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OooooWeeeee! Anybody still out there?
I was chatting with some new friends the other day about how our long cherished blogs had been dismissed due to the likes of that floosy Facebook, and I felt sad. So as little time as I have right now, I thought I'd pop back in and do a little show and tell.
My new Christmas tea-towels (hopefully up in my Etsy store by the end of the weekend).
As hinted, more updates are often on my facebook : http://flossy.p.art
Every year I spend hours and hours online, searching high and low for just the right calendar. I’m lost without one, but I’m very very fussy about them, I mean you’re going to be looking at it for a whole year right?!
For me it’s not just about the pictures, though obviously that does play a big part. My scrupulous list includes:
• I like the pictures to be predominantly hand painted artworks, not photos, not digital.
• I like the theme to be original, not done to death a thousand times before
• It needs to be cheerful, not gloomy
• The whole calendar has to fit in my "spot" in the kitchen
• I like the days to be laid out in a grid, week by week, not a long list. I like to be able to identify a week in a very quick glance. (I LOVE LOVE LOVE Camilla Engman's calendars, but they fail in this point).
• The days each need a big spacious square/shape for me to write lots of stuff in.
Umm, I think that covers it. The secret is out, I'm cale-anal.
Last year I found a great free, customisable, printable one online at My Owl Barn.
The year prior to that I got it from Be Happy Now. (Actually I got one from her two years in a row because I loved them so much.)
Anyway, Lalaland have put together a 2013 calendar featuring lots of great illustrations. And upon first look it seems to tick all of my boxes. Good job Lalaland! And I'm not just saying that because one of my pictures is in there.
You can buy it online now for just shy of $20, right here!
Those of you who know me may have just spat coffee in shock. But it's true! I'm finally on facebook.
Come see for yourself : flossy-p on Facebook.
I was always a bit concerned that if I started a Facebook I'd have too many places online to keep updated. So we'll see, but the plan is for facebook to be about updates of products in my shop, and projects I'm working on... my portfolio site will still be a gallery of my work and what's happening in my work life... and this blog is more becoming a place where I talk about personal stuff.
If you have any tips or suggestions on keeping multiple web-spots updated and interesting, I'd love to hear them. In the meantime check out my facebook page, "thumbs-up" me if you please, and let me know your thoughts. :)
“Kepago specialises in products of great design, offered to members at discounted prices. No more wading through a multitude of categories – just plenty of designer products, all in one convenient place. It’s all quality hand-picked merchandise, showcased on one easy site.”
A range of my mini-prints are on sale on Kepago this week. Usually $12 each, Kepago are now offering them for $9, for designs including Wilderness, Sacrifice, Blue Whales, Strings, and Where Babies Come From.
Oi, if I was more on top of that illusive notion that is time, I would have told you all about the grand opening of a gorgeous new shop who will be selling my wares.
Little Papercup is a new shop/gallery space, run by the incredible illustrator that is Jo Dyer. I was tickled pink when she invited me to be involved.
Anyhoo, the shop opened just yesterday, and now it's alive and kickin'!!!
If you're in or near Newcastle, stop in for a cuppa one crafternoon!
Shop 18/19 Market Square Terrace Level, Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle, Australia 2300.
Hours: Tues - Fri, 11:00am to 5:00pm. And Sat, 10:00am to 2:00pm.
If you're not near by, you can always be facebook friends anyway :)
A month! A whole month already... actually it's almost 5 weeks since we had our little boy. As days and nights make way for a new unit of time; 3 hourly blocks, weeks blend together, and in this new pattern, time has flown by.
In this short time our little boy has already grown so much, both in weight, length, and cheek plumpity (today they looked so big I swear they were resting on his shoulders). He is doing brilliantly. I spend lots of time gazing into his tiny little face, and touching his tiny little arms and legs and wishing for him to never grow. Part of me wants him to stay this tiny and cute forever more (the way his little arms only just reach to the top of his head when he stretches just kills me). But I know as each stage makes way for the next, I will feel the same way; partly wanting to freeze time, and partly dying to see what comes next.
For the time being I am loving his smallness. Alarmingly, when he's in his most docile, malleable state (just after a feed), I have an overwhelming urge to stick his floppy little body in a pumpkin, Anne Geddes style. I KNOW! I did warn you it was alarming! Before you know it I'll be displaying other worrying "mum" traits. They don't warn you about that in the books. Good God!
Despite having a short-list, it took us four days to decide on a name for him. In the meantime I found myself referring to him as various food types; my happy little vegemite, spud, happy potato, my little muffin man, egg with legs, and sleepy prawn (because of the adorable way his legs curled back up tight against his body when he got sleepy). Now he has a real name that doesn't make you hungry. And of course he needs a blog name too... I'd like to introduce you to our little Millipede.
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What else can I tell you? He has stacks of dark downy hair, very dark blue eyes, and makes a continual array of strange and curious noises.
Thank-you all for your kind comments of congratulations. I have, for the past month, been trying to get a chance to blog, I guess posts will be rare for a while until we adopt some sort of pattern here. But I do plan to continue... keep an eye out for atmospheric photos of a naked docile baby resting in a bowl of exotic fruits ;)
At the end of this week I will be closing my shop down for a little while, in an effort to slow down and mentally prepare myself. Hoping to rest a bit too before the whole concept of rest and long sleeps become a thing of the past.
But as a send off, for these next few days I have stocked my shop to the brim with lots of brand new goodness. Get in quick while I'm still able to fit behind the steering wheel of the car and waddle my way to the post office. (I'm hoping to re-open the shop in a few months.)
There are wombat prints, pillowcases, cushion covers, and also 2 designs of whale library bags.
So go have a peep-see!
Come say "hi" if you're coming along to the Sydney Finders Keepers Market this weekend.
I'll be in the main room, sharing a stall with Benconservato, opposite end of the room to the band.
Can't wait! Hopefully see you there!
(Back to sewing up more whale stuffies... busy busy busy)
Late last night Mr You cranked out his amazing lotto machine once again, and we watched in excited anticipation as it randomly selected this years winner...
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!
Congratulations lucky you! I shall be in touch to find out which print you would like, and to get your postage address.
Thanks once again SO much to everyone for playing along.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!
While I'm busy working away at my desk; painting a new commission, creating more fabric designs, doing an inventory of stock... below the desk, warm on the inside, I am busy creating something much much more.
I'm 25 weeks pregnant.
I'm in amazement at how it all happens, how fast it all grows, and how much pure creation occurs. Meanwhile all I'm doing towards this master project is drinking milk by the gallon, eating as much fruit and leafy greens as I can, and waddling along to yoga each week.
People in the know tell me so far I just look like I've eaten a big hamburger, pasta or pudding. And while I'm not denying having done all those things, what's actually happening is my womb is fruiting!
So now you know. I'm not gluttonous... I'm pregnant. :)
The reason it's been so lonesome on this here blog recently, is that I've been a-frenzy of activity, making lots and lots of new stock ready to take to the Finders Keepers Market this coming weekend.
So before I pack everything in my car for the journey, it's time for a big old fashioned show and tell...
Firstly:
So, what do we have here? A basket of tiny shapeless pillows?...
...
...
...
...
Noooo, it's a basket of eversocute whale stuffies!
See!
Next:
Library bags in two designs, each with unique backing fabric.
And Finally:
Pillowcases! Snuggly huggy pillowcases.
All packaged and ready to go :D
Of course I shall be selling all of my other products too: cards, postcards, and prints of varying sizes, plus my colouring book!
It's going to be so exciting. So again, a reminder, Finders Keepers Market this weekend, Brisbane.
If you do come, please say hello. I know it can be scary, but its scary for me too, and its much nicer for me when people say hi :)
I'll also be coming to the Finders Keepers in Sydney in early December too! More on that when I return next week.
(Photo by Mel Stringer)
Earlier in the year Mel Stringer invited me to be part of a new zine she was pulling together, Borrowed Suitcase, and last week my copy arrived in the mail! I must say, I'm a little humbled to be in with other artists of such calibre. Thanks so much Mel!
You can buy yourself a copy here, of if you're feeling lucky, you should enter Mel's very first giveaway to win one (along with a huge bounty of other crunchy-cool stuff).
Last evening I was catching up on visiting some blogs, having a look through Herbert & Friends, by Torunn (who makes the awesome softies), perusing through some snaps she took of lovely shops in Newcastle... and LOOOOOK!
That's MY COLOURING BOOK!!!!!
I have a copy, so I knew it existed, I just have not been able to find out if it is in any shops yet.
But there you go, apparently it is in a shop in Newcastle called 'High Tea With Mrs Woo'. I've been told it's in lots of other places too, I just have no idea where.
So I'm chuffed. It really does exist, and it really IS in shops.
Now I just need to find out where.
In the meantime I plan to get a stack to sell at the Finders Keepers Market in Brisbane in November, and online to anyone else who's interested.
(Photo by Torunn from Herbert and Friends. Thank-you.)
All you lucky Melbournites must be getting so excited about this weekend. If not, then you should be! Trust me, the first ever Melbourne Finders Keepers Market is going to be amazing. I so wish I was going to be there.
Speaking of which, the news on that front is not all bad. In fact it's quite EXCITING...
I will be having a stall at the Brisbane Finders Keepers Market!!!!
I have only been to Brisbane once before, and that was yeeeaaaars ago. So I'm reeeaaally excited, both about being part of the markets, and also checking out the city... and the GOMA!!!
If you're a local, please tell me what else we should do and see, and places we must go to while we're in your fair river city.
Also, if you have any advice on nice areas to stay in that'd be tops too.
Can't wait. I'll remind you again closer to the time, but for those conscientious among you, mark the 6th & 7th November in your diaries now. ;D
While procrastinating doing stuff on today's to-do list, I have managed to fill my Etsy store like never before. And there's still more I haven't even listed yet. So if you like any of my pics that aren't there, or if you'd like a print that's currently a card, or vice versa, let me know, because I probably have it sitting right here next to me.
Also, I have some NEW things to list too... Ever wanted a flossy-p cup to sip your tea from?
Stay tuned!
 (Seabeard McGee)This weekend is the launch of the amazing Drawgasmic exhibition and book! Put together by the ever-cool team at Cranky Yellow. "We're bringing together the work of 1000 international artists, illustrators, and designers in an exhibition and book unlike anything ever created before!"My contribution is old Seabeard McGee (above), but you should see some of the others! There are so many good ones to choose from, but here are a few of my favourites:  By Buffalo Parade, from Perth, Australia.  By Pole Ka, from Paris, France.  By Jennifer Freeman, from New York, USA. The exhibition opens this Saturday at Art Dimensions / 2720 Cherokee - (Located at 2720 Cherokee Street St. Louis MO 63118). So if you're in the area, pop along, and tell me what it's like! :) Otherwise you can buy the works and book online!
HI! I have resurfaced! So the giant project I've been working on is a colouring book!! It is going to be published and distributed by Lalaland!!!! I'm so thrilled!!!! They do lovely colouring books, which are more like story books you can colour in. The drawings are usually more complex than what a normal colouring book would be (not a beach ball to be seen), so the books may be better suited to slightly older kids, but that's not to say younger tots can't expressively scribble at will! I love the idea that kids can colour over the top of shaded artworks, to give them a greater sense of achievement, and to teach them to focus on detail (which is, after all, one of the processes in learning to draw).My book follows the story of a girl who leaves the big city and moves to the country (I know, I know, getting lots of mileage out of that one). There she meets lots of animals of course. To make it slightly educational, and much cooler, I included some Australian animals that are quite rare, with a type of index at the back so you can learn what they all are. And of course there's a moral, ahhhh. ;) Because I had to do the entire thing in two and a half weeks, I ended up re-using some of my previous concepts, but redrew them differently. I sent in all my files today ( after battling to get our internet connection to come back to life). DONE! I'm buzzing with a sense of achievement. I'm so excited I thought I'd share some of my favourite pages...     The book comes out in August! Now, pardon me while I go barge through dunes of eraser shavings, climb mountain of unwashed dishes, part my un-tended hair, and flop on the lounge for an evening of brain-numbing TV and not moving a muscle.
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