Category Archives: design
A Peek Inside My Office If You Dare…
Where the magic happens. (If by "magic" you mean "endless facebooking."
I’d love to tell you that the reason I’m sharing this little tour of my home office is because I was simply inspired to do so by its sheer beauty, its gorgeousness and its wondrous ability to lift me up where I belong…but the truth is, I finally pulled my finger out today and shovelled about a gazillion bits of un-filed paper into other unknown crevices in an attempt to make it look at least semi-decent. And as Fiona O’Loughlin herself says, “there’s no point to doing anything without an audience”! So the moment I had mopped my brow from such complete and utter cleaning-exhaustion, I put finger to i-phone and documented the shizz out of it.
Because if I’m totally honest, heaven knows when or indeed if it will ever look this way again.
A few bits and pieces I'm reading right now.
I swear I didn’t line these up specifically to show you; they are quite truly what are on my desk at the mo. I’m about halfway through “Dear Fatty” which I’m enjoying very much and connecting with in more ways than one (see my previous post on this here).
My PRECIOUS.
This is my prize and joy (yes, that’s right, I said PRIZE!) I ripped the original poster off a pole in Saskatchewan, Canada, where I had spent the entire day driving across the state 7 months pregnant, with two small children in the back of the car, just to seize my once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the man himself live. When he walked out onstage, I almost wept. What a masterclass in comedy that was. I should write an entire post just on that gig. Note to self: add to to-do list.
The clutter corner! At least it's colourful.
My philosophy on interior design? If it’s gonna be messy, at least make it a mess of pretty things.
My magnetic noticeboard. I'm just proud that after months of having it sit on my floor, I finally pulled my finger out to hang it!
I originally bought this from Ikea thinking I would stack it with to-do lists (one of which is actually up there; if you look closely you’ll see my daughter has thoughtfully ticked off every time and then written DONE down the bottom, despite me having not even read through the thing since it was put up), but instead it’s just become a bit of a rotating arty board, filled with magnets from my travels, photos and works of awesome from my kidlets.
And I love it umpteen times more than even the most inspired to-do list in the world.
A tale of two websites! (Or “The Only Way I’m Ever Having Twins”)
So finally, my blog and my official website have merged, yo!
I’m so stoked, this is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, yet you know how life is. Important things get swept under the rug in favour of the more pressing matters (you know, facebook, twitter…occasionally feeding children…)
Anyhoo, here tis! I shall no doubt be tweaking over the next…well, forever…but in the meantime, please take a peek around, let me know if you have any ideas for additions, improvements etc! I’d appreciate any advice immensely, I am stunningly crap at renovating.
x
I wish I could get married all over again!
Check out this AMAZE-BALLS WEDDING.
Seriously, the vintage dresses (including the bride’s which cost a grand five buckaroonies!), kazoos (KAZOOS!!!!!), lanterns, artworks, flower bottles, picnic blankets…
I am losing my mind.
Honey…?
*Image courtesy of Kampphotography
Links of the Week (or “WHAT?! There’s More to Cyberspace Than ME?”)
1. Wonderful interview with artist Stephanie Levy over at Art Biz Mama, which has some great stuff on running a creative business when you’ve got little ones afoot!
Beautiful artwork by Stephanie Levy
It was via Stephanie’s site that I also discovered:
2. The superbly fabulous Keri Smith.
I just love this quote from her post on infusing your work with your personality:
“Pay no attention to the man behind that curtain.” Ignore what other people are doing. It has no bearing on your existence or vision of the world. The times we feel the most discouraged are usually due to the fact we are comparing ourselves to others. Most times reading awards annuals, and industry mags only serves to make us feel inadequate. Try cutting it out entirely.
Amen!
Also, check out this spread from her latest book, Living Out Loud. (Image courtesy of a studio with a view)
I just bought it on amazon, oooh I can ‘t wait to get my little paws smothering it!
3. This beautiful post about a couple’s journey in ‘quilting’ their family by adopting four foster kids. I find it so incredibly inspiring, and makes my heart pump that little bit faster – could we ever do that? I don’t know…I’ve thought about it so often but it’s the fear that holds me back. Fear of disrupting our own kids (though in that objection’s defence, they are already pretty disrupted just by being kids!). Fear of going from out of control to COMPLETELY out of control. And fear of falling in love with them…only to have to say goodbye. Hmmm.
4.Wendy Brightbill – reading her story just completely and utterly resonated with me, namely because a horrifying car accident really rocked her world six years ago (though from the sounds of it her injuries were far worse than mine earlier this year). But the thing we share in common is discovering art (through Kelly Rae’s book “Taking Flight”, no less!) as a path to recovery.
"Taking Flight" by Kelly Rae Roberts
And finally…
5. Have you heard of google? It’s really cool.
5 Things Making Me Smile Right Now
1. Denise Daffara‘s beautiful work. I really do dig her stuff, and check this one out, this is her just MUCKING AROUND, PEOPLE!!!
Ooh la la, la la, la la!
2. The ridiculous feeling of superiority I swallowed yesterday, upon not falling for a second – not a second, I tell you! – for that whole “hey, today’s the day that Doc set the Delorian for, in “Back to the Future!” No, no, no! Obsessed geekburger Dedicated fan that I am…
This is heavy!
3. Crossing things off my to-do list. Cos I’m getting them done, mind you, not just because I’ve just decided that many of them don’t actually need doing. Ehem.
4. These.
5. An entirely new and exciting (if not a bit scary) Mummy/daughter adventure!
P.S. The Big Comic Mummy giveaway is going off! And by that I mean, it’s going off like sour milk, sitting in a refrigerator with very little action!
Heehee, anyway, the upside of this is that if you do desire to get involved, your odds are rather good, both of winning a prize-pack and my friendship. I’m not sure which will fetch you more on e-bay though.
Inspiring Tid-Bit of the Week!
This week’s piece of unadulterated awesomeness comes courtesy of new columnist Stephanie over at Scoutie Girl.
Oh dear Lord, how do I get one?
Links of the Week (or “WHAT? You mean there’s more to cyberspace than ME?!”)
1. I just love this short but sweet interview with Dimitri Kolioussis over at the quite wonderful do what you love blog. This bit especially jumps up and bites me like a friendly beagle:
“For some people art is a gift from nature, and artists who receive such a gift have a responsibility to share it, not keep it to themselves.”
2. My dear friend from Canada Kate is doing some amazing things, as usual, over at her blog. I’m so gutted because we only really fully connected in my last few months in Canada, and even then I hadn’t even begun to discover my artsy fartsy side (as in visual art – everybody who knows me knows I’m an artsy fart from way back in every other sense). Anyway, just bummed as I now have visions of us drinking endless cups of tea, glueing stuff and ignoring our kids together. Boohoo! But go check her out.
3. Happy 1st Birthday to The Correctness! Robbie and Dave are two of my favourite funny people on the planet, having played with both of them lots and lots at Loose Moose. Sigh. I miss it so badly. It completes me. It will always be my Loose Moose. It had me at hello. Anyhoo, their blog rocks the casbah, go give ‘em some b’day love!
4. Photojojo. If you’re into photography, then I give you three initials: OMG. (I mean, your friends’ faces on cupcakes? Really?!)
5. I’ve just started this e-workshop! Yes another one – I’m really excited because I’m finally taking action on one of those goals I scrawled in a journal just post-car accident, i.e. the one that said “take an art class”. Sure, it’s online where I can be safe, cosy and surrounded by all the booze chamomile tea I can handle, but you know? I’m doing it. And that is the main thing, is it not?
*Image courtesy of Ian Sane
I Heart Donna Heart’s Art
Now THERE’s a Doctor Seuss Title if ever I saw one!
Greeting my much-loved comments thread this morning was this nugget of inspiration from Comic Mummy friend, Donna:
“…Someone once asked Somerset Maugham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck by inspiration. “I write only when inspiration strikes,” he replied. “Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”
(Originally quoted in “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield)
Mmm, yummy!
Then, add to this the delightful news that I won one of Donna’s “I’m launching my new blog so let’s share the love around!” giveaway! Soon to be adorning my studio (sorry Donna but I didn’t mention that I have this rather selfish habit of keeping my favourite cards to admire at will; in fact, I don’t know who could overcome their attachment to these, really – I mean, come on, who am I? The Dalai Lama?) are these wondrous cards…
My sister-in-law actually owns the original of this one:
Thanks Donna!!
xx
Inspiring Place of the Week!
I had to share this, namely because it is just completely freaking rockin.
I swear, if we ever have to deal with the lemon of being forced to downsize in a most dramatic way, then this will almost certainly be our lemonade.
Ah…
*Image courtesy of Daniel’s WoodLand.
(If only they could ship to Australia! WHY? WHYYYYYYY????!?!?!!)
