New Art Print: Just be You

I have a new art print available in the shop.

This painting was created as part of the MATS illustration course I did. You can read about the process and see progress shots here.

A bit of wall decor... Example of "Just be You" framed 8 x 8"

It's such a simple yet inspirational and empowering quote. So many of us need a reminder that we don't need to try to be something else than our own unique, quirky and weird selves.

Just be you! Because everyone else is taken... :)

So from one shy person who at times can be riddled with insecurities, I'm finding this artwork is just as good a reminder to myself. 

I really enjoy my own company but am still learning how to completely own myself and be ok with who I am out in the wide world. I'm getting there slowly, the more I age :) 

I hope you like it!

You can find two sizes of this print here in the shop.

Jules :)

Wall Art Tips + A Temple & Webster Giveaway

Hello! I'm chatting home decorating on the blog again today; specifically wall art, plus I have a giveaway at the end of this post from Australian online homewares store Temple & Webster. Yay!

...and I cannot lie

I love art on my walls. Or just stuff, really. Stuff everywhere on my walls. Here, more is more. But I know people usually don't go as crazy as I do ;)

See what I mean? Crazy :)

I've been thinking lately about BIG ART on walls. It just makes such an impact and quickly completes a space. I've been trying to go larger with my paintings, which helps me loosen up a bit as it's just a whole new way of working. The detail is spread out and therefore you can see more brush strokes and paint marks. If you can get your hands on some big art, do it. Big art looks ace.

I really think wall art is just any type of decoration that can adorn your walls to make them more interesting. You can think outside the box and hang anything you like. Here are some ideas:

-Tickets or postcards taped with a bit of washi tape (we love washi tape here)
-A dress on a vintage coat hanger
-A plate collection
-Fancy tea towels
-An interesting hat
-An old paint palette
-A rug
-Patterned fabric stretched over canvasses
-Kids art
-Bunting

Click here for more ideas from Temple & Webster's wall art category.

Hang a plate collection up. Here we have a mix of a kids painted plate, a ceramic trivet, designer plates and cheaper target plates. Mix n match! (Or don't match, I think that's better)

I like shelves in all shapes and sizes that you attach directly to a wall to place lots of little decoratives or collections in. Clusters of similar objects work nicely. I'm a big fan of using kids art on my walls, they are the ultimate abstract artists! Don't forget wallpaper too as an awesome way to dress up your walls.

I don't think you need to spend lots of money decorating walls either. It's just a matter of thinking creatively about what you can do with what's affordable, or what you already have.

So anything that sparks your interest really can become wall art. I keep an open mind when browsing around shops or thrift stores, the purpose an item was originally made for doesn't mean it only has one destiny.

I scoured the Temple&Webster store and picked out a few finds that I would totally hang on my walls.

Aiyana feather dream catcher, camaroon headdress, casa uno leaf wall decor, ibiza costa hand- tufted multi rug. All from Temple & Webster. I saw a rug recently as a bed header in a home decorating book- such an awesome idea.

"Las Cotorras" Wall Art

"Agua" Wall Art

I'm loving these paintings I found there. The colours and all those spots of paint which add detail and contrast in shape to the looser brush strokes and shapes in the background. Yum. They make me want to start painting right now.

I think of my walls as big blank canvasses. And they're slowly being filled up. What will I do when they're all full!? Rearrange I guess :)

I love little shelves or shadow boxes filled with collections. My girls & I found this one at a local op shop and we covered the insides with scrap book paper and used a heap of buttons for the edges. (Now I have no small buttons in my collection..)

Bunting, kids art & crafts look great as wall decor

I have been asked how I hang everything. We own this house we live in and I'm not precious about the walls so bang, bang, bang.. in go the nails & hangers. But if you're renting or just not so brave I would have to recommend anything from the 3M range of removable hooks and tapes. They are not totally guaranteed not to remove any wall paint when you're done, but I've had great success with them whilst decorating my walls. (We keep our paint wall colours in jars for quick touch ups.)

I hope I've inspired you a bit when it comes to wall art & decorating your spaces.

Now for the giveaway!

Update: This competition has closed and winner has been announced

Temple & Webster are offering a $50 voucher to give to one of my readers. Just leave a comment on this post with what kind of wall art you love. In two weeks time I will draw a winner which will be on Wednesday 19th July 2017.

Please put your email address in with your comment so I can contact you if you win. Like this: jennywindow (at) fancymail (dot) com (to avoid spambots finding your email address).

Entry is open to residents within Australia.

Jules :)

Colourful Wish List

Well hello, creative people :)

*This post may contain affiliate links (see bottom of post for explanation).

Here's my colourful wish list for the moment. So colour addicted. :)

A little while back I mentioned Lyra pencils as a great brand of coloured pencil for intense colour; but I've recently tried out Prismacolor pencils and am investing in a set. I'm not saying these are better, I'd have to get my hands on a set of Lyra and do a comparison, but then again that would be just my opinion anyway, and other creatives have their own preferences for how an art material should perform. Then I'm sure there are other great brands of pencils to get me all even more confused!

This rug, but in runner form for my stairs. It's flat woven, so am not sure if it will hold up to lots of traffic. It's the perfect blend of being colourful but not too crazy and over the top to please the more conservative people in my life ;) Found via Temple & Webster.

I am so digging these vintage tea towel cushions by Morgan Wills. They are so creative and quirky. I could probably get sucked down a rabbit hole on that website too! Note to self: don't go there, you got work to do!

And whilst I'm on the subject of cushions here's one from Nathalie Lete. I faint with all the amazing stuff that she does.

Also, just yes please. Via Vivadecora. No explanation needed.

And perhaps a wall full of colourful needlework via les-miniatures.blogspot.com Swoon!

These crazy good concrete planters from Emma McDowall.

And I cannot do a colourful wish list without including something from Anthropologie. I'll have these reusable mugs thanks! I am an obsessed tea drinker; all kinds. Tastes better in a pretty cup, if you ask me. Also, I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to awesome tea cups, did you know? :)

I have the feeling like I've eaten too much chocolate cake now. So good but I'm hurting...

Jules :)

*Affiliate Information: Affliliate links help me earn small commissions on products (at no extra cost to you), which helps support my love of blogging and sharing creative things. I only ever recommend or link to products that I'm genuinely into.

New Handmade Statement Necklaces

I have just listed some new modern handmade 'Cloud Necklaces' my Etsy shop.

Bold, statement necklaces :)

They are each cut from polymer clay, then hand painted with acrylic paints. 

Each necklace pendant has a durable satin finish that is baked on, that protects the painted surface from damage. They are then sewn onto with metallic thread, cotton cord and feature an asymmetrically placed pom pom.

Each pendant is unique, which is the beauty of handmade.

I hope you liked looking at my new range of necklaces. Available in the shop now!

Jules :)

New Modern Style Brooches/ Pins in The Shop

Hello!

I have some new brooches/ pins that have just hit the (virtual) shelves!

They are handmade from polymer clay, hand- formed, hand painted, unique, arty, and bold.

Each brooch is rolled out from the clay, then I carve each one out in the flower shape that I am currently obsessed with. I am not sure when I will be done with this flower shape. It appears in lots of art & paintings that I do.

I then add some texture and bake.

Each is hand painted just as I would a painting; individually and each has no plan when they are started. I just get a 'feel' for a certain colour and just start painting away, adding more colour and texture as I go. It's quite intuitive and I stop when I feel no more urge to add any more colour anywhere and when I feel it is finished.

I think they make quite a statement and would suit someone with a love of colour and creativity.

You can find a range of these brooches in this modern flower range now in the shop.

Jules :)

Craft Tutorial: Decorative Mosaic Heart Wall Hanging

Yay, a new DIY craft project! I was super happy with how this idea came out and hope you love it too!

Materials you'll need:

-Air dry clay

-A variety of beads including seed beads, and other decorative items to mosaic; you could use buttons, tiles, gemstones... see what your stash holds or your local craft store

-Acrylic Paint 

-Decorative Papers with small designs

-Gloss sealer/ medium (only if you're not using Mod Podge)

-Tacky Craft Glue; I use a non toxic glue called "super-tac glue". It's similar to PVA but dries a bit faster holding bigger objects like for this tutorial

-Embroidery thread in your chosen colours

-Tassel

-Mod Podge (Optional)

Other useful items: cutting mat, fine/ embroidery scissors, needle & thread, clay tools, scalpel or similar

Note: You make your "love" tile from a printed image so it looks a little different than the tile in the above photo. But still awesome!

Instructions:

Download the template here and print out at a high quality at 100% size. Cut the heart template out. Take some air dry clay and roll out to approx 5mm thickness (3/16") on your cutting mat. Place your heart template onto the clay and cut around. Smooth edges with a clay tool or your fingers. Poke a hole for hanging in the top and bottom of the heart shape with a pointy clay tool. 

Next, we are going to make some of the mosaic "tiles" with your decorative papers.

Roll out some more clay to around 4mm (3/16") thickness. Cut out little squares/ rectangles/ triangles/ odd shapes the sizes you would like your tiles. Make around half a dozen for one heart. Make a longer piece 4.5cm x 1.5cm (1 13/16 x 9/16") that you will glue the "love" type image onto. Smooth the edges and make sure they are flat. Leave the heart shape and the tiles for around 24 hours or until dry.

Now make up the tiles:

Cut out little pieces of paper slightly larger than the shapes and paste the back with Mod Podge or PVA- type glue. Press onto the shapes firmly and leave for a minute or so. Trim around the edges with some fine scissors. Paint the fronts of your "tiles" with the mod podge or gloss sealer, and paint the edges with coloured acrylic paint. Make the 'love' tile in the same way.

Take some acrylic paints and paint the heart all over, front and back. I used some bright green with touches of yellow and turquoise on this one.

I also made some polymer mosaic shapes for my heart, but you can use the paper tiles and other decorative pieces for your heart. Note: I am creating a tutorial on how to make the polymer clay tiles that will be available in the near future.

Testing out some pieces on a heart (this one features a polymer clay love tile); looking good!

We are going to put a rim of tacky glue around one side of the heart, string some beads onto some thread and start gluing them down. I chose beads that would fit onto a normal sewing needle. Keep stringing beads and gluing them down until you frame the whole outside of the heart.

Now, cover the whole inside of the heart with your tacky glue, and place your mosaic components on to your liking, leaving gaps between the decorative elements.

Once you have all the larger pieces in place, sprinkle seed beads into all the left over gaps. Careful when you are gluing and placing your pieces not to cover the two holes in the heart. Once the glue has dried sufficiently you can shake off the excess seed beads.

Thread some embroidery thread onto a needle and sew a tassel and some beads onto the bottom of the heart. I looped through the heart a few times as I liked the look of thicker cotton at the bottom. 

I looped and tied some silver thread for the top hanger, then sewed that on after I had sewed into the top of the heart and threaded some beads on.

You are done! Hang & enjoy!

I made a range of the hanging hearts that are now available in my Etsy shop. So if you'd love one made by me, head on over there to check them all out.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and please let me know if you try it out, I'd love to see your creation!

Jules :)