Blue Birds' Moon

Well I have completed a wee series of collages in photoshop based on blue, birds and moons. I think that they are tomtits, not bluebirds and they are not nocturnal . . . but hey.

There are so many amazing resources online that you can add to your own. I had just as much fun creating these images as I do with more lo-tech collage techniques, normally I dislike using the computer too much.

Vintage patterns have been brought into all of them, in some cases ever so subtly, which work wonderfully with the retro imagery. I think these will become a card pack as they lend themselves nicely to that format and are cute and chirpy.

artCards

Finally I got it together to put up some of the artCards that I have made for sale on Felt. They are time-consuming to make, but so much fun. Being a chronic hoarder, you know the ol' 'it can be re-used' adage, these little art works are a fitting end for some of the treasures that I have collected over the years.

daisy rabbit

Old magazines, vintage lace fragments, recycled calendars, handmade paper, inherited silk embroidery thread are just some of the ingredients that go into this range. They are all original designs and lovingly hand-made.

butterfly kisses

The silhouettes of the animals are hand-cut too, using stencils that I have made myself. The way that the light casts shadows upon the ground of the beasties is very effective.

golden birds

The cards will be available shortly for purchase via ellaQuaint on Felt

I Luff this drawing . . .

Rod Luff

If only I was in LA then I could go to the opening of the show that features Rod Luff. It is just beautiful with such a quiet but powerful emotive presence. Sour Harvest is a fabulous site that has introduced me to so many wonderful artists, check them out here  Sour Harvest

Apologies for the stink blog title, but I couldn't help myself.

our first craft market

We had our first market today and it was great fun. Here are a couple of pics that show the ellaQuaint store, not the best photos but you can get the jist of it from these.

Pity Ella didn't make it ;D

Huia and Tui

I had been thinking about experimenting with combining old Victorian photographs with our native manu for quite sometime. As usual, I over-researched and then got farrrr to many ideas and images so it took a while longer to get started than I had hoped.

This was the image that I used for Huia and Tui; a diptych that I recently completed. I am stoked with how well it turned out. Subtly layering up the washes to render the fabric of the blouse. I tried to show the fragility of the huia through having it more transparent, symbolising its eventual disappearance.



Huia and Tui 2011

 This work continues on with my Wikitoriana series that I started earlier this year. It is available for purchase from Felt

What the Cat Dragged In



 Riroriro Iti  . . . asleep

I have always been rather proud of my 'special' cat, for the last few years she has hardly caught anything at all. Well, about 3 months ago she got diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Despite medication she is still acting like a cat 10 years younger, especially today which saw her catching not one, but two birds! Rotten little  . . . . . . . .

My two laptops



 This little cutie managed to survive, thankfully. Unfortunately it is too small and hasn't quite got flying sorted yet so it looks like I have a new wee beastie to look after for a wee while. It turns out it is a baby riroriro, grey warbler. Initially I wasn't sure because it's eyes are brown. Apparently they don't turn red until adulthood.

I wonder how long that is going to take. Until then I think I will be catching insects and trying to create better housing for it.

Aviary Love

I hadn't checked out this site for a wee while, when I stumbled across this set. The wall-paper is just stunning and when you zoom in on it there are actual bird ornaments mounted on the wall also. The crazy hoarder in me can relate to the stack of old newspapers on the desk too!

Follow this link to Anthropologie to find more nature inspired gorgeousness.