Creative Monsoon: April 2009

Rainbow

On - Thursday 30 April 2009

Its been rain, rain, rain in Sydney... but at least that means rainbows.

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australian art

Lionel Bawden

On - Tuesday 28 April 2009

'The Roving Eye' image from Gigantic Artspace

'The amorphous Ones' image from GrantPirrie.com

You might need to look twice at the work of Lionel Bawden. These aren't just any old sculptures, they are made entirely from pencils!

His work 'The amorphous ones (the vast colon of our being)' won the Wynne prize for landscape recently.

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photography

Its been busy busy busy since we got back from the rock. Im still working through loads of stuff, took plenty of photos to work with. lots of inspiration, and I started my dot painting last night. Thought Id post a few pics from the trip.

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handmade gifts

Find of the week: PET art

On - Sunday 26 April 2009

This stuff is amazing. Its all made from old PET bottles by Gilnur Ozdaglar in Turkey. Using scissors, a knifer, soldering iron and an open flame she recycles unwanted bottles into these beautiful jellyfish bowls and jewelry. Check out her etsy shop here.

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art and design

Crocheting is cool

On - Sunday 26 April 2009

I've so got to learn how to crochet! This blanket by Swedish illustrator and artists Sandra is just beautiful.

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australian art

Archibald and Wynne Prize

On - Saturday 25 April 2009

"Motherland" by Joshua Yeldham

"Oyster Leases -Indigo Island" image from ArtHouse Gallery

"Half Moon River"

The Archibald and Wynne Exhibitions are coming to a close in Sydney so we made a trip to the gallery this weekend to see them.

By far my favourite work was 'Motherland' by Joshua Yeldham. It reminded me in some ways of a combination of Japanese silk painting and an Aboriginal artwork. Lines and marks were carved into it, and in places it has little piece of wood poking out which in certain light cast shadows that look like trees seen from the air.

The Archibald is on at the Art Gallery of NSW until 24 May.

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handmade gifts

Dragonflies

On - Thursday 23 April 2009

Something that I really wasn't expecting to find in the Australian desert was dragonflies. There were masses of them. Wherever there was a patch of water, there were loads dragonflies fluttering about in all sorts of beautiful bright colours.

How to look cool while wondering the desert? These canvas field bags from Rainbow Swirlz are a steal at US$20 and come in plenty of fab colours.
Celebrate Spring! With this lovely handmade dragonfly pendant. Only US$18 from creative monsoons etsy store.
These easy to apply vinyl stickers add a unique touch to any room. 15 dragonflies for US$15 from Size Under a Tree.
This beautiful three piece set by D Gordon would make the perfect gift. I love the rough unfinished edges, and the bottom is even decorated! US$31
Or try this cobalt blue dish at only US$14

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Latest work

On - Tuesday 21 April 2009

The start of some new work: Desert Rose and Desert Butterfly

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australian art

Outback patchwork

On - Monday 20 April 2009

A little sample of something new Im working on based on the outback, more to come...

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art and design

Find of the week: Patty Van Dorin

On - Sunday 19 April 2009

Being away for so long there was a lot out there to catch up on this week. I was totally inspired by these amazing journal pages from Patty Van Dorin. Hope you are too!

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interior design

Colour

On - Sunday 19 April 2009

Back in our new place only one day and we've already made a trip to the DIY store. I've been looking at colour swatches for the rooms and thinking about what to do with the newly constructed day bed... then I came across these two great shots. The first from Marie Claire Maison, I can see these gorgeous cushions really standing out in an all white room.

And secondly as Ive spent the day looking at colour swatches, I guess if you cant decide what colour to pick... why not pick them all like Scott Prendergast did!? Pic from design sponge.

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australian art

Art Gallery of South Australia

On - Sunday 19 April 2009

We checked out the Art Gallery of South Australia while we were in Adelaide. It's a good sized little gallery, enough to keep you busy for a couple of hours or so. But, warning... the gallery attendants are more than a little overzealous. Grumpy uniformed grouches that would seem more at home in some Eastern European dictatorship. But I digress...

My favourite work in the gallery I think has to be 'Rhinoceros' by James Angus, just for its total randomness. You turn the corner and there it is - a life sized fluorescent yellow rhinoceros. What makes it even more weird and wonderful is the fact that its attached sideways to the wall.

Photos from the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery.

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photography

Awww...

On - Saturday 18 April 2009

We're back from the Outback. Its been a very busy but relaxing couple of weeks. Where to start? There are so many photos!

Well first off we spent some time in Adelaide with friends, their new baby Jacob and his big brother Josh. So Aaron got to work testing out his new camera. Awww.... aren't they cute :) You can see some more pics on Aarons blog.

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Waiting

On - Monday 13 April 2009

Sitting at Alice Springs airport waiting and playing with photoshop.

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art and design

Happy Easter

On - Wednesday 8 April 2009

Happy Easter everyone! We'll be away for a while exploring central Australia...back soon with lots more lovely things.

This gorgeous photos is by the very clever Sharon Montrose. How cute is it!? Prints are available on her etsy site.

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art and design

Crazy cushions

On - Wednesday 8 April 2009

Its a shame you can't see more detail in these amazing cushions by designer Catherine Hammerton. She also has a very cool website and produces some stunning wallpaper.

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australian art

More butterflies

On - Tuesday 7 April 2009

Butterflies are so popular still. I love this work by artist Mami Yamanaka called Continous Dream I. Its a very similar idea to the illustrations by London designers Kapitza that I mentioned a few months ago where the image is seen through a cutout. But I like in this instance the way the image doesn't fill the whole cutout.

Mami Yamanaka's work is available through Flinders Lane Gallery.

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Inside Out Blog

On - Monday 6 April 2009

Yeay! Not only is the latest issue of Inside Out... out, but they have launched a blog. It's full of lovely finds like these amazing butterflies made from old saucers from Lightly.

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handmade gifts

Find of the week: Paper mache vase

On - Monday 6 April 2009

I came across this beautiful paper mache vase by Danish mixed media artist Tracy Lorna Nors this week (via sfgirlbybay who did an interview with her). I haven't done paper mache since school - its inspiring me to have a go again.