You have a memo...

Dear Motorists, 

For God's sake, can you please look before you open your car doors? Please? Seriously. Your thought process may need to be something along these line..

Hmm. I wonder if there is a cyclist coming up behind me, as I am parked along the bike path. Let me look in my rear-view mirror just to be sure. Ok, here comes someone - wait two - ok. I can open my door now since there are no cyclists and won't put them in danger of swerving and getting hit by a car.

Wow thanks Motorist, for checking before you kick your door open into traffic and not attempting to kill me under a tram. You are awesome.


Dear Our Sweet Little House in Brooklyn,
I can't wait to see you! I'm counting down days... Please stay up on the hill and don't fall down. I know all these earthquakes in New Zealand are scary, but you are an older, gentler, kinder house that was built when houses were built properly, we have no doubt you will be ok, but keep in mind... We love you!

With love,

B

Digital Painting

Trying out a Wacom tablet.. Pretty cool!

Upcoming Exhibition - Girls and Sisters

I know, it's been a while since I've posted. Sorry! I still love you! Honestly!

Anywho, I've been working on a painting for an upcoming show over in South Melbourne at the Smartartz Gallery. The opening night is the 13th of April and runs until the 29th. Please go check it out, it's all for a good cause - check out the website for Because I am a Girl for more info on the campaign.

I'm really excited about the painting. It's been a long and slightly painful journey for it, but it's nearly finished.. I know - I'm cutting it fine... It's titled Sisters.

When I was going through ideas about what it means to be a girl, I kept coming back to the weird connection women have with other women. That strange thought processes and mental connection we have with other women that are close to us still astounds me.

The painting relates to the connection I have with my sister. We grew up together in a fairly small, secluded town called Sterling. There was never much to do there, since the population then was probably less than 3,000 people, so we would wander through the woods and rely on our imaginations to stop the boredom from driving us mad.

The painting I've been working on relates to the adventures and hardships that my sister and I went through together. I don't know how my life would have ended up if I didn't have my sister. Now that I live thousands of miles away, I feel in someway, we are still connected. As sisters, as friends, and as women.

I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the show and see what 30 other women think about being a girl. Hope to see you at the Opening Night!

xoxo

Future Plans... in Gardening

Some inspiring greenhouses..

via flickr Old Chum 

via weheartit

via finehomebuilding

via flickr emma.williams

via Tom Mannion

And the most inspiring... The Owen's house from the movie Practical Magic... 

How do you NOT love this!!!???

New Zealand.

As you know, New Zealand has been hit by some incredibly hard times. 

I am auctioning off a few prints on my Facebook page for the NZ Red Cross to help with the rescue and recovery efforts. They need all the help and support they can get.

ALL proceeds from each item successfully sold will be going to the New Zealand Red Cross. http://www.redcross.org.nz/

Please, dig deep! 
Every single cent will be going to the New Zealand Red Cross to help everyone affected. Spread the love in anyway you can!!

Auction prints and details are here...

Auction of prints for the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal

one of the prints up for auction...

My heart is breaking just thinking about the people and the city lost to the earthquake. 

Thank you so much for your support.

xoxo

Herby Goodness!

At first, J thought I was nuts... 

A small collection of jars. A medium collection of jars. 

Now, a massive collection, being used to make herb infused oils, tinctures, salves, astringent toners, hair tonics, and soon - SOAP and LOTIONS!

One of the best parts about this whole process, all of the herbs I'm using are from our garden! That is one of the most satisfying parts. Really! (That and using my awesome Lemon Balm and Lavender Toner! Heavenly!)

Since we have had so much rain in the last few months - Summer? What Summer? - everything has gone being going crazy in the garden! We have tomatoes that have mysteriously appeared, as well as some pumpkins and zucchinis that are almost the size of the calf... a couple different kinds of beans, cucumbers, the list goes on!

This year, I was so lucky to have a good base of herbs. The mint was already going crazy in a bed, but I transferred it to an old lemon tree pot and it's taken off even better than before. It's so healthy and loves to be cut back. The lemon balm, calendula, and the lavender are doing beautifully. The rosemary and thyme coming along nicely for their first season. Even the Goji Berry plant has finally shown us some life - and some berries!

This is been one of the BEST growing seasons in ages! I hope everyone else has had great success as well!

Strange Creativeness.

Warning – bit of a ramble…

For the last week or so, I've had my head stuck between a canvas and my paints.

I've really found a new way of working that seems to suit me. It's hard to describe. It's hard to explain without sounding nuts. But I've been delving deeper and deeper into what I feel like is a past life. My childhood. My sisterhood. And my frankness about life in general. I will say, it’s therapeutic.

My sister and I have been through some odd things in our lives, as individuals and together as a couple of troublemakers. And lately, I have been missing her immensely. I love to think that maybe in our sisterly link – we still know what each other is feeling and thinking, but with more than 10,000 miles between us, you can never quite tell.

So, here is to getting lost in the woods, pet chickens, inflatable purple Easter Bunnies, matching dresses and burning houses. 

I love you Leigh! Hope you are well... 

xoxo

Wristcutters - A Love Story

Ok. Here is my movie recommendation for the weekend!

Zia: Being here with you reminds me of what I was like before my suicide. 

Mikal: What were you like? 

Zia: I was happy...

Yes, I know. A dark comedy about suicide? Yes. It is.

I really liked this movie. You should try and see it sometime.

And yes, the Gogol Bordello references are gold. 

Check out this review of it.

Have a good, happy and safe weekend!
xoxo

Happy Sufjan Stevens Day!

Or rather Happy Monday. But in my world today... It is officially Sufjan Stevens Day here in Melbourne! I get to see him play at the Arts Centre tonight. I've never seen him play before and am really really ... REALLY excited! Can you tell????

This weekend was pretty brilliant! Hilarious and good times had by all! And a HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Andy for hooking us up for the Mos Def show! What a lovely surprise and what a lovely night... even my 5am bedtime didn't dampen my spirits much.. And just a note to myself - I know I live on the other side of the planet to where heaps of my old friends are... but more than 10 years of not seeing people... Way too long. So much catching up and never enough time!

Anyway.
Happy Sufjan Day!

heheheee!

Happy Friday! Weekend Plans...

Tonight. Mos Def.

Thank you to my old friend, Andy, for hooking all us of up with this one!

Saturday. Drawing.

I'm not keeping within the lines. More on the Blue Knights video later.

Sunday. Time with friends and family and the neighbourhood animals.

The view from my office/studio.
This is our neighbour's goat.
She has a kid as well, soooo cute!

And MONDAY!!! Finally!
Two words.
Sufjan. Stevens.
*sigh*

Happy dances were had by all when I received this in the post!

I am super excited for this show. I feel like I've been waiting years to see Mr.Stevens play live.
Can. Not. Wait!

Image via Wikipedia

Have a safe and happy weekend!!!
xo

The belated Holiday Recap

Yeah. I know. Late as usual! We had a lovely week off, hanging around the house, gardening, I did some drawing, J did some baking. Good times. :)

Bruce aka Scrappy Do. He enjoys a good army crawl.

My fancy new cheese board J got me for Xmas! It's stunning, so was the cheese.

Jackal, maybe Nigella? Minus the obvious.

Peanut Butter Brownies and our Christmasy Kitchen. YUM!

Dreams.

Sometimes, after I wake up... I have to reconnect my brain to reality.

 And remember that the beauty is no longer there.

via flickr - Ciorania

via flickr - katiesilvester

I miss you, my dearest, old friend.

via weheartit

A new drawing in the works

A rose by any other name...

Juliet

More Treasury Goods

Thanks to RelyDesign!

Yay for Etsy Treasuries!

Thanks to ButterfilesWing for including my Elizabeth Bennet drawing in this gorgeous Jane Austen inspired collection! 

I've recently put up a few original drawings on good old Etsy.. Let me know what you think!

Have a lovely weekend!!
xx

Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head

image via weheartit

Our thoughts and love go out to all those people and creatures in Queensland... 

Stay Strong!

xxx

Giving Thanks.....

It's Thanksgiving today...

I'm missing my family...

Missing my Gramma's Turkeyday Feast....

Missing having a four day weekend....

I love you and miss you all!!

But I am looking forward to our own version of Thanksgiving tonight!!

Turkey Burgers on the BBQ.

Root Veggie Chips.

Cranberry and Blue Cheese toppings.

Duncan's Pecan Pie.

And *fingers crossed* my first ever Pumpkin Pie from actual pumpkin (aka not from the can!)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Americana Counterparts! Love you all heaps! Miss you all more!

xoxo

I love the library...

image via ImagesbyClaire

Not any particular library, but just most every library there is.

I've been hitting up one close to my work lately and its fantastic. I've only been there twice and have come across books that are exactly what I was looking for. Kudos to the Yarra-Melbourne branches! I think more businesses need to work like libraries actually.

Anyways, I'm very happy about the announcement of this exhibit opening at the State Library of Victoria the 3rd of Decemeber... I've been in love with a lot of the illustrations in children's book lately and this will hopefully kick start me into something good. Fingers crossed!

So, what are you reading? 

On my night stand at the moment :

Local Girls by Alice Hoffman 

(thank you Richmond Library!)

New drawings on RedBubble

Very happy to announce some new bits and pieces on RedBubble.com! 

While you can only get prints and cards on RedBubble, I will be selling the hand drawn originals on my Etsy site. Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing any... 

xoxo

Beards are ...

via theboldbanana

Yes. Yes they are.