*new prints for sale

Hi all,

Quick story about the new images I am selling on Etsy...

I have a 'bowl of mystery film', it's basically random rolls of film that I shoot over the years and never get processed. Whether it's lack of memory or money, for some reason, it just happens. Lucky for me though, I work at a photographic lab that still does film processing!

The last batch I had processed was possibly from about 2002-2003. I vaguely remember walking around the cemetery with my Brownie Camera and my boyfriend at the time and convinced him to walk around with a big purple velvet cape I had made. (good thing the photos are b&w) :) Anyhow, this has been the one of the cooler mystery films ever!

Prints are available on Etsy....





x

* etsy - colour of the day

polaroidsandpinholes


valerydesignwrks


givingtrees


yumiyumi

I love shopping by colour.
x

* another rainy day

It's a lovely Melbourne day - raining like crazy!

Today's Comforts :
Bad coffee, chocolate covered teddy bear biscuit (thanks Aida!), My Morning Jacket, and portable heaters to warm cold toes.

And - Font Game!


I've been working on my new website lately. I always forget how tedious this is. But it's a good chance for me to look back and see a lot of my old work... and it makes me realise how much I miss shooting with film.

x

* sunday - creative spaces with Power Tools!

More updates...

I started trying to mount some smaller prints for Etsy. I got to use Jacob's power tools! After trying to cut down about 7 pieces of 100mm x 100mm MDF and breaking the band saw, I realised that we may need some nicer tools... Doh! Leave it to me to break a burly as metal blade in a big old piece of machinary!
*slaps forehead*

* saturday

Ok, sorry for the massive amount of random update posts!

The whole story is as such - my Macbook died about a day after I got my new mega pc. :( I was almost 2 weeks without any interweb at home. HELLO WITHDRAWL!!! Anyway, on Friday, Jacob had a day off and was able to crawl under the house amungst the dirt, cobwebs, broken glass, random animal poo (yuck!) and drill into the flooring and hardwire up my new computer! (how can you NOT love him!!!)

So now it's time to play catch up!

Saturday was quite eventful for most of the day. Duncan and Jacob felt the need to build something... so they built the 'Kubb Bench'. They found all sorts of scrap wood under the house and used a couple random old tree stumps around the yard.

Recycling at it's best!!







And done!




Perfect for for playing Kubb and beers!! And Timmy loves it too :)

And, some garden updates - Peas a plenty! and our capsicums are turning a lovely shade of red!



I finally planted my chamomile seeds too!! Can't wait for those!!
x

* north melbourne

Walking to meet Jacob and Timmy for agility training (yes, our dog is going to be the agililty master!!) I had some time to wander around bits of North Melbourne. I couldn't help but take this shot. It's very circa 1978. Fantablous!

x

* still lifes - creative spaces

So, after a good day of painting at the art class, I decided to start a still life at home.



Then back to class to make some major progress... This painting is finished now. I just need to find a place to put it!!



I'm looking at taking another class, but I'm not sure of which one yet. It's a toss up between life drawing and botanical drawing... Ugh! Silly descions. Speaking of classes, Jacob is going to be taking a joinery class!! Hopefully... he's still slightly undecided.

x

* for erin - cherry plum tree blossoms

x

* kumquats and hydrangea

Hello hello...
These last few weeks have been quite full on. Between work, life, and lovely family visiting from New Zealand (xoxox) I haven't had any time to post. Booo-urns.

Anyway, during my lunch break today at my desk, I got myself up to date with all happening in the world - blogs i try and read regularly, facebook, emails - all that good stuff.

I read a post from Claire at Loobylu that was so lovely. Read it. It's a strange association to have, but kumquats have always reminded me of my Gramma Dawley. She was the one that introduced me to kumquats. I never thought I would like them, but because of her - I'm an addict. I miss her terribly. She lives back in the US with the rest of the family. She is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet in your life. Ask my friends, my husband, anyone! She's absolutley beautiful in everyway. I miss you Gram! xoxo

On an Etsy note - I have a new image up...


This was taken with my Holga last time Jacob and I were in Wellington. I refused to shoot digital on that trip... best descion ever!

xo

*aida's new exhibition

The lovely Aida Sabic had her latest gallery exhibition opening on Friday night at the Hogan Gallery in Collingwood. Her new work is really incredible and shows so much emotion. I was lucky enough to photograph part of the evening...















Her show runs until the 14th of September at the Hogan Gallery, 310 Smith Street, Collingwood.

* go etsy!

Here are some new images I'm selling on Etsy...






There will be heaps on the way thanks to my hubby and his friend, Pat, who set me up with one of the most burly computers I've seen in a long time! Many GB of RAM and massive amounts of storage... Can't wait to play!!

This is the first PC I've had since I was about 19 with the exception of the computers I use at work.. I'm not switching teams as I still have my MacBook, but *sigh* I'm so excited!!!

* my meaning of life

*inspiration - diane arbus

Back a few years ago, the Walker Art Centre had the fabtabulous Diane Arbus exhitbit. A friend and I went to the free late night and I was just fascinated.

I love that some artists see true beauty in mundane things. They see the innocence and purity of people and somehow are just amazing enough to be able to capture it on film.

Her images are just stunning, some of them are very in your face, sometimes can make you feel a little on edge - like you've seen the insides of someone's soul and it's something you almost feel guilty about.

Some of her work is so well known, but others I had never seen before.

Enjoy and feel awkward...










This image is one of my favorites. I can't help my smile when I see this image. Just beautiful... xo

*such lovely words

Hello all!

It's been a few days since I've had a chance to write or post anything, but today there was this gorgeous lady who wrote a little blurb about me...

Aida's Blog

Thanks hon!! I'm so happy to be photographing the opening. I've spread the postcards and the praise of her work a million times, but hopefully I'll see you all there!

xo

* out for a walk

*etsy - yummy's for mummy's

Is Halloween really coming up that fast? Sweet!







Can't wait!
xo

*the good wife

This is just brilliant...

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE
Home Economics High School Text Book, 1954

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.

Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.


xo

*crochet update

Yes, those few sick days have been good for a couple things.. Crocheting like a mad-woman is one of them!

I've started a new project just to pass the time. It's totally inspired by this, but with a 1970's spin.



I love how meditative it is, it just keeps on going. I told myself I'd do at least two colours a day, and now, I'm lucky if I'm able to do one. The larger the piece gets, the more awkward it gets to handle. But - I'm looking forward to when it's done and I can use it properly... aka me and the hubby and the puppy cuddled on the couch.

Ahh that's the life!
xo

*down with the sickness

Hello. I've been sick. I had to take a few days off of work. Granted, any other time I get off of work, I'm usually stoked.. except when I find my self sleeping all day and hacking up a lung or two. Not fun.

But in the last couple days, I've been able to slowly clean my office and organise a little bit. And I've finally been able to go through a couple cookbooks that I've had for months and haven't had a chance to really look at.

One was a birthday gift from our friends, Duncan and Erin. It's the Greatest-Ever Mexican Recipes by Jane Milton. I'm always a sucker for a nice cookbook.







One of the reasons I love this book... It lists almost everything in metric and imperial. Perfect for the American now living overseas!

The other book I always have happy times looking through is the Junior Cook by Mary Pat Fergus, it was published in New Zealand in the early 80's. It's such a cute book. The illustrations are so classic.. But I wish I had this book growing up. I would have learned so much!





Too cool...
xo

*art class

I've been taking a drawing and painting class on Saturday mornings at Muscart Art Studio-Gallery in Kensington. It's a very nice small class, about 6 or 7 people. I love it, love being able to create and learn from the basics again. I feel kind of bad sometimes, I have a lot more experience and training than most of the people there, but it's still really fun. And it's a nice way to start off the weekend.

I met the woman, Joyce, who is currently showing in their little coffee shop as I was leaving. I love some of her landscapes, sort of impressions of the weather and mood of the landscape. Really lovely..
Her and her partner have a blog - Check it out..

Here is my current work in progress...







Ahh, it's nice to work on a still life. We'll be getting into painting next week... Can't wait!