Birds in the Woods

On a more successful note, I have been experimenting lately with printing some of my drawings onto timber veneer - and I'm really liking how they're turning out.

Of course I'm only printing at this stage using my basic black and white home printer so the images are losing a bit of detail and definition, but the idea is there so I might now think about getting them screen-printed...? Oohh project!

When Fimo Goes Bad

Don't you hate those moments when you get so geared up and excited to try out a super idea you've thought of, only for it to end ... badly?

I had this happen to me a few nights ago, when I cottoned on to an idea of making fimo flowers.

What started out as a fantastic finished product that I could see in my mind of these really gorgeous, detailed objects that I could then add into a really neat necklace I'm working on, turned into a burning session in the oven which included smoking the house out and setting off the fire alarms, and soon after that I quickly lost my fimo mojo. Doh!

Love.

OK, this is naughty. I have this photo. I've had it saved in my 'fav pics' folder on my computer for a while. Problem is, I don't know who's site I got it from. I know, naughty, and I'm really sorry, and if it was your site, please let me know and I will give you credit. But I just love this photo. I love it so much I had to be naughty and share it. I'm sorry. Love love!

I Heart Gala

Images from Gala Darling

The beautiful Gala Darling... Strong, clever, beautiful girls like Gala inspire me every day.

Catch her blog, it's choca bloc with so many tips, tricks and goodies!

Heaven in a Crispy Shell

I'm sorry, I just had to pinch and share this image of crispy, gooey delightfulness from Modlife... yes, it is a deep fried Cadbury Cream Egg... (Insert Homer Simpson drooling noise here!).

Little Design Horse

Main image from Little Design Horse, segments from Blockbranding on Flickr

I wanted to feature this fantastic wall that was displayed recently during the Perth International Arts Festival. The light would change colour to depict different moods and music being played at the venue.

Produced by a wonderful team of designers from a studio called 'Little Design Horse', I tracked them down to a gorgeous wee store in North Perth.

They are experts in textile, surface and illustration art, designing items from this super wall installation through to fabrics, posters, packaging, wall decal and wrapping paper.

Check out their website and blog here for more goodies!

In My Dreams I Go

Flickr photo 'Twilight and the cliffs of Kai Iwi Beach' by Peter

Nearly every night this past week I have been having dreams about my favourite place in the world - Kai Iwi Beach in Wanganui, where I spent every school holiday for about 10 years during my childhood. I was thinking that just in the same way that people use door frames as a measuring stick for all the milestones in their youth, Kai Iwi is the measuring stick for my adolescence. All the important family events were celebrated there, most of my memories are of long hot days in the water, and bitterly cold winters by the fire. It is such a beautiful, special place for me - but not in a cliched way. It's wild and rough - the wind bites in the winter, the blue streaked black sand scorches in summer. The cliffs are dark, moody and dangerous... but it's mine. I may not be able to go there now, but at least I can visit it in my dreams... Bliss!

It's Good Readin' Monster Children

Got my sticky paws on a very good, and unexpected read over the weekend - quarterly magazine 'Monster Children' is on its 22nd episode, but my first! I initially picked it up because of the quirky cover art, and soon discovered it is a very slick mag aimed mostly at a skate and surf, male 'urbanite' market - (none of which I am however) and I still appreciated its cleverly written articles, refreshingly designed graphic layouts and features and impressive photography. If you're looking for inspiration in a new format, check this magazine out, the website is worth a look too!

Sweet Sounds: Katie Noonan

Just thought I'd share a new find of mine - talented Aussie jazz singer Katie Noonan. I love this cover of Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy', what a fantastic new twist on an already great song. Her version has been around for a couple of years, but I still think it's worth a mention for those of us non Aussies who may not have come across this talented lady before!

BobbyRobin International

Today I received my 'Lil' Bob' from Faery Sarah of BobbyRobin, yay!

He is super cute, and is currently playing post-it keeper next to my computer at work - 'Lil' Bob' is an international star now... Perth today, who knows where tomorrow!