Holiday snaps

Hello,  I am back from my holiday!  As suspected, I was technically incapable of posting while I was away, but I will make up for it by showing some interesting finds in the next couple of weeks.  Meanwhile, here are some snaps, mostly taken in my parents' home town of Pucisca on the island of Brac.  (I like to do my bit for the local tourist board.)

 Above: the view from my aunt's terrace is fantastic.

 Above: The annual procession of the Feast of the Assumption.

Above: my expectant cousin Iva looks for her dog in front of the lighthouse that our late grandfather once looked after.

 Above: bathers at the 'post office' pier.  My aunt sits among them.

 Above and below: the market in Split.

Above: the city of Split is famous for its Roman palace, built as a retirement home for the emperor Diocletian in the fourth century A.D.  Some time after the fall of the Empire, ordinary citizens took it over, and have been living in its nooks and crannies ever since.  It's a fantastic place to visit.

 Above: the church in Supetar, another town on the island of Brac.

 Above: sad bin.

Above: sad tourist.  Not me.

Not baby bunting

I have finally hung my Ill Conceived mobile, which I made ages ago (look more closely here).  Although now of course it's more like bunting.

Psssst: I am off on holidays today.  I look forward to having a bit more time to look at everyone else's blogs and will try to post while I am away, if I can work out how.  If not, see you in a few weeks and take care!

Favourite Painting and Tracing Book

This lovely book does not contain any credits unfortunately as it seems to have a couple of missing pages.  If you like this, there's plenty more like it in this Flickr treasure trove.

My handsome new companion

This is my new companion on the couch, although unfortunately he seems more interested in his book (The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall), than he is in me.
The lovely women at Frankie and Swiss brought my little man to textile life, and did a fantastic job.
Thank you to EVERYONE who came and had a look at my work at Design Made Trade last week, said hi, took a card, or even bought something!  You all made me very happy.

Design Made Trade, day 3

Design Made Trade is half way through.  The trade days have been a mix of hectic, overwhelming and quiet enough to knit and chat to friends who have trade passes.  Today and tomorrow it's open to the public -- I expect that the atmosphere will be different but just as good.  And I hope that if you are planning to attend that you will come and say hi!  My Craft Victoria chums are a wonderful bunch too.  (Please excuse the lack of links -- this is a super rushed post and I will finish it later!)

I decided to use my bookshelf to display my wooden items in for Design Made Trade.  I painted each shelf a different colour but did SUCH a dismal job that I had to cover the most dodgy bits.  I ended up using a combination of pictures I found on the internet, tea bags and my own stickers.  It was fun!
See you at DMT if you are in Melbourne this weekend.  Royal Exhibition Buildings, 10 - 5pm both days.

Found around the house this morning

Things around the house that I thought I'd share with you.  Stories of Famous Operas, New York, 1955.  Shame my scanner can't capture the vibrancy of that pink.

 The Girl's Handicraft Book, London, 1955.  Pages from it below.

And my woollen scarf bought from an op shop in Stockholm.  The colours are actually quite fluorescent, but the scanner hasn't captured them either.

Have a great weekend!

Design, Make Your Own Man, Trade

It is with great pride and trepidation that I divulge that I am taking part in Design Made Trade this year, under the caring guidance of Craft Victoria.  Perhaps you have noted that my posts have been a bit irregular lately, and that is why.  Much done, much more to do, lots to stress about (my greatest talent is stressing).  One thing that was finished ages ago was this kind-of-almost life size version of my Make Your Own Man paper cubes and card.  I wasn't going to reveal the fellows ten days away from the show but (a) I don't have time to find another thing to post and (b) I think that Warren Kirk's photos are so fantastic I had to share them.
And thank you so much to my father Vinko who helped me to actually make the men.  Puno hvala Tata!

Clock on The Block

Though admittedly you might have to play "Where's Wally?" with this one, my Yellow Sweater Clock found TV fame on Channel 9's The Block last week.  I didn't watch it, but not because I am too highbrow to watch a bunch of gym-buffed competing renovators.  Even though my dear friend Mikey called me breathlessly and implored me to switch channels, I NEEDED to see who was about to be eliminated on Masterchef instead.  Truth is, I felt a little overwhelmed and embarrassed.

Flauna?

A new-ish greeting card

Sometimes when I sell my work, I miss it.  I found myself thinking about the colourful wooden fisherman and his exotic three-eyed catch recently.  Luckily, before I sent them off to TarraWarra last year I recorded them under the scanner, and from the scan I have made a new card.  I like it!  If you like it, it's here too.

Wooden plant in progress

A warm dog and a happy face

 An i-phone shot of a dog picture that I painted yesterday.  I think it's OK technically but a bit generic.

 The studio at 5:30pm: note northern hemisphere cousins that it's pitch black outside.  Life sure is different in winter!

A butterfly that I stole from somewhere on the internet, for your viewing pleasure.  Have a fine weekend.

Northern Exposure A3 Show

I am taking part in the Northern Exposure Festival's annual A3 Show which is held in conjunction with Illustrators Australia.    I am offering the signed original artwork for The Man of Flowers and The Hamburger Ballerina -- acrylic on paper and watercolour on paper respectively -- at what I think is a pretty good price!  The exhibition opens this Friday evening.  There is a great selection of prints and originals available, click here to have a look.

Northcote Town Hall
Ground Floor, Room 2
189 High St, Northcote Vic 3070

Friday 15th - Saturday 23rd June.

Words in progress

Shape inspired by toilet paper.  I need to do at least 12 more -- let me know if you have any ideas, or if you are willing to share something that you have said to someone you love (or really don't) in recent memory.  Oh -- and it should be short enough to fit easily across a toilet-paper-leaf-sized piece of white Helmut Lang(!) cotton poplin.  Thank you.