Lino Cuts

I have started to create some lino cuts out of a piece of lino that I found in a dumpster on Swanston Street. I've done a few so far with varying degrees of success both in the cutting stage and the printing stage. Its a really methodical and cathartic process that I'm really enjoying. I've been thinking about printing the designs from the lino cuts onto the Obi style belts that I have been making.

The Lino cut of the feather. One of my favourite i've done so far.

Printed verson of the feather.

I'm also cutting out one of the cameos i've been making out of felt to see how that goes.

I'll have some pics up of the belts i've been making soon!

It's been over a year......

It's been well over a year since my last blog. I have not felt my most creative, nor have I had a computer to actually blog on! After recently purchasing a lovely new laptop I am free to blog anytime I like!

The start of 2010 has brought about many changes. New house, new people, new ideas, new work, new studio. All exciting and beautiful. This year will be a year of change and development. I can feel it in my waters. I will be starting work soon for the same company we made the Kangaroo and Wombat for. This time making....wait for it, another wombat! But for the kids book Wombat Stew. Should be a fun little project. I am also working on getting some of my personal work up on Etsy.com, so watch out for that. In the process of taking photos of work and figuring out names, designs etc.

I have a very basic webpage up thanks to my lovely friend Laura Flowerday, designer extrodinare. So far it is being hosted through her site, but soon will be out there on its lonesome with updated photos and work.

Check it out and let me know what you think! http://www.lauraflowerday.com/laurenhome.html

and while you are at it take a look at Laura's beautiful graphic design work http://www.lauraflowerday.com/ as well as her awesome stationary range http://www.papercrane.com.au/

Here are some photos of little pieces i have been working on lately. I'm a bit in love with block shapes, silhouettes and interesting fabrics, so it revolves a lot around that. These are just preliminary photos of work, so there will be more to come. What do you think? I'd love a bit of feedback about them.

There is also two exhibitions coming up that you should check out if you are into amazing sculpture. Even if sculpture isn't a medium that you ususally connect with, these two artists have a beautifully technical and emotive style that is always amazing. First one is Ricky Swallow, exhibiting at the NGV in Melb http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/rickyswallow/ whose woodcarvings have always blown me away.

The second one is Ron Mueck who is on at the NGV International. He is a simply mindblowing sculptor who plays with proportion and incredibly life like subjects. Go and see it!

Crafty Fun

Wood carving class is well underway and I have actually decided on a project ,hurrah!. I'm going to take my obbession with drawing hands just a little bit further and carve one. I've chosen a strange pose, which, as I was doing the clay machete for I realised is going to be incredibly difficult. gah!

Also have been trying to do my little canvas'. Have progressed only so far but there is something still not quite right. Very annoying.

Crafternoon tomorrow, theme for the day is deformed dolls, just to give it a bit of direction. Lets see what actually eventuates!

Move move move!

So I have had a massive day, 2 meetings, checking out a few things that I always mean to see but never do, dinner and drinks afterwards. phew! But worth it. I now have a job restoring the puppets for Possum Magic, a show that I saw a few times as a kid, and more than likely, these are those exact same puppets. But actual work and money for a few weeks, lovely!

Here are a few things to check out around Melbourne:

1. Coop at 45 Downstairs, on until this Sunday. A wonderful visual theatre piece that has some simply amazing sound design and wonderful puppet manipulation. The overall spectacle of this show was absolutely priceless. Plus its at a really nice new space. Check Half Tix for cheaper tickets though.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts-reviews/coop/2008/02/14/1202760449343.html

2. Never Never Gallery in Hosier Lane. Only open from 12 - 6 Wed - Sat. But get your butt down there and see some really interesting work. Usually stuff you would see on the streets but somehow its ended up in a gallery.

3. Craft Victoria. The exhibition that is on at the moment is great! The jewellery art is so hilairous and beautiful at the same time. There are cast silver pieces of pigeon poo. Love it! As well as some seriously well endowed dolls, funny but gross at the same time.

4. Sustainable Living Festival. On this weekend only I think. There is heaps of good stuff to check out and this Sat there is a clothes swap. Also there is a really cool bike shop there that is selling great bikes for about $550. Which is awesome for a new bike with all the perks. Get into it! Ride your bike around Melbourne and you won't have to deal with all the tools on public transport.

Hurrah!

Frog Nation

So I've got one more day to finish Mr. Frog and this is how he looked earlier today. I think he will be fine.

I've realised that it is usually a good idea to think things through before you start them...like every single part of something. Otherwise you really just end up fucking yourself over and causing more trouble. I'm glad that this is something i've done completely by myself because I can clearly see what I do and don't focus on when I make. Gah..if only thinking something through was something that I focused on. I'm always much too excited to get to the finishing part.

Haven't had a proper crafternoon for 2 weeks now. Got to make the next one good. Have only been working on the frog lately. Nothing non frog related has been happening. I did find my moose cut outs the other day though. I think thats what I need to be finishing.

Reliving the Joy

I wandered into one of my favourite shops the other day - the Lost and Found Market in Smith Street - and I think I almost started to cry. The things and feeling in this shop are so beautiful. Its so nice to be in a retro world, all cluttered full of lovely things. If i could live here..I would. Definitely a place worth visiting if you haven't already

Don't forget that this Sunday in Ivanhoe is the Quality Makers Market (14 Ivanhoe Parade). A really lovely market where everything is handmade.

Also, this Thursday is the next Crafternoon. Hopefully I can post some pictures of our crazy hijinks.

I have managed to set up a little workspace for myself in my garage. Very simple, my sewing machine, a bench and some drawers but it is more than I had before. The garage is still full of a huge amount of crap, that hasn't changed, but I do have a clean and decent space to work in now. Hurrah! No more working on my bedroom floor or the concrete. Its such a relief.