matouenpeluche

Helen Dardik!

Helen Dardik - Canadian artist extraordinaire! Her work makes me feel so darn happy, it's ridiculous! She has an Etsy shop here.  Happy Thursday!

All images from here.

Collection

Something else I found in my ignored cupboard (see original post here): my collection of book marks. The avid collector strikes again!

These are a real find! I used to get these at Glebe Books when there was just the one store up by the church. I wonder if they still have them? I never used them as book marks. I used them to decorate various bare bedroom walls I was living in at the time. I have many more too, but these are the nicest.

Azalea Shadows

This is my first Shadow Shot post for December! Three transparent azaleas taken in Spring this year. Looking at these shots reminds me what a warm spring we had. Now, however, it is very cool and there's a thunder storm currently thrashing about outside. Strange days weather wise to be sure! I'm not complaining though as I'm all for a bit of cool!

Shadow Shot Sunday is an international meme set up by top Brisbane gal Tracy of Hey Harriet fame! If you'd like to join in all you have to do is read the instructions here.

Happy Sunday!

November

 
   I always think each season is the best season. Mainly because of the flowers. After spring, I get a bit wistful and think *sigh* that's the end of the flowers for another year, but really I couldn't be more wrong. In November whole suburbs are set alight with cascading blooms of bougainvillea. Jacaranda trees rain down purple blossoms and the chinese star jasmine drapes itself over every available surface. So, perhaps early summer is my favourite season I think... 

...and then there's this magnificent tree with its foliage that makes you feel like you're walking around some ultra modern cathedral every time you walk past it. We have whole streets full of these trees and it really is one of the highlights of November to walk down them. However, I have never ever been able to find out the name of them - if anyone knows, please leave a comment!

White flower shadows

Hello! Something a bit different for me today for my shadow shot. I have been posting a lot of buildings recently but today I have some pristine white flowers I found in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney. I'm afraid I don't know the name of these pretties but looking at them reminds me of a dream garden I'd love to have one day. If I had a garden, I would plant it with many different varieties of white flowers. I just think that would be magic! I first saw this idea on a National Trust documentary about  Sissinghurst Castle which was Vita Sackville-West's property. She had arranged her garden into beds and "rooms" devoted to one colour only. I just thought that was the best idea! You can see some photos of Sissinghurst here.

Shadow Shot Sunday is hosted by Tracy of Hey Harriet! If you'd like to join in all you have to do is read the instructions here!

Happy Sunday folks!

Stopping to Smell the Roses

Stopping to Smell the Roses

This is my new art print: Stopping to Smell the Roses. It's very important to do this as regularly as possible, isn't it? You can get caught up in the day to day scramble to keep your head above water and forget about the loveliness of simple pleasures.

Speaking of simple pleasures, I have started walking to a bus stop which is a little further away in the mornings. I used to go to the nearest bus stop but the one further away means I get an extra small scenic tour of my pretty neighbourhood! It's about one minute longer but I can't tell you how happy it makes me feel and happy that I'm on the bus and happy that I'm off to work! It's all a bit of a mystery to me actually why I should be so content with that one minute of extra scenery but I'm not going to argue! :0)

Here's to a splendid week ahead!

Black + White

Marimekko

Etro

 

Ashley G

 

Alexander McQueen and Ralph Lauren Collection

Medina Collection

 

Apartment Therapy

 
Apartment Therapy

There's a lot to be said for basic black and white I think. It's smart and at the end of the day, black and white goes with everything, doesn't it? I am particularly keen on this last room from Apartment Therapy. It's sort of dream like and ethereal!

Happy Friday links

It is most definitely spring here in Sydney. We are awash in cherry blossoms (see above), azaleas and tulips.

For your looking pleasure, I have some links below to things that have tickled my funny bone and kept me entertained this week:

1) A French TV commercial no self respecting cat fancier should miss: Les Chaton Telecom.

2) A fab giveaway featuring two of my prints here.

3) An extract from the much anticipated biography of Jane Fonda by Patricia Bosworth.

4) The world's most bizarre houses.

5) A super instructive step by step guide on how to draw your very own fox.

 

I hope everyone has a fab weekend! :0)

Strange (shadowy) Fruit

This is my Shadow Shot Sunday submission. It's the centre of one of those prehistoric ferns that were around when the dinosaurs still strutted their stuff on earth. I think. I thought the centre was so alien looking, but very lovely at the same time. The colours particularly caught my eye - that subtle pinky peach and yellowy orange - mmmm. One of my favourite colour combos!

Did you know...that Shadow Shot Sunday is proudly brought to you by Tracy of Hey Harriet! You too can submit your shadowy photos by reading the instructions here!

Spring Drawings

Black Bunny and Fledgling

It's not officially spring yet, but it sure feels like it's on its way! All the jasmine is in full bloom and the light has changed slightly. It's no longer that clear wintry colour - it has a tiny bit of gold in it. Anyway, spring happens to be my favourite season, so I drew two spring babies on the weekend to celebrate its (soonish) arrival.

On the left there is Gareth, a glossy black baby rabbit who is enjoying himself in a field of pink daisies. On the right is a very small fledgling called Rupert. It's possible he's only a few days old, so everything is exceptionally new and wonderful for him at the moment.

Here's to a super week!