Adelaide and back!

The crowdPaper Boat PressCrayon Chick!Sarah DingwallSouth For The SummerMe & AmberSunday Morning DesignsLunch Time!Harvest TextilesMonolog
Bowerbird BazaarMy Ultimate New York Burger and Fries combo!Bowerbird Bazaar
My stall!
Hello everyone! I'm back from 3 full days in Adelaide! I had a stall at Bowerbird Bazaar and even though it was super tiring ( my first interstate market, so I'm still rather inexperienced! ) it fun nevertheless. I must say, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing, considering I did get quite a few rude customers who questioned me about my prices, the fact that I'm charging $20 for a coloured piece of paper, too expensive, ( an art print, mind you! ) the way I make my stuff, and that they wouldn't want to spend money on my stuff in case they regret it later on cause they have a budget and they want to buy other stuff too... I did however get lots of magical moments that made my heart smile and go 'It's all worth it!' And seriously, those moments are what I'm going to treasure and remember most : )

There were occasions when grannies laughed out loud after seeing my burger plates and meaty pillow cases. There were times when kids just went straight to my french fry cup and said "Look Mummy look! Can I have it PLEASSSEEEEEE?????" I also got to make so many new friends and meet some blog readers in person! One of which gave me super cute panda stickers! Thank you!

I also did lots of swapsies with the other crafters. I ended up with a nice leather lady bag ( my first! ), some beautiful resin bangles and a ring, a soft dreamy set of pillowcases, a t shirt for Darren, a cute ring and even a super cute mustard leather headband and bunting necklace! I am such a lucky girl! Haha. Thank you crafty friends for all the wonderful swaps! ( I'll do another post some time soon, all these items deserve to be shown and shared! )

Thank you so so much, to all of you who made it all worthwhile. I really truly appreciate it! I didn't really have time to go explore Adelaide itself. Considering I was totally popped out after everyday's market. But I did however get to have LOTS of good food. Oh my. All the Melt-in-your-mouth steaks, the chocolates,  the ice cream. Oh my goodness. I'm hungry just thinking of it now. Ah. Okay. I shall not think further. Instead, off to bed I go, to relax and have a nice rest. Definitely need it after 3 full days of hard work! Phew!

From Top: Bowerbird Crowd, Paper Boat Press, Crayon Chick!, Sarah Dingwall, South For The Summer, Me & Amber, Sunday Morning Designs, Lunch Time Goodness, Harvest Textiles, Monolog, Myself!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Happy Hanging Mobiles

From Class yesterday!
Just look at those happy smiles. So proud of the kids from my class at Do Re Me yesterday. Not only did they work on a mini Paul Cezanne inspired piece, they also completed their Hellosandwich inspired Polish hanging mobile. We used 90% recycled goodness. From straws to yarn, embroidery hoops, leftover beads to even shower curtains! Talk about creativity! These kids are all below 10. So to be able to string these themselves is indeed a great feat. So glad they all had so much fun!

Good job kiddos!

2 More sleeps to Bowerbird!

Bowerbird Bazaar
How rad is the time lapse video?! I grabbed it off the Bowerbird site. I am really excited about Bowerbird. It's going to be my first ever interstate craft market! I have been packing and packing and packing even more. Prints, totes, tea towels, pillowcases, plates. Ah, these are just some of the things that will be on sale at my little stall. So if you're in the area, do come on down! Say hi! I would LOVE to meet you : ) And my happy friends Jess and Emma from Harvest textiles will be there too! And Indie of Monolog will be there too! We are all going to be side by side so it'll be pretty easy to spot us!

Well, see you there!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Queen is here!

Commissioned pieceAnd to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's arrival in Melbourne, here is a few snapshots of an English piece I'm working on! It's a commission for a lovely lady who is possibly the nicest wife ever. She's giving this as a surprise to her English husband. How super sweet! Oh England oh England...one day. Just one fine day, I'll be visiting you. Hope all my English readers like this piece! Heehee. Have a nice day out in the glorious sun!

And yes, I so stood on the chair to take this picture. This piece is huge! A2 sized! Ah. Don't mind my stubby toes!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Meaty Pillowcases are here!

Meaty PillowcasesMeaty pillowcases!
Oh yes they are! I am now ready to take orders for my meaty pillowcases! Hooray! I have been planning this for a while now. I am not usually a bacon person ( strange enough! ) but I do love ham. Well, I used to. Until I ate it almost everyday for lunch back in first year of uni. I ate ham and sprout sandwiches every.single.day until I got so scared of them. They were the cheapest as far as homemade lunches go. So yes. I can't look at another ham and sprout sandwich for now.. Ugh! But you know what? I do love bacon with my pancakes. Oh the savoury mix along with the maple syrup. Ooooh. And I also love ham and cheese croissants. Mmmmmm.

Ok, who's hungry now? Haha. I am! I would love a stack of pancakes with bacon please! Thank you!

To pre-order yourself a pillowcase set, do click here! Do note, as all pillowcases are printed and sewn up lovingly by the awesome Frankie and Swiss, there will be a 2 week wait per order. Thank you!

PS: Big giveaway coming up in the next blog post!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Meaty Pillowcases Coming soon!

Meaty Pillowcases
A few of you have written me emails and asked when my pillowcases will be ready. They will be in a bit! Soon soon I promise! See, I've even got the page ready. Just need to click 'open shop' and they will be for sale! Will first need to get my act together. I've only just returned from my week at Mornington. And I have a whole lot of stuff to do before Bowerbird on Friday! Speaking of which, I have yet to mention, I will be having a stall at Bowerbird in Adelaide next week so do come along! But yes, back to these pillowcases, I promise, it won't be long for now before you can purchase one! Thank you!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Super Sevens!

Woodleigh SchoolWoodleigh School
Woodleigh SchoolWoodleigh School
Woodleigh SchoolWoodleigh School
Woodleigh SchoolWoodleigh School
Woodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh School
Look at what the Woodleigh Year 7s did today? Cool beans! I am so happy some of them have now discovered the beauty and joys of working with watercolour and the technique of painting by colour blocking. I think these year 7s have done a fantastic job. Watercolour is probably one of the hardest and most difficult mediums to learn how to use and they have indeed given it their best shot! Practice makes perfect kids. I see the potential! Heehee!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Looking for a Studio?

Studio TimeIn the studio
It makes me really sad to say this, but come November will be my last month at the wonderful Harvest Workroom. Yup, I'm moving my studio back home. Harvest has been such a big part of my life this year, from my first day as artist in residence, to my first ever adult workshops, regular kids art classes, even my first ever product modelling experience! Haha. Even the wonderful friends I've made through Harvest. Indie, Pauline, Lucy, Emily, Pete, Beci, etc. It has been nothing short of amazing. I wish I could stay longer but as I'll be going back to uni next year ( horrors of all horrors! ) to do a full-time diploma in Secondary education, there simply will not be any time for working in a studio. Especially when the school is going to be in Clayton, which is all the way on the other side of town. I've heard lots of things about the course sucking your life away, that you won't have time for art at all. etc. I am kind of scared but I think I should be fine. Considering how I managed to juggle craft markets alongside making lots of new non-school work, on top of my entire grad show last year. Fingers crossed I'll be able to find time to make art. Actually, I know I will, no matter what happens. How can I not make art?! Weird!

Anyway, if you happen to be looking for a nice little studio space, do write in to the wonderful Harvest Ladies. You can read about it here.

Sigh...........

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Countryside Living

Morning walkMorning walkMorning Walk
Woodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh schoolWoodleigh school
Woodleigh schoolWoodleigh schoolWoodleigh schoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh SchoolWoodleigh School

For the whole of this week, I'll be living over here in the countryside. Mornington Peninsula, to be exact. I have been so so lucky to be invited specially by Woodleigh school, as their artist in residence for their annual art festival week. The school and art department staff have been nothing but the most welcoming and friendly. It's been 2 days so far and I'm loving and cherishing every bit of it! The school got me a nice bed and breakfast here in Mount Eliza. Cute town with lots of old folkies. My place is pretty big and spacey. With birds chirping just outside my room at about 5.30, 6am. The morning walk down to the quiet beach. Soaking my feet in cold sea water. Ah.. Nice!

Apart from all that nice quiet bits of life just before school each day, there's also the fun, fast-paced school life! I think Woodleigh's a pretty cool school. Did you know, there is a farm here right smack in the school?! Oh yes. Not just a teeny tiny 'farm' with one rabbit and a few fishes. But they've got emus, kangaroos, ponies, lots of chooks, lambs and even a little vineyard! Is that cool or what!? I know! During lunch yesterday, I decided to be adventurous and go roam around the campus and to my surprise, I found myself in the school farm. Haha. Best school lunch time ever!

Apart from animals, I've been running a few workshops with the kids from year 7, year 8, 9s and 11s. It's been pretty fun talking about my work, showing them what they can do. The kids have been working on lots of watercolour packaging drawings. Some of them are really good! They ask lots of questions, are genuinely trying and learning to the best of their ability. They're all a bunch of great kids! It's been quite cool, really. I'll try and keep you guys updated with pictures and posts along the way. But if I 'disappear', you'll probably just know that I'm having too much fun. Heehee!

Staying in a big beautiful bed and breakfast that's like a 5 minute stroll to the beach isn't helping either. Seriously, Woodleigh spoils me! They get me good lunches and dinners. Kristen, the wonderful art staff in charge, picks me up and drop me home. I am so so lucky and so thankful for her! On top of that, the trees, the air that I get to breathe in ( love the Eucalyptus trees ), the walks I get to take,it all steals me away from my laptop. Haha. But I don't mind it at all. Not one bit! Oopsy! Now, I promise I won't be gone for long! Till the next post, stay happy and go for a nice walk and smell the trees!