Nov 28
I have been accepted to sell my work at the upcoming Oxford Street Markets in Leederville. I will be setting up my stall on December 6 and sharing with Lotta from Princess Lotta. Each stall has a marquee so if its a sunny day it will be a great chance for a bit of shade but going by the weather here lately it won’t be too bad at all.
I could have sold at one or two more of the Oxford St Markets (each Saturday until March) but I am breaking myself in slowly, two for this market season is enough for me.
The majority of the combined profits from my last market and this one will go to the work of SIM around the world. I still have not decided where to send the money but will decide after this market.
Nov 26
Over the last couple of months I have continued to sketch in my moleskine sketchbook and these are some of the results. I have tiny seeds of ideas for using these for something much bigger. I recently bought some tiny canvases and have started experimenting with black on white using acrylic but I’m not quite happy with the thickness of the paint. Time to invest in some quality acrylics methinks. Eventually, when I’m happy with the results I’ll be selling the paintings. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at some of the sketches (cropped for both secrecy and because I don’t know how to watermark):
I have plans to make these into jewellery too, especially brooches. I would love to increase my skills and be able to use silver or other metals but there’s just no time. Other things are more important than that for me.
Nov 25
This week I’ve had the ol’ acrylic paints out once again, it’s been a while. I wanted to try to paint something that catches the eye. I’m not sure that it’s finished but it will do for my purposes. This is much more of a poster illustration than anything and will have the words ‘Find Your Place’ in the centre. This is for our display for Go!Reachout which is on this weekend here in Perth.
This is about 90cm x 60cm I would think (haven’t measured it). I’ve had to do this late at night and have managed to get this far in two nights. Not sure if I’ll do any more on it, might just leave it because I tend to overwork things if I keep fiddling.
Nov 24
My brother is an excellent photographer and now you can own one of his fabulous prints for yourself. He has recently opened a store on redbubble which can be found here. His collection of photographs range from stunning Aussie scenery through to orchids and aircraft, including the shot below.
He describes his collection as:
The nature of life is a collection of life in nature and nature in life, captured for your enjoyment. Take a stroll on the beach, enjoy an untouched waterfall or take in the beauty of an orchid. Come and partake of The Nature of Life.
What better time of year to help him celebrate his new online shop by purchasing one of his genius shots as a gift for Christmas.
Nov 23
I tend to thrive on being organised and so its with great shame that my jewellery findings box was in total disarray. I couldn’t find anything and didn’t really know what I was short of. Finally on a night when I was too tired to be very creative I attacked my box and this is the end result:
On a similar note, we were in Quinns Rock the other day and noticed just how the houses there looked like a great sea of homes. Took a distant photo, this would make an interesting painting I think.
I do like the way the houses are organised but at the same time this would drive me mad. They remind me a bit of the houses in the movie Edward Scissorhands, where everything is lined up and similar. The house we live in now is a duplex and yet it feels more like we are on a mini farm at times. I love organisation but sometimes you can be too organised.
Nov 20
Our kitchen is slowly transforming to what I want it to be…a 1950’s retro kitchen with ‘diner’ tendencies. The other day I had 10 minutes to browse a local op shop (thrift shop) and discovered these three canisters amongst the recycled ‘treasures’ in the kitchen section. I was excited to find them and even more pleased when I turned them over for the price to discover that they were only $3.75 for the set. Wow, what a bargain!
To some this is not a bargain at all. Many would think that they are only worth $3.75 and would still have left them on the shelf but I saw so much more value in them. They fit into my kitchen perfectly next to my ‘diner’ style sugar container and items that I’ve collected which were once well used in my Nanna’s kitchen.
Lately I’ve been feeling a bit like these canisters, undervalued. It’s a tendency of mine to go down that line of thinking and something I have to watch out for. I have to try to remember that God has a use for me no matter how small, I just need to be patient. For now I am completely satisfied with being a stay at home Mum and contributing to my role within SIM where I can. I just have to keep reminding myself that God values me even when I ‘feel’ undervalued. I am also aware that I can pass on this pouty-ness to my daughters (Keziah already makes a grunt noise when she can’t get something to work) and must work on this area for their sakes. I want to be the best example I can and show them they are valued and loved by their parents but also by God.
So, which kitchen item are you like?
Nov 19
This week I tried something new. I’ve made a pile larger beads using scrap clay and quite like the results. I’m not sure yet what they will become.
At the suggestion of a customer at the market I turned my phone canes into rings. My brother referred to them as ‘the telephone rings’, clever fella.
And finally, here’s a sneak peek at my entry for this month’s PCAGOE (polymer clay guild of Etsy) challenge. The theme is ‘Winter’ and I’ll blog about it later when it’s time to vote.
Nov 19
I did some custom orders last week and enjoyed the challenge. The first involved tiny eggs:
The second involved cakes, muffins, milkshakes, cake and ice cream and lollipops all around 2-3cm tall. These were a challenge but I enjoyed it;
The third was a feeding necklace but here’s only a sneak peek as it hasn’t yet arrived at it’s destination;
I really enjoy custom orders, the challenge keeps me interested in what I do so if you have anything in mind you would like me to tackle, feel free to contact me.
Nov 19
Three is so much fun. This was all K’s idea, she’s currently obsessed with dressups and for the first time this morning rejected the clothes I got out for her and went and got her own (emptying her drawer to find the tshirt she wanted in the process). Things are changing, she’s rapidly moved from toddler to kid!!
She also made this little bear all by herself, I was so proud (which she then squished up and put back with the rest of the playdough).
This was also all her own idea.
Nov 17
When we bought this house we counted 11 types of fruit tree. Since then Michael has put in a few more as well as herbs and strawberries with plans for a vegie garden too. Just look at what is on its way;
Eaten already!
Passionfruit
Grapes
Mango
Peaches
Nectarine
Tomatoes
