Monday, February 27, 2012

The Design Files - Open House Clip

This vid has been popping up here and there on the interwebs and because I was iPhoneless and unable to snap any sneaky shots on the day. I thought I would share the awesome video from the fabulous Design Files Open House late last year. The only thing I had a problem with on the day, was that I wanted to buy one of everything! Sadly, I only managed a DF calendar, but I have managed to add a few 'affordable' items to my wishlist.


Sunday, February 26, 2012

Side By Side Week 125 - Melbourne Underground

 Side By Side Week 125 - Melbourne Underground
This photo is a snippet from perhaps the best thing I have had the pleasure of seeing this year. Yep, you read that correctly! I visited one of the coolest spaces in Melbourne this weekend, Melbourne Project Underground. A very normal office building sits above this artistic treat, over 60 graffiti artists both local and international were asked to come and get creative with their spray cans in the building owner's 3 story basement car park. All I can say is that it's both inspired and amazing. I am a HUGE graffiti art fan so this was heaven for me. I had high expectations and I was not disappointed. This is one of my faves of the day. Amazing.

Illustrator Course Assignments

I am playing catch up BIG time for my Illustrator course and I have still got a heap of assignments to go. I'm sure I will get through them, I just have to stop getting lost in being creative and just get through each lesson. I guess I can go back and work on the projects when I have more time. 
Anyway, here are the results so far. Lesson 5 was my fave so far and I am pretty happy with the progress. 

Lesson 3 
Illustrator Course Assignment 3

Lesson 4
Illustrator Assignment 4 - Flowerpower

Lesson 5
Illustrator Assignment 5 - Flying Bird

Friday, February 24, 2012

Side By Side Week 124 - The tropics in my backyard.


Side By Side Week 124 - The tropics in my backyard.
How is this little guy in my back garden feasting on our fig tree! It really never gets old for me - coming from the land of dull animals - that these colourful birdies hang around in the suburbs of Melbourne. They are Rainbow Lorikeets and I love them, even though they chirp annoyingly in massive groups first thing in the morning. Feast away on those figs little friend.

Side By Side 123 - Grass Level

Side By Side Week 123 - Grass Level
These little floaty seed things were all over our garden last week. A combination of hot weather and high winds I guess. I ran around like a lunatic trying to catch one of these in flight but they were just too fast. So I got down to their level..!

Monday, February 6, 2012

The SuperCool and South Melbourne!

I kinda failed to complete even half of my to do list this weekend! Mmmh must try harder! I did manage to organise myself for a trip to my new favourite place, South Melbourne. It took me a while to discover this little pocket of loveliness, despite it's reasonably close proximity to where I live. It is ok, I am making up for lost time and have been there 3 times in the last few weeks. What can I say, I can't stay away from the yummy food market, awesome coffee spots and great little shops and general 'vibe' that the area has. 


I did have a purpose this weekend and nooooo it was not to buy macarons (although I may have picked up some little beauties when there)! I had a little something on hold at Southwood Trading  a great homewares store, which appeals heavily to my taste!  I had been waiting on my little treat for a couple of weeks and got the call that my geometric print flower mat by Bonnie and Neil was in. So exciting! Aren't they fab...

How about the super crazy green pom pom type flowers....they are Dianthus 
apparently. They are brilliant and cheap! 

As I stepped out of Southwood Trading, Chez Dre's sign was beckoned me in..."come in and buy some yummy treats" it was calling! Before I knew it I was staring at Macarons and oops...half a dozen perfectly formed beauties left with me. 


Let me tell you they are perfection, nice crust on the outside and gooey in the middle. With flavours such as blackcurrant, raspberry, choc-orange and even a Basil and Lime which I haven't tried yet.  The have a range of amazing small cakes...some of which have made a trip home with me on a previous visit! 

Whilst walking through the maze of fresh produce at the South Melbourne Market, I stumbled upon the SO:ME Space. SO:ME Space is a "is a unique retail concept in the heart of the South Melbourne Market" which is open during the normal market hours.It's a great modern space, with ply-wood finishes and piled up pallets for displaying goods.  I found the fab new pop up shop TheSuperCool, and they really couldn't have thought up a better name. It's like they set up a 'super cool' shop just for me. They describe themselves as a "mobile emporium that goes to the people with an eclectic mix of everyday objects from around the globe". I spotted some of my favourites from the likes of Pistachio Press, and The Hungry Workshop and plenty of unique odds and ends that would fit in rather nicely at Little Letters HQ! I resisted the temptation to spend up big but I did pick up the most fantastic mini wooden shoe last. So great and serves no purpose other than looking super cute on my shelf. Yay for random cuteness.


 TheSuperCool will be there for the next few weeks until the 4th March so be sure and stop by if you are in the area. Or why not make a special visit!

 I look forward to my next visit which will most likely be the South Melbourne Street Fair on Feb 19th!

UPDATE: The Dianthus green pom pom type flowers are still alive and look the same as they do in the photo. So 10 bonus points from me. Cheap and seemingly everlasting!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Snaps from the Studio

A few snaps of my creative space....

Lovely paper supplies!

Studio sign in case I forget ;-)

Starting a new project for Little Letters

Packaging supplies and cameras!

Creative books!



Goodbye procrastination...Hello productivity!

I have had a busy couple of days in my little creative haven down in the basement. I have been working on a couple of projects which may or may not come to something, watch this space! I also started a 6 week online Adobe Illustrator course in a bid to improve my self taught skills. I am only at lesson 3 and I am learning heaps already. I already knew the long way around many of the tasks but now I have been learning the shorter more efficient methods for getting there. This will improve productivity I hope, as more often than not I have a great idea just not quite sure how to do it. Which is when procrastination steps in and I end up giving up half way through and never going back to said idea! Just think of all those things I can revisit with my new found skills. 

My fun mini shot is my assignment for the first lesson using Live Trace and Paint features. Basic stuff but good practice. 

Illustrator Class -  Lesson 1

Side By Side Week 122 - Happy beer drinking day.....oops I mean Australia Day!

 Side By Side Week 122 - Happy beer drinking day.....oops I mean Australia Day!
 
Beers ready, BBQ sizzling, sun shining! Pretty much sums up Australia Day! Although I am not an Australian I do happily partake in a day off to enjoy all of the above!
 
Check out my photos Side by Side with my buddy Ross at the side by side blog.

Side By Side Week 121 - 65 Years

Side By Side Week 121 - 65 Years

We had a family gathering for Shane's grandparents who have been married for 65years! WOWEE. They are still happy and she even sat on his lap for a photo...fun. Congrats to Vern and Joan! 

Check out my photos Side by Side with my buddy Ross at the side by side blog