Scissor Love

It's been nearly 2 weeks since my last post - whew, time flies. If you've been here before you might notice that this blog looks a bit different - redesigning and such things have been on the cards recently. And not much making. But have been doing some drawing - these are my scissors. I love scissors, can you tell?

It's a shop!

Finally, finally I've put together a wee lil' Etsy shop. It's modest at the moment as this is just the beginning, but you've got to start somewhere!

It's now stocked with a range of super cute elephants made from handmade, hand screen-printed fabric - go on, have a look!

Leaves

A lovely spring day leads to more drawing, this time leaves.

Trees & leaves & more pink & grey

I have things that I should be doing right now, but they'll have to wait as these leaves & trees needed to be drawn and coloured.


And have been working on some new fabric designs. These are some test prints (and lame low-light photos!)

Pink & Grey

The rain drops/water obsession continues. Today it's combined with a pink & grey infatuation. Selfishly hope it's not actually raining as I'm looking forward to a stroll around the park followed by strong coffee.

Snaps

I finally went to the mysterious and fun-filled Junk Company in North Melbourne a weekend or two back (which is kind of like the Camberwell Market, but in a shop).

I picked up a beautiful and very rusty old biscuit tin and almost wanted to take home this display:


Bowling women one one side, men on the other, set behind smudged glass. What the? I have no idea, but still wanted it, although all I managed to get was these pics.

Drawin'

Have been drawing today, for it is most definitely too cold and wet to go outside. In the process I have had, I believe, four cups of Earl Grey tea. I think I'm obsessed with tea. Am somewhat obsessed by combs, too. Can you tell?

Three things

Reading Fiona's post last night about three things that made her happy this week, I was inspired to write my own list. Yes, I'm definitely letting things slip by without fully appreciating them, and it's time to rectify that. Here goes.

One. The Sun. Yes, the Melbourne winter's coming to an end, it's actually warm outside and I can ride around town without gloves, thick tights and a jacket zipped all the way up to my ears. After what feels like the coldest winter we've had in a few years, the end finally seems in sight. And walking down the street today and seeing this orange tree (?) made me rather happy at the thought of summer punch etc etc.


Two. Baking and eating a delicious cake this afternoon, on my first day off after working six days in a row. And I've got tomorrow off, too. Yay.


Three. Finally seeing my first fully fledged freelance graphic design project printed. (OK, it's not actually the first, but the first where I've been in full control and treated it like a proper business!) Yep, I didn't go to some office and do work for someone else, this time I got to set the agenda between myself and my client. And they were happy in the end, and it didn't stuff up! Hooray indeed.

And here's where I pretend I'm not cheating by trying to slip a fourth one in. On no, that's not cheating - it's not a fourth, it's an honourable metion. And it goes to David Stratton and his autobiography I Peed on Fellini, which I'm finally getting around to reading, and am loving. I've watched The Movie Show (the original version, RIP)/At The Movies for 16 or 17 years (minus two where I was overseas) and will never tire of watching David & Margaret's insightful reviews, on-screen banter and the little debates that arise from the fact that they often have such wildly different opinions of films. And it's so interesting reading about how David started out with nothing more than a passion (OK, obsession) for film and channeled that energy into creating a varied and unique career for himself. Go David! What an inspiration.

Whew, OK, the end. That's probably the longest post I've written!

Brrr it's still winter

And so cold outside (well, cold for Melbourne) - the temp is about 9 degrees celsius but with wind it feels like about -9. And the patchy rain isn't helping. So I'm making leaf patterns - a perfect winter activity. And finally changing the header of this blog (and tweaking various things) which I've been meaning to do forever.



Fortunately the rest of the day will be spent watching films, thanks for keeping me entertained MIFF.

Mikes Mirabel does eBay

Go forth and buy softies, for a cause, on eBay people! Yay for Mikes, yay for Mirabel.



In other non-news, I must be having some sort of winter thing going on - haven't been making anything lately. Nothing. Nix. Have taken some photos, that's about it. Yep, it's just cold here. Perhaps I'm hibernating.

Festival fun

This Month
Melbourne International Design Festival - Lots of fun stuff to do including the Design Market (this Sunday) and Melbourne Open House (also this Sunday - it's going to be a busy day!) And they have a blog.

Next Month
A Month About Making by Craft Victoria
Melbourne International Film Festival So many films, so little time.

It's a cushion!

OK, finished my log cabin-type cushion ages ago but am only now getting around to taking a snap of it. It's very bright and colourful and doesn't fit in that well with the muted colours of our other cushions, but looks rather fancy atop a bed covered in white sheets/doona/pillow cases etc.

Brrrr need a log cabin cushion

It was sooo cold tonight and I stupidly went out with footless tights on, ie: bare ankles, and I had no beanie. This combined with a bicycle and speeding around & some rain = a lot of freezingness. So when I got home I decided I needed to turn the heater up and make a log cabin cushion cover (or something like a log cabin cushion cover - can't remember exactly what they're supposed to look like...) while eating Lindt dark chocolate.


That's a shot of all the cut bits stuck next to each other...which looks rather unimpressive compared to the pillow's current status - all the bits sewn together...but you get the idea. The fabric is a combination of random polka dots and bits and pieces and then lots of fabric from Auntie Cookie, Lotta Jansdotter & stuff that I've screen printed. Can't wait to get it all sewn up tomorrow and fingers crossed it will look half as good as the brilliant ones Lisa Congdon has made.

Shopping is fun

Bought a few fabulous fabrics online recently - finally got a PataPri 'apples' teatowel before they sold out - lovely. Don't think it will be used for dishes...it would be better in a frame. And a bag full of Lotta Jansdotter fabric remnants - brilliant! Will have to pull the sewing machine out.

It's raining today

It doesn't rain that much here in Melbourne, and when it does I seem to want/have to make little illustrations inspired by the rain. I can't really explain it...perhaps it's something to do with being a Pisces. This pic includes apple pips (can you tell?), something I was thinking of using for a pattern to screenprint.