I heart...

I seem to be getting even more addicted to drawing over the last few weeks - I've been drawing at the skate park, on the couch, at Bec's house, and even in bed!

I'm now onto my second drawing journal.


Serendipitously, my cousin in Scotland has started a new craft blog - i heart...
She's making a little zine and looking for submissions from anyone and everyone. I'm working on a few different ideas and trying to decide which drawing to go with.... decisions, decisions....

Getting Quilty

It's not very often that I take on a challenge of making a quilt..... but little bubba Lucas who turned one on the weekend, has a very lovely auntie who asked me to make one for him.

The request was for something bright and colourful so it can be used as a pram quilt or a playmat. Luckily, bright and colourful just so happens to be right up my alley.

I had a few prints from the Michael Miller Bot-Camp range in the stash which I absolutely adore. I added in the various polkadots to add some more pop!

Keeping with the space theme, I added some stars as a backing fabric.....

Happy Birthday little Lucas!

A Medicare Statement is the new black

I

I had to crop the end off the photo to hide my medicare number

Not wanting to waste that sheet of inkjet printable fabric, I decided to test out the new 115mm flex frames that I'd ordered earlier in the week.

I thought I'd stick with the medical theme and make myself a little pouch for my handbag. I'm constantly scrounging around inside the bottom to find lip balm, tissues, inhalers and the like.

Now I'm completely sorted.... and if I ever forget my name, or lose my medicare card, I can just pull out my pouch. Not just pretty - but functional too!

Animation Friday - Flower Pot

Animation Friday has come around way too quickly this week!

This is a little drawing that I started working on while sitting on the couch watching Tacky House lastnight. The photos are very poor quality as I took them with my phone (couldn't be bothered getting off the couch to find the camera).

My new pens are getting a workout - I've taken my sketchbook nearly everywhere this week. It's a bit difficult in waiting rooms as people like to stare.... a lot, so I might have to go back to taking my knitting with me as well, and decide the craft activity based on the anticipated audience response.

Pop on over to My Poppet to play along.

My creative space

It's been a long and busy week so far - trying to sort out my taxes and financial reports, and lots of testing and appointments happening (which always suck up waaaaaayyyyy toooooo much time).... so I didn't get a chance to finish the Medicare project.

The black and white statement was looking a little bland, so I put it back through the printer and added some tulips. I'm promising myself that I WILL get this done today!

I've also started working on a little side project just for fun.

Cate from Polka Dot Rabbit is curating an Exhibition as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. It's called Home Is Where The Craft Is.

From Cate's Blog:

The purpose of this exhibition to explore the role of women's crafting as part of and related to one’s home. The items crafted may have a functional purpose at home as opposed to being simply created for artistic or creative purposes.

Crafting is usually carried out in the home, often in a communal area or shared environment such as a kitchen table, living room couch or spare room. The creative process often intersects with other tasks of home life such as watching telly, waiting for the washing machine to finish etc.

The name of my collection for the exhibition is Containment. I'm aiming to make various pieces whose function will be to contain some sort of object or thing. The beauty of a project like this, is that I can be as creative and wild and wacky as I feel like.

That should keep me busy at home for the next couple of weeks!

Now I'm off to check out all of Kirsty's other amazing creative spaces...

Printed Card

So here's a little show and tell of my first creations using the printed fabrics from my original drawings.

I went in search of card stock in my local suburb on the weekend.

The only thing that I could find was the local scrapbooking shop.....

.....which had this not so nice quality card stock.

Have you ever walked into a scrapbooking shop before? Well golly gee, I hadn't! I suppose it's just like stepping foot into a place like Amitie... only for lovers of paper.

The thing that I don't really understand about scrapbooking (and I don't want to offend any scrapbookers), but there's quite a lot of things already pre-prepared. Fifty percent of the shop must have been dedicated to things that just peel and stick (and those things are expensive)!. Does that take away from the creativity?

Back onto the topic at hand - if anyone has some tips on where to find really nice high quality pre-prepared card stock, I would love to know.... in the meantime, I've been challenged to create something with that fabric Medicare Tax statement!

Playing with Print

I've been continuing on with my drawings in dribs and drabs since I've been home, and I finally scanned the ones that I'd completed.

I've added some borders and some watermarks, and printed them onto inkjet printable fabric. I love how the fabric gives the drawing even more texture.

Whilst finally organising my taxes yesterday, I also managed to print my Medicare Tax Statement onto inkjet printable paper..... hmmmm wonder what I can sew with that!

I have a little project in the works for these..... I'll show and tell once I'm finished.

A little ray of sunshine

That's all it took yesterday, for the sewjo to come calling....

What better way to celebrate a bit of sunshine, than with a lovely bright yellow cherry print!

I missed a first birthday party for a friends little girl a couple of weeks ago, and I still hadn't made her a pressie, so I searched through my pattern basket to find this one.

This is a vintage pattern that I picked up from the oppy - The brand is Style 2463 from 1969 and only has Size 1. It was originally sold for the grand price of $0.60.

I'm no expert, but I found that the all-in-one neck and armhole facing made the construction much more difficult than necessary for such a simple little dres, which in turn, made the shoulder construction complicated. If I make this one again, I'll re-draft the pattern piece for the neck facing and just bind the armholes.

I think little Lily will look super cute in cherries!

Carded

I'd almost forgotten about these quirky little cards....


I found them at the oppy a few weeks ago when I whisked away Nikki's wee girl, to go on a little treasure hunting mission.

Can anyone tell me what game the animal cards are used for? They're in multiples of four of each type of card, and each card has a letter and a number. They weren't in their original packaging.

I also found this Old Maid card set.... which is so totally politically incorrect. I'm guessing from the illustrations and the font, that it's early 1970's (must be after the moon landing as it includes Moonwalker Wally).

I'm off to enjoy the lovely sunshine.... have a happy Sunday!

Done Voting???

Then why not pop down to Olive Grove Studios in Brunswick for their grand one day only Garage Sale!

Eeeny Meeny Miney Mo....

My Creative Space

My creative space has still been very quiet this week.....

I couldn't resist testing out my new pens which were a welcome home pressie from Tinniegirl.

In other news, my sewing machine has arrived home safe and sound after a good service and clean - the service guy commented that it "really must get a lot of use". I think that means that maybe I should have it serviced more regularly???

The home of my creative space

Animation Friday - The Scribble Edition 2 - Colouring In

Following on from last weeks animation....

*Please excuse the dodgy mobile phone photos

I've been trying to take a little break from blogging, but you know what? Blogging keeps me motivated and makes me happy. It gives me something else to think about, and allows me to use my brain, so consider my blogging break officially over.... although things still may be a little sporadic.

I really need to thank each and every person who left me a message on the blog, emailed, came to visit in hospital, or popped something in the mail - I didn't get the chance to reply to everyone personally. 

I also need to give a huge thankyou to Cathy, Cathie, Bec, Nikki, Nikki, Cass, Michelle, Selina, .... I hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

I don't really have any news or answers healthwise just yet - things are not exactly going as I'd planned or hoped for, but I'm always ready for a challenge, so here goes.... wish me luck.

Pops aint so Super

I'm taking a little bit of a bloggy break this week - back soon.... I promise.

Animation Friday - The Scribble Edition

Have you seen the groovy red shoes animation over at My Poppet?

I couldn't resist trying out Cintia's instructions for making my own little animation and joining in the fun!

My Creative Space

I'm kinda glad that I didn't bring any stitchy projects with me this time (even though the real reason I didn't pack any was because I didn't think I was going to end up staying).

It's quite surprising that there hasn't been that much spare time in between treatments, and med students, and student doctors (and visitors and op shopping and trips to the cafe). I haven't had a moment of boredom yet, and I've actually just enjoyed the doodling and the colouring in....... it's been a good stop/start project that I can pick up or pack up quickly.

I don't usually like wasting time. I'm always trying to cram as much as I possibly can into each and every day, just in case I run out of time. I suppose that's one of the things that you do worry about when you know that there's going to be a point where there is no more spare time. It's also hard for a control freak to admit that they have no control over the current situation!

So for the moment, I'm going to just 'go with the flow'.... and keep on scribbling and doodling.

The home of My Creative Space

Creative Peeps Interview - Jay from Finki

All photos remain property of Finki Handmade and have been used with permission

Name

Jaylene Falkner.

Crafty peeps call me Jay ( :

Blog

Finki Handmade
Olive Grove Studios

What is your favourite creative pursuit?

Creating imagery, via sketching, collage or graphic design.

I find this is the starting point for all my adventures.

My crafty mission has always been finding a way of getting images and artwork into practical and fashionable items. So for example, each process might begin with an owl, then i try to think of as many ways as possible to bring that owl into your surroundings. A pendant, a pen holder, journal, t-shirt or stool.

What is your earliest creative memory?

At age 7 or 8, I nagged mum to let me use her big fancy metal sewing machine to sew clothes for my cabbage patch doll. See, even from the beginning, I didn’t model my fashions on Barbie, it was a cuddly lovable cabbage patch instead. It was all a lead up to making plus size clothes today ( : 

Who inspires you?

Real people...

Like:

Tinniegirl, for following her dreams and becoming the artist she knew she was.

Like:

Polly Pratt for giving up her boutique and life in NZ to move to Melbourne for a boy. Then starting over and building it all back up from scratch in a town where you know no-one.

Like all the girls at Olive Grove (the co-op where I work), because they all manage to be fabulous mums, wives and artists.

Each time I work a shift, I see the new things they have worked on in their week off. 

It constantly inspires me to not rest on my laurels, because if these girls can mange two and three kids, hubbies working overtime, and filling a retail space with the most creative and inspiring delights, then I reckon I can too.

What are you currently working on?

As per usual, I’m working on about 10 things at once. Everything is done in phases, so I tend be continually working on bringing a few things to completion.

Today I’m screen printing some nautical inspired body tees and whilst they dry, I’ll continue on my new vests. In the washer and dryer, I’m preparing some denim for new wrap skirts, all whilst on the table, my new brooches are drying from a recently applied coat of varnish.

Ok so that’s only four things on the go today, but you get the picture. It all happens in little bits all at once ( :

What is your ultimate creative dream?

To have my own shop, supporting handmade.

One of the most pertinent things I have learnt about handmade is that you cannot do it all by yourself...

Being in a co-op, I see that even though we have 8 or 9 members at any given time, I’m still working 50+ hours a week to keep the shop stocked.

Because you can’t just drift in at 9, work your 8 hour shift and go home. You have to put all the hours in behind the scenes to make sure that there is something on the shelf to sell...and whilst you do that, who’s doing your accounting, shopping for supplies and feeding your children. It’s all you, baby.

So yes, one day I want to have a shop, but I will have a tiny wee shelf with my own designs on it whilst the rest of the shop is full of handmade loveliness from all my bloggy friends. Oh and it wouldn’t hurt to have a coffee lounge out back for the local crafty groups to meet up in and share ideas ( :

That’s my ultimate creative dream.

Is you work for sale, and if so, where can I buy it?

Currently all my goodies are on show down at Olive Grove Studios.

159 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, Vic.

Monday - Saturday : 10am to 5pm
Sunday: 12 am - 4 pm

Phone: 9388 - 8006
Email: olivegrovestudios@gmail.com

Do you have any upcoming events planned (exhibitions, markets, interviews, courses, launches, shows etc)?

The only highlight is a fabulous interview by the ever so creative, crafty, clever and kind CurlyPops ( : (awww shucks thanks Jay)!

Do you have any advice for others who would like to follow their creative dream?

Just do it!  Oh bugger, that ones taken.

But truthfully, it makes the most sense.

Don’t over think it, don’t procrastinate, don’t hesitate or put it off 'til tomorrow.

You need to do it ....today.

Maybe it won’t be 100% and maybe it won’t be all you dreamed, but your actions today will teach you invaluable lessons and put you in a position to meet people and see places that you can only experience if you take action.

Where you are today will not change into where you need to be tomorrow unless you grant yourself permission to follow your dreams.


Thanks so much for a wonderful interview Jay!
I was lucky enough to meet Jay at the first makers meeting for the Made'n'Thornbury market many moons ago. She's actually one of my crafty inspirations, and not only is she a lovely friend (and super crafter), but she's also provided me with lots of crafty business tips and advice - all of which I've been very grateful for.... and you'll find many Finki creations if you ever visit my place!

When life gives you lemons...

Please excuse the poor quality of my mobile phone photos

 Wonderful friends come to visit bearing yummy peanut butter cupcakes...

.... and the on-site oppy provides some vintage gems...

Now I just need to work on breaking out of here!

The Perfect Combination

A home-grown daffodil and coffee....

Sunday Scribbles

After following along with Tinniegirls Journey over the last few months, it's really got me thinking about how much I loved art when I was in high school. Unfortunately, I had to ditch all of the art subjects that I loved and concentrate on maths and science in order to follow my chosen career path.

Then this week, Jess blogged about taking a drawing class, which got my brain whizzing around even more.

I can't really take on any classes at the moment, but I think that I really should spend some time just doodling around for fun.

Inspired by my favourite vintage fabric (that I used to make my pen roll), this is the first of my scribbles. It's perfect timing considering that I seem to have so much spare time on my hands at the moment!

Deja Vu Two

Same place.... slightly different window.

There was, at least, a stream of sunshine coming in through it today.
I would have had something slightly more exciting to show, if only I could have brought Mr Husky with me.

I have my Cottees Red Cordial, a supply of Peppermint chocolate, a crossword book, my knitting, and a sketchpad, so that should be enough to keep me entertained for now.

I'm hoping that this is the very last time that I'll be stuck here for the forseeable future - fingers crossed!

My Creative Space

My poor little hard working Janome was picked up and taken away by the nice service guy thismorning (who, of course managed to arrive at my house early enough to catch me still in my pyjamas).

In the meantime, Mr Husky will be keeping me company..... I hope he plays nice.

The home of my creative space

PS - I've reached my 5Gb limit for the month so I'm back to dial up speed for the next few days.... ugh!

The Mill Markets - Ballarat

Did you know that The Mill Markets have opened another outlet in Ballarat?

My little sister has opened a stall to sell her vintage and retro collectibles....

but now you can also find some lovely handmade CurlyPops goodies there too!

You can find the Mill Market at the Ballarat Woolshed - Western Highway, Ballarat (it's on the left hand side as you drive into Ballarat coming from Melbourne).

They're open from 10 AM to 6 PM - 7 days a week, and they even have a cafe which opens every day at 11AM.

Pop in and find yourself a little bit of treasure!