Saturday dreaming

Relaxing on a Saturday makes me feel like a princess. A little sleep in, a trip to the gym with a friend, a Jarlsberg cheese and prosciutto panini from the European deli to say 'good work for getting through the pain', a large coffee, some drawing and painting, coffee later with friends, the arts section of the newspaper...



As I was drawing and painting this morning I watched a feature on the ABCs Message Stick about the new website '12 Canoes' which is a selection of "twelve video pieces that provide a visual portrait of the history, culture and environment of the Yolngu people of the Arafura swamp of north-central Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory".

In the video called 'Seasons', the Yolngu narrator notes that the people know when the oysters are ready because of the blooming of a particular flower. He states:

"The seasons are not about the passing of time. They are about how things work together. Everything is part of everything".

I thought it was beautiful. The world does work in mysterious ways and yes, I believe everything is connected. I will show my students these videos and there is even an education kit as a PDF file.

Happy changing of the seasons to you.

Transformation.

I always seem to keep coming back to this image. I even know where I keep the original little pencil sketch. It has been produced as a business card, a profile shot for my blog, prints at markets, all sorts of things. I think it may have first been drawn at least ten years ago, when I used to draw girls holding birds, girls holding fish, many repeat motifs that are still going strong today. Even back then there were birds and fish everywhere.



The image below is a similar story. Drawn, again around 10-15 years ago on a scrap piece of note paper, I kept it, scanned it, redrew it, printed it as an etching and even won a prize for the printed and framed etching. I wish I could show you the etching - I may have to search very hard for a copy.



This is why I try not to throw out any little scribbles I do - I never know what they will become.

Spiral

A little sketch. 

Pen and Ink, scanned and digitally coloured.

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The Darling Mouli-Julienne

This is my favourite toy of the moment.

Bought from a church market for only a few bob.

So far the darling Mouli-Julienne has given me:

 

• Super thin slices of potato, pumpkin and sweet potato for vege wholemeal lasagna 

• Super thin slices of potato and zucchini for a home made pizza 

• Easy grated zucchini and apple for a, wait for it, zucchini and apple cake. Delicious.
  

Yay retro!

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Needing that coat

Another little vintage wooden peg gnome needed some woollens for Autumn.

He now joins Mrs little vintage peg gnome on the seasons mantle.

Bless

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IF_Ahead

The Owl and the Pussycat

Two things came to mind when thinking about the theme 'Ahead' for Illustration Friday.

The first was 'getting ahead', and the second was 'land up ahead'.

I decided to go for the second idea, thinking about those two ultimate sea-farers...

The Owl and the Pussycat of course!

When they went to sea on the beautiful pea-green boat they would not have known what was ahead (for they packed some honey and plenty of money just in case!) but they took off anyway.

For those who need a refresher on the story like me, here is a link for Edward Lear's nonsense poem in full

The Owl and the Pussycat

Enjoy

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For You

Here's to happy days

The bees knees

Life is funny.

God bless bees.

I can't be bothered to change a light globe in my bedroom/lounge room. Have you ever done the same? Living in very low light because changing the bulb takes just that little bit of extra effort?

But I can be bothered to make beautiful beeswax candles.

I can be bothered to stick my head in the vapours of the beeswax as it melts in the double boiler, smelling the warm faint honey smell, and smiling that very soon I will have my own natural beeswax candle in 

vintage crockery.

I can be bothered to take happy snaps, to edit and post the happy snaps and to provide commentary for you all in my blog. Yes, I have my priorities right ;-)

Meanwhile, my eyes squint as the light is low from the lack of light bulbs.

But who cares? I have my very own beeswax candles to work by.

Happy times to you my friends.

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Autumn Colours...

I sketched this yesterday with watercolour pencils, white gouache and collage paper on watercolour paper.

Happy Earth Day for yesterday everyone!

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IF: (ART) Detective

Art Detective

Desperate to complete an image for Illustration Friday's theme of 'Detective', yesterday morning was spent working on an image called Nature Detective where I drew myself on my hands and knees in the bush looking through a magnifying glass at all the wonder of nature. Sadly Nature Detective did not work out but all was not lost...

Nature Detective metamorphasised into Art Detective. Here I am in my role as art super sleuth - I wander the streets and the bush collecting evidence - observing, sketching, recording, photographing, notetaking. Sometimes I walk, sometimes I ride my bike. What a great life to be an artist.

I hope you like it - I better get back to my real job now.

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Days of nothing

Two Days left of holidays...

I am going to do nothing.

Except...

Read the paper

Drink tea with friends

Finish Orlando.

Image courtesy of 'Cinema & literature'

A very good weekend to you friends

Happy Earth

It is Earth Day on April 22

How will you celebrate?

There are a few amazing giveaways on some gorgeous blog sites:

Check out Natural Kids Earth Day Promotion

And 'The Magic Onions'

On April 24 the Autumn Festival starts in Bright Victoria. I wish I could go - it is a long way away and I do have to work.

I will celebrate Autumn and Earth Day by:

Going for a walk

Observing the changes in the weather as Autumn sets in

Looking at the changes in the trees

Listening to the birds

Buying groceries without packaging

Filling my water at the tap

Using my bike and not my car

Admiring my seasons table

Visiting a pretty place

Not being wasteful

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Little Rainbow

This little baby Rainbow Lorikeet sat comfortably in my frangipani tree yesterday, happily letting me photograph him.

Gnome in my home

Delicious Gnome Recipe:

1 vintage wooden peg

red and blue and peach colour felt

antique lace and fabric trim

wool for hair

a marker pen face

= 1 pretty gnome in my home

Blue

Last Saturday's day trip to the Blue Mountains...

Fresh air

Beautiful landscapes

Gorgeous little shops

Funny little markets

Delicious food

Ten Things

Courtesy of Meet Me At Mikes...

Ten things about me:

- I still have one baby tooth and I am 33 years old! 

- I once beat the Dux of the school in religion studies in year 9

- When I was about 10 I saved a little baby who fell out of its pram on an escalator. A man then grabbed the baby out of my arms and placed it into the arms of the mother who then thanked the man profusely.

- When I was about 18 I saved a huge man who fell in between the platform and the train. I grabbed him under the arms and pulled the huge man up whilst screaming for someone to help - no one helped. I realised then that I must be quick to think, am very strong and I like to help people - but selfishly I also really like to be thanked.

- Before I wanted to be an artist, I wanted to be a witch, than a policeman or a boxer.

- I have difficulty thinking of 10 things about me.

- I never ever wanted to be a teacher. In year 4 my best friend said she wanted to be a teacher and I thought 'no way would I do that'. When I was 18 I got into a teaching degree and refused to go. Finally at 30 I went back to uni after doing a fine arts degree to do, what else? Art teaching. I now work in a high school and I LOVE teaching. I also love hanging out with my year 4 bestie and talking about teaching.

- I have never ridden a bicycle properly. I bought a really good bicycle a few months ago for $20 with a helmet included and now ride it everywhere. I love it.

- I prefer to drive a manual car. I got my licence on an auto but bought a cheap manual car - took me ages to learn but now I love it.

- I never learned to dive until I was in high school. It was terribly embarrassing for me and a huge relief when I finally learned.

- I love classical music and I hate loud noises.

That's actually 11 but makes up for the one where I said how hard this is!

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What's for dinner?

Last night I treated myself to home cooking of the yummiest, healthiest kind. 

I get so busy it is easy to just go with takeaway or a really simple no fuss dinner. But last night...

Vege Lasagna made with wholemeal pasta, sweet potato, potato, pumpkin, mushrooms, garlic, onions, ricotta, parmesan, tomato passata, thyme Greek basil, olive oil and salt and pepper. The mix of limited veges worked beautifully.

A mini salad made only with raw zucchini sliced with a potato peeler (very very thin), fresh lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper. This salad is delicious and so so easy. I made it because I realised I had no salad to go with my lasagna and all I had was zucchini. Try it - you won't be disappointed!

Little carrot and crystalised ginger cupcakes with a coconut and lemon icing. I used a modified version of the chai spice cake I posted ages ago.

I have a 1960s vege slicer which makes veges so easy to slice neatly and thinly!

Yum. Photos to come.

Peggy

I bought these sweet vintage clothes pegs from a little antique store in the Blue Mountains. I love the markings in the top of the pegs.

Whilst I love them as they are I think I will turn them into little toy gnomes with red felt hats. Stay tuned...

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Five Faves II

Five Faves

Courtesy of Meet me at Mikes

1. Bonsai (these are the two plants I just bought!)

2. Saying hi to others via their blogs

3. Organisational compartments for stationary/art supplies

4. Almond milk tea

5. Lemons (love Colbram Estate lemon olive oil!)

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IF: Linked

'Linked'

An illustration for Illustration Friday

Sunshine, teapots, hanging socks

Blossoms and fish and bubbles and birds.

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China town at night, oh what a sight!

I have so many favourite places, and yes, some of them are bustling, hectic, messy, colourful, chaotic.

 Chinatown...

I love walking through those Dixon Street gates...

I love how I can visit and feel like I am both at home and also far away...

I love the colour...

I love how the food is super cheap but super yummy, and nothing near what I would cook at home...

I love all the little treats and surprises - 'just what is this inside my bun? Oooooh custard'...

Yes I love the sweets...

I love picking up the tongs and choosing my bun...

I love how everything is so cute but so cool at the same time...

Yes, oh so cute...

I love the tea!...

There are Chinatowns all over the world - I would love to see yours!

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Swinging through trees

I love native Australian trees.

Beautiful Wattle

A lovely twisty gnarly tree that I can't help but stare in awe at every time I walk past.

The finches love the species above and so do I.

What is your favourite tree?

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