Hence...

I have a friend who likes dogs, not so much in the sense that she would install kennels in her backyard & house a dozen dogs... But she owns a very cute white dog & she has some nice dog pictures & prints in her home. When I see a cute dog statue, or cushion with a dog silhouette printed on it etc, I think of this particular friend.

Well, on one particular day I visited her home and as we spoke I used the word 'hence'. She stopped me & with much amusement asked, "Did you just say 'hence'?" Yes, I had used the word 'hence' and I am actually quite fond of the word. I assumed everyone used the word 'hence' on a regular basis in order to introduce a logical conclusion. Mmm, apparently not. Suddenly I became quite aware of the level of 'hence-ness' in all my conversations.

In the past few weeks while designing my latest dog silhouette brooch I thought of my friend & couldn't help but be reminded of our 'hence' conversation. Even now, the word just makes me smile & I couldn't think of a better couple... 'hence' meets the dog silhouette.  It is truly possible that no one will ever want to buy & wear a Hence Dog brooch, but I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to make this particular piece! Crazy, I know.

For now, you can find 'Hence Dog', 'Tricky Fox', 'Shock Horror' brooches at Bowerbird Bazaar Market, 28-30th October 2011. Hope to see you there.

Thank you Twine...

The first illustrated hoops I made had no wire on the back. In my mind, is was super easy to hang it from the little bolt at the top of the embroidery hoop. But then, I thought perhaps this would not suit everyone, so I added wire across the back. I took pride in making little notches in the wood for the wire to sit in, & carefully pulled the wire nice & tight so it would look neat & lovely. I patted myself on the back & smiled at how considerate I was to offer this hanging option. But then, only this week, I noticed that this straight wire on the back meant that the hoop could slip on nail/hook & end up looking all crooked. I did not like crooked at all. So, I began giving the wire some slack allowing the customer to bend it & make the hoop hang the way it was intended. Sadly, there was no back-patting at this point...the sloppy wire just didn't look nice.

Last night, I decided to use my favourite twine instead - yes, it costs more than wire, but hey, you are worth it! I may be biased, but the results are just lovely... the hoop hangs perfectly & the string fits in so well with the feel of the upcycled fabric. For now, I am giving myself a pat on the back....for now.

Here is also another illustrated plate... I still need to paint some little yellow footprints tonight. Oh yellow paint... I love yellow & after recently purchasing more paint, I couldnt help myself & ended up adding yellow painted details to ALL of my plate illustrations! I just couldnt stop. So much fun.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend.
x Trace

All sorts of things...

Life has been happily busy in the past month... New Gretel Girl brooches have been designed, made & are now sitting in some lovely Adelaide shops.... some are even pinned on your coats (thank you so much for buying my brooches!) A second series of brooches have been designed & are currently being made. These will be for sale at Bowerbird Bazaar.... yes, yes, yes... I have been doing my happy dance at the news of being accepted into Bowerbird Bazaar. With less than 4 weeks to go, I am pretty much spending every spare moment making, drawing, sewing, creating.

A couple of weeks ago I was reading a Frankie Magazine (*sigh* I love Frankie) and saw a ceramic plate decorating article by Pip from 'Meet Me at Mikes'. I was inspired and immediately bought a ceramic marker & started illustrating plates. The plates are dishwasher safe & would be quite happy either hanging on your wall or perhaps serving up your breakfast toast! I have to admit it has been quite lovely & challenging just free-drawing - I cant sketch an outline first, there is no eraser or delete button - I kind of just cross my fingers & see what happens. I love these plates. If they don't sell at Bowerbird, I will be quite happy to have at home!

I have continued to pursue illustrating cushion covers & when I cant find the right cushion cover in an op-shop, I am making my own by up-cycling curtains & tablecloths & tea towels. Isn't it nice that art can be functional too? Now Gretel Girl has something you can throw on your couch; something you can pin on your jacket; something you can serve cake on; and something to hang on your wall. What a busy month is has been... a very fulfilling, wonderful, messy, busy month & Im sure the next 4 weeks will just be a blur too. Will you be in Adelaide at end of October? Hopefully I will see you at Bowerbird Bazaar. 

'Sophie Cushion' sneaked her way in...

I had so many things to do today... both for Gretel Girl & for home... and dont get me wrong, I have made a start on many of those things (but it is possible that I finished none). On top of that I am doing a couple of custom portraits - these require a lot of stopping & starting in order to continually edit & ensure that the portrait actually ends up looking like the intended person!  So during one of my breaks today, I may have accidentally started a new project just for fun. You know that wonderful rebellious feeling when you forget all the "I have to do..." and instead you just do something for fun?! Well, today, the 'Sophie Cushion' accidentally emerged from my hands as I explored painting freehand on fabric & then adding some sewing detail. The back of the cushion is a tea towel I picked up op-shopping & it was a wonderful excuse to use it. And now I must pay the price... I will play catch-up for the rest of the day... those wet clothes wont hang themselves on the line....

A night at Vintage Carousel

The rain had drizzled all day and I crossed my fingers & toes that the clouds would part and allow a warm afternoon sun to drink up all the cold & dreariness. But the sky seemed to prefer the company of its cloudy blanket. Evening headed in with its wet, dark blueness - a shade of blue that I adore. Rach turned on all Vintage Carousel's lamps & a wonderful sunny glow met the night. Is there any better lighting than a lamp? The musicians stood under the verandah warming up their instruments & voices... I stood watching in awe of their talent. Wine was poured while trays of food appeared, and then suddenly it seemed that the night had began... dozens of people mingled around me, art work was sold, treasures from Vintage Carousel were purchased, everyone seemed happy to hang out with friends in the drizzle. Opening night was a success & I went home just overwhelmed by all the encouragement I had received... honoured by the fact people would part with their money in order to buy my work... and I was proud of myself for the journey I had travelled the past year. Gretel Girl was now one year old... what a wonderful birthday party she had. 

Thank you to all that have made the journey to see the exhibition.

'Gretel Girl Rides the Carousel'

at Vintage Carousel, 26 Hawker Street Bowden

5th - 28th August 2011   

Miss Meow likes to drum

      

A couple of months ago I was having a particularly crappy day... I was tired & a little stressed & I struggled to feel positive about anything! Unwashed dishes, an empty toilet roll, a cat that meowed for food... all these things seemed to push me beyond my limit. It is very possible that there were also tears over those petty issues. Ridiculous, I know (did I mention I was quite tired & stressed?!)  Anyway, I jumped in the car with my list of errands in hand, plugged in my ipod & grumpily hit 'Shuffle'.

And there it was.
A song I hadn't heard for so long.
The whole album is an absolute favourite for me.

How? oh how did my little ipod understand just what I needed at that moment!
I turned up the volume and every bit of air within my car danced with the music of The Cat Empire. As 'Sly' played I did my seated-driving-a-car-dance, I sang loud, and I drummed & drummed that steering wheel. Oh how I would love to be able to keep a beat (for longer than 9 seconds) and be a drummer in a band. But for now, I am sure that other motorists look at me with admiration for my awesome steering-wheel drumming talent!

Later that day, I decided that I needed to create an illustration in honour of The Cat Empire & their make-you-want-to-dance tunes. I tried several sketches of girls with cat's ears growing through their hair, cat headbands, or even cat's heads with a girl's body.
Nothing seemed to work.

Then, on one fine Wednesday afternoon, I bumped into my friend, Jules.
There she stood wearing a black coat with a fluffy, furry collar & on her head was the cutest furry cat ears headband! She looked adorable.
"I must draw you" I said.
And draw Jules I did.
Thank you Jules.
Thank you Cat Empire.

And here is your sneak peek for now - the rest will be revealed after next week's exhibition. I am feeling a little excited.

Hey Presto?!

First comes the idea, then the sketching, then the scanning & photoshop-ing, and the colouring. 
Then the printing & the reprinting for all the late night mistakes. 
There is the very important choice of fabrics & the wonderful op-shopping experience to acquire those fabrics. Then the marriage of an illustration & fabric. 
The addition of sewing detail is a subtle feature, but so important in my eyes & my favourite pieces always end up being those that are the most time-consuming! 
A hanging wire is attached to the hoop. Then, lastly the printed/sewn illustration can be stretched & fixed in the hoop. 
Presto!.. (I know, a ridiculous word to use for such a detailed process) its done! 


I need to sew pretty details & contour lines tonight, but I am ever so tired... the thoughts of Vintage Carousel keep me going... Not long now.