Cleaning, Clearing Out

With the onset of Spring and the sun beginning to shine it always makes me feel like getting things in order and decluttering. I've been blessed with a few hours to myself and have been spending them in the studio, not creating, but organising. My head feels clearer the more tasks I complete and I feel like I am making space not only for better storage of possessions, but making space for new opportunities, inspiration and creation to enter my life.

My small pieces of fabric, wool & wash tape storage.

I had a lunch break today eating food and devouring images of organising on Pinterest. (Man I love Pinterest. Do you follow me there?)

Decluttering info entered my life again recently when I listened to this podcast:
The Up For A Chat girls talking about Decluttering

It was a few weeks ago when I listened to it, but I loved the decluttering story from Cyndi O'Meara and how after she did it it brought new opportunities into her life.

I like to think of it as the universe only has so much for you, and you clear some stuff away then something else has space to enter you life, whether that's a new opportunity, venture, person...

I also read about this phenomenon in The Magic Art of Tidying Up. (Have you read this best selling book? I have started utilising her methods in other areas of my home too..)

So I will keep going with my cleaning & clearing and see what magic it can bring into my life.

I love to store items in tins, baskets, wooden crates or the like rather than plastic. I still have some plastic tubs, and I used to have a lot more, but when I come across a prettier item for the task the plastic gets demoted. 

There were a couple of really daggy magazine holders there on the shelf too, So I covered them with pretty paper :)

Another example of housing tools in containers other than plastic.

I also had some peg board installed in my studio. The thought here being when I'm working on a series I can hang them all up to see if they're all working together in a cohesive manner. 

I recently also had a bigger and better inboard installed. My light box for taking product photos has also moved off my desk and has it's own allocated space.

So there you have it. Far from finished,  but I feel good about progress I've made so far. My studio and headspace already feels lighter.

Jules.

My Creative Home Update & Cubby House!

I have officially declared Fridays to be my house day! Cleaning, and/or decorating. I quickly tired of vacuuming today (it's not finished) and decided to start getting into doing some stuff around the house. There is so much I want to do in this place, but I have not allocated any time for it. When the kids are not at home I'm focussing on folio/ illustration pieces, jewellery or private commissions. Then outside of that is looking after kids, cooking, cleaning and all the other junk that goes with life. 

I realised I hadn't actually allocated any time at all for doing the millions of things I want to do in the house, like sew cushions & curtains, paint walls, wallpaper, stick pretty bits of paper onto things, make light shades, make frames, rearrange stuff, declutter, etc, etc. Delegating these tasks is not an option because A. I am fussy. B. I want unique items for my home which usually mean quirky, handmade and expensive. & C. I can't find the things I want!! (Up your game Australia, we are so freaking boring and safe here! You just have to go and have a look at Anthropologie's homewares to see what I'm talking about. FFS.) 

So, today I decided to give the mural in the kids room another layer of paint. This is where I'm up to with this project.

And while I'm talking about colouring up the house, did you see the kids cubby that we finished not too long ago? We are super proud, and the kids love playing in it.

A thrifted light shade got a really quick makeover with bits of fabric and an upcycled necklace. I wasn't too concerned of the finish of this so basically I just got lazy and cut fabric to fit and glued them over the existing fabric. Sing song voice: Cheating!

We added a panel of wood offcuts to one of the outside walls that we all made as a family. Although this sounds lovely in theory, overly eager impatient children and outdoor wood glue don't really combine to produce a relaxing activity.

The painted panel was created by the girls with help from two of their friends.

I just love colour, texture, and pattern in my home. I just want to add a crazy amount of stuff to my house. Stuff minimalism! My recent source of inspiration and motivation to get going again with the home decorating is this book, Crafting A Colorful Home by Kristin Nicholas. You can read more about this book through that link, but I'll just quickly say that it's pretty good! I love reading about her homes story, and the thinking behind the projects she's completed in her own home. It is inspirational and has lovely photos for my eyes to gobble up. I borrowed this copy from our local library, which I usually try to do before purchasing a book to see if it's purchase worthy. Purchase worthy? Tick! 

So thanks for a lovely book Kristin, and I'll keep tinkering away on my colourful home, as it's a never-finished project and also my biggest art project of all time.

(I wonder what my husband will think of the 5 different multicoloured carpet idea I have for the stairs..?)

Jules :)

Freebie- Laundry Signs

Who doesn't love a freebie!? And organisation.. and getting kids to help out with the household chores!?

In an attempt to make chores fun for my kids I decided to label our laundry baskets. So I thought, why not come up with a cute illustrated sign that I could share with other Mums (or Dads for that matter), or even people with no offspring that just want to pretty up their laundry baskets? :)

Talking about Dads, the husband-guy who lives in this house could do with a bit of visual prompting to get his clothes into the right baskets... but I shall not elaborate on that here today...

Here are the signs, made with good old fashioned drawing and new fashioned photoshop (download links will be at the end of this post):

Go ahead and print your downloads out on whatever type of paper floats your boat. I used some heavyweight matte photo paper on a standard home printer. Cut those babies out, then decide how you are going to give them some longevity. I covered them- all crappily I might add- with some packing tape: Poor man's laminating! (Use what you have.) You may have a laminator. Or you may want to just blu-tack them to the walls or even pop them in cute frames. Again, whatever floats your boat.

I punched some holes in the edges and tied them to our laundry baskets with string. 

Now it's the kids turn to do the next step. And the, ahem... husband.

Enjoy.

Download the 'Darks' sign here.

Download the 'Lights' sign here.

(This is the first time I have offered a 'download' for a while. I'd be so appreciative if you could let me know if the links work!)

Jules :)

Gobbling Up Goodness..

..With my eyes! Books that look so good I could eat them!

I have been doing a fair bit of research lately on Children's Picture Books. And I love this area of illustration so much that I am just awe struck when I come across beautiful new books. It's a tricky area of illustration to crack into, which is why I feel truly blessed that I've been there before.

I have just ordered Oddfellow's Orphanage by the extremely talented Emily Winfield Martin. This is not a picture book but junior fiction, which has come out at the right time for my Miss 6 1/2 to read. She is becoming a regular book worm at night reading by the light of her bedside table lamp. This one's for her. She tells me "Mum, you like 'weird' don't you?" Yes, my love, I do. And she's following in her mother's footsteps. She's very creative and already sees things from an artists' perspective.

I love illustrations that are textured and have depth through they way they are rendered, such as with these two books. Oh, I'm sure "The Little Gardener" will be the next one that pops up on my credit card statement! Both published by Flying Eye Books. (Some really awesome books published there.)

And Elsa Mora has illustrated The Water And The Wild. (Also junior fiction.) I've been following this artist ever since way back when she first opened her Etsy shop. Lovely to see some of her work gracing this book cover.

Another of my favourite artists has illustrated her first book Sonya's Chickens. Her illustrations are so beautiful to look at. She has the right balance of elements that come together to make stunning pictures. This might just have to be ordered at the same time as "The Little Gardener"! 

So after feasting my eyes on lots of delicious new books as part of some inspiration for illustration work; I just had to share. 

Now I'll leave you with an image of a painting I was working on during last nights Art Jam session. Untitled as yet.

Catch you soon :)

Recently Discovered Art That Inspires Me

The internet is amazing for searching for new art that I love, and I have recently come across three artists that have just blown my mind. I am so inspired by these ladies to really get into 3D work. I'd love to dive right in now, but my time constraints at the moment might hold that off for a little longer. (Boo! Who cares, maybe I'll just start!?)

I can spend hours pinning art and looking at art online, so it's always surprising when I discover new art that I really love that I've never seen before. And also, with the highly saturated amount of work online, the art's really got to be good to stand out from the crowd.

Funnily enough these artists are Australian. It must be something about our unique quirkiness that has spawned these fabulous artists. You know there's a weird sense of humour that goes on here..!

I love both of these artists for their use of a wide range of materials and skills. The cramming of lots of bits and pieces into one creation to make a coherent artwork. We have so much 'stuff' & clutter in our lives today; but I feel these works are a celebration of that. I get excited by these pieces, I am awe inspired by the amount of work gone into them. I love their weirdness.

One day I hope to see some of them in real life.

The first artist is Kate Rohde. Her resin work and attention to detail is amazing.

The second are two artists working together: Pip & Pop. These pictures are from their exhibition "We Miss You Magic Land!" They make me laugh and gasp, and they seem to look like work that has come from being in a toy-shop-candy coma. I love that I can see cheap materials in there; like squishy foam and sand that kids would play with, plastic beads, and pipe cleaners. There are pipe cleaners in there aren't there!? LOVE.

And now that my inspiration bucket is full (it's overflowing), I have a kid free day and I am going to immerse myself in creativity of some sort. And totally ignore the messy house, that can always wait, right?

Much inspiration to you!

Jules.

Finding Space

Some time today was set aside for finishing my latest painting. When I started this painting I was in one of those manic states (that I happen to get into sometimes- in an arty way) where creativity was overflowing and I just had to paint. Even though I was tired and really should've gone to bed! The motion of the pastel, paint and brushes were quick and flowing. No thought was needed to begin- it just happened. Coffee fuelled hurried work! Just get that canvas covered damn it!

A few more sessions and the momentum of the actual act of painting changed. Sometimes it was slow and careful. Contemplative. Thoughtful. 

Ebb & flow.

My last session today was the most fun. I have been personally wondering many a thing about my life recently.. where I'm going with my work, what choices am I going to make for our future. Wondering about what's important and what the heck are we all doing anyway. What does it all mean!? I flipped a podcast on to my computer and something fell into place. It was "Up For a Chat" Episode 28: 'Am I Really Making a Difference?' The ladies on the podcast do a bit of soul searching and supporting of each other mentally as they ask some questions about life, talk about being human, being busy, tired, dealing with people, and trying to make sense of it all. (I am loving this podcast by the way- it feels like sitting around with like-minded friends.)

The meaning of a painting just comes out sometimes. Intentionally?

I picked up a notebook and wrote: "Finding Space..." with the intention of writing down a description of the piece I was working on. Then I felt I didn't need to write it down. There were so many directions that sentence-starter could have gone; and my pen couldn't keep up with the words as they raced along in my mind. So.. I decided it didn't matter. "Finding Space." Life.. work.. children... I think one can look at this and be aware of the contrast in their own lives and remember to seek out that space. Or just observe. The ebb & flow.

Finding Space. Acrylic & Pastel 19 1/2 x 23 1/2"

Catch Up & 2015 Manifesto

Gah! Poor old neglected blog! Oops..

Catch up:

I am currently enjoying a bit of down time during the summer school holidays. I have a few jobs nagging me to complete; but I am taking my time with them and slowing down to spend time with my children (who are currently placed in front of the tv!), to cook proper meals with love, and to float around the house dreaming of projects and slowly chipping away at old ones.

My teeth healing diet (see this post) came to a grinding halt with the acquisition of a lovely bout of pneumonia. Sarcasm implied. I am now awaiting a dentist appointment to fill my cavity the conventional way; but in the future I will continue to employ some of the protocols I learned whilst on the diet to try and prevent any future teeth issues.

I got a reminder of what the important things in life are when my precious Miss 6 acquired the pneumonia too. We managed to treat her naturally successfully and got her through the worst of it. With only a cough left, I succumbed to the doctors scary stories and begun her on antibiotics. My nerves could take it no longer! I am just thankful for all to be going well so far and am enjoying our return to health.

We have been out of action for a while!

I finally picked up the paint brushes last night for my regular Art Jam session with my friend. What a good feeling that was- even if I do feel a little out of practise!

And, floating around in my mind is the promise that another year of work, general home life, and routine is about to begin. To kick start my motivation & preparation I have decided to get involved with Jess Van Den's 30 Day Question challenge to help set me on the right course for the beginning of the working year. Question #5 is What will your business and life look like this time next year? (I will catch up with the other questions during the remainder of the month.)

So, here is my little visual manifesto. 

I will be healthy! I will do yoga regularly! My aim is to keep minimising grains, sugar and alcohol, whilst still enjoying life and finding scrumptious, filling, visually pleasing recipes for food. I need to boost my immune system! I felt a bit ripped off being healthy and getting pneumonia. BUT, perhaps I would've been in hospital on intravenous antibiotics if my system had've been a bit weaker? Whatever, I know I'm on the right path for me :) And I was out of action a few times in 2014 due to back issues, but yoga helps keep me strong and is great for prevention.

Family is the most important thing! Especially my gorgeous children who are the centre of my universe. We will have smiling faces and full souls at the end of 2015! Lots of effort and concentration will be on the people I love this year. Not much else really matters.

Paint! Paint! Paint! Less jewellery and more artwork. Stretched canvasses, big pots of colourful paint pots, stained clothes and finished works. I'm excited.

Craft! Items, art and sculptures will ooze out of my brain and manifest themselves into reality! How wonderful it is to create something that never existed before.

I will have grown. In confidence (hoping to feel even more comfortable in my own skin- I'm getting there!), in maturity, personally, and creatively. Yay!

I will have made new connections online and in real life with like minded, creative souls. Back before children I had a pretty good online network of people with similar styles to my own, and with my return to the art world I'm finding some old friends and new one's returning. It's exciting. 

I'm looking forward to a great year.