tartan sparrow

~* aussie style *~

2010-03-15T17:53:00.005+10:30

I'd like to feature some Aussie-ness each week - either homes, decorating style, an Aussie artist - whichever I find and fancy.

Today I discovered this lovely home on the Australian Home Beautiful Magazine site. Located in a Sydney beachside suburb, I'm (somewhat unusually) adoring the pastel colour palette. I dream that I could tie colours and objects together in the home so beautifully like this.

The colour of the blue cups (picked up by the blue backing of the shelves) remind me of Nigella Lawson's range of measuring mugs, which I love.

How great is the red vase shining out in the sitting room, and can you just imagine curling up on that divan in the bedroom with your favourite book or magazine in the late afternoon. Lovely bliss!

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~* portrait girls *~

2010-03-14T16:58:00.005+10:30

Four girls that I drew a few months ago have been married with an original photo that I've played with for the background. I'm really happy with how they've turned out.

Prints are available in the shop now as 8"x10". Smaller (5"x7") and larger (10"x12") are also available by arrangement.

Later in the week (hopefully) I'll add the collaged boards which are looking good, so far!

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~* Fairy Tales and Rhymes *~

2010-03-11T18:00:00.005+10:30

The majority of the pendants in the shop to date are from this book - "Rene Cloke's Bedtime Book of Fairy Tales and Rhymes". It is one of those books that you see something new everytime you look in it. Gorgeous-gorgeous illustrations of little boys and girls, squirrels, rabbits, birds and more.

The first half of the book is full of rhymes, and the second half has Nursery & Woodland stories by Rene Cloke and Hans Andersen Fairy Tales.

With a 1978 copyright, my copy was printed in Hungary in 1984. The faces of the children are so sweet and remind me of drawings from the fifties. All illustrations are by Rene Cloke.

A lovely little treasure trove of piccies.

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~* sneakie lookie *~

2010-03-10T18:04:00.006+10:30

Here is one of four girls I've just created, using drawings I actually did several months ago. The background is a photograph I've " 'shopped " to give a grainier-edgy look, and digital coloured her top and mouth.

Over the weekend I'll pop them into the shop as standard 8x10 prints on archival paper. I'm also playing with mounting them on canvas board. They'll follow soon after. :)

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~* Fifty Famous Stories for Girls *~

2010-03-09T18:13:00.005+10:30

With all the pendants I've made up so far in the shop, I thought I'd write and show the books they have come from.

Today is one of the first books I picked up, and helped form the idea to make the pendants.

"Fifty Famous Stories for Girls" selected and edited by Leonard Gribble.

Made and printed in Great Britain. First published in 1949, my book is the 'third impression' printed October 1953.

The pages are very yellowed around the edges giving the words a natural frame! The paper is in really good condition, but some pages are beginning to be a bit brittle around the edges.

There are (of course) fifty short stories from all different authors including Charlotte Bronte, Louisa M. Alcott, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray and Mark Twain.

The inscription reads "To ALL GIRLS who like a good story".

And what kind of girl doesn't, I say!

A look at another book on Thursday.

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I'm currently working on the presentation of some mixed media work I've created, using my own photograph, drawing, acrylic paint, digital colouring and good old cut and paste.
Sneak peak tomorrow...

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~* love the look *~

2010-03-07T15:46:00.008+10:30

Late last week Holly Becker's decor8 page introduced me to the Swedish version of Elle Interior Magazine.

I've always loved looking at kitchens, but this one in particular caught my eye. I just love the dark wood with the soft green-grey cabinets.

The colours obviously stuck in my subconcious, as while I was redecorating this blog yesterday I came up with similar tones - yet not deliberately. I only remembered this kitchen this morning!

Is there a particular colour scheme you've always favoured for your kitchen? Have you put it into practice, or are you like me and (as a renter) have to work with what you've got? There is a gorgeous display in IKEA of using material as the splashback - maybe next time I'm in I'll sneak a photo. :)

I'm off now to do some serious flickr-ing.

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PS: when I grow up I want a SMEG fridge.

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image: Elle Interior, Sweden

~* pendants in shop *~

2010-03-04T18:46:00.006+10:30

Over the next couple of days I am listing the pendants I've made so far into the shop.

Most are from a children's book called "Rene Cloke's Bedtime Stories of Fairy Tales and Rhymes", printed in Hungary in 1984.

Gorgeous ickle faces of boys and girls ... and one red squirrel!

All pendants come with a bonus of an archival print of the original illustration that the pendant is made from.

~*~

I'm working on a couple of different original projects, which I'm very happy and excited about. Just thinking about them makes me feel good. :)
Will hopefully have something to show over the weekend, or early next week.

I'm also thinking about what I want this blog to be about - in addition to my own work. I'd like to showcase items and shops and websites that I like and inspire me. Giving that some thought.

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~* sunday shenanigans *~

2010-02-28T14:24:00.004+10:30

Someone decided to bury her face in dry grass, thistles and dirt this morning.

Retaliation for the bath she had yesterday??

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~* penchant for pendants *~

2010-02-28T13:56:00.006+10:30

A weekend of cut and paste. :)

Store is due to open mid week.
Looks like it might be pendants first in, prints of my original work to follow.

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~* dala love *~

2010-02-21T12:08:00.006+10:30

Using images of the Swedish icon, graphic art (above) and mixed media (below).

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~* welcome home *~

2010-02-20T17:11:00.004+10:30

Okay, so not my house.
But 'twould be nice. :)

I am awaiting supplies to create original pendants using:
children's (vintage) book illustrations
maps
sheet music
texts from classics

Meanwhile, the shop will open end of next week with a couple of prints of my original drawings.

~*~