ArtPlay - Recycle, Re-use and Wear

More stunning jewellery created from recycled bits at ArtPlay. The children went to town making the most intricate little (and sometimes big) adornments. So lovely . . .

Recycle Craft - Cushions from Old Jumpers

My latest craft feature in the Herald Sun Home magazine is a cuddly cushion made from old jumpers. Not wanting to throw the kids nicer little knits away, I decided to chop them up and assemble into something I can use again. If you want to make cushions from jumpers yourself, just make sure you back the pieces you have cut with calico so they don't stretch when sewing together. Have fun!

ArtPlay Re-use, Recycle and Wear!

Wow! Yet again I was bowled over by the creativity of these children. Given random, recycled bits and pieces, they were asked to create some jewellery. This is just some of what was crafted from the most seemingly boring things:

PS - Lookout for the next Re-use Recycle and Wear workshop on Sunday,March 17.

Incinerator Gallery workshops

The workshops these summer holidays focussed on Geoffrey Riccardo's current exhibition. Such an amazing and versatile artist, it was difficult to choose a medium from his prolific portfolio from which to base the workshop. I went for printing as I was amazed by Geoffrey's large-scale intaglio prints - so luminous and with great depth.
So I prepared some lino cuts before hand to stimulate the kids' imaginations and we discussed some layering techniques and other printing options before they started. As always, they produced some amazing pieces:

Box Craft

A sweet little project to display all those light-ish trinkets.
Simply assemble a few empty boxes in a random pattern, back with some cute and colourful fabric, staple together at the sides and bind with a ribbon or shredded length of fabric. Let me know if you would like more specific instructions and I'll email them through to you. Happy Crafting!

Happy New Year!!

I'm so excited about this year - new jobs, new schools and a new way of living with a lot more home time and far less commuting to and from work. I have bought myself a bicycle and plan to ride it everywhere, packing my essentials into the front basket - manuscripts, trinkets for the shop, bread and milk and maybe even a few beers for a sunny day in the park. Plus, I have a few new plans for the shop and the crafting including some tutorials on YouTube. Watch this space . . .

Here are some snaps of our traditional New Year's Eve feast with our camping crew. Who new camping could inspire such gourmet fare! Plus, the after dinner cartoon screening - very raw and very much like your traditional drive-in without the cars!
Cheers!

Christmas Advent

Advent has begun! I made this custom advent calender for a customer in my shop and loved it so much I decided to make one for everyone to share! Each day I am putting some candy canes and chocolates in the pocket for children who come into the shop (age is negotiable!).

And while I was doing that, I also created my Christmas windows! I love the reindeer I bought on eBay on the right-hand window. They are so cute! Every night the fairy lights come on inside Santa's house as well as on the 1960s tree on the left-hand side. If you happen to be in Flemington one evening, pop down to Pin Oak crescent to see them aglow.