Rainbow Bright
Art is happening here
As well as preparing bigger canvases for an exhibition - from Dec 8th in local Have Ya Bean cafe in Upwey - I have been preparing a new range for my etsy shop featuring a combination of photography on collaged backgrounds, inky frames and words. The photographs are always mine, some words are mine (i.e. the first two pictured here) and some are quotes or song lyrics that I love. They are a compromise between buying mixed media canvases and buying photo prints: an inbetween, if you will, with that handmade art touch. everydayArt.
These are on flat canvas boards so that the postage costs - especially internationally - are much friendlier than the block canvases. For the same reason they can go up to 8"x12" but no bigger than that. So far I've done a mix of 5"x7" and 8"x10" pieces. Watch out for a shop update soon :)
Little filmmakers
If you'd like to help them out, go to the Wakakirri website, People's Choice section and category Story-Film. In the search results box on the right, Olinda Primary's entry "Revenge of the Litter Collectors" is the second one down - click here to go straight to their page. Under the film you can click to vote. This involves entering your email, clicking on the link in the validation email you receive and then entering the email address again to actually vote. Thanks for taking a few minutes to support some great kids!
All teenagers
Yesterday we were early to school pickup and were sitting on the primary school lawn at 3:15 when the high school (next door) finishes. Ash was fascinated by the mass exodus of teenagers from the school and watched enthralled through the fence. Then he came back and sat with me. A few minutes later we could hear the voice of a teenage boy in the distance, and Ash turns around:
"I can hear something! What's that?"
"Mummy I can hear Troy Bolton!"
Hilarious.
Post-IKEA craft
One afternoon Ash wanted entertaining so we decided to make him a play-car out of an IKEA shopping bag that was sitting around... relatively quick and easy, here's how it was done:
2. Cut into the bag below the handles, big enough to fit your child's shoulder.
3. Cut four large circles out of cardboard, roughly (in my case) colouring them a dark colour - or you could use black or whatever colour card you want to keep it simple!
4. Cut four smaller circles (CD size) and attach one of each size circle, small on top of big, to the four corners of the IKEA bag with brads or split pins.
5. Attach a paper plate to one end of the top of the bag with another brad or split pin. Insert child, and hopefully have ten minutes to yourself while they play cars!
You had me at hello
Lost things
Like baby teeth, for instance :) Sienna lost her first tooth on Tuesday the 17th November, at school. She made a little paper envelope to bring it home in, in true Sienna style.
Whale Tail
In my dream last night we were going to some sort of island / cliff area, and had to park the car because we don't have a 4WD. Ben wanted to try and drive it but I pointed out an area where we would scrape rocks on the undercarriage of the car if we tried, and it was almost vertical so we'd need a 4WD. But there was some kind of bus or we could walk.
Then it's only Ash and I in the dream, and off to the left of the lighthouse on the island is an open access to the ocean, Ash starts swimming around in the ocean with these massive whale tails coming out of the water right next to him, he is having a great time but I ask him to get out of the water and we just watch the whales. I think how much Sylvia would love being this close to the whales.
We go around to the right of the lighthouse which seems to be a tourist attraction, which is a man playing the cello on a whale tale. I'm confused about the image, I think he might be sitting on top of the whale tale or he might be using the tail as the cello, with a bow. I think it was the latter actually. We decide it is not as interesting and go back to watch the whales close up in the ocean again.
Just made this digital collage / sketch to get the image out of my dream...
Then it's only Ash and I in the dream, and off to the left of the lighthouse on the island is an open access to the ocean, Ash starts swimming around in the ocean with these massive whale tails coming out of the water right next to him, he is having a great time but I ask him to get out of the water and we just watch the whales. I think how much Sylvia would love being this close to the whales.
Just made this digital collage / sketch to get the image out of my dream...
An hour or two and a pot of tea
Sometimes our thoughts turn back toward a corner in a forest,
or the end of a bank, or an orchard powdered with flowers,
seen but a single time on some happy day, yet remaining
in our hearts and leaving in soul and body an unappeased desire
which is not to be forgotten, a feeling that we have just
rubbed elbows with happiness.
or the end of a bank, or an orchard powdered with flowers,
seen but a single time on some happy day, yet remaining
in our hearts and leaving in soul and body an unappeased desire
which is not to be forgotten, a feeling that we have just
rubbed elbows with happiness.
Guy de Maupassant
Already
At the moment he loves sticking his legs and feet straight up in the air when lying on his mat and either grabbing his feet or using them to play with his baby gym toys. He is teething a bit and getting better at sleeping during the night in longer stretches. He also has his own passport - so cute - all ready for our trip to visit Germany in just under 6 weeks!
Indecision, or how (not) to 'Make it Happen'
I read an interesting post on Decor8 about passion and profession, it is totally something that I think about and I found it quite timely. I am at a point where I don't know exactly what to pursue in that mum-at-home extra income way. Yes, I have an etsy shop so that is an avenue. I've had market stalls, only local but still. I have had exhibitions and one in planning. I've done photography. Graphic design, web content, writing scrapbooking articles. Some things I enjoy doing for money, some I only enjoy when money is not involved and some I don't have the opportunity often enough. Self-promotion can be an issue.
Finding things I like to do, and CAN do isn't a problem, but finding something that succeeds IS. Q Tea Kits was fantastic but I was ready to move on. Now I want something more hobby than business, for the time being at least (I told my accountant I would only have hobbies for this financial year, and she didn't believe me LOL). But with my love of travel, wishlist for the house (our bathroom is desperate!) and little people with their medical expenses and so on, a little bit extra would be nice. I feel like I have stuff to offer, but either I don't know how or I am not ready to be proactive, to make it work.
This isn't a sob story, don't get me wrong! But I think a lot of people find the same conflict, especially mums from home because of our circumstances requiring flexibility. So it is worth sharing, exploring, expressing. The feeling that I am creative, smart, capable - why can't I make something work? I've even done it before. It's a matter of finding the right avenue. Especially with the economy dramas in 08 and 09, making things people love isn't enough. Or it is but the right audience is needed. I think to find real success you need to know what you want to achieve so that you can go for it - that is where I am just not there yet. I am indecisive! When I get to the point of not asking everyone else what they think and just knowing what I want to make happen, THEN I can make it happen. So, until then...
Papier Mache
So much gorgeous inspiration and window shopping eye candy - love it!
Shopping
Bec is here (my cousin) from Adelaide, which means lots of laughter, irony and - of course - lots of shopping. Especially for shoes. For some reason, she has more than enough already, LOL, but actually that would be why, wouldn't it? Because she loves them! It also means I'm on here less, but will have more to share soon.
Love this photo from flickr, sums up the mood perfectly!
Love this photo from flickr, sums up the mood perfectly!
I can fly
It's easy - like Peter Pan.
Mum, I want to fly
to the sunset"
Sienna Belle 31.7.08
(Photo 7.11.09)
Wattleseed Carrot Cake
This is one of my mum's recipes, amended a little and with the addition of Outback Pride's ground wattleseed.
Ingredients
1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
1 cup plain flour (white)
1 tsp bicarb of soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons Outback Pride Ground Wattleseed
1 cup raw sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
4 medium carrots
Step One
Sift flours, bicarb of soda, cinnamon and wattleseed into a large bowl. Add sugar and oil, and mix well.
Step Two
Grate the carrots and set aside. Put eggs and sour cream into a separate bowl and mix well.
Step Three
Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and combine until smooth. Add the grated carrot and mixed well.
Step Four
Grease and line two loaf tins, or just one round baking tin. Pour in the cake mixture. Bake at 180 degrees for about 45 minutes, pierce with a skewer in the middle to check if it is cooked through.
Step Five
Stand for a few minutes, and then turn onto a wire rack to cool. When cool, spread with the Cream Cheese Frosting and serve.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Combine 120g cream cheese, 1 teaspoon lemon rind (or try Ground Lemon Myrtle for a herby lemon tang!) and 30g butter. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar and stir until smooth.
Winner
I got Sienna to pick a winner for the 'i love dirt' giveaway out of a hat, and the lucky person is...
Sylvia!
So off the book shall go all the way to Germany. Probably with me at the end of December, though, as I have already taped shut a parcel for you which will be heading that way today - yay!
I also wanted to share today these beautiful gifts the kids recently received from that very same lovely crafty dame - Sienna has been prancing about wearing the apron and although the other tees are too big for their respective boys at present I am sure they will pop up in many photos later on :)
Thank you so much, we love them! And what a great idea, this hand-made feel of personalising pieces as gifts - what a clever chook Sylvia is :)
Sylvia!
So off the book shall go all the way to Germany. Probably with me at the end of December, though, as I have already taped shut a parcel for you which will be heading that way today - yay!
I also wanted to share today these beautiful gifts the kids recently received from that very same lovely crafty dame - Sienna has been prancing about wearing the apron and although the other tees are too big for their respective boys at present I am sure they will pop up in many photos later on :)
Thank you so much, we love them! And what a great idea, this hand-made feel of personalising pieces as gifts - what a clever chook Sylvia is :)
More
More faves from yesterday afternoons shoot - I was pretty grumpy because of my top wisdom teeth having totally cut through (my right one is hurting a lot) and the kids got pretty crazy, but it was worth it to get some fun shots!
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