Merry Belated X-Mas

I forgot to post this before Xmas! My last bit of handmadeness for 2010 - My first attempt at homemade jam (apricot) and star shaped scones!

Merry Christmas to everyone and thankyou for stopping by and leaving your comments here. I really appreciate the feedback and loved meeting you all and finding out about your work too.

Looking forward to a creative 2011.

xx

Inspiration - Art & Coffee

I love the design above done for Dead Man Espresso a newish cafe (probably not that new!) located in South Melbourne. Their coffee is fantastic and the people that work there are lovely!

The guys who designed the image above are Webuyyourkids a collaboaration between Sonny Day & Biddy Maroney. They design T-shirts, websites, logo's, packaging and band posters.

I also love the film Dead Man - which must have been of some influence to the artwork and name?!

Artist Inspiration - John Dyer Baizley

Image Source: John Dyer Baizley

I'm loving the artwork (and music) of John Baizley at the moment! - he is the singer and guitarist from Baroness (who I saw with Metallica the other week) and he is also the artist who did their album covers.

Can see the Mucha inspiration - and I love the modern take on the Art Nouveau style.

Now I am off to see if I can buy a print!




Image Source: John Dyer Baizley



Image Source: John Dyer Baizley

Image Source: John Dyer Baizley

Say Hello to Edith (or Edie for Short!)

Well I have finally finished my doll for Softies for Mirabel which is organised by Pip at Meet Me at Mikes. Softies for Mirabel is in its 4th year and is an event where heaps of arty/crafty types send in their handmade toys to be donated to children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental drug use.

More information on the Softies for Mirabel project can be found here or if you would like to donate directly to the Mirabel Foundation click here).

Also you can go to the Softies for Mirabel flickr group here to see some of the great creations already made for this year and years past.

Oh - and Edith was adapted from this pattern by Hop Skip Jump

It feels great to have finally made something new!

Now I need a new project.........

Pin up Your Doodle Exhibition

Woohoo - my Pin Up Your Doodle submission made it in time and will be a part of the Pop Up Bar exhibition opening on Thursday 18th November (6pm-1am) and the exhibition will be running from Fri 19th - Sunday 21st November.

The bar is located at Donkey Wheel House,  673 Bourke Street Melbourne.  Am hoping to pop into the opening before heading off to see Baroness and Metallica - another wooooo!

Doll Update

Well she's all sewn up and almost ready to go. I made her a cardy but it's a little tight so am going to stitch it on. all I need now is something for the hair and some shoes!

Inspiration - Anna Wili Highfield

Wow - all i can say is wow (made from PAPER!) Anna Wili Highfield found via Creature Comforts

Softie for Mirabel

Every year Meet me at Mikes organises a fundraising event where lots of makers and sewers send in their soft toy creations which are donated to the children of the Mirabel foundation (more info on how to join in here).

Last years effort was pretty miserable and still not finished so this year I am determined to make and finish something to send in for a good cause.

Last night I was inspired to start my Softie for Mirable project and below are some of the process images. Thankfully my friend Thouraya sent me this pattern by Hop Skip Jump a while ago which i adapted a little bit because i'm not that good at following patterns so did a few bodgy things that are thankfully hidden under that clothing!

All she needs now is a cardy, something for the hair and some shoes!

Pin Up Your Doodle Submission

I found out about this project a little while ago called Pin Up Your Doodle. I was a little dubious and worried on first clicking the link! but as it turns out it is a fundraising event organised by a non-profit bar in Melbourne Shebeen opening soon to support projects in the developing world.

The aim of the game is to submit your doodle, illustration or sketch and they will be exhibited and auctioned at the Australian Cenre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne.

More information is found at their website or blog. Submissions must be in by the 1st November.

I was thinking of submitting the above image I did at the first art/craft group meet up I started with some friends!

Artist Inspiration - Milly Neimanis

I have finally hung up Loud Mouth Lemmy and Hot Pants Holly!

These guys were made by my mate Milly for her Honours final project when we were at uni together and I just love them. I still haven't convinced her to start a blog yet but maybe one day (just maybe) she will share her work with us!

From memory these guys were first machine knitted, felted then stitched together. Exploring ideas of relationships and love (well there was more to it then that but it's all I can remember).

Exhibition - Ben Guy - Helm

(image source: Funbeard Studios)

My mate Benny is having a solo exhibition at Collingwood Gallery, which will be awesome - can't wait to see it. Unfortunately we are going to miss the opening but if you are free Friday the 22nd October please get along to see it will be a great show!

Below is a sneak peak of some of the paintings, there are heaps more process images over at his blog Funbeard Studios.

Inspiration - Antonello Fusè

(image source: Resign)

Check out these amazing coat hangers seen over at sfgirlbybay. Designed by Antonello Fusè, made from re-purposed chair backs!

Exhibition - Romance was born & Kate Rohde - Renaissance Dinosaur

(all images via the Karen Woodbury Gallery Website)

I can't believe I forgot all about this exhibition and just found out it ended! I was very curious to see how Romance was Born had collaborated with Kate Rohde after Del Kathryn Barton.

Here are some images from the show at the Karen Woodbury Gallery. I didn't realise that the pieces on the mantel were headpieces till i read the fine print (the title of the piece "green headpiece"!) - probably would have looked better on an actual head as they look amazing and would look totally different in that context.

Artist Inspiration - Heston Blumenthal

I have truly become obsessed with Heston Blumenthal. This guy is amazing, he makes the most creative food from almost anything into anything! He's more of an artist then a chef, with amazing experimentation and concepts going into his feasts.

His show is currently on SBS on a Thursday night Heston's Feasts and i think this week his theme is 1980's! I found this clip on Youtube which will give you an idea of the sort of thing he does - it's awesome. Would love to go to his restaurant one day but i believe there is a huge waiting list.

Boy

Highly recommend this film - it's brilliant!

HeartFELT Project by Candy Bandit

(image by Pete de Bruyn)

This is exciting news! A while back I did a little design for Gem of Candy Bandit for her project HeartFELT. The artists were asked to design an image based on the theme heartFELT and Gem made them into brooches to be sold off for charity through an online store Leeloo.

The proceeds from my design go to Beyond Blue, but everyone has chosen a different charity. It is a great project too support so here is the link to go shopping!

The results were amazing. Below are a few of my favourites in no particular order (images taken by Pete de Bruyen and brooches made by Gem of Candy Bandit).

Romeo & Juliet

This is one of my most favourite images from the Tim Burton exhibition. Had an amazing week when it opened going to both his talks, the book signing and then actually checking out the exhibition. A definite overdose but well worth it!

A Week of Burton

I haven't been making much lately but there is plenty of inspiration happening this week. I am sooooo excited the Tim Burton exhibition is opening in Melbourne this week and have managed to score tix to both his talks - can't wait. ACMI have put so much into making this an awesome experience for fan's - i saw the below article in the saturday age a couple weeks back and forgot to post it but click on the image to read about some of the cool things coming!

Also can't forget that the Melbourne International Animation Festival has already kicked off which should be awesome and the European Masters Exhibition at the NGV - whoa it is gonna be a busy week!

Animation Experiment

I made this little stopmotion animation at a 2 day animation workshop I did a little while ago. Was just experimenting with animating some of my old works - not sure where I am heading with it!

The Dead Weather

(source)

Check out the awesome new ablum cover for the Dead Weather AND the video clip to their new single "Die by the Drop" - love the look of it.

Micmacs is Fantastic!

If you get a chance go check it out. Maybe one of Jeunet's best! - very creative and loved the look of it - super quirky.

Some handmade delights from the wedding

Below are some images of some of the handmade elements from the wedding. After this I have only a few more pictures to share then enough of weddings! A big thanks to my Mum, Milly, Thouraya, Katherine, Loren and Tara for helping contribute to all the handmade stuff!

The wedding dress made by my mum!

The birds

Stamps handmade by Tara of Dudley Redhead got a work out.

on the nameplace/gifts bagsin the church books.

and in the guest books (artworks by Katherine, Alex and Mel!).all the hearts cut and made by MillyLantern arrangement by Katherine + you can see the table runners Milly helped me make.

The marquee and Lanyon Homestead below.

Garter belt i made.

flower girl dress (of which there were 2, one made by Thouraya and the other my mum)

Bouquets made by Katherine and Loren.