big sky dreaming

October and the Christmas season has officially begun! Or so say our major high streets! 

I can barely get my head around the idea that 2015 is nearly out the door... 

Too many things have been happening around in me since coming home from Europe in mid July. And in amongst it all ive had some studio deadlines for a few new works on canvas, on paper, and in coil weaving. So today I thought id share an image of a new series coil woven objects that will be heading to Adelaide next week. 

They'll be taking part in a group exhibition at a lovely space called Council of Objects that is owned by Elise Short who is passionate about promoting local artists. The show is called TONE and it will feature the work of some great Australian artists including Mel Robson (ceramics), Amanda Dziedzic (glass), Abby Seymour (jewellery) and Vic Pemberton (textiles). 

The opening is on Friday October 23 and on Sunday Oct 25 Ill be teaching a five hour coil weaving workshop at the beautiful Gate 8 studios in Thebarton. Its been two years since I taught there, so Im looking forward to going back and playing in such an amazing creative space.

If youre in Adelaide please come along to the opening or the workshop.

All the details can be found at www.tinytrappings.bigcartel.com

And in the meantime I hope you have a great weekend - 

x

each artist was given this beautiful swatch of colours
that was to act as the inspiration for the artworks

graphite markings. 2015

charcoal sketch. 2015

raindrop. 2015

inspiration * interpretation

Got totally sidetracked this week.

And ended up being completely absorbed by a new artwork,

that I didn't even know I needed to make!

But let me rewind the tape a little.

Last Saturday was the first weaving workshop at the studio. 

And after rearranging the furniture and making sure I had enough chairs, 

everyone had a place at the big wooden table to play + make.

We talked. We weaved. We drank coffee and we promised to do it all again.

It truly was a lovely atmosphere.

And I was inspired to weave again.

In the last few weeks, Ive been making a bee line for my paints and easel,

to work on a collection of ideas that have been knocking around my head for the past few months.

But by Monday all I could think about was weaving something blue, 

something moody, 

and something textural.

Above you can see a few of the things that got the ball rolling...

Texture. A mix of materials. The colours of blue/tan/black. And string. 

But not string in the normal way...

String as in String Theory.

Yep Im heading into Quantum Mechanics and trying to reinterpret 'String Theory' in artwork form.

Will it work?

Who knows.

All I know is that this woven form wanted to be created this week.
And as you can see from the image below...
Its already starting to take shape.

the weekend.

From the pop up space to my tiny home space... there were flowers everywhere!
And colour! Lots of colour....

thankyou to everyone for their beautiful birthday wishes...and flowers!
I wish you could smell them all too.... 

I finally finished a new installation in The Pop Up to celebrate Spring...
What do you think?

industrial Sydney goes creative.

The new Koskela in Rosebery, Sydney, 2012

Have you ever noticed that in the blink of an eye everything around you can suddenly change? 

After years of subtle shifts and bemoaning that nothing ever moves on, everything can suddenly be completely altered in a few short months. 

Im noticing this phenomena right now. 

And no - im not just talking about the weather.

Jobs changing or finishing, friends moving or having kids, galleries renovating or closing... and whole suburbs moving on and changing their vibe...

It is all happening, and all happening this year.

One example....

Surry Hills.

In 2005 this inner city suburb of Sydney was undergoing a major revamp. The area was becoming the 'place to be' with fashion stores, artists' studios, and restaurants all moving in and deciding that this was the creative and designer hub for the urban and creative sophisticate - or anyone still at art school! 

I was working at the new Object gallery space at the time, and i remember thinking how great it was to find all these industrial warehouses and factory spaces of ye ol' Sydney being re purposed into functional public spaces, that had a soul and a character....

And one space in that ilk was was the Koskela furniture and design showroom on Campbell st. 

It was on the first floor of an old space and it had all the old characteristics and soul of its original existence as a Surry Hills warehouse. Fantastic old beams, steel struts and peeling paint, and in the centre of it all, an Australian design business run by Russel Koskela and his partner Sasha Titshkovky. 

The massive factory space also houses the businesses of Megan Morton, which
includes The Propery, The Studio and The School which runs creative workshops
for children and adults alike.

Well... times have changed and the Koskela business has now moved out of Surry Hills and into the another old factory ... this time in the suburb of Rosebury. It only opened a short time ago but on a wet and dreary Monday I thought it was time to go on a little reccy mission and have a look at this amazing space. 

Koskela design has transformed the old Four 'n Twenty Pie factory into a mecca for anyone creative with a love of old buildings! And along with Megan Morton and Kitchen by Mike, they have done an amazing job at restoring the space. 

It never looked so good. And I could not stop taking photos... 

OK - enough talk.

Here are a few of my photos of this amazing industrial space...

Hope you enjoy...

The entrance has a beautiful old brick face with peeling paint and a peep hole into the
big industrial kitchen of cafe/restaurant Kitchen by Mike.

The entrance. Huge right?! Would not find a space like this in Surry Hills anymore!

The space is split into zones as it is SOOO big with the tendency to swallow up furniture!
This is the gardening section at the entranceway - Gnomes included!

With all this colour it could only be the children's craft section... with pom poms and big cardboard robot included. I love the green wheel barrow that could be a borrowed prop from Megan's studio?!

View back onto the massive entranceway and the cafe Kitchen by Mike - that on a weekend is completely jam packed. We went on a wet, and dreary Monday... so it was perfect for a good look around.

Book and zine zone... which is so spacious and comfortable for a good flick through at all the
titles...

Can you see the space?! We were thinking that you need to give people an idea of scale - as it would be easy to buy something, take it home, and THEN realise how big it is, even though it looked dwarfed back in the showroom!
It is HUGE.

Loved all the textures and old factory markings on the floor...
And no - im not trying the show off my new shiny gumboots!

Koskela have created fantastic workshop spaces at the back of the factory floor,
that will be perfect for demonstrations and classes...
I loved the look of these wooden modular spaces within the big concrete shell of a factory,
 as they add character and give a feeling of 'space at work'
rather than only acting as a showroom for big shiny designer toys...

The rugs by Loom also soften the space and add character. I loved this section... complete with MASSIVE indoor trees!

Colour and texture... in the form of rugs and a beautiful wooden boxes that were NOT for sale!

More props...

Lights by Bye Bye Birdy . I just loved looking up at all the exposed beams and roof...
Lines upon lines upon lines...

And finally the indoor entrance to The School by Megan Morton for all the brilliant workshops.
The Propery and the massive photographic studio are also housed in this space...
And im sure over the coming months the space will be packed with creative kids having fun... and big kids who love going back to their childhood roots for some nostalgic crafty mayhem!

Koskela
85 Dunning st
Rosbury 2018
info@koskela.com.au
www.koskela.com.au

on the hunt...

Antiques Centre, Blackheath NSW

Since arriving in the mountains Ive been on the hunt.

And for what you may ask?

Well - whenever I am in the company of my good friend Ames we love going second hand shopping... Everyday we tick another one off our list. And today, as the rain and fog started to close in, we ventured into Blackheath for a fossick and a coffee. These were taken at The Antiques Centre, and my eyes were, as always, drawn to the cluttered cabinets filled with curios... and COLOUR!

Yellow madness, The Antiques Centre Blackheath, NSW

Green Tupperware, Antiques Centre, Blackheath, NSW



pure + general

Hello everyone and hello to another Monday and the second week of August. AUGUST! Crazy pants... I cannot believe we are on the home stretch with regards to Winter. And if last weeks happy sunny weather is anything to go by its going to be a beautiful start to Spring... the happiest time of the year! Well to me it is. Boy, do I sound very Disney today or what?!

With a new month comes new magazines and this new edition by Inside Out is a good one. There is a lot of colour, alot of texture, and a brilliant feature on the home of Pure + General's Linda Gregoriou.... Perfect timing too as I had recently visited this amazingly beautiful store and walked out wondering what Linda's home looked like! Now I'm very Disney AND a big sticky beak!!

Anyway Pure + General located on Brougham Street Potts Point {which is right near the Coca Cola sign in Kings Cross} is the brainchild of Linda who decided it was high time Sydney had a store that felt, and looked like the inside of a world traveller's suitcase... and it does indeed! This white industrial store, created by architect Dale Jones-Evans, is the simple frame for Linda to hang the assortment of furniture, soft furnishings, and eclectic objects she has sourced from  countries such as Japan, Morocco, India, France, and Australia's indigenous red centre...

This living room says it all really, a true reflection of Linda's aesthetic for the store. The green walls and the red textile rug work so so well, giving the space the perfect grounding  for all the objects to pop and shine...

This is Linda here on her staircase, above, looking as colourful as her space.
She definitely wears her style on her sleeve....

The old French wall cabinet in this shot was one of my favourite pieces from Pure + General. The chipped cream paint and little wooden draws are so lovely and so simple, creating a textural and functional impression on the wall that is somewhere in-between an artwork and a piece of furniture. 

Below is Linda's amazing collection of woven bags which you can find in the store too. Many are from indigenous art communities in Australia which Linda loves to promote as they are functional and autobiographical: 

Artisan, hand-made pieces have a story, and the essence of the person in them, which makes them more fascinating. 

Like any artwork, you are investing in the artist and their art practice, and that is always a good thing...

Thank you Inside Out, and Linda, for giving us a sneak peak into a world that is definitely inspirational for me! If I cant travel to all these places, at least I can take a small sample of their creative aesthetic home with me!! World traveller mash up is my type of style inspiration... always and forever!

Inside Out Sept/Oct 2011. 
Styling: Tami Christiansen 
Photography: Tony Amos 
Words: Stephanie Epiro 
Pure+ General 
114 Brougham St 
Potts Point 

toy time... any time.

I think its true to say that I am young at heart.

I may also be touched with a little of the 'peter pan' syndrome...

Maybe... just maybe!

I like to stretch out our notions of child hood and playtime... and I practice my theory by creating in a colourful studio, and leaving my 'grown-up' thoughts at the door. Maybe its denial of the fact that I'm gettin' on in years, but I believe that people that live with that sense of fun, adventure and play in their daily lives are happier, and less stressed with what life tells us we should be focused on... such as mortgages, money, job security, planning for the future, weight issues...and... and..and...

So when I see a home that shares my love of all things creative, fun, nostalgic and whimsical I am immediately inspired. And one home always springs to mind, is the space of Natalie Jeffcott + Nicholas Fitzgerald, owners of the amazing online store Arthurs Circus.

This article comes from Inside Out Magazine circa Sept/Oct 2009, but it still feels fresh today. And why is that? Well because Natalie and Nicholas have filled their home with furniture, toys + memorabilia that are timeless, colourful .... and just plain fun!!

In this shot you can spy their son Arthur who inspired the name of their business. And surrounding him is the most amazing collection of 1950s kitchenalia that I have ever seen! It is perfect! The colours, the linoleum floor, the sense of quirk... it is truly all there! And I LOVE the old cabinet that bares a striking resemblance to one that I co-own with my mate Kylie! {which is a story for another time...}


Love the red racer on the floor! My uncle owns one of these too, and like me, he also shares the theory that you are never too old to play with, and display, a beautifully crafted toy!! But the signs on the kitchen wall, the 1950s blue couch, the cushion fabric made from old advertising logos for flour, all blend together to keep the theme of 'fun' going.


Such a great shot by photographer Sharyn Cairns {who incidentally just completed an amazing shoot in Bathurst with Pia Bijkerk that features this month issue of Country Style.}


The colours in this space are primary and bold which adds to this sense of being 'children's bedroom', but with the addition of beautiful wooden 60s furniture it all becomes alittle more sophisticated yet user-friendly for a family lounge room.

Love the tiny shot of Arthur's room with globes, large wall maps and a train set on the floor! The colours bounce of the white walls and make each piece a stand-out in its own right. For example... the old wooden games that have been hung in multiples on the wall to give texture and pattern to the room. It's not wallpaper. It's much more fun than that!

And its so clever...

This last shot is great too, and again, looks at hanging a collection of objects in multiples to make a wall feature. This time its a grid of framed photographic canvas' that were taken by Natalie and hung in the master bedroom...

Now that's how you have have fun and be inspired from the moment you wake up in the morning... Nothing dull in that!!

If you would like to find Arthur's Circus, Natalie and Nicholas have a market stall at Camberwell Markets every Saturday in Melbourne. And for all of us that are in other places around the globe they also have an online blog/website/store that you can check out here...

Article from Inside Out Sept/Oct 2009. Words by Rachelle Unreich. Photography by Sharyn Cairns.

s a l a m a n c a .

OK...Today Ive mixed things up a little. Hope you don't mind? I was going to keep to the brief and continue on with the road trip in Tasmania and show you where we went after Launceston. But I felt like leaving those beautiful images for next week!

So today Ive skipped along the road a little and given you some images our first day in Hobart. A place I have never been, but always wanted to! Number one because Ive always wanted to visit the famous Salamanca Saturday markets. But two - and this is just a recent wish - ive wanted to visit MONA, the incredible private museum/gallery that just opened its doors in January. And let me tell you, a trip to Hobart just to see this amazing art space is worth the airfare!!

But Ill get to that story next week!

Today its Salamanca, the markets, and the lovely store that I discovered, named The Maker.

Now how can you go past this display of fresh colour without taking a photo...

This beautiful colonial door/courtyard was in the Salamanca Arts centre and we were lured in by an sound installation that was being exhibited as part of the ten days on the island festival that just finished on the weekend {Apr 3} ... Upstairs in the beautiful big gallery space, there was a fantastic exhibition that I loved called Dis-Covery... a curated group exhibition that was all about island life and our idealised notions of 'romance' on an exotic island. Great show!

Then it was back outside to all the flowers on show in the markets... and these ones were outside on a vendors stall...

... and then in the window display for this lovely shop called The Maker.

It was such a great find that I immediately asked if I could take a few photos for you. Each display was so well thought out, mixing vintage finds with local designer pieces. And the space was in an old arcade in the Salamanca Arts centre.

How great is that old black telephone?

And I loved the red/brown wooden shelves that floated on the back wall...

An old weight scale in the corner... with an old typewriter and those old green tea pots!

So simple and clean that they don't interfere with the lovely artisan pieces...

The building was an old factory I think, so some of the original fittings have been maintained, such as the tracking on the floor and the old wooden beams on the ceiling that have been simple painted white. Danielle from The Style Files blog would love this!

This is the best shot as you can really see the mix of pieces...

The globes are my favourite! And to just add that bit of blue into the all the natural colours in the store just makes it perfect! Well... in my tiny mind it does!

Check it out when you're next in Hobart, and try to time your visit with the markets.

You'll play all day!

The Maker

Shop 005

77 Salamanca Place

Hobart Tasmania 7004