Tangerines & lemons!

- 'Little Lion & his Bumble Bee buddy' -

Howdy People..

Well Spring is finally here, and what a glorious day it is here in Melbourne. I have already been out for a walk, down to the park, done the shopping and I'm about to go sit in the backyard to soak up a little more sunshine! If anyone is from Melbourne you know you need to make the most of this weather whilst it's here!

Apologies for being a little slack with the blogging of late. I will assure you that I didn't fall off the end of the Earth, I have just been busy working on a few exciting things here and there, hopefully I will get to share a few of them in the not so distant future!

Today I 'm sharing two new illustrations: "Little Lion & his Bumble Bee buddy" and my tangerine/yellow version of "Up, Up and Away...". Both are available now in my Etsy shop!

Off to the backyard with a new mag and a bowl of fresh strawberries before the little one wakes up! xx

- "Up, Up & Away..." -

Sleepy... Sleepy...

I should be in bed sleeping but Pinterest is keeping me awake - it's so addictive! Just what I need, another form of procrastination. At least my computer desktop will be tidier now I can collate images online - I feel so much more organised :D
Below is a new illustration and what I should be doing right now!

- Good Night -
Have an awesome week everyone xo

Singing in the rain

- 'Singing in the rain' print -

It's the weekend!!! I am excited about the possibilities of what I might do. Hmm.. decisions.. decisions. There is a long list of things I would like to be doing in my obligation free weekend. Things like ripping out the back garden, buying pavers and plants for the front garden, finish painting the house, painting the fences, restoring my $18 vintage bargain of a park bench, buying a new laundry fit out - the list is ENDLESS! I love renovating and love doing 'housey' things. Is anyone else working on interesting projects around the house this weekend? If so let us know!

Above is an illustration I have been working on. It is perfectly fitting as it is suppose to rain tomorrow!

P.S. 'Sing Laugh Dance' and 'Hop Skip Jump' illustrations are now available in my Etsy shop :D

New set of prints!

I thought I would share a set of new prints for my Etsy shop - "Hop, Skip, Jump" and "Sing, Laugh, Dance". A bit of fabric and computer magic rolled into one. I haven't trial printed them, so they aren't quite in there yet but will be soon. Happy hump Wednesday everybody!  :D

- "Sing Laugh Dance" print -

- "Hop Skip Jump" print -

Happy Mother's Day

- Mother's Day Card -

I am about to celebrate my very FIRST Mother's Day this weekend!! I did celebrate a little last year whilst pregnant. Well technically I was still carrying, feeding and looking after a baby, and my partner thought I was deserving of a little bit of pampering (too right) :D
This year my beautiful baby girl (with help from Daddy) bought me a beautiful 'Queen Elizabeth' rose bush and Mother's Day is not even till tomorrow - spoilt me!
Here is a card I did for one of the Mum's in my Mothers Group. I hope all you Mum's out there have a wonderful and special day!

- my little girl -

Screen printing workshop

- 'Babushka' screen and test print -

Good afternoon all. How was everyones weekend? I went along to a screen printing workshop with some fellow creative people - Bee from Little Beehive, her artist friend Jac and her creative little bro Benny. 

Kick and Screen is a cool, little studio in the backstreets of North Fitzroy. The lovely Eleanor taught us how to make screens and showed us the whole printing process. We even got our hands dirty too - Eleanor letting us use all of her equipment to make and print our own stuff! It was such a great day whether you want to learn how to make your own products or just for a bit of fun. I hope to make more screens and maybe do some cushions and tea towels!

Learning is fun, so much fun in fact that I have already enrolled myself in yoga classes and also a sewing course (for the tea towels and cushions). 

Sock-It-To-Me Competition

The Sock-It -To-Me competition is on. If you haven't heard of it before, it's an annual sock designing competition open to anyone and everyone - YAY!
This year I entered a few designs, unfortunately I wasn't a finalist (and won't be in the running to win a $1000 bucks) but I had fun trying anyway :D

Entries have now closed but if you would like to get a say in what type of socks you want to wear, have a look at the finalists and be part of the judging here!

- My designs: Geometric Gem, Stomp & Vintage Floral -

Etsy Treasury : Citrus Fusion

I am suppose to be packing for a girls weekend away to Tasmania. But instead I have spent the morning procrastinating. Does someone want to pack my bag for me? It should be easy with carry on luggage but it totally isn't!  It's so hard trying to only bring a few things that can do everything. What if its hot? What if its cold? What if I go out? Do I need a hair dryer? What if I fall in a river and need a change of jeans (this has happened to me).

So I'm procrastinating by writing my blog and by making a Treasury on Etsy this morning. Citrus Fusion "Oranges and lemons, limes and watermelons. Zesty colours that POP!" It is a KAPOW of colour madness. I have gone a little colour crazy at the moment, I can't get enough of it! I haven't done a Treasury in years. I found out you don't have to wait for a free spot to make a Treasury anymore. This is awesome news - so good in fact that I am going to make another one next time I need to procrastinate :D

Anyway, I think it is a bright and happy way to end the week. I hope you all like it and have a fabulous weekend!!
See you all when I get back :D

Happy Days of Fall

Hi All,
Here is a new illustration I did on the weekend - "Happy Days of Fall". I have been wanting to collage a tree illustration since sewing Skyla's tree cushion for her nursery - I got there in the end! The colours are Autumn inspired and it also makes a nice little pair for the "My Little Vintage Girl" print.
Both are now available in my Etsy store along with a few other new prints added over the weekend :D
Hope you like it!

- Happy Days of Fall -

My Little Vintage Girl

Almost Friday! Where has the week gone?
I love days when I get a lot done - today was one of those days. I even managed to finish a nice little illustration combining vintage inspired fabrics and a bit of computer magic! I've added it to the slowly growing collection of prints in my Etsy shop.
"My Little Vintage Girl" print is available here!

- My Little Vintage Girl -

I Heart Japan

- I Heart Japan -

Hello there! Just a quick one as I have HEAPS of work to get done before the day is through.

I love Kokeshi Dolls, Geishas and Japan so it may come as no surprise that I have done another Kokeshi design! I previously posted a Kokeshi design I did for work. It was so much fun I decided to create another but directed more for kids. I think it turned out rather cute but not sure if I have finished it. I will have to sit and think about it for a bit. Is anyone else like this?

So back to work for me. For everyone in Melbourne I hope you are making the most of the beautiful 34°C day outside. Beach weather! :D

Monsieur Turtleton

I needed something motivational and inspirational for my studio. It's part of my whole 'making my life happier, anxiety-free and colourful ' resolution. I was thinking along the lines of a clever slogan or insightful quote as that is quite on trend at the moment. I have never been good with words... actually I take that back, I am pretty awesome at making up kids songs on the spot. I even managed to impress my Mister the other day after belting out a tune I pulled from thin air. So if everything else fails I maybe able to get a spot on Playschool. Anyway where was i going with all of this...ahh that's right... I managed a little print with my little Monsieur Turtleton. Okay so it's not quite insightful but it is FUN!

P I S C E S

- Pisces -

Ok. Relax. Breath. So I am working pretty hard here to write this post! I have a little munchkin who has just started crawling/bunny hopping and it is none stop! If she isn't kicking at the library ladder, crumpling my beautiful cartridge paper, chewing on Daddy's computer cables, eating my favourite recipe; she is trying to get at my ornaments, find the stairs or empty the waste paper basket.
At the top of my 'To Do List' this week is 1. Baby proof the home.  But not everything can be baby proof.

I am lucky that my little munchie-face sleeps at night but the pay off is (and I know I wouldn't want it the other way round) is that she doesn't sleep much during the day. This makes getting any work done very hard. I just need an extra hour in the morning and an hour in the arvo to work without feeling like I'm neglecting her.

So for all you Mummys working from home out there - any suggestions of how to occupy a 6 month old, so you can get a little work done? I am very interested to hear what the rest of you do :D

Signing off to get a little work/play/entertaining/multi-tasking done! LOL Happy Monday lovelies!! xo

Up, Up and Away...

- Up, Up and Away... -

Happy Weekend Everyone :D It couldn't come round quick enough for me, I need the break! I have been busy working and looking after a baby who is getting top teeth and just started crawling - it's been HECTIC! To top it off I have a cold - damn you sickness!

I'm trying to finish off Skyla's Nursery. She is 6 months now so I really need to get a move on before she becomes a teenager! The only thing left to do is the artwork and hang the other bits'n'bobs around her room. I have collected frames in different styles and sizes which I have sprayed white, so it is just a matter of filling them. Easier said than done and I am so indecisive.

I have made another version of 'Up, up and Away...' so it ties in with her quilt and cushion in her nursery. I will be using these materials for a couple of other prints too. "Up, Up and Away..." is in my Etsy shop along with a few other prints which is rather EXCITING!!! YES my ETSY is open for business again - HOORAH! Over the next couple of weeks I will be continuing to add items for sale :D xox

xx Skyla 6 months xx

A Q U A R I U S

- Aquarius -

Here is 'Aquarius' for all you water-bearers out there! Speaking of water, I'm off for a swim with Skyla today. Must make the most of this lovely hot weather :D

Fabric Illustrations continued...

Using the fabrics from the Matryoshka illustration, I have done two new designs. Here is 'Up..Up..and Away' and 'The Neighbourhood'. I hope you like them!

Jazzy Matryoshka Print

This afternoon I played around with fabric swatches on the computer and jazzed up a set of Matryoshka dollies! A nice change to standard pink and purple for girls I think :D

C A P R I C O R N

Hello All,

I hope everyone had a Magical Christmas and your NewYear started off brilliantly!
I have had a wonderful festive season celebrating Skyla's first Chrissy with several parties and a week down at the beach. Now I am finally home (with an extra 3 kilos! I think I may have over indulged... just a little!) This year I'm hoping to actually stick to my new year resolutions - get healthy & fit, create more art and..... I have forgotten the rest already. Hmm not a great start.

Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog, it means so much. I hope to have plenty more for you all this year. Wishing every single one of you the best of luck for 2012! xxx