Bird mobile

Its finished! Art Everyday Month, has made me realize that I need to finish all my projects before starting any new ones. I feel much less cluttered as a result. The photos dont do this mobile justice....however I have to say I actually really love it! I very rarely say that about my own work. Yeah its finished yeah....

Creative Everyday with materials and things

I am sorting out my material stash. Most of this has been thrifted and reporposed. I am getting ready to make a whole bunch of those weird softies in time for an art expose in Picton next month.
After reading about it on this blog I have decided to do monthly meal plans and weekly shopping lists. Living in the country has brought some adjustments. Where I used to shop everyday for food, and cook on a whim, I am finding that a 40 min round trip to the shops is taking its toll on our time and our budget. I have already put the plan into action...and its working well. Alot less stressful knowing what to cook and when, and that we have the ingredients that we need.

Day 10 of art everyday month. Lots of thinking and planning going on for me today...

Banksia Leaf Drawing

Ive been down the bush again drawing to my hearts content. Can someone please remind me to do this on a regular basis? I think it is saving my life. I sat in the stillness and listened to the cicadas sing. I love the song of the cicada. Reminds me of happy times in the summer....

This is day 9 of Art Everyday Month! (only day 9? my god, I am already exhausted...i dont think that is the idea of this challenge though!!)

Wholesome "Cupcakes"

I have been baking all weekend for my business. I sell high fat high sugar small cakes. It drives little messyfish crazy that he can not have any (because mummy wont let him)...so I changed a Molly Katzen Bran and Honey Muffin recipe around to make it sugar and wheat free, then baked it in the cupcake papers I use for my business...so now little messyfish can eat as many as he likes! I have published the recipe on Tastebook (see side bar for link)

Its day 8 of creative everyday month, and I have definitely been creative with these cupcakes (unfortunately for some small boy i know...or fortunately actually!)

Gumnuts

Gumnuts...a quick sketch when I was down the bush the other day.

The Papasan Chair Vege Garden

Continuing from this post

I had some dirt delivered
lined the chair with "weed mat"
positioned it so it would get full sun. (the original place meant that I had to cart the dirt tooooo far, no thanks!)
fill up with dirt, and watch the whole thing collapse!
hmmmmmm..... And worse, I still have more than 1/2 a square meter of dirt left! 

I want chooks again too...sigh....

I am planting it out with seeds tomorrow. I will post about it again when I have some seedling action. Untill then, I just cant go there again.

PS I am renting...I am not insane enough to have so much ridiculous lawn, infact I would not be putting dirt in a chair in the first place if there was not so much dumb lawn. I would have the whole 2 terraces of lawn removed, and planted out permaculture style...ah bliss, just the thought cheers me up.

My Creative Space Thursday

Day 5 of "Art Everyday Month"...I have been needle felting again. I am committed to finishing the bird mobile I started a while back. I have some more flowers and balls to do, and then the stringing up on the rattan ring. I am using only natural materials. Wool, cotton, rattan, and glass beads. (no plastic or synthetics in this one!)

For more creative spaces go visit Kirsty at Kootoyoo

Notebook Cover

I stayed up late last night to make this. It was SOOOOO much fun choosing materials and the design. I found the project in this book Meet Me At Mikes.

Then I changed it, and used The Cute book to help create the kitty face.

I used recycled materials I found at StVinnies.
Embroidered felt kitty face for a cheery front cover (stuffed with polyfill). Does anyone know where I can get ecofill in Australia??
Fits an A5 sketchbook. I got the black textured trim from an antique shop.
Slips into the envelope of material at the back (the pattern did not explain how to do this...but I worked it out anyhow!)
Great for those ugly black visual diarys from the newsagent

This is day 4 of "art everyday month"...so far so good. I am loving the sense of achievement!

Creative Everyday Month

Whilst little Messyfish is obsessed with transferring dirt or piles of stones from one place to the other, I have been "creative" in the garden. The Papasan chair, that is to become the vegetable garden has finally been positioned. Its the best place for me to garden, the best place for full sun, and it will catch the rain. I have also dug out my seeds, and have planted out my hanging baskets with random seeds collected from my vegetable garden in the old house.

Art Everyday Month, can also mean being creative everyday...and this is as good as it gets somedays with a toddler!

Busy day with Little Messyfish

Remember those gerberas?
Hanging out the washing, I made this dress a couple of weeks ago. I used this pattern and the material is "Nest" by Tula Pink for Moda, bought from this shop.
Playgroup at Ellens place, by the dam. Its another stinker (hot) today...
Cute cute cute cute (oh, and then there is Ellen on the chair)
3 puzzles are now 1! oh dear, now its a 2000pce puzzle. It only took him 1 minute of me in the kitchen not watching, for him to do this....sigh.....

Happy Cactus Monday!

Happy cactus Monday all. This is a quick sketch that I was able to do before Little Messyfish woke up. Its hot here today 32C (90F) so I was glad to finish this, and get inside where it is cooler! Day 2 of the challenge...to be creative everyday during the month of November

Felt Flower Child

I made this simple wool felt daffodil doll for our Spring Table. Day 2 of the challenge. I used the book Feltcraft to guide me through the construction

Banksia Drawing

I went deep into the bush with my cushion and some cartridge papaer and a 2b pencil. After I found my rock, this is the first thing I found. I wasnt fussy. I just needed to draw. The insanity melted away as I drew. Here are some bad photos. The drawing is too big for the scanner. I really must stop posting bad photos on here. Tis lazy of me...

Part of "Art Everyday Month". A month of being creative everyday. What a challenge! Join in here

My Creative Space

My creative space has been outside today. Ive been hosing down some baskets I bought at vinnies (thrift shop). I am doing a "green" christmas this year. Recycled, repurposed, handmade. These baskets are drying in the sun, ready to be filled with homemade edible goodies a little closer to the big day! I will make sure I give you the recipes....

For more creative spaces go to Kootoyoo

oil painting feelings

Thought I would paint how I am feeling...

richness and abundance
chocolate and strawberries
anger and passion
the eighties
the seventies

More Christmas Crafts

Taking my lead from this book

I am still pursuing the christmas crafts with a green edge. I want to celebrate christmas this year by enjoying my family, not running around buying dumb stuff from china (made from plastic). Part of the festival celebration involves decorating the house with handmade items in a build up to the actual day. Here is a very simple, yet fun thing I have done.

Cut shapes from recycled cardboard. A telstra  wireless modem box (dont get me started on them again) that uses a ridiculous amount of cardboard is a good start.
take photos for your blog tutorial
dump a big bag of paper bits that you have hoarded onto the ground
trace around the cardboard shapes onto the chosen paper. I used some art from my friend Kris, paper given as a gift from Beth, and sample paper I procured dishonestly from a supply company by impersonating a graphic designer.
Glue the paper onto the cardboard and punch a hole in the appropriate place
Thread some lovely wool, and some beads for glamour.
take photos for your blog
then stash in the christmas decoration bag in the top cupboard of the spare room, hope you forget about them, and then get a lovely surprise in December when you bring them out again.

Strawberry Jam

I made some strawberry jam. I believe its strawberry season here in the highlands. The farm about 5mins down the road is selling them very cheaply. They are full of flavor too! The same farm has 100's of free range chickens roaming. I will remember to take a photo next visit. Its beautiful. YUM! Its good for me to be creative everyday...It helps me to stay connected to who I am. I have rhubarb and hazelnut muffins, and pumpkin date damper ready to bake for tomorrows playgroup (i am tea person this week). I have really enjoyed being creative with food again. The cake business zapps all my energy in this area unfortunately. I am going to participate in the "art every day" challenge starting November, and running for a month. To sign up too go here.

Happy Cactus Monday!

whoops, havnt figured out the iphone yet!
new growth on "Jeff Prickle"


So far so good. Little messy fish has helped me hull some strawberries. We are going to make strawberry jam for Mr messyfish. We have also planted some cactus seeds together (well...sort of together!?) And check out the new growth on Jeff Prickle! I mentioned a while back I have had this cactus since I was 15yrs old. There is even a picture of it on the windowsill in the last post from when I was 18yrs old!

Papasan Chair

Thanks for the Papasan Chair delivery Robbie!
Me back in 1988(?) sitting on Papasan Chair with Peggie the doberman.

I love papasan chairs! I studied a whole Bachelor of Arts degree in one. I tried to get one when I was pregnant. I have an x boyfreind who stole one, and I have never gotten over it. I miss having a papasan chair. My friend Robbie, brought one around for me the other day. She found it on the side of the road. I am not going to sit in it though. I am going to grow a vegetable garden in it. I miss my vegetable garden....so I am combining 2 things I miss into one! stay tuned for its development. (things go slow when you have toddler)

Finished!

I have taken the good advice, and finished this christmas decoration as is. I could not bear to continue. It was reminding me of something from the past...and i wasn't liking it. Its  too

"country craft"...for my liking. I dont know how this happened but I suspect it was a combination of me following directions in a book, inexperience with sewing, and choosing all the traditional materials and colours to sew with. Next batch, I hope I am able to break out of the mould a little, and be a little more interesting (for my own sake!!)