Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Up

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Uplifting - photograph above by Tim Walker and below photographs and curation by Mariale Vitsky

Also uplifting is artists supporting other artists. One of these is Adelle who has a Best Craft Blogs poll in progress. Have a look at the blogs featured, including mine (ahem) and VOTE for the blog that you think is best. I’m just stoked to be nominated. A big thank you to all of you who've already voted, left comments, twittered.

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When you visit Adelle’s site have a look at her artworks. There’s sculpture and painting and the resin jewellery she sells in her etsy store. My favourite section is the lesson plans. Here you’ll find instructions for simple to more complex projects – something for all ages and skill levels. Featured above are Adelle's ‘garden’ chair, a resin bangle and ring, and a lamp made from chicken wire and fabric.

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Another talented and supportive artist is Julie-Ann Bowden. Through Heavenleigh Art, Julie-Ann regularly makes prints of her stunning work available for free download.

I would venture to warn against too great intimacy with artists as it is very seductive and a little dangerous. [Queen Victoria] Here's to living dangerously!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Bird Lovers Down Under

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left: art by devon smith of deerface




Following are other Down Under girls who love birds. Yes I know there are plenty of boys down here who love birds too. But, like the cassowary, they can be illusive.

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1. girl’s dress from hot fudge 2. chenille rattle from leahkl 3. diary from naomi orana 4. owl pendant from stella light designs 5. print from matou n peluche 6. bag from marilyn cardinal of missy mao mao 7. owl tic tac toe from annettes creations 8. swan painting from blossom n bird

talented lino artist betty jo has set up a flying ducks pool on flickr

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Arty People's Spaces

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Row 1: Lisa Congden at Bird in the Hand Home Pics / Art Store
Row 2: Jeffry Laneright has has art available for purchase through his blog where you'll also find some decor pics.
Row 3: Kim from Trampoline
Home Pics / Vintage Goods Store
Row 4: Vanessa Valencia from A Fanciful Twist Art Store / Home Pics
Row 5: Libby Alexander of Alexander Salvage Home Pics / Vintage Goods Store
Row 6: Keri from Walldancers Art Store / Home Pics

It’s fun to peek into the homes of those who do clever things with their décor. I particularly like seeing the way art and vintage treasures are displayed. Interiors are difficult to photograph well. I'm glad these artists persevered. Even with today's technology, it's not easy to capture in a camera the view that we see with our eyes. From when I was very young, at particular times, I've pretended that my eyes were a camera. I've taken the shots and stored them. It's not difficult to access them myself. But it's tough to convey the vision to others. Maybe I need to practise painting word pictures...

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from Redeem Designs

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Just between you and me

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1. From Desira Pesta a set of nine little pillows for you to tell your secrets to. These little friends will…’gaze amorously into your eyes for hours on end, regardless of how big your hair is today or how much mascara you got all over your face when you went swimming’. 2. Choose a blond, brunette or redhead retro style 'head' pillow from Vintage Jane.


Send your own secrets to Post Secret, or be a voyeur and read other's.

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1. Excerpt from The Secret Garden 2. 'Stone' Cushions from Livingstones

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Undercover

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1. The Tailwind Coat from Bomb ‘n Belle Clothing 2. Mens Vintage Vest from Vintage Suits 3. Sterling Silver Pocket Magnifying Glass from Silvercraft 4. The Five Elements Leather Journals Set from Azenrain 5. Script via Don’t Touch My Moleskin

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1. Valentina Vos 2. via Reckon

Friday, January 1, 2010

Joy-full of it - with plenty to share

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As the fireworks disappeared and the illuminated sky turned dark, a group of golden orbs floated about surrounding me. It's true! Some said it was the New Year drinks, or the pyrotechnics afterglow, but I don't think so. These translucent treasures brushed my skin and oh the pure pure joy that flowed from them. Can you see those little orbs of joy? Go on and catch one! Feel it sitting feather like on your fingers; oozing joyfulness.

(submitted too as part of this Three Muses Challenge Something Old Something New)

Yes I'm sure these joy-full orbs will bounce off occasionally in 2010. But I think they'll come back. I plan on keeping my joy vibes close this year. Above is a little arty prompt that I sewed up yesterday. To remind me that being full of it doesn't have to be a negative. To remind me if I forget.

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1. Fabric Clock by Amor and Stitch 2. Handsewn Happy New Year Mozzie via Two Left Hands 3. Big Embroidered Cushions from Lei Li La Loo

Monday, December 28, 2009

Party Tricks

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photo by Gianfranco Chicco via Sushi Zume. Similar collapsible hula hoops available on Ebay from Trick Concepts and on Etsy at Tara V Hoops.

After the gluttony of Christmas, and in the days before New Year, Holly Hula and her husband Hollis liked to encourage restoration of their usual more disciplined lifestyle by practising their party tricks.

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Samsam Bubbleman photo taken by Tarotastic via pixdaus

At bedtime, so as not to disturb the neighbours, Holly and Hollis would practise a more genteel form of magic.


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1. Primped Paperie 2. Call me Jasper 3. Stellar Custom Images

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Dates

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1. The Sketched Book 2. Zombuki 3. Elle Moss 4. My Folk Lover

It’s that time of year when pop up stalls selling calendars appear at the shopping centres. You know the ones. This year Twilight features heavily; and there’s the usual assortment of cats, dogs, flowers, and views of Paris. Me, I’m boring, using a chrome flip over desk number that gets refilled. I'm a 'one day at a time' kinda girl and do get surprised at times when I flip and find that I'm supposed to be somewhere in half an hour. This flip number has daily quotes to ponder. Todays ‘You cannot make a crab walk straight’ gets me thinking about the improbability of changing others and maybe ditto for self and my mind spins off..... I'm trying to do less thinking though, as my brain needs a little holiday. I think (there I go again) it needs to be filled with less intensity and more calm beauty. So I’m tempted by a few of these Etsy offerings - what an inexpensive way to have more art about. You could also make your own creations with these free templates.

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Extract below from New Year Letter by WH Auden .Auden’s poetry is rich in its language and rhythm, although I try not to read his literal meanings as I find that the pictures in my head as I read are very different to his intended message.

O Unicorn among the cedars,
To whom no magic charm can lead us,
White childhood moving like a sigh
Through the green woods unharmed in thy
Sophisticated innocence,
To call thy true love to the dance,
O Dove of science and of light,
Upon the branches of the night,
O Ichthus playful in the deep
Sea-lodges that forever keep
Their secret of excitement hidden,
O sudden Wind that blows unbidden,
Parting the quiet reeds, O Voice
Within the labyrinth of choice
Only the passive listener hears,
O Clock and Keeper of the years,
O Source of equity and rest,
Quando non fuerit, non est,

Susanna Hertrich's Chrono Shredder runs for 365 days until it has continuously shredded all of its calendar pages.

It without image, paradigm
Of matter, motion, number, time,
The grinning gap of Hell, the hill
Of Venus and the stairs of Will,
Disturb our negligence and chill,
Convict our pride of its offence
In all things, even penitence,
Instruct us in the civil art
Of making from the muddled heart
A desert and a city where
The thoughts that have to labour there
May find locality and peace,
And pent-up feelings their release,
Send strength sufficient for our day,
And point out knowledge on its way,
O da quod jubes, Domine.

ps And on another subject altogether, there's a giveaway happening over at Brisstyle and another here.