what are you working on?

For me it's been this new giclee print in the last few days. And I'm happy to say I've been practicing a bit of letting go in honour of those words in that last post. I had an earlier version of this that I was almost happy with. But not quite. So I got tough on myself and culled it. Not easy to do but I do think it has to be done from time to time.

What are you working on? Experiencing any bumpy bits?

what's on the shelf?

A little while ago I got all nostalgic for the small shelves of bowls and cups I had in my wee kitchen in Japan. They were tiny and sat just above my sink but had a window behind them so the light came through the back of all that lovely pottery. It was very pretty to look at in the morning. Nostalgia is a funny thing.

So out of a natsukashi moment came this illustration-come-giclee print. It's available in green and blue, my two favourite colours at the moment. Almost any shade of green or blue is likely to come from my fingertips these days.

I have a good kiwi friend who lived in Japan when I did. She emailed this morning talking of the sorrow they are going through post Christchurch quake. My heart goes out to you NZ.

tea-ness

A new giclee print I've called steam - sumi ink and artline pen illustration.

Small tea cosy in burnt orange. Photo from The shop of on Argyle St

Speaking of things tea check out these contemporary tea cosies at the shop on argyle st. I'm waiting on this bright little one to arrive in my kitchen having recently been won over to the power of a good tea cosy. I had no idea they could work so well. I think I've never been able to go there in my head because I'm not overly fond of the knitted/crocheted nanna styled ones. But this one is right up my alley.

something fresh, something green

A new colourway, a re-work of an old favourite, something fresh: three pots of tea, fresh, that is!

My dentist inquired as to whether I drink a lot of green tea. What's a lot? I asked. Apparently I have a slight green tinge to my teeth which they can remove when I get my teeth cleaned there. I like to think green tea is worth the green tinged grin. Do I have any supporters?

Have you saved the 18th December to head on down to Harvest Xmas Market? Hope so. Should be full of goodness + craftiness.

whispers

A new giclee art print Whispers has been recently released separately from the calendar. The background colour has the softest, most subtle tinge of green to it. Really quite calming to look at. And yes, made from one of my sumi ink illustrations. If you're shopping for pressies (like I am at the moment) it's here.

giveaway - name this print

I've called this new giclee print 'the shuffle'. If you can think of a more interesting name (and one that I like) I'll send you one for free on lovely ivory white 220 gsm acid free textured Prisma paper (without the copyright watermark on it). Go on - let your imagination run wild! I'll announce the new print name and winner on Friday 7th November. To see the print better just click on the image.

trouble comes in fours

My kitty and her feline friends are responsible for this new giclee print, trouble comes in fours, a reworking of a previous print known as unraveling. I'll never forget the night a few months ago when I left some well-intentioned knitting out on the floor of the living room only to wake and find that it had been the evening's entertainment for my cat, Sumi. The whole ball of wool had been made into one big messy knot. It was just too funny for words.

unraveling

I had fun making this new giclee print, unraveling, the other day. You can see the full image here.

The good news is I'm almost completely recovered. I can't believe how many people I know have been sick these last couple of weeks. I guess it's the change of seasons that brings this on.

One thing I missed due to being sick last week was the opening of a new woodblock/wood engraving show at Port Jackson Press called Against the Grain. It's on until the 27th Sept at their gorgeous new gallery space in Collingwood so I hope to get there this weekend. It includes the beautiful prints of Georgia Thorpe and this one by Michael Schlitz called urban camper.