Red rabbits are running amok...

'Chaos' Mixed Media Painting above, and words below from Saint Victor. His paintings, and his commentary, are spectacular. Go. Look. I know you'll enjoy them.

In this painting I represent Chaos as a gift as illustrated with the big red bow with Chaos sitting atop a crumpled purple cloth representing the fall of monarchies at the hands of the disenfranchised. Her striped clothes represent the cosmic tango between order and chaos, yin and yang, working together in evolutionary harmony. The tornado in the back- ground façade is the destructive force of nature which is not evil or punishment, it is simply a natural force of the planet we call home and chaos theory in the other panel represented as a seemingly unrelated series of events, equations or concepts that in retrospect reflect a highly organized pattern tied to a much bigger universal picture. She is shown with the attributes of the fertility god Pan, which was later demonized by the Church, in representing something life-giving as being condemned as evil. Above the façade we see the sunrise dawning as new possibilities and potential arising with every occasion of Chaos.

l to r: 1. Kaori’s Latex Dreams 2. Timeless Vixen Vintage 3. Me and Matilda 4. Jillian Pye 5. Soft Spoken 6. Hopelessly Devoted

Let's drift off...

Houseboat Photos and Vintage Clothing from left to right: 1. Snarky Platypus 2. Tractordog 3. The Vintage Closet 4. Akbar Simonse 5. Plaid Pony Vintage 6. Henk van der Eijk 7. Amsterdam Hotel and Travel 8. Vintage Funland 9. The Vintage Junkie 10. Todd Shots 11. adVintagous 12. Art Is Shit 13. Vonenska Vintage

Or maybe I need to dream bigger...

Weekend Loungin Formula

Flying carpets / rugs....they're out there...

from Ceccialdi

They're out there. Rugs zooming off to new owners. Not necessarily with little poppets hitching a ride, but flying about nonetheless. Yes a new rug is only a mouse click away. Have a look at these beauties from Buyster Rugs. They're not expensive. They follow ethical trading practices. And I can tell you from personal experience that their service is fantastic. Try CSN Rugs if you're in the US.

For more lovely rugs, real works of art, do a bit of mouse clicking over at Etsy. Left to right, Crocheted Rug from Sago on Tuesday, Faux Bearskin from Fringe Collection, Handwoven Recycled Wool Sweater Rug from Five Forty, Nunofelted Rug / Wallhanging from Vilte, Handpainted Floor Cloths from Dwagonflies

Of course you could whip up your own floor covering like these below. I know the next two aren't technically 'rugs' but I couldn't resist sharing these clever ideas. This first pic makes me yearn for a cement floored studio where I could splatter paint about.

Here's one that's been painted onto a wooden floor by clever Genevieve Gail, with some tips on doing your own.

Or paint a rug of your own in any design and color that your heart desires. In this one a piece of vinyl/linoleum is flipped, and painted on. There are instructions here if you want to try it yourself.

Whether your rug comes to you flying through cyberspace, or flying from your fingers, keep your landing pad cleared and ready! And if your still hangin about here from the Halloween Party and giveaway in the prior post, be careful taking off on your broom; there are obstacles about...

Headless Halloween Party n Giveaway

Welcome to the Sleepy Hollow Halloween Party. It’s scarey here, but there could be treats. What’s that? Shhhhhh… I hear a voice, a deep and tad menacing voice, drifting on the wind...

What fearful shapes and shadows beset his path, amidst the dim and ghastly glare of a snowy night! With what wistful look did he eye every trembling ray of light streaming across the waste fields from some distant window! How often was he appalled by some shrub covered with snow, which, like a sheeted spectre, beset his very path!

How often did he shrink with curdling awe at the sound of his own steps on the frosty crust beneath his feet; and dread to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him! and how often was he thrown into complete dismay by some rushing blast, howling among the trees, in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of his nightly scourings! (from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving)

And as the headless rider rode off into the distance, he was heard to cry............

I think he’s dropped some treats from his saddle bag. Look there below, it’s magnets of cream and gold, and tags for writing your own cautionary notes. Mich from Mich Vanetta and Koot has provided this tempting giveaway.

To get your hands on these treats, see below. Don’t forget to leave a separate comment for each entry.
1 Entry – Leave a comment on this post
1 Entry - Follow this blog
1 Entry - Follow Mich’s blog
1 Entry – Visit one of Mich’s Stores, either Mich Vanetta or Koot and leave a comment with a link to your favourite item
3 Entries - Blog, tweet, facebook this giveaway and leave a link. Getting the word out gets you 3 entires! Go ahead and leave three comments. You can do this as many times as you want.

This giveaway is open worldwide and the winner will be chosen by random number generator on October 24th at 11pm etsy time.

Enjoyin the Halloween vibe? Want more? You're in luck as many bloggers are having Halloween Parties today thanks to our gorgeous host, Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist. Go visit Vanessa for links to the other party hosts. Happy Halloween!

WINNER! Congrats to Kathie from My Net Finds!

We're in vogue over here

I was in luck at the local library this week with I scored a copy of the Sept/Oct 2009 issue of Vogue Living Australia. Featured is the home of Anna Spiro, from Brisbane design and decoration shop Black and Spiro, and Absolutely Beautiful Things blog. And it’s gorgeous.

The 1930s brick bungalow is a jewel box revealing Anna’s perfect mix of antique and new pieces. I particularly like the eclectic mix of fabrics and of art works – including the white painted floors; the black and white linen covered dining wing chairs; the black, white, pink and orange colour palette; the David Bromley nudes. It's great to see a beautiful Brisbane home featured.

Reflecting on his art work David Bromley has said, I weave through my thoughts and feelings searching for words to parallel the visual. As a presenter of images I express myself through paint and I don't always have a verbal explanation for my outpourings on canvas – perhaps this is why there is some ambiguity in the narrative in my paintings. I don't always like to reveal a definite outcome to the scenarios in my works and prefer the viewer to make their own decision... We all attach different meanings to things based upon our own experiences, opinions and desires. I don't want to eliminate other interesting possibilities...

Also enjoyed was a tidbit on Todd Selby’s cult website The Selby. The Selby features photographs, paintings and videos of interesting people and their creative spaces. All parts of the world are covered here including photos of Australian artists and designers at home. Todd’s recently published book The Selby Sydney is available for purchase on line as a signed limited edition - as is the poster below created by Sydney based artist Jonathan Zawada from photographs on The Selby website.

Featured too is iconic Australian fashion and textile designer Linda Jackson. Linda has been collecting opals for three decades. In her honour, and because the birthstone for those born in October is the opal, here’s a little Etsy collection.

l to r: Black Opal Rock Soap (yes soap!)from Good Karma Soaps, Linda Jackson via cairns.com.au, Server Set from Shelley Macdonald Designs, Ceramic Pocketbook with Opals from Brenda Santa Fe, Les Liaisons Dangereuses Necklace from Realisation Creations, Boulder Opal Pendant from Nature’s Art Melbourne, Opal Gemstone from Marcy Panek

Wednesday Update: I'm behind with my posts this week - life and fatigue are getting in the way. But, on Saturday, I'll definitely be joining in the Halloween Party being hosted by Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist. You're all invited to drop by here for a party and giveaways!

Fabulous Blogs

Valse Du Beau/Waltz of the Beautiful by Cody Smith Photos

In a local paper yesterday psychologist Dr Janet Hall welcomed the continuing popularity of light entertainment, saying that people felt happier if they embraced feel-good entertainment. You should expose your mind to whatever is beautiful, noble, right, pure and admirable, and anything that’s excellent or praise-worthy. She warned about the possibility of depression from constant exposure to apocalyptic and terror-filled TV shows and movies.

Yes, words like beautiful, noble, right etc are subjective. Sometimes too the English language is limiting. When it comes to blogs, the ones I follow often do it for me. They’re filled with my kind of beauty - not just material things but beauty in ideas, in observations. There’s humour, honesty and a feeling of connectedness. When I leave a comment I know that it will matter to the blogger. I’d love to hear about a blog or two that does it for you, where a visit leaves you feeling better than you did before.

The Art of Sitting / Pic Giveaway

Mother Print from Neon Matisse, Sit Under A Tree Pendant from Jennifer Stumpf, Sitting with Franklin Haiki Teacup and Saucer by Teaspoons and Petals, Cushion/Pillow Cover from Sew English

I've just enjoyed a little sit with some beautiful Etsy art work. Just punching in a search word and browsing never fails to inspire me. No I mightn't get much 'art' done, but just absorbing others creations helps me live creatively in everyday ways.

Then I had a little sit with this video. I don't think I'll forget the message. I hope I don't.

And now I'm sitting with this poem 'Sitting Outside at the End of Autumn' by Charles Wright. Just enjoying it - the rhythm, the images, the mystery.

Three years ago, in the afternoons,
I used to sit back here and try
To answer the simple arithmetic of my life,
But never could figure it—
This object and that object
Never contained the landscape
nor all of its implications,
This tree and that shrub
Never completely satisfied the sum or quotient
I took from or carried to,
nor do they do so now,
Though I'm back here again, looking to calculate,
Looking to see what adds up.

Everything comes from something,
only something comes from nothing,
Lao Tzu says, more or less.
Eminently sensible, I say,
Rubbing this tiny snail shell between my thumb and two fingers.
Delicate as an earring,
it carries its emptiness like a child
It would be rid of.
I rub it clockwise and counter clockwise, hoping for anything
Resplendent in its vocabulary or disguise—
But one and one make nothing, he adds,
endless and everywhere,
The shadow that everything casts.

previous three photos from Emery Et Cie

If you'd like this photo of Forget Me Nots I took with a vintage Holga camera just leave a comment and I'll do a draw on Friday night. It's 7"x5" and signed. If you want, follow along, and/or do some promos for extra chances.

Thank you for sitting here with me.

And the winner is....number 28...Roh Bruhn...I'll be in touch!

Other worlds

from TYanceyIV

One of my favourite activities is night swimming. I’m lucky there’s a pool here. And lazy backstroke is my preferred stroke. I can look at the stars and the moon then. It’s like a meditation.

Sail Us To The Moon Print on etsy from Velvetwoods

Living close to the city we don’t get the vibrant view of the stars that you do out west, and I miss that, but there’s enough here to remind me that there’s another world up there.

Elena Kalis underwater photography available from here

I like to walk along the river bank earlier in the evening. Most days I see at least one fish jumping, as if to remind me that there’s another world down there too. Life is so good.

photos from Kevin Raskoff via eu.lumas.com