tsk tsk

the cushions stay on my couch

A big working day ahead of me.

Missing the kids, but enjoying having a clean and tidy couch.

I've been painting again. For friends and for the shop.

sustain

yesterday Mr N was cleaning the front of the house after all the dust we have had. It was long overdue for a clean anyway. I looked up to the roof and noticed some grass growing in our gutter.

I then suggested that we should get the gutters cleaned but Mr N announced that it was apart of his new approach to sustainable living. He had just returned from a renewable energy symposium of which he was a guest speaker, and he had listened to another speaker talk about garden rooftops. It seems that organisations and domestic dwellings all around the world are seriously starting to incorporate this idea into their architecture. Apparently in some countries it is becoming mandatory for all new structures to have a garden on the roof.

So I have become a little obsessed with the idea. And the house that I have been designing in my head for the last 3 years has just been altered to include one.

They have been around since the days of Babylon, and they truly make perfect sense to keep the interior of a building cooler/warmer. A simplistic idea that has been around forever is finally being appreciated and utilised. They are no longer just for the rich or made just because space in an issue.

Why is it that we don't embrace ideas that have worked well since time began? Why do we feel the need to rip out the resources and pollute the air when there are other methods of making energy?

Why do we build houses that are environmentally unfriendly (not to mention ugly)? Why aren't there more Patrick Blancs in the world?

In the meantime, I just need to convince Mr N that our patch of sustainable living really needs some work.

noticing

I'm noticing our kigelia tree. Last week it was bare and it looked liked it had clearly got the seasons muddled or was going to die.

Then suddenly all these new leaves and flowers appeared within a couple of days.

I was outside taking photos when a lady stopped to talk to me. She says she always walks by and admires this tree and hears others talking about it too. I've seen people stop in their cars, get out and take photos of it.

September is when it is the most beautiful. It's the kind of tree you could sit under, but the average pod probably weighs 4 kilos. So i'll just admire it from a far.

I have taken over my kitchen table, and am enjoying the day painting my favourite tree.

it's a long weekend for me

I found some time. time to look at some websites. time to look and be inspired.

who knows I might even get to a gallery this weekend.

I found this magical piece of work by Jan Eleni. It is a little difficult to see the details, but it is a collage of a child's work all as one image. Cute!

Saves keeping all those artworks I have shoved in wardrobes and in the corners of my garage by the kids.

And this book about Frida Kahlo looks really interesting, for the controversial aspect alone.

But mostly I'm inspired this week by Julie Paterson's work (via  sheffer gallery) and hopefully will be finding myself painting.

The kids are at granny and pa's and Mr N is working at some political conference!

yep, the kitchen table will be mine ALL MINE!!!

achoo

nature is strange.

Yesterday most of NSW and Southern QLD were engulfed in a blanket of filthy, iridescent, copper coloured dust. The skies were amazingly eerie but strangely beautiful.

The beauty changed quickly into frustration for me as this dust storm left its filth all through my house and my sinuses. I only left two windows partially open. But that was enough for everything to be covered in a film of white. These two pictures were taken about  1.30pm. We usually have a view a a mountain.

So, I guess I'll be cleaning today. In between entertaining the kids and trying to pour through some of my books I bought in Sydney. I'm taking the munchkins to see a Tashi show this morning. Mr A loves reading these books so I decided it was a better option to see a stage show these school holidays rather than a movie.

Wish me luck in the mosh pit!

girl's weekend in sydney

I just got back from Sydney. A friend and I have been wanting to escape for such a long time and we thought Sydney was a great place as both of us know Melbourne well and being an hour closer by plane, we'd get more shopping time in. Our one night away turned into two nights, and all we did was shop, eat and drink.

In short my shopping highlights were dropping in on Samantha Robinson's studio to see her beautiful ceramic works, the Kinokuniya bookstore where we spent close to 2 hours! I didn't even get near to the children's section. This store makes Borders look like a mobile library on the back of a truck! The other great bookstore was Ariel in Paddington, I had to leave quickly before buying too many wonderful things. And then there was Cloth and Ici et la...oh I could go on but then there is food.....

We went to some fab restaurants, including Longrain and Zushi, Bill's for breaky. OK so I'm eating thin this week.

It was just 2 days of jam packed, girly fun. Both of us have returned to sick kids (still) and husbands and me to school holidays.

But the weekend will be one to remember for a long time!

new little stitches

I'll be uploading the shop/s throughout the week, infact I'll be making a big effort to keep on top of some works for the next few months. I spent yesterday with a friend of mine selling some bits and pieces at a local country market. The joy of just being out of the house before breakfast rush hour was a treat and away from coughs and sniffles.

I've decided to have a stall at the Mathilda's markets here in Brisbane on November 1st, so if you are in town, pop in and say hello.

Here are some of the new Little stitches....

wednesday

liking
needing
making

resting

lost for words.

But there might be the odd photo here and there.

Yay a day

yay, a day, a whole day for me
Ordering stock.
Printing editions.
Illustrating new works
Updating the shop
Sending files.
Making ABCmes.

Yay a day, a WHOLE day for ME!!!!