the honey makers

So this one had a hard birth. The design came quick enough but then I wasn't happy with it as just a single colour print. The bees were meant to be just the one (not the 5 here) and it (the bee) was going to be in black too originally. And that all changed as I started printing which meant the bees got added one by one in that bright punchy yellow. I do mostly like a monochrome palette but occasionally I can let myself add a splash of colour to lighten the energy in a print.

So 'the honey makers' is here in gorgeous 100% linen + ready for use.

Some thoughts on process this week....I've been spending time with quite a few creative folk of late due to the 'big story' I'm writing (a PhD - some background on my other world here) and it's been a glorious thing. I've had a number of similar conversations about process birthing ideas for future projects/work. That is, you start working on something and while you're in there with your creative juices flowing it generates ideas for all kinds of other work. It's like you have to be immersed in the creative process to help this other generative process happen. Well in printing over this weekend I felt that happen. My head has been gurgling with all kinds of ideas for future designs and illustrations. Mostly I think it's a result of trialing designs, manipulating them, problem solving on the hop and then eventually resolving the design issues. Something happens in my creative head space when all of that other stuff is working away. Does that happen to you?

flood appeal: prints

Unfortunately, here we go again (the Victorian bushfire horror still feels so recent). It's disaster relief time in Australia again, this time for the flood victims of Queensland.

As part of the Brisstyle Handmade Ark Flood Appeal the proceeds from these 2 prints from my shop will go to the QLD Premier's Flood Relief Appeal.

SOLD

SOLD

More info about Brisstyle can be found here in case you'd like to sell something crafty and handmade of your own to donate.

Update: thanks to both people who bought the two prints above. You are total stars! I'm about to send the proceeds to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal as promised.

egg-ity

twig

solo

two eggs

These are a few new prints from the growing egg series based on sumi ink illustrations. All available here.

Melbourne folk - are you going to Finders Keepers this weekend? If I can work out how to get to Shed 4 I will be.

6 sleeps until Kyoto for me.......

2011 calendar

Here it is....well a few pages of the finished product anyway. The calendar has two months to a page of my original illustrations and sumi drawings. Tea features strongly. As do eggs, and furry critters such as cats and chickens. And a few unusual things with legs and feet. All printed on archival quality paper with inks that will last forever. It's in my shop now. And I'll even pop a free greeting card in with each purchase.

snug

My feet are in heaven and it's because I found Ingoote. These lovely felted slippers (pic from Ingoote) made from linen and wool arrived today in the post all the way from Lithuania. And I swear my feet are smiling they're so comfy. Melbourne and Tassie folk - if you have a house with floorboards and you need some warm foot comfort consider these lovelies. And Ingoote is so sweet to deal with even when I mistakenly told her my feet are 38cm long (!!!!!!) instead of saying they are EU size 38. Smart woman that she is she double-checked that I didn't have ridiculously long feet before making my pair :) And now they are snug as a bug in a rug. Haven't heard that expression in a while, have you?

show and tell

This lovely collection of pods, including my woodblock print (lower left corner), graced the front page of etsy yesterday and I was awake for it! So thankyou to Lisa Hopkins who put this list together. I just love seed pods so much so that a while ago I helped set up a flickr group for photos and artwork of pods with the lovely Kristin Loganbill of Moon Tea Art.

And in November last year Apartment Therapy ran a wrap up of Melbourne etsy folk they're fond of and were kind enough to include moi (in the form of my Chiyogami Teapot print). I didn't find the article until recently but am flattered to be included. Thanks AT! Just click on the images to see them bigger.

printsy interview: marissa buschow

Printsy is the name of a new flickr group for printmakers who have an etsy shop. That is, printmakers working with techniques such as intaglio, relief, screen printing, lithography and monotypes.  And printsy now has its own blog: Printsy: printmakers of etsy. Printsy members are in the process of interviewing each other about their various backgrounds and printmaking processes. The first interview is up on the new blog and is with Marissa Buschow,  also known as fustian on etsy. This is her lovely woodblock print titled 'fox sparrow'. I'm particularly excited to learn that Marissa also works in the moku hanga (Japanese style woodblock printing) tradition. The interview is a great read. 

And a little note here to say that some of my woodblock print and kimono fabric cards are now available at the gorgeous Bamakko in North Melbourne. Bamakko stock hand made products from a range of Melbourne designers and artisans. The shop is a delight to visit.

little owls and things

Owl Gocco Print by Matte Stephens

I've recently discovered the wonderful work of Matte Stephens through his etsy shop, matteart. This lovely Owl gocco print is just one of the soft, colourful pieces he has for sale. Matte's profile says he's been making a living as a painter for 12 years. Yay Matte! How fantastic that an artist can find a way to work in their field full-time.

It looks as though Matte's based in the USA. Take a look at his shop and see what you think.