Wedding Bells

This is a new range of wedding cards I've made for Able and Game. I worked on them today, sending Gareth what I had done, taking his suggestions and working on them some more. The lace pattern is a brush I made in Photoshop, which is where the whole idea started. I'm going to be listing them on the Able and Game Etsy Shop tonight, although after working on the computer since 8am this morning, I think I just want to sit outside in the warm air and drink some sort of cocktail that contains mint and too much alcohol.

I will be at Rose Street this Saturday and Sunday Arts at the Abbotsford Convent on Sunday, so come by if you're in the area. We will have the cards and all the usual stuff at both the markets and it is always nice to see someone to chat to during the long days. We don't have warm weather forecast tomorrow and Sunday which is good so it should be a good couple of days. I'm a little sad summer is ending, despite the few horrid days, it was actually a nice few months. Although I have a feeling the super hot days might still come along in March.

Fake Teeth

I went along to Bec and Scarlett's Valentine's exhibition Sugar and Spice at 696 in Brunswick on Saturday night. It was a lovely evening and Gareth and I sat outside sipping champagne (he had beer) with Hollie, Mikey and Liss, as well as the artists and a little boy who had about 10 chupa chups and was high on sugar. I think all the girls have lovely pics of the food, people, art and poems on their blogs, I forgot to take my camera and the only picture I have is Gareth with fake teeth in his mouth taken on his phone. Simple things thrill us, and I think those fake teeth will never cease to provide laughs.

The above drawing was done today for a range of cards for Able and Game. I'm in the middle of doing all the Mother's Day cards and wanted a bit of a change. I think I will do a small range of about 6 different drawings of flowers and birds. I'm not sure when you would need to give such a card, but I'm often wanting something pretty but not attached to any occasion to give people quite often, so I am sure there is a need there somewhere.

More items from the Bushfire Shop

The Victorian Bushfire Appeal shop has raised over $10000 in just under a week of opening, a fantastic effort from Felicia Fairy and Vanilla Pixie, who have been listing hundreds of items, then organising who has sold what and emailing everyone to let them know where to post the items.

If you have some beautiful handmade items you can donate you can get more information on the profile page. Even if you don't have an Etsy shop, if you make handmade things, or have anything vintage then it can be sold on Etsy to help raise money.

There is also going to be an Art Auction at Outré Gallery organised by Gemma Jones on Wednesday 25th of Febuary and the blog Handmade Help has lots of projects going on at the moment including restashing a crafter and a cookbook project.

Bushfire Appeal Etsy Shop

Emma from feliciafairy.etsy.com on the Goldcoast has set up an Etsy shop to raise money to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. All the items in the shop have been donated by people from around the world and 100% of the money raised will go to the Red Cross and each item in the shop has free postage. Here is a small selection of some of the items available.

Giraffe Rattle by Ollie Rose

Lime Tree Resin Necklace by Early Bird

Bleeding Hearts Photograph by Rocky Top Studio

Silver Wristlet by Meringue Shop

Queen of Hearts Onesie by Never Ever

Lou Lou Knitted Booties by Bobishi

Bushfires

I'm sure most of you know about the Bushfires in Victoria and how completely horrid the last few days have been. I've been keeping my eye on The Age website all weekend for updates, this story from The Australian really highlighted how frightening it must have been for people so close to the fires. My fear of the fires is always worsened by the fact that my Dad is a CFA volunteer and is always called up to man a strike team.

If you want to help out in any way, the Red Cross website has information on donating. They have a bank account set up, so if you are in Australian and have internet banking, making a donation is really easy.

An Etsy shop has been set up where you can purchase items in which the funds will be donated to the bush fire appeal and the items have free shipping internationally as well. If you have something you make and want to donate send a convo to Felecia.

The picture above was taken on Collins Street on Saturday. Gareth, Hollie and I were driving through the city after leaving Rose Street early due to the heat. I'm sure bins on fire are a common thing but I was quite shocked seeing this.

Hollie has also posted about how you can help the animals affected by the fire, and Pip from Meet Me At Mikes has posted about things you can make to help out.

Slackorama

I've been really slack with my studio and it has taken a full year to get it into a place that I'm happy to work in. I've also just managed to get some stuff up on the walls. At the back is a messy inspiration board on a large canvas my sister gave me a few years back. The other is a painting by a guy I went to uni with. Each year we had an Arts Auction and in my final year I was in charge of writing down all the sale details. I sat with a 4 litre cask of Fruity Lexia and went a little crazy bidding on things to try and get the price up to raise more money. A few times I got caught out and ended up winning about 4 artworks. This is my favourite, although it has scared a few housemates in the past who said they "didn't want it hanging in the lounge room".

I've put a few more Able and Game cards up over on the Etsy shop, if you're an Amazing Race fan, or just creepy, then you're in luck!

Valentine's Day Cards - Available on Etsy

Gareth and I have put all the Valentine's Day Cards up on Etsy. They are in US dollars and we have 20 different cards available. After V-Day will be making our own webshop, but for now it is all on Etsy.

Bucket Of Ice

This is the second screenprint I did this year using the drawing fluid. I've had run out of wood to make screens but found you can get frames from Ikea, although they are a little big and hurt your wrist when you phillips head them in. This one is on a natural cotton I found tucked away in the quilting section of Spotlight. I normally bypass this section due to the ghastly print options on offer, although have sometimes found some nice surprises.

Tomorrow I'm at Rose Street, come along with a bucket of ice and I'll be your BFF, come and take over for me and I'll give you my first born. I've got two bottles of water in the freezer ready for tomorrow and a whole stack of Valentine's Day Cards ready to go. I spent today photographing the cards again, this time in a lightbox. I didn't need to use lamps, the sun outside was blaring in so the lightbox came in really handy. You can check out my handiwork at the new Etsy Shop.

Little Shoes

I'm due for a new pair of flats after my last pair were ruined on that weekend in December when it wouldn't stop raining. After drinking too much wine at the Rose Street Christmas Party I walked through puddles with gay abandon and they just didn't recover. As I was staying over at my sister's house I had to buy a pair of shoes at Coles the next day after waking up to find them with pools of muddy water inside. I had originally got the shoes back in February after I went to the MixTape party and wore a pair of very lovely vintage shoes that were not designed for walking long distances, like across the road. My feet were thankful for late night shopping that Friday night.

These little red shoes would be an ideal replacement although I'm not sure I would be too keen to wear the white lace socks. I've been making little artworks, either screenprints or applique and taking them along to Rose Street and other markets I've been doing. It seems the shoes are quite popular so hopefully I can organise myself to get them up on my Etsy shop.

Speaking of Etsy shops, the new Able and Game one is up for all your Valentine's Day card needs. The Etsy shop is only going to be temporary, we will be opening a webstore on the website after Valentine's Day.

Big and Hot

Thanks for all the great comments on the last tutorial post, I was worried it might not make sense and be a little confusing. If anyone has any results from printing using the drawing fluid I would love to see them.

I had a great long weekend, spending Monday at the Big Day Out. Thankgod the current heatwave came a day later, as the 28 degrees was enough for me. Standing in the sun for long periods of time is something I don't ever do, and despite drinking about 2 litres of water in 30 minutes I was still feeling a little dizzy and lightheaded. I had never been to the BDO before, so it was all a bit of a novelty, the last festival I went to was Falls in '99. Highlights was TZU, Cut Copy, Neil Young and Mike Patton in cricket whites AND pads.

This Saturday it is meant to be 40 degrees (104 F) and the tin roof at Rose Street always seems to add 10 degrees onto whatever temp it is already. Bridget and I are considering wagging, although I'm hoping the cool change comes in Friday night. Cross your fingers people, we don't want to melt.