A change is as good as a holiday

Hi all,

I have been playing around with my blog designs today and learning how it all works.

So you will notice a few differences.

It is not going to stay like this but I need to get back to my painting and sewing.

So there will be a few more changes happening until I get it right:)

Skye:)

Photo shoot #2

Hi all,

Starzia and I had another photo shoot, and we loved it!!!

We had so much fun and Starzia is such a natural model.

See what you think???!!!!

The first outfit is a stunning red and white top for those hot summer days, paired with a gorgeous pair of red shorts.

Starzia made the flower that she is holding in her hand.

Look at this model pose!!!!!

I painted the gorgeous butterfly on her face and she added the jewels:)

A smilie and happy model!!!

I love this photo!!!!!!!!!

A close up showing the red and white ribbon of this halter top.

A serious pose!!!

Then we had a flower girl photo shoot showing off our stunning fairy dress design.

This photo shows the lovely black flower and ribbon detail!!

I absolutely love the headband and I think it sets off the whole 'look" of this piece.

This shows the back of the dress. The ribbon looks great flying behind her as she walks down the steps.

And to add to the flower girl image Starzia carried a sprig of flowers:)

Such a lovely dress on a beautiful girl.

We have so many more designs and exciting clothing to show so please come back and visit:)

And we can't wait for more fun and laughs on our 3rd photo shoot!!!

Skye and Starz :)

Perth and back

Hi all,

Well Starzia and I are home again after a flying trip to Perth and back!!!!

While we were there Starzia and I went down to Cottesloe beach to look at the Sculptures by the Sea and go for a much needed swim!!!!

This is Starzia with her trendy sunglasses on!!!!!

This was one sculpture that was people hand-standing and balancing on chairs. Very cool!!!

Starzia said "Mommy this is like going to a gallery but outside at the beach!" She loved it. My budding little artist and art critic:)

And these were blankets in cubes set in the dunes.

Then beautiful white circles blowing in the breeze. Like white butterflies.

Then red plastic shoes in the dunes....leading the way and a lovely bright contrast to the green surrounding bushes/vegetation.!!!!

An stunning pods hanging in the trees. These were made of wire and the white parts are stones. Just gorgeous!!!!!

And we both loved these suspended balls!!!!!!

There was so much variety and so much to look at!! We just loved it.

Some sculptures were so hidden and part of the environment it was such a lovely surprise to "happen" upon them.

Others were gearing and brazen and stuck out, vivid and present in the environment!!!

I am so glad that we were able to see this wonderful display and recommend that if you haven't yet been....to go.

Stunning location, gorgeous idea and amazing works.

It is an afternoon by the sea side that I won't easily forget:)

Skye:) and Starz*

Photo shoot

Hi all,

Starzia and I have had so much fun together today.:)

I made her a gorgeous pair of pj pants, which I am going to sell through our business. These were a mock up pair which Starzia is very happy to keep!!!!!

Then we went outside to have a photo shoot!!!

Starzia was such a professional and I must say a natural model.

We decided to market our clothing range in nature and also use the trees and the model to show off the paintings. (Also part of our business)

We love our "look" and hope you do too.

Starzia says............

I enjoyed being a model and also being with my mom.

I love my new pants and they have a gorgeous flower and sequins on them.

When we were taking photo's it rained on us and made us laugh.

What made you laugh today???

Skye and Starz:)

Update

Hi all,

This is an update on my mother and child painting so far!!!

I am really liking it now.

Still a long way to go but I am enjoying myself:)

This is part of the whole.

Skye:)

Studio time

Hi all,

Well I have spent the past 2 days both cleaning up my studio space and painting!!

Sometimes it feels strange picking up a brush again when you have had some time between "paints".

You have to remember the skill and talent you have and believe in yourself and your chosen path!!!!!

Sometimes you have to paint your mistakes out too!!!!! I have done a bit of that lately.....repainting over quite a few dismal attempts at artwork!!!!!!

This is one of my dismal attempts!!!!!! She was supposed to be a pregnant African lady but rather looks like an Egyptian mess:(

To renew my faith in myself......

I wanted to have a go at doing a small painting quickly and see what happened......

This was my attempt!!

Ballet shoes.

I am still unsure whether to work on it some more or whether I quiet like the quick and "rough" aspect of this little painting. (Don't ask me how many paintings lie underneath!!!!!)

Then I have been inspired by David Bromley's work lately. Especially his figures and portraits of women's faces.

I decided that I just wanted to start a painting of figures, and I chose a mother and child and see how it developed as I did it. I wanted it to be slightly abstract and use colour differently to how I normally do.

This is my progress so far.................

There are quite a few technical errors....especially with the child's leg. I think that the angel of the leg is wrong. I still need to work on this. But I do like the rest of the child's body and my use of colour.

I am not sure whether to keep the similar colours in the skirt yet either????

Here is a close up.

I am also not quiet sure of the mother's face....

Proportion might be wrong and she seems very angular!!!!!

Still need to work on her too.

I am also thinking that my next step might be to include some oranges and yellows into the piece.

I am just interested in where it will go and if I can pull it through so that it is a piece of artwork that works and is captivating....or whether it will be another one that bites the dust and is destined for repainting!!!!!

I have also been very inspired by trees lately (as you probably already know).

I have had another painting that has been on my wall that I have been trying to figure out how to resurrect.

Here is my process so far......

I haven't finished the tree yet and am undecided at how to progress with the leaves???? Maybe circles???? Only time will tell.

Its strange I have had my confidence rocked a little bit yesterday...so today I wanted to do things differently and see if I could create a masterpiece in a day...or part of one anyway!!!!

Too much pressure on myself me thinks!!!! Maybe? maybe not?

When I look back on the artworks I have shared in this blog post they all seem so completely different. None jump out as being amazing!!!

Maybe my lesson learnt today is that I need to keep practising and find my rock solid belief in myself again and keep on my creative path.

Or maybe I need serious help and need to do a painting course???!!!!!!

If I don't laugh I will cry!!:)

Still so much to do and I have an hour left until school pick up!!!! So back to the paint and the brush for me:)

Skye:)

The creative swing

Hi all,

Wow what a busy time it has been!!!!!!

With Christmas, holidays, Starzia's 5th birthday and party, my 40th birthday and dinner and dinner and party!!! (Yes it has been an extended celebration)

Life has been both full and wonderful.

I actually got to see my gorgeous twin sister too, for one night, to celebrate our birthday together. She spoilt Starzia with presents, just as much as she spoilt me.

Here is a photo of Starzia with her new Indian headband from her aunt.

And this is Starzia being an indian brave:)

We have also recently had my mother and my older sister stay for a week with us in our magic hideaway!!!! They also stayed for my 40th birthday party celebration as well. It was just gorgeous having them there!!!!

Starzia decided, one morning, to give them a little Princess fashion parade. She pretended that she was on the catwalk!!! A model in the making:)

Look at that face:) So gorgeous and loveable!!!!

Now the house is back to just the 2 of us and it is time to get into the creative swing of things, once again.

I have recently found out that I am accepted into the 30x30x30 Challenge. It is a fundraising project for the Montessori school in Perth.

30 artists doing 30 works in 30 days!!!!!! Very exciting.

Here is an excert..

"In November 2011 we put the call out to artists and art groups to challenge themselves to complete 30 artworks in 30 days. 900 artworks to be exhibited together and offered for sale. It was an ambitious fundraising project for the new art building at our School. The artists and the school would work together and share the profits. It was a unique concept and had never been tried before in Western Australia. How many would take up the challenge was the great unknown.

On the 20th January we celebrated when our 30th application was received. The event would go ahead. Yay! But we had no idea of what was in store. By the close of registrations, just two weeks later, we had 93 applications from over 150 artists."

I will keep you posted as this challenge progresses. If you click on the link I am behind curtain number 2:)

This year is going to be full of fun, challenge and creativity.

I have so many goals and aspirations that will hopefully come to fruition:) I will share them with you as I make my way down my todo list:)

Exciting times ahead:)

This is a painting I did a while ago and I still love it.

It is called Freedom Flight.

The freedom to fly off on your own, creating your own path, doing what you love and believing in yourself. No matter what others think it is about being brave and taking risks. Living and flying your own journey.

It seems very appropriate at the moment and I wanted to share it with you:)

Skye and Starz:)