Paper Love

I am itching to start making again. I have the studio, but our belongings are still held up in customs due to the unfortunate labeling of Darren's photographic equipment as "Shooting Stuff" by the Durban packers. This label has raised some alarm here Aus side. Sigh.
Anyway, today I thought I would do a post on artists who do have lots of time to make beautiful things. When Sam and I ran Hey Cherry together we did many posts about paper artists. This is a kind of "best of" post. In order of appearance: Helen Musselwhite, Mia Pearlman, Papernoodle, Justine Smith, Beatrice Coron, Tomoko Shioyasu, and Fideli Sundqvist.

Just A Little Bit Better

My wonderful mum and dad have been helping me make the house we are renting just a little bit nicer. It is great on the inside and doesn't need a thing done to it, but the garden has been a bit neglected and the garage, which is to be my studio, needed a lot of de-spidering and a bit of brightening up. Amazing what a cheap lino floor, and a touch of paint on some shelving, can do for a place.

It does not look as dramatic as it felt, but we worked all Saturday at rock removal, leveling the ground, adding compost and planting a kitchen garden.

Mr Foster Wallace

I am loving "Infinite Jest" By David Foster Wallace. It is long and often I am so tired at night all I manage to do is re-read the last page from the previous night, complete one or two new ones and repeat x foreseeable future. Thus far this is my best quote:

Some Days Are Worse Than Others

I could rant about the girl at school who told my sweet little dude that he was not welcome here and that no-body liked him. But I remind myself that kids are cruel the world over and xenophobia exists every where.

You just have to love "A Softer World"

Atlantic City Cross Banana Republic

How sweet is my little monkey in his Boardwalk Empire hat? We are addicted to the telly show, I know we were a little late off the starting block, but are making up for lost time. I am absolutely loving Steve Buscemi in the role of Nucky Thompson. 

Every Thing Is Coming Up Roses

Last weekend was rosy. On Saturday morning there was the Rose Street Market and on Sunday there was a trip to Rosebud. Rosebud is a small coastal town just up the peninsula from us. We ventured there because of an ad Darren saw for a Vintage Bazaar, but found so much more.

These green lawn chairs I spotted reminded me so much of a recent post The Jealous Curator did on artist Cindy Rizza's paintings of chairs.

Anyway, the bazaar was fab and reasonably priced and worth a visit if you are in this neck of the woods.

After subjecting the boys to yet another vintage market, we thought we would take them for an ice-cream and walk along the pier. This is when we found the most beautiful little beach spot. The sea was teaming with life, from starfish to stingray. The water was crystal clear and the day warm as toast.

Leith the retro pin-up lifeguard! 

Unicorns!

This is for my little niece Zara.

Jimi Hendrix Street Art

Love this!

A Week with Rose Street Market

I don't usually manage to do a full weeks posts about one topic, but there were just so many beautiful things on offer at Rose Street Market that it was easy. It is on today from 11.00am - 5.00pm so if you are Melbourne based, pop down and see for yourself. Bonnylad will be there with beautiful jewellery, I Tram Melbourne will be there with their home-wares and tote bags and Salvage + Selvedge has a stall there with numerous lovely things including these wonderful brick book bookends.

Greg Mann

Greg Mann makes these lovely pieces from recycled culinary items. He also does custom work so if you are interested drop him a line. 

I do love the bottom right hand pin brooch with tiny spooning spoons.

OUR HOUSE!

We have a house. It has a big tree with whooshing wind at the bottom of the garden. It has a garage with electricity and a sink which will be my studio. It has built in cupboards in which to store our shite. It has a dishwasher. It has wooden floors. It has central heating AND cooling. It is not ugly. It is fairly cheap and it has a sheltered little stoep outside of my studio, overlooking the garden with the big tree, on which I shall sit and smoke cigarettes. We will rent this house until we can afford to buy our own. I am happy.

This is not our furniture

This pic of our back yard must have been taken in winter as the grass is green and the big tree is bare. In summer the grass is brown and the big tree is ever so leafy and shady. 

Able and Game

I loved Able and Game's stall at the Rose Street Market. They are a Melbourne based bunch who make delightful cards and linen tea-towels.

Love these, want the red girl! See what I mean about Frankston? 

Selling My Soul To Social Media

As if I have not already done so! ONCE is now also Pinning. There is a button to your right and down a little and you can push it if you like.

Shake, Rattle and Roll!

Brickvention

Another Rose Street Market stall I enjoyed was run by a guy called Vincent. He is a Lego enthusiast and was a participator in Melbourne's Brickvention this year.
"Brickvention is volunteer-run, Australian-based convention and public display for LEGO® fans. It is a two-day event that brings together LEGO fans of all ages from all over Australia to view original and unusual creations built by Australian modelers and collectors."

Some of Vincent's wares

Two of the displays at Brickvention

Little Red Riding Hood

Another product I loved were these little, wool felt brooches by Parkdasom. The stitch work is so fine, and once again I was taken in by pure good craftsmanship. So much so I spent my only pennies on a Little Red Riding Hood pin for my winter coat. If you love these little creations too you can contact the beautiful maker or visit her etsy shop.

A Post About Post

I have decided to embrace the postal system as I need physical contact with the loves I have left behind. The ethernets are great, but there is nothing like sending letters and cards with teeny tiny surprises in them to people far far away. I am going to have to visit the post office tomorrow.

The Rose Street Market - Neil Thomas

One of my favourite makers at the Rose Street Market was Neil Thomas. He makes really beautiful things like teeny tiny artworks in tins, badges and jewelry. His display and craftsmanship is superb and when I chatted to him, he seemed like a really nice person as well. Please go and browse around his site and blog.

This last one reminds me a little of my paintings, these two in particular.

Due to the inclusion of model railway figures Neil Thomas' work also reminds me of South African artist Luan Nel's early pieces.

In addition to the teeny, tin delights Neil Thomas also makes great little badges.