Schools out for...Winter!

Well didn't these school holidays come around fast? Apparently that was a 10 week term. Feels like it was Easter about 5 minutes ago, but here we are, in the middle of Winter with two weeks to fill - more like 3 x weeks for some of you.

We are planning to embark on a mini room makeover for Harriet these holidays. While madly pinning inspiration I have been sidetracked by some super colourful, DIY craft projects that I think we could also tackle in the break.

Those who know me, understand my reluctance to take on handcrafted projects myself. I am all about discovering and sharing, and not so much about the making. Two left thumbs and zero patience I'm afraid.

That being said, even I could potentially pull off one of these naive but very sweet decorative pieces...

...and the colours are sure to brighten up a gloomy Winter's afternoon.


Instructions for these Cardboard Rainbow Collages are from The Art Bar  :

photo courtesy of The Art Bar Blog

photos courtesy of The Art Bar Blog

Yarn Bombing appears to be very therapeutic. All that wrapping and twisting. The tee-pee image is from Natalie Miller who runs textile workshops.   

Or if you prefer sending the creativity (ie: mess) outside the home, look into a crafting course. We are lucky enough to have Makers Loft near by, where weekly craft lessons, craft parties & holiday workshops take place. 

I was scrolling through their website and noticed a photo from a craft party we hosted a few years back:

I for one, will be trying to introduce some making these holidays that doesn't include "fluffy slime". 

Enjoy.

Sx 

Local finds....

I was in our neighbourhood Cafe a few weeks back when local Artist Elizabeth Langreiter came in to replace her art that hangs on the wall.

Her most recent works are, by her own admission, naive and abstract - but I really love their depiction of Sydney beach life, which is such a motivating force for many of us living in this great city.

These three pieces are currently on display at the Castle Cove Cafe.

Using mixed media to a colourful and uplifting effect, Elizabeth is a self taught artist who exhibits regularly, including at The Other Art Fairs in Sydney and Melbourne.

Prices start from AUD$2300

Now that Winter has well and truly arrived, these pieces have even more appeal.

S x

You Beaut / Before Pop

Such a lovely morning in the big city.

Went to see the Andy Warhol and John Olsen Exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW:

Loved this commissioned Christmas Card Andy made for Tiffany & Co in the 1950s:

As a Gemini, I had to take a sneaky snap of this. Hits the mark quite closely...

 

....and was reminded of the big world that exists when I venture out of the 'hood.

While the daily goings tickled my fancy, I couldn't help but reminisce...

Remembering the days working at Chifley Tower while the Sydney Olympics were on,  watching and celebrating in the Domain. Such fun times.

Was just a tad crunchy under foot in places...

Ventured out wearing a new purchase from Emily Green. On leather twine are these polymer clay beads in all my favourite shades. And with sparkles! 9 x bead necklaces are Emily's signature design although she creates pieces with up to 18 beads as well as earrings, art works and even has a sock range!

Don't these works celebrating our wonderful country put a spring in your step on a sunny day? 

  

John Olsen certainly captures the essence of Oz.  He is still painting and going strong at 89! 

Inspirational.

S x

Ear Candy

So I bought 4 x pairs of earrings for my good self at the Sydney Finders Keepers Markets last w/end.

It has to be said, I have been in "need" of some ear candy updates - and it was just so damn hard to choose!

While there were polymer brights, acrylic numbers with coloured foil, wooden studs, titanium hoops, the overarching theme was tassels!

I am not complaining. Love me a tassel.

Some were dainty, others audacious.

But all are guaranteed to dress up a plain outfit, or give you a confidence boost on an otherwise dreary day.

I bought a pair like this from core jewellery for AUD$38. Tin foil, acrylic, ply wood - so tactile yet, so sparkly.

photo courtesy of Core Jewellery

And these two pairs from Kingston Jewellery:

Turns out my Mum has been eyeing off the colourful and impossible-to-choose-from earrings from Kingston. Handcrafted in Victoria using mixed mediums such as clay, brass, painted elements and of course tassels, it took me an age to decide on these two pairs above.

If you head over to Jemima's facebook page there are literally hundreds of photos of her creations. No two pieces are the same, and I read a feedback comment from one of her customers that said:

"These earrings are the BOMB DOT COM". Prices started at AUD $45.

I walked out of the market wearing this pair from the girls at Polli in Bryon Bay  (and yes that is another burgandy tassel). They went perfectly with my green and gold sparkly jumper... AUD$45 

I could have easily loaded up on more earrings, but to be honest, the crowds were huge and some stands I just couldn't get close to!

A kid in a candy shop, I kept justifying purchases as Mothers Day gifts to self...

Will be sure to share more of my purchases.

Sx

Finders Keepers - this weekend

Excited about the Sydney Finders Keepers this weekend in it's new venue?

Me too.

They're holding it in the Cutout at Barangaroo!

Particularly looking forward to buying a couple of gifts to self (it's Mothers Day Sunday after-all).

I've gifted this Hello Sydney book a couple of times, but I'm super keen on picking up some of McKean Studio's other new age souvenirs.

Husband and Wife team Joshua & Megan McKean design and make bangles, acrylic ornaments, mini city-scapes, scarves and prints in a huge range of cities from their Sydney studio.

Got an international visitor coming to stay, or a colleague leaving for an o/s post ? These make the perfect gift!




New York City Bangles AUD$75:



Palm Springs is on my Bucket List, but in the meantime, how groovy is this Mini City Scape? AUD$89



And this Paris City Scene is AUD$60






Finders Keepers Sydney - this Fri night, all day Saturday &  Sunday.

In it's 10th year, it keeps getting better & better.

See you there peeps.

Sx

Gifts at The Gallery

I love a good Museum shop.  Embarrassingly, it can often be my highlight when visiting a museum / art gallery.

Yesterday, prior to seeing the Collette Dinnigan Exhibition at The Powerhouse Museum, I found myself in the newly-renovated MAAS Store mentally ticking off many gifts from my scarily extensive Christmas Shopping List.

Check out some of these hand-made discoveries:

The interlocking wine rack you can configure to suit your needs / space.  Made by Power to Make, these plywood sets come in different colours and you can add sets as your wine collection grows. The best bit is they come flat packed for building, so easy to post & carry. Starting at AUD$55 for the 6 bottle set,  this would go down well in any home at Christmas.

I was totally crushing on these flower frames by Sydney company Rainy Sunday. They come in all sorts of delicious shades. I imagine gifting one of these with some fresh blooms, as they provide a beautiful keepsake long after the flowers have gone. Single black one will set you back AUD$52. 

Having laid Tasmanian Oak Floors in an attempt at a slightly Scandi interior, Oak is still very much on my radar. These oak homewares by Normann Copenhagen caught my eye in the Museum Shop. 

Great gifts, good prices and so smooth and tactile to boot.  A house can NEVER have enough hooks and here are a couple of stunning oak versions, and a luxe timber trivet to protect your bench tops. Truly Scandinavian, all items online are sent from Denmark, so prices are in USD. 

Curve hook - USD$28, Trivet - USD$33 & Stick Hooks - USD$25

I could account for at least a third of my Xmas Shopping List at The Museum Shop - I recommend it highly for some novel pressie ideas, some amazing books and they even had some yummy fodder on hand for the hungry visitor.

If you have the chance to see the Collette Dinnigan Exhibition - on until Aug 2016 - you won't be disappointed. Tickets are $15 and she has a book out too. That's the perfect Xmas gift combo right there!

Spoiler alert.....some visuals of her most AMAZING mood boards at the exhibition below....

Something for everyone at The Powerhouse right now!
Sx

kid art

Just so much kid craft about the place.

This is hand-made art in the most purest, non commercial form. Below are some "trees" that were part of a project at our local school:

I spotted these simple tree collages on a quick visit to the school library:

And more library craft goodness. A whole wall covered in what can only be described as pages torn from novels (is this deemed acceptable in a library??):

And not to be outdone, a nearby Mod-Asian Eating House - Kho Plak has wallpapered their walls in the same vane, using photocopies of postcards, photos, magazine articles etc. 

This endeavour is not for the faint hearted. Can you imagine the hours it took copying, cutting, placing, pasting....?

Inspired by Joan Miro the Spanish Painter, here is my son and the artworks his class painted for a local Cultural Expo.

The local junior talent knows no bounds. Seriously impressive stuff. These are all the works of school students:

And who could resist a naive little felt picture? 

Not me.

No need to spend big bucks on art work from the pros. 

Enlist the flair of the little people. 

Sx