Today

It's raining in Perth today, which is a bit of a novelty for me as I can still count on my fingers the amount of times it has rained in the whole 6 months we have been here.

I have succumbed to the nasty winter hooglies, rather badly this time I must say, so I am stoked up on cold and flu drugs and rugged up on the couch with the laptop, making my way through blog land. The best way to spend a snuffly, drizzly day.

It was going to be made even better by some hot toast drizzled in butter and honey, except that I popped it in the oven (we have no toaster) only to get distracted with my blog reading, and I well and truely burnt that toast to charcoal like smitherines, setting off the smoke alarm in the process, and then discovering that those two pieces were the last bits of bread in the house.

So gelato it was for breakfast, (to sooth the sore throat of course), only to discover the hooglies have taken over my taste buds and I didn't get to appreciate the sweet strawberry sorbet goodness one little bit.

When all else fails, some trashy day time soaps and chat shows may just do the trick!

One Guy Starts a Dance Party

I was a bit bummed this morning about having to go to work on a Saturday, but I then saw this video over at Gala Darling's iCiNG and suddenly my day was a lot brighter... try watching this without at least smiling! Happy weekend everyone :)

Just a Little Bit More Music: Zee Avi

Yes yes, I've been posting a lot of music clips lately, but I've found another goodie (yea I'm a bit behind the 8-ball, she's plastered all over the net at the moment) but either way, I'd still like to mention the cute as a button talents of Zee Avi, 23 year old singer song writer, and creator of good ear love to make the mornings that little bit easier. Enjoy :)

Noted

An interesting thing happened the other day... During my lunch break, I was working away on a particular drawing that I am intending to send to a friend. The general idea of the drawing is as if a whole lot of bits and bobs have been tipped out of a bag and scattered around, and these are the things I have drawn. Each item relates to my friend in some way or another, so though to the average person it might look like a strange subject for a piece of artwork, it is has a lot of meaning to him. One of my managers came over, and, seeing what I was working on, said, 'What's this for?'. 'It's a gift for a friend of mine,' I replied, to which he responded with a rude snigger, 'Geez, what a waste of time, wouldn't it be quicker just to photoshop it or something?'. I was totally stunned, and as he abruptly walked away, I was lost for words. At first, I was admittedly a little offended, I have spent hours and hours on this drawing, and to have that kind of reaction towards it felt terrible. Slowly however, as I've thought about it more and more, I've managed to realise something very special (and I don't want to get all mushy here but it will probably come out that way). I realised that I have a gift, just like all of my fellow design and crafty bloggers out there, and the fact that we can find peace, passion, excitement, delight and so many more emotions through the daily processes that make us happy, is super fantastic. Design, art and general hands on craftiness is such a huge part of what my life is about, it is what makes me tick, and I'm sure it is the same for a lot of you out there too. So in the end, I thought, wow, I really do feel sorry for my manager, who obviously cannot see the merit in making/designing/creating something just for the pure wonderful feeling you get from just doing it, and not necessarily needing an outcome. He cannot see that the thought that goes into that sort of thing often means a lot more then the thing itself, and if he cannot measure the success of something, or produce it in a way that proves he has cut down time/costs/energy then it's not worth doing. What a dull, uninspiring life that must be! I feel so blessed to have my artistic talents, and you all should too. Not everyone has the ability to create the things we do, or appreciate the things we do. But we all know how great it is, so let's be thankful, and long may it continue!

Do Re Mi Mix

I know I've posted about flash mob type happenings in the past, but this is another example that made me smile, actually anything to do with The Sound of Music makes me smile, so of course this is no exception!

Parcels = Love

Yesterday was a truely exciting day, I received a parcel I have been waiting for for what seems like an eternity! (Actually maybe two weeks max.)

I ordered two dresses off one of my favourite sites Modcloth, and I was like a kid at Christmas when I got the note in my letterbox to say there was a parcel waiting for me at the post office- I drove for an hour round trip in my lunch break just to get there and collect it as soon as I could, jeepers!

Yay for parcels and yay for cute dresses to wear with tights, cardis and boots in winter and jandals in summer. Bliss!

Little Birdy - Summarize

What better way to start a Monday then with some fun sounds from Perth band Little Birdy, get ready to dance around in 3...2...1.... go, yayy! Thanks Mouse for the re-introduction, isn't it great when you re-find things you used to love? Super :)

Andrea Joseph: Pixie Boots

I happen to know there are a few of you wee pixie lovers out there in blog world, and I thought of you all when I was scrolling through the works of one of my favourite blogging artists Andrea Joseph... how sweet is her drawing of 'a brief history of the pixie boot'!? (You may need to click on the image to see the fantastic detail...)

See her original sketch blog post here along with many many other goodies.

Bird to Fly

One wee birdie, framed and ready to fly back home to my cousin as a pressie for her graduation.

Leafy Faces

Image from Bloesem

I saw this post on super blog Bloesem a couple of days ago and just had to share, how totally bizarre yet neat is this!?

Every time a leaf falls from her tree, dutch designer Nienke Sybrandy carves a wee face in it, and keeps it, adding it to her collection of previously fallen leaf faces to make a leafy face family... they look creepy!

Lil' African 'Dudes'

OK, last drawing from me for a little while (though it's been great to re-discover my drawing bug lately!) - some sweet wee African hair pins. I know they look a little evil but in real life they're very cute little wooden dudes... whack one of those through your messy up do eh?

Mountain 'o' Retro Chairs

Here's another fun drawing - inspired by the creative lovelies at home in Wellington at es design!

Doodle Noodle

What can you do with a spare hour in the evenings, a random glittery gel pen from childhood years and a bit of imagination? Create super quirky free hand doodle collages!

Tid-Bit Tiki

A few years ago I spent six months researching my Great Great Grandfather's collection of Maori artefacts for my final year dissertation at design school, and through the process I discovered that the Wanganui museum not only holds many of the items he collected during the late 1800's and early 1900's, but also some of his own attempts at carving tiki. I fell in love with all the intricate pieces of stone work, and have dabbled in representing their detail in my own way, only 100 years later, through drawing.

These are some of the attempts I've been making lately, I'm quite pleased with them I think!

Elephant Giggles

Each day on my way to work I drive by a big park at the end of our street, and each one of those days I smile to myself when I look at this sweet little elephant 'tag' someone squiggled over a boring 'Perth City Water Council' sign on the park maintenance building... love this!

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!

Sophie Kyron on a Monday Morning

I have just discovered a super Australian talent Sophie Kyron, designer of STUNNING pieces of jewellery.

I have tried in the past to ween myself off busy, brightly coloured, full on jewellery, but I have come to realise that it is forever ingrained in me - I think I'm a little like a magpie, drawn to all things bright, shiny and colourful, so now I am embracing it!

I love how Sophie combines layers of beading, chain, fabric and bits and bobs to create beautiful pieces of art to drape around your neck, and not to mention some great marketing photography too.

Check out her site here for more pictures, info and stockists.

Up and Coming: 'Katya'

Over the weekend I went to Unwrapped, the designers market in South Perth specifically tailored to showcasing new, up and coming design talent.

I was totally blown away by the standard of work produced by this selection of very clever young women (and men), so I will share some of my favourites over the next wee while.

First up is 'Katya' by W.A. designer Karyn Koevert, a newly developed fashion label producing gorgeous, feminine pieces - I love the way she drapes her fabrics, and designs in a way that expresses how lovely it is to be a woman, there's nothing like wearing a super sultry, girly dress to make you feel spesh.

See more of her work here.

Tiny Art Director

Swim Ducky Swim by Bill Zeham

Well my afternoon has been lightened a little by the discovery of this blog, Tiny Art Director.

It follows an illustrator/artist under the 'direction' of his four year old daughter. The briefs she sets him and her subsequent critiques are quite hilarious, a good Friday afternoon read and giggle, especially if you know a little girl like this, which I'm sure many of us do!

Artisically Frustrated

My ideas & inspirations book - aka. the window to my soul!

Today I am feeling really artistically frustrated. This has been creeping up on me for a few months now, actually pretty much since I left NZ 4 months ago.

I am really down about the fact that I have all these wonderful ideas that I want to create and make and experiment with ( jewellery, artworks, sewing projects, prints, illustrations, clothes...) and they are building up in my ideas book (above), but at the moment I have no money or resources to produce them.

Putting a halt to buying lots of lovely crafting goodies is just an unfortunate sacrifice I've had to make since moving here, because not only is money tight, we are only here temporarily so I can't justify hoarding a whole lot of 'stuff'.

I miss my sewing machine and craft boxes so much it hurts, I don't know what to do with myself, there's a whole part of me missing at the moment and I'm not sure how long I can go on like this!

Starting up a creative venture is such a chicken and egg situation - I need to make the goodies to sell and to be able to develop my ideas and products, but how do you get the money together to buy your materials etc to make these things in the first place!? (Short of crawling to the bank for a loan).

So yea, feeling a little lost today...

A Train Ride Through Barcelona, 1908

This morning on Dark Roasted Blend I came across this beautiful piece of early cinematography - a train ride through Barcelona in 1908. It is a stunning visual flash back to the past, and I love all the men tipping their hats, what a different world we live in today...!

'Iva' Sounds

Ooh I've found some new sounds, always good to lock onto a new artist coming through -these good beats are by Sola Rosa feat. talented up'n'comer Iva Lamkum. Ahh missing that kiwi music!

Oh Hello Muscles...!

Image 'Lane Ropes' by Oreofuzzcat on Flickr

My girlfriends talked me into going swimming with them at one of the indoor pools in Perth night before last, and I thought, 'Oh yea, sounds like fun, haven't done that in a while....'. Well, I was rudely re-introduced to some leg muscles that I haven't been aware of or used since I was probably 12 years old! At first it was in the form of jelly legs, now I'm just very, very sore, and feeling very, very sorry for myself today, oh dear.

Modish BIZ Tips

Thinking more about business ventures, I wanted to give a mention to the fantastic blog Modish BIZ Tips, recently started by Modish blogger Jena. I have been following it since day one, (a few weeks ago) and am finding it such an insight into the world of developing your own creative business venture. Great ideas, tips, discussions, guest bloggers and all sorts, I highly recommend you pop it on your list of regular must reads if you have your own creative business, or even if you only have a wee inkling that perhaps that's what you're wanting to do - like me! I love clever people sharing clever ideas on a level I can understand, super!

Weddings Weddings Weddings!

I'm not sure if it's in the water, or maybe I'm just getting to that age where it's the thing to do, but everyone seems to be either getting married, blogging about getting married, going to a wedding, designing for a wedding... and that's me included!

No I'm not getting married anytime soon, (I don't think), but a friend of ours asked me for help in coming up with some colour scheme suggestions for her wedding, so naturally, having never done anything like that before, I said 'SURE!', and I actually had heaps of fun doing it, even if I did just throw it all together in some photoshop collages so I could email them back to her in NZ.

her favourite scheme

I had a blast pulling things out of magazines, scanning, sketching and googling. She was super stoked with my ideas, so who knows, maybe it's a new business venture, just to add to all the other ones in the pipe lines... oh jeepers!

'Cool Stuff' Envy

The people who own the company I currently work for not only create some very cool pieces of custom designed furniture, they also scour the globe for art, sculpture and nic nacs to sell in the store.

I have 'cool stuff' envy something chronic at the moment, as they recently brought back some old printing plates from India, which I have sneakily taken a photo of to share, as I want them so bad!

Thing is if I owned them, I wouldn't be selling them as ornaments, I'd be using them to print fabulous fabrics and stationary and all sorts... my mind runs wild with super ideas all the time!

Dr. Seuss Close Up

I recently stumbled across the most fantastic exhibition at the Linton & Kay Fine Art Gallery on King Street, Perth. It was a selection of paintings, sketches and hand-pulled lithographs by Dr. Seuss, including well known characters from his books as well as never before seen artworks from his own private collection.

Looking at the super illustrations in his books is one thing, but to see each image in it's own right, framed beautifully and standing alone as a fabulous example of graphic illustration was almost too much, I could hardly contain my excitement! The colours were so fresh and bright, every tiny brush and pen stroke was defined and clear. I must admit I had a small twinge of disappointment that I couldn't afford to spend $3000 for a stunning signed piece of his work!

My Nu Scarfy

I snapped up a cute wee scarf from Cotton On over the weekend, cost me all of one huge bajoolin' dollar so I am very pleased with my purchase- yay for bargains! I nearly got a nice wintery one too, but felt a little silly buying a woolley scarf in Perth while we're still having 35 degree days...!

Num Num Num

My boy was lovely over the weekend and cooked me the yummiest brunch - this wee delight was a cross between an omlette and a fritatta sort of thing, but jeepers was it good.

I'm always so envious of the way he can whip up the scrummiest foods and never use a recipe, unlike moi, the more 'culinarily' challenged!

Etsy Find

Found this on Etsy, hehehe so simple, so cute!

Good Morning World

We have spent the past week moving in to our new wee town-house in North Perth and I love it, there is a wonderful vibe about the place - it's super great when things feel 'right', don't you think?

Every morning I wake up to a beautiful view from our bedroom window, looking over the back fence to a Macedonian church, and I love to watch the vivid Australian colours developing as the sun rises and strengthens across the roof tops, today I share it with you. Enjoy :)