happiness, etc

Olive + pink

2012-01-09T12:09:00.002+11:00

I had to get this colour combo out of my head before I continued with anything else.

2012-01-09T10:40:00.000+11:00

I've been looking at beautiful vintage travel posters as reference for some wedding invitations I'm about to start.
I've been slow to gain creative momentum this year, it's making me a little anxious. The key may be less think, more do.

Summer is happening

2012-01-03T21:13:00.000+11:00

Alfalfabet

2011-12-15T12:59:00.000+11:00

Alphabet from my offcuts for frankie magazine.

Dye

2011-12-07T09:28:00.001+11:00

Look at these hand dyed napkins! I think they're beautiful. Cements my desire to have a tie dye themed party. Imagine the photos!

Irina Gusakova

2011-12-06T18:04:00.001+11:00

MOOD

Loose

2011-11-28T21:25:00.000+11:00

I enjoyed this gorman window display on my very rainy walk around Fitzroy last Saturday.

Coco

2011-11-14T15:32:00.001+11:00

I received this pretty and delicious chocolate in the mail.

Wandering pink

2011-11-11T17:23:00.001+11:00

Well, if I was trying to be a little less girly (if I was, I wasn't trying very hard) – I think I just failed. I started another tumblr of pink imagery. I'm out of control.

Tumblr

2011-10-17T18:27:00.000+11:00

I started a tumblr – happiness-etc.tumblr.com. Pretty sure I'm addicted already.

Gapuwiyak art

2011-10-16T08:36:00.001+11:00

This is a short documentary on the fibre work by Gapuwiyak artists from Arnhem Land (central northern Australia). It brought a few tears to my eyes. Aboriginal art is exhibited in galleries all over the country, and yet I think many Australians feel disconnected from it. A big part of this may be because we simply don't see the people and the process and what it means to them. The excitement and pride in the women in this video was captivating. There needs to be more of this, more sharing.

AXOLOTL poster

2011-10-10T21:41:00.004+11:00

les Lumières

2011-10-10T19:54:00.000+11:00

I would very happily hang this neon in my house. By local Melbourne artist miso – I wonder if it's her handwriting? Gorgeous script.

New plant

2011-10-09T16:00:00.000+11:00

(The big one.)Our rental walls (and house) are not exactly inspiring. Hopefully this addition will make a difference.

2011-10-02T13:39:00.000+11:00

On Friday I handpainted a marriage certificate. eep, so nerve-racking!

Things I've been working on - part 2

2011-09-27T21:55:00.001+10:00

Things I've been working on - part 1

2011-09-26T21:51:00.003+10:00

Raw

2011-09-03T17:50:00.005+10:00

Type play

2011-08-31T11:02:00.003+10:00

It's been all work and very little play lately. Luckily sometimes the two overlap, like this little snippet of type play.

2011-07-23T18:13:00.003+10:00

A recent wander into a record store down the road had me in awe over the artwork of these Grace Jones records (and just record sleeves in general, really). So simple, but the personality is killer. Back to basics.

Axolotl poster

2011-07-13T19:25:00.003+10:00

2011-07-11T13:12:00.002+10:00

A couple of isolated elements from an album cover in progress. Loved getting paint smeary with those backgrounds.

Hi

2011-07-06T21:02:00.002+10:00

I do a good disappearing act, don't I?
I haven't been this busy for a long time. I've never spent so many hours per day in front of a screen. My thoughts are all over the place. I'll need to detach myself eventually, but I'm pretty happy. I'm learning things, I'm hard on myself, work-wise, which can only mean I'm getting better I guess, as frustrated as I get sometimes.

Image: Victoria Baraga.

Melodica

2011-06-03T19:28:00.001+10:00

Joël Penkman

2011-05-31T21:39:00.002+10:00

By Joël Penkman. So beautiful. Look at those pink wafers! I don't even like wafers.

Found via Design*Sponge

Sharon Margaret, etc

2011-05-16T11:10:00.005+10:00

This little note left by Sharon after visiting last weekend, validating my post about leaves, haha.

This is also a good opportunity to mention she has a solo show coming up in Melbourne, opening on June 2nd, 6-8pm at Hand Held Gallery, suite 18 (upstairs), Paramount Arcade, 108 Bourke St.

I very much approve of the dusty blue velvet in use here.

2011-05-02T19:57:00.000+10:00

Ping Zhu

2011-05-01T20:35:00.002+10:00

I love a good, authentic, confident brush stroke. Go Ping Zhu!

On colour + sunshine

2011-05-01T13:25:00.003+10:00

My backyard is truly a wild jungle. A wild, very small jungle. This grape vine is now a deep vivid red, and when the autumn sunshine streams through the colour is incredible.

(To my "real life friends" who might read this, sorry for the repetition, I know I have been talking about leaves a lot lately. What can I say... foliage. I love it)

Sun sketch

2011-04-30T13:41:00.000+10:00

2011-04-27T14:09:00.000+10:00

I title this, 'I don't know what to do'.

Sonnenzimmer

2011-04-27T07:11:00.007+10:00

These are too overwhelmingly good to be discovering at 7am. My brain isn't coping.

Bec Worth, are you out there? Do you SEE THESE?

Sonnenzimmer, ultimate magic.

Environments

2011-04-21T11:45:00.003+10:00

I just have to mention my friend and wonder photographer Olga Bennett, because she's about to release her book Environments, a collection of creative spaces. Her photography is really the most quietly beautiful thing. I've helped her a little with some painted titles for the book, which I believe is at the printer TODAY. You can pre-order a copy here.

My work space, with laptop that has since died. RIP.

Left: Miso in the studio of Miso & Ghostpatrol.
Right: Ellie Mücke's pretty scraps.

Georgia Fields gig

2011-03-31T11:07:00.003+11:00

2011-03-28T16:24:00.001+11:00

1: Scan from Vogue Body and Beauty Book, 1977. Lots of full bleed elegant photographs.
2: Beads, colour.

Enjoying simplicity.

HELMO

2011-03-11T09:53:00.003+11:00

Gosh, HELMO must have had a lot of fun with this campaign!

William Goldsmith

2011-03-10T09:21:00.003+11:00

Isn't he great?

I feel very busy. Maybe I'm just taking my sweet time with things, I don't know.

Venice

2011-02-23T17:52:00.002+11:00

Through the eyes of liivia s.

Kyoto pot plants

2011-02-18T13:13:00.003+11:00

The palette is just as interesting I think.

Tambourine girl

2011-02-10T17:10:00.002+11:00

I don't usually illustrate like this (coloured in Photoshop). It doesn't come naturally and feels a bit weird. I'm trying to expand my techniques, although I did this very clumsily and there must be easier ways to go about it. The picture is based on this whimsical image, which I just keep looking at.

Jessica Williams

2011-02-09T10:07:00.002+11:00

One of the earliest artists I ever followed on the interwebs – Jessica at paperheart.org.

MASH

2011-02-07T16:19:00.003+11:00

I just keep going back time and time again to see the wonders of Adelaide based MASH.

Ana Laura Perez

2011-02-07T15:29:00.004+11:00

I can't decide whether I love her drawings, collages or textile designs most.

Ana Laura Perez

tinctory

2011-02-04T15:26:00.002+11:00

I would be very happy to wear any of the pieces by tinctory.

Lilac

2011-02-02T13:55:00.002+11:00

Another day, another wreath.

2011-02-01T23:15:00.002+11:00

Am I really this into flowers?
I don't know how to defend myself against the obvious evidence.
I can't speak highly enough of hydrangeas. The Alfred Nicholas Gardens, Sherbrooke is brimming with them. Too good looking to handle.

2011-02-01T19:35:00.001+11:00

Red earth

2011-02-01T13:53:00.003+11:00

I don't like orange much. I think this native looking wreath came about because it's 39°C, blistery and sweltering. All extremes of an Australian summer have come to the party today.

Plum wreath

2011-01-27T18:12:00.001+11:00

Film play

2011-01-19T17:39:00.001+11:00

This film is expired, hence the grain. I don't mind.

Marble

2010-12-28T16:18:00.003+11:00

My love of marbling has been renewed. At an art class in primary school, we dyed some cotton – I can't remember the process exactly, except that I was so enchanted by the result that I've kept a considerable swatch and still can't bear to use it.

This anecdotal mood was brought to you by Alain de Botton, whose eloquent sentences I have been reading all afternoon in this gratefully embraced sunshine.

The amazing cushion is by JF & Son via Anne Louise.

2010-12-21T22:51:00.000+11:00

Birthday blue

2010-12-14T08:31:00.000+11:00

Dane Lovett

2010-12-04T15:17:00.001+11:00

On the topic of house plants I'm reminded of Dane Lovett, whose work I absolutely adore. He has a couple of pieces at No No Gallery at the moment.

House plant

2010-12-04T12:52:00.003+11:00

I painted this after visiting the lovely new gallery and shop Mr Kitly, and feeling all buzzy with need to make things. It would be nice to do a series of house plants.

Unused concept

2010-12-01T19:13:00.002+11:00

I just realised this unused concept from months ago is very similar to the work in the previous post. Amazingly so. Only slightly more 3D! I'm pretty sure those little pieces are still hanging out together in their own cardboard box amongst my art stuff.

Alexis Anne Mackenzie

2010-12-01T19:02:00.003+11:00

Intricate collage by Alexis Anne Mackenzie. I was in awe of these when I first saw them, and just rediscovered them in my bookmarks.

triboro

2010-11-23T11:38:00.002+11:00

I love these designs for Blonde Redhead by triboro.

2010-11-18T14:27:00.000+11:00

You know when you get very involved in a project, you're working away at it, but no matter what you do it's becoming less and less like what you imagined. Then the seed of an idea is planted in your head: I'll start again, you think. Quickly you brush it aside. I've come so far, spent so much time. I'm nearly finished! But that seed grows, and before you know it, you've brought out a fresh sheet. By the time you finish the second round, you look at both and think, well the first one was just as good anyway.

I have so much abandonment in boxes, in folders. Luckily some of it gets a second chance upon surprise discovery.

A bit of Japan

2010-11-04T17:23:00.001+11:00

Got the blues

2010-10-15T08:32:00.000+11:00

Project Patchwork

2010-10-13T15:50:00.002+11:00

projectpatchwork.blogspot.com

The hard work of Lizzy Wilson + sidekicks. If you're in Melbourne buy a ticket or three.

Visual jewels

2010-10-13T12:02:00.007+11:00

Becca Stadtlander, Anna Emilia, Lizzy Stewart - how incredible you are.

Becca Stadtlander

Anna Emilia

Lizzy Stewart

Beci Orpin inspiration wall

2010-10-11T09:48:00.002+11:00

At Finders Keepers Market Melbourne. Fun.

Inspired by Olaf Hajek

2010-10-05T12:45:00.000+11:00

Bolder

2010-10-04T17:21:00.001+11:00

Might be the sunshine effect.

Cypress Birch Ghost Gum

2010-09-29T11:31:00.000+10:00

Am a bit obsessed with painting words now.

Birthday card

2010-09-24T14:48:00.000+10:00

800ppi

2010-09-24T09:01:00.001+10:00

I love zooming in on printed pages. These from the latest Apartamento.

For a friend

2010-09-09T17:18:00.000+10:00

Misspelling of "woolly" has since been corrected – phew!

Colour play

2010-09-08T15:14:00.002+10:00

I got a bit distracted today with a vast supply of watercolour washes and scribbles from another project.

Stephanie Hicks

2010-09-06T16:55:00.003+10:00

These paper flower wreaths, two of a collection by Stephanie Hicks at No No Gallery recently, made my heart do little flips! Unfortunately I only had a phone camera to capture them. Easily my favourite find in Melbourne of late.

Painting, cutting.

2010-08-20T15:58:00.002+10:00

Next week may well be chaos.

A birthday

2010-08-10T16:13:00.002+10:00

Perfect places

2010-08-10T10:55:00.004+10:00

at Freunde von Freunden.

These two are Malin Elmlid and Kirsten Hermann. Half of these places seem to have those lovely zig-zag floorboards. Is it a Berlin thing?

2010-08-09T18:20:00.002+10:00

From a photo by Olga.

Sleepyhead

2010-07-15T12:54:00.002+10:00

No winter sun today to photograph one half of a new pillowcase pair, illustrated by Dylan Martorell.

Feather

2010-07-13T11:09:00.003+10:00

Pink lady

2010-07-12T17:38:00.001+10:00

Winter

2010-07-12T15:50:00.003+10:00

My problem with the blog world is that most people I spy on are in the midst of summer, and every post is dripping with sunshine and cool drinks and bare feet. I'm so envious. Luckily today the sky looks like this; I can pretend.

2010-07-09T15:54:00.002+10:00

Just the side of an orange brick house, which has been in my head for a while. Get out of there now. Thanks.

Mum

2010-07-07T15:46:00.003+10:00

Pretty cute huh? I think she was in teachers' college. The wonderfully wonky snipping around the edges is by me at about 10; I wrote a biography on her and this photo was centered on the title page.

2010-06-23T14:11:00.002+10:00

Winter tropics

2010-06-08T17:16:00.000+10:00

the gentlewoman

2010-06-07T15:31:00.003+10:00

The internet loves this magazine, and I can see why.

trotski & ash

2010-06-05T22:39:00.006+10:00

trotski & ash have certainly been a chatter topic in Melbourne lately and I've actually met one half of the pair briefly, but it's only today that I was led to their recipe for "Birthday Borscht", began exploring every recipe and really fell in love with this project. I think it's the stories that get me - sentiments often of Melbourne and its seasons, good food (obviously), friends and fond memories.

I'm beginning to come to the unwelcome realisation that being someone who loves to cook and bake very frequently is more of a romantic domestic dream for me than a reality. Gardening also comes under this category. But the dream is still strong (maybe when my kitchen improves?) and for now, these two ladies are a vicarious delight.

Photos above by Lauren Bamford.

A long time coming

2010-06-02T13:50:00.002+10:00

A crop of a little music artwork project which has been in the works for a long time. It seems the end is in sight now.

Silent night

2010-05-27T21:44:00.005+10:00

Hello petal

2010-05-27T20:25:00.002+10:00

I can't resist scanning flowers. These petals still smelled beautiful in a pile on my desk but lost a little post-squash.

The Land Between Here and Mountains

2010-05-17T19:45:00.004+10:00

I'm moderately obsessed with this photo project called The Land Between Here and Mountains. Curated by Hannah Davis and Jess Gough, the contributions are just sublime and take me on wild daydreamy trips.
The flickr pool displays a broader selection.
Hannah and Jess's photos deserve a viewing on their own too.

2010-05-09T15:21:00.002+10:00

This is a crop of a painting at the opening of No No gallery in North Melbourne.

Again with the light patches

2010-05-06T13:04:00.003+10:00

Quilt

2010-05-04T15:26:00.000+10:00

Afternoon drive

2010-04-26T15:05:00.002+10:00

Not bad, iPhone.

Slippers

2010-04-12T13:08:00.002+10:00

I need some. Mine are randomly dropping slipper-sole debris around the house. At first I thought the ceiling plaster was crumbling off!

These cuties by Hanna Konola.

April?

2010-04-12T13:04:00.002+10:00

My absence has been partly due to having no internet for a while.
The weather's getting very restless around here.

In the ideas stage

2010-03-18T17:07:00.001+11:00

Mountain goat

2010-03-15T18:31:00.001+11:00

For Spoonful.

Breezy

2010-03-02T17:17:00.000+11:00

Summer

2010-02-11T10:58:00.001+11:00