My patterns....showcased!

When i returned from my holiday, i was so excited to discover that while i was away, a collection of my designs were showcased in Rachael Taylor's blog. It was a piece dedicated to the Module 2 students of the fantastic course The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design run by the very talented  Rachael Taylor and Beth Nicholls. It was such a buzz to be included. Check out the post here, so happy to be amongst some of my very talented fellow classmates!

My 'cavalcade of characters'...up close and personal!

aaaahhh...the serenity!

Well, i am back from my North Queensland tropical adventure, and here are my fave piccies from my time away. I think they capture the way i was feeling: pretty relaxed, reflective and happy.
It was a different type of holiday. I was taking my little boy Harry up to have a holiday with his Dad in Townsville, and while he was doing that, i thought i would take the opportunity to venture out of that town, and have a bit of an adventure! Sooooo glad i did.....
There is nothing like the freedom of backpacking, i remember that feeling from my 20's, and on this little holiday that feeling came rushing back!! I was spontaneous, happy and, yes....free! Maybe i wasn't the authentic, hardcore backpacker from my 20's, (i did stay in a little 'boutique hotel' in port Douglas for 2 nights!), but the rest, i hostelled it: yep, showered with thongs on, coped with snorers, shared a communal kitchen with french families and met 2 pretty amazing women which i know i will stay in touch with.
Think this may just become one of my new annual rituals.
Oh....and i ate pretty well too...one night i sat down to a coconut creme brulee-yes, served in a coconut and a glass of champagne to wash it down! Hmmm, maybe i have stepped it up a notch from my backpacking days!!

Rozelle Market treats

Many years ago, (actually about 7!), Rozelle, Sydney was my home. I loved it. I loved the 'villagey' vibe, the quirky local characters and i especially loved the local flea markets. Pretty much every Saturday and Sunday i would wander up to the local primary school (where the markets were set up) and discover sooo many treats and treasures that i just had to have! These markets really formed and fed my love of vintage (of all things from packaging, clothing, homewares...and funny little odd bits and bobs.)

Here are a few of my little treasures:

The top 4 pics are actually on a kids' table and chair set. One of the locals had cut out 70's kids' book illustrations and pasted and lacquered them onto the chairs and table (decoupage style). I love these illustrations, so quirky! The next 3 are pantyhose packaging...what's a donkey got  to do with pantyhose?? Love it!
And the final pic, beautiful patterned boxes...yum.

Think i may need a little Rozelle holiday and a Rozelle Market fix  :)

bunnies, foxes and tangerine tales

We are now in week 4 of the 2nd module of the Surface Pattern Design course i am doing-wow and is it faster paced than the first module???? Yep! I will be more regular in my blogging when i can catch my breath...and catch up with all the (fun and inspiring) course exercises!

One of our on-going course exercises throughout this module is to create a 'doodle wall' - a big sheet of paper up on the wall and just....doodle. Don't think, just draw. I'm loving it! Here are some of my little creations.....(sorry, a little grainy, taken with an iphone at night and no flash!)....... 

                        .......and a pattern: with my little characters from my doodle wall....  :)

yippeeeeee....

....so excited to discover that one of my patterns was featured on Rachael Taylor's blog, my funny 'kooky-zu kids' print yay! Thanks so much Rachael!

http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/module-1-june-showcase-part-4.html

I really love drawing funny little birds and was up last night drawing these, they are patiently waiting to be put into a little print :)

birthdays, colds and craziness!

I haven't meant to neglect my little blog for so many days-it was a crazy week!
My Dad turned 70 yesterday. I still can't believe it. So there was a party, family and friends visiting, it was lovely.

To the kindest man I have ever known, you have always been there for me and believed in me. Happy Birthday Dad!

Harry and I have also had the normal wintry colds, so I will blame that too on my inactive blogging :( but on the mend and looking forward to jumping into Module 2 of the amazing course I am doing (which I have mentioned earlier), the Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. Yippee! It started yesterday and am so looking forward to being inspired and excited by Rachael, Beth and all my amazing and talented classmates!

a little bigger...

...still getting the hang of this blogging world, so bear with me :) ...here is a bigger piccy of my scenic wallpaper...i think...