art 4 heart, lot 2

The first lot for the Art 4 Heart auction (raising money for the QLD Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal), wrapped up over the weekend. And I am astounded and very proud to pass on the news that together we raised $2,440!

So far...

Now it's time for Lot Number 2. Even more artists, even more lovely art, and another chance to nab yourself something wonderful for your walls this new year, all whilst helping those in need.

Go have a peepsee: Art 4 Heart.

art 4 heart, charity art auction

As the devastation of the QLD flood continues on, stories of heartbreak still emerging, waters still making their way along rivers to more towns, and the horrid clean-up left in its wake, a whole bunch of artists have banded together to help out.

Art 4 Heart is a massive art auction, that not only gives you the opportunity to get yourself some amazing art by some amazing artists, you'll also be donating to help the flood victims at the same time. All payments go directly to the QLD Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

The Auction starts at 10am today, that's just over an hour away! So check back soon to see the artworks on offer.

And HUGE thanks to the amazing Beth-Emily for pulling this all together over the weekend!

sydney market in review

Whaoh... Where on Earth did that past week go!?

So, where was I? The markets...
The Sydney Finders Keepers Market was... you know what I'm going to say... GREAT!

Some highlights:


Our lovely neighbours, Benconservato, and Alfalfa Crafts.


Benconservato's amazing bespoke softies, keeping an eye on everything.


General cool ambience.



And decorations.



The shoppers getting involved in making the papercrafts.


Actually speaking to Kareena Zerefos this time, rather than shyly oggling her from a distance. These are her lovely new pendants, made to match her illustrations. Cool, huh?!


Meeting Chloe from Little Green Seed, and falling in love with her porcelain pendants.


And left kicking ourselves for not splashing out to buy ourselves one of the awesome stools by The Missing Pieces.

And of course, as always, meeting some really nice people, including the other stall holders.

(Thanks to the official FK Photographers for these amazing photos).

brisbane finders keepers

WOW! What a great weekend!

We left on Thursday and got back last night. Lots of driving, and our little car was visibly swollen with all the stuff we packed into it. But we had a really really great time.

Brisbane has changed alot since I was last there. We loved it, pretty, well planned, and so spoilt for art galleries and public art.

But the markets!.... Well, let me show you some photos (I was too busy to take any, but Mark Lobo has just released the official ones on his facebook. They are really really good photos, I hope he doesn't mind me showing you some here....).







The market was held in a beautiful old museum building, and despite the predictions, the weather was gorgeous. People picniced, played totem tennis and listened to the bands outside on the lawns. Meanwhile inside, three large decorated rooms were filled with stalls of the most high quality, handmade goods you ever did see.





We had a steady flow of shoppers all weekend, met some really nice people, and had great chats with quite a few. All my pillowcases sold out within a few minutes, and I have taken custom orders to make over 50 more!

We were in good company with our neighbouring stalls: Vinyl Design selling their decals, and Brisbane local Simon Suckling with his exquisite range of hand-thrown porcelain tea cups! (Really nice guy too).



All of the stallholders we met were incredibly nice too, so nice infact, if we were in our home town we probably would have invited them back to our place afterwards for a celebration. Hopefully we can keep in touch.

The girls from Red Seed Studio, Ben from Rebound Books, Torrun from Herbert and Friends.





Then I got brave and went and met fellow artists Courtney Brims, Beth-Emily and Lauren Carney.

Each of them were so nice, friendly, supportive and generous. Especially so when I told them my sad story of having money stolen from my stall during a particularly busy moment (more on that later, today is all about the good stuff).







I did do a little shopping at the end of the day. Gorgeous curly earrings by Sarah Rothe for myself... But I can't tell you anymore because they are all Christmas gifts.



And I very very much would have liked one of Cat Rabbit's surreal softies, but by then I was reaching the end of my spending allowance.



There were so many more good things there, too many to show them all. There are more pics here if you're keen.

Thanks so much to everyone who came along, to those who said hi and had a chat, and to all the other stall holders for creating such a sense of community. HUGE thanks too to my awesome assistant Mr You, who I never knew had such a talent for merchandise display. I had a ball!

Now I'm gearing up to do it all over again in Sydney next month.

my creative space, in progress

My last entry to My Creative Space was soooo long ago, I always seem to be too disorganised/busy to pull it off.
But this week I'm all about being organised; organised and the Queen of time management. Why? Because I'm undertaking a giant project... the project is not so giant, it IS large though, the giant part comes in when you factor in how little time I have to do it in. So I'm having to be the embodiment or organisation.

I'm not going to give away too much now as I don't like to count chickens before they hatch. But when they do I will tell you all about it.

In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at page one and page two (hint hint) of the "project". I won't be painting them, they will be left black and white. The colouring part will be someone else's job (hint hint).

Lots of detail = eye strain. But I'm really happy with how it's coming along so far. Now if I can keep up this numbingly cracking pace for the next 2 weeks, I may just make the deadline. Gulp!

girly graff

I mentioned last week how I got to do my first bit o' graffiti, as a backing for my works in a new show. Well the show opened on Friday night, and I had a great time meeting people and the other artists.

So here's my "piece", as pink and girly as it is ;)





I pulled elements out of my paintings, and super-sized them.



Each of the artists in the show were encouraged to do their own wall enhancements...



Hopefully I'll get another chance to do it again one day, and hopefully I'll get a bit better at it each time.


(P.S. Don't forget my Birthday Giveaway)

side street interview

Amongst the hustle and bustle of the Finders Keepers Market the other week, a young, pretty, smart gal named Alex came to interview me.

I've done lots of interviews via email before, and even over the phone, but this was the first face to face one I've done. It was fun.

The article went up yesterday and it's a really good one.
A few facts were lost in the translation of the full-on busy interview environment.
So for the record:

- I WISH I had a photographic memory! This sadly, is not true. I mentioned I was enjoying being behind my stall at the market, having so many great faces to look at on the other side, and I was trying to commit as many of them as I could to memory to perhaps draw later.

- Not all my personal works are bad. That comment was an answer to the question about whether or not I put alot of planning into each of my works. I said I do. For almost all of them, especially commissions. But sometimes I get an urge to do a spontaneous personal work, however, without planning they always turn out bad.

So, now that's all straightened out, the rest is really well written and rather complimentary I must say ;) Thank-you Alex.

If you'd like to read it, it's over here at Side Street Sydney.

finders keepers debrief

The Finders Keepers Market was amazing!

The market itself was busy, bustley, and inspiring. Actually Friday night was so busy it was crammed. I lost many a friend in the current of the crowd, seeing only a distant wave that was quickly carried off in the sea of people. Saturday was still very busy but not quite as crammed.

The Finders Keepers crew installed knitting everywhere, and beautiful hand-sewn mushrooms clustered among Autumn leaves.








The other stall displays were ridiculous! Ridiculously awesome that is! These people are amazing...






What our stall lacked in grass balls, cardboard castles, and vintage bedframes, it made up for in sheer volume of stuff. Because Penny, Emma and I shared a stall, our table had lots to look at.




Emma's Stall : Benconservato


Penny's Stall : Pocket Carnival


My Stall : flossy-p


My business cards.


Little blackboard price labels, and wood chunks.


Highlights were all the giggles and snacks Penny, Emma and I shared, meeting other lovely stall holders, catching up with all the old friends who came to visit, being able to watch people look at my work (I don't normally get to see that), being able to talk to people about why they liked particular pieces, having people introduce themselves and tell me stories of how my work has meant something to them (I even shed a tear with one lovely gal), and meeting blog friends.

I was reeeaaally nervous before it started, but soon after Monique from A Glass Half Full came and introduced herself to me, we had a great old chat, and immediately afterwards I felt as though I was among friends and had nothing to be scared of. After that I had a ball!

I also got to meet Catherine Campbell!!! I had heard before that she is very nice, and it's true, she really is very very nice. I would loved to have been able to chat with her more, but we were all so busy. It was a treat to watch her work though.




Really it was all the kind comments that meant the most to me. Late last year and earlier this year I went through a hard time and almost considered giving this whole art caper away for a while. But this experience has been such a lift.

Thanks so much to everyone who came along those who supported me by buying something, and those who said hello. Sorry if I didn't get to chat to you properly, I did try.

I had THE BEST TIME! :D


(First 2 pics by Penny)

finders keepers

That there is 1000 business cards. Yup one whole thousand! Brand new ones, all shiny and ready to go!

"Why flossy-p, on Earth flossy-p, would you need 1000 business cards?" I hear you ask.

A fair question considering I don't get out very often.

This, my merry men, is why....



I got into the Finders Keepers Sydney Winter Market!!!!!

I A M S O E X C I T E D !

And whats even better is that I won't be alone. I will be sharing one giant art-tastic stall with fellow artists Emma of Benconservato and Penny of Pocket Carnival. Penny is travelling all the way up from Melbourne, and I will be travelling down from the North Coast, meeting up with Emma, and hittin' those markets good.

This year there will be 80 stalls! It's going to be so good.

So, come meet us! :D

The Finders Keepers
Friday 7th May from 6pm – 10pm
Saturday 8th May from 10am – 6pm
CarriageWorks - 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW (that's Newtown / Macdonald Town)

five faves on a friday

A collection of five favourite things I've seen this week...
( Playing along with Pip )

1. Aether-Art


Discovering a dear friend of mine now has a blog! And it's a beautiful one too...


2. The SeaPelt


When Mr You gave me a slanket for my birthday last year I thought it was the best thing ever. Surely the best in the category of lounge-wear! But ladies and gentlemen, I think The SEAPELT may give it a damn good run for it's money!!! (mostly because it's got FEET!!!) HOW GOOD ARE THEY!!????

(Found via Handmade Romance)


3. Popcorn Pincushion


There's a handmade pincushion swap circulating at the moment, and lots of crafty gals are out there sewing up some pincushion wonders. But when I spotted Kootoyoo's entry this week, I was blown away!!!! She even made pins to match!!!
I don't know, I haven't seen them all, and I know, I know, this type of thing isn't meant to be competitive in anyway... but surely hers pops the pants off the rest! C'mon!


4. Smart Move Tape


Yup, we've started packing, and surely I don't have to remind you how seriously un-fun it is. Nevertheless, this smart move tape caught my eye this week. Every mundane task can be made more fun by some bright supplies! (a-hem, excuse the Martha-ness of that last sentence).


5. Walls, white or bright?


To keep myself motivated whilst packing, I'm dreaming of painting walls. I've been thinking of white. Clean white, warmed up by the pale wooden floors our new house has. Light, sunny, clean, open and airy.

But then I popped into Jan's house very quickly for the first time last weekend, and was enamoured by the bright colourful walls in her gorgeous house. Bold, saturated, fulfilling and arty.

Now I'm tossing up between white or bright...

Or maybe a bit of both...