The Art of Jordan | Art ~ Design ~ Style

Photo Challenge

2012-01-06T17:41:00.000+11:00

I'm a mad keen Instagram devotee. I noticed straight after new year that a few of the people I'm following were posting images with the hashtag #janphotoaday. Intrigued, I did some investigating and it didn't take long to discover the rules over on www.fatmumslim.com.au. It's become quite the phenomenon!

I'm usually hopeless at these 'something a day' challenges. But this one has been quite easy and I find myself planning ahead what I'm going to photograph. You can follow my progress over here or follow me on Instagram (theartofjordan).

From Seed to Plate Grow Your Own Food Workshop

2011-11-10T20:15:00.000+11:00

I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow. - David Hobson

Last night I attended another City of Sydney Green Village workshop - learning how to grow your own fruit and veggies in small city spaces. Most of it I already know to some degree, but I learnt one or two new things.

The basics of growing your own food comes down a couple of key things - where your garden is and what you like to eat. With a bit of research you can find out if your favorite veggies will grow in the conditions of your garden. Generally though, you can grow just about anything with a little creative thinking.

Look around your patio or balcony and assess your available space. Can you hang planter pots over the edge of the balcony? Can you make use of a wall to grow up? As you already know, I've got an old pallet up against a wall which I hang old tin cans from - which I grow a variety of herbs in. I've also used two hanging pots to plant some veggies and strawberries.

One of the main things I took away from the workshop is that you can throw just about any plants together in a box/container and as long as the soil is good your plants will grow happily. In fact, a variety of plants provides natural diversity to your garden, which will make happier plants and also keep pests at bay. Marigold flowers are also great for attracting the good bugs - they'll eat the baddies.

I took some perpetual spinach, common mint and strawberry plants and put them all together in a hanging planter that was hanging around the garden. I'm excited to see how they go all together. I also layered my bigger pots with mulch, and will add some worm castings once that's going properly (sorry there was no how-to post on that one, it was set up for me before I took pics, woops!). But I'm super excited to see that my first tiny little tomato has started to grow - woohoo! I did it!

To make sure your soil is in good condition - make sure you layer it with some compost and mulch. You can grab a bag of compost from the hardware store or nursery, but better still use castings from your worm farm (definitely worth investing in!). Layer it with some lucerne or sugar cane mulch, check the moisture and keep an eye out for caterpillars/aphids. That's basically it!

I took heaps of notes which I'll be using later to write a proper How-to down the track. Lots of things happening in theartofjordan right now that it's hard to keep up with the detailed blog posts. Bear with me people, there are exciting times ahead!

iWish Wednesdays

2011-11-09T22:49:00.001+11:00

Source: weheartit.com via Jordan on Pinterest

Some of the things I'm lusting after in the lead up to summer - rockabilly inspired. Checkered shirt, bustier tops, head scarves, cats eye sunglasses, capri jeans, assorted shoes.

Time to hit up the vintage and second-hand stores!

As a Worm to a Toad...

2011-10-25T16:21:00.001+11:00

"Edible - good to eat and wholesome to digest, as a worm to a toad, a toad to a snake, a snake to a pig, a pig to a man, and a man to a worm." - Ambrose Bierce

I've had quite the productive morning! First up was the Composting and Worm Farming Workshop at Waterloo Library, held by the City of Sydney's Green Village Workshops. It was a great introduction to the basic principles of composting and worm farming and how to incorporate that into your every day. And we all got to take a compost bin or worm farm home with us at the end. I took lots of notes, so I'll post a simplified How-To later on, along with photos of me setting up my worm farm!

Since it was at the library, I also took the opportunity to join up finally. And then grabbed myself a swag of gardening books. Some of the best books were already nabbed by other workshop attendees, but I'm sure I'll work my way through them all eventually. For now, I'm going to flick through:

Growing Food in Small Gardens by Barbara Segall - which is divided up into Garden Layouts, Container growing, Vegetables, Fruit and Garden Plans. There's also a section on garden bugs which I am particularly interested in (I found more little green caterpillars today!)
Pippa's Organic Kitchen Garden by Pippa Greenwood - lots of photos and illustrations and I would expect from a Dorling Kindersley (DK) publication!
Growing a Garden City by Jeremy N. Smith - a look at all the different people growing gardens in the city, should be very interesting.

I'm moving house this weekend, so the worm farm won't be assembled till next week sometime. I also need to get hold of some worms too!

In the meantime, take a look at this video from Oxfam International Youth Partnerships (OIYP). It's about the current global food market - but what makes it more interesting than usual is it's summary of good initiatives already taking place and how you can contribute. So keep up the good work shopping at your local Farmer Market's, riding your bike and supporting new eco-ethical initiatives!

The 4R's Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2011-10-23T15:09:00.000+11:00

It's not hard to be green. Really it isn't. And we don't even have to be fully fledged swinging from the trees hippy green to be making a difference. You may already have heard of the 3Things movement. It's brilliant. Their whole ethos is that everyone can make a difference, even if they only do 3 things differently. I've still got some bad habits, but I've made some tremendous changes too.

I started by making small changes some time ago. The more I change, the more I learn. And the more I find out, the more frequently my attitudes to earlier changes are altered. For example, I started consciously recycling a long time ago. Most people do now, which is great. But recently I've learned that recycling is really your last port of call.

Recycling still requires a huge expenditure of energy to break materials down in order to be reused. So I started reusing things that I would normally recycle. Tins cans have become herbs pots, water bottle tops are now bells jars over seedlings. But then my 'reuse' box began to overflow. Just how many tin cans and plastic bottles was I going through?

Which let me to the 4R philosophy - Refuse, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. If you look at things you are using everyday and work backwards, there is usually a solution further down the 4R line that you could be adopting. So, your daily coffee addiction. How many plastic coffee cups do you use? Do you go to a cafe that uses recyclable cardboard cups - great, that's better. You can then throw that in with the recycling. But you can do better. Buy a reusable coffee cup (like a KeepCup), take it with you! Not only is it reducing waste, but you get to make a style statement while you're at it. The same goes with reusable water bottles.

So what else is there? Loads. All those tin cans I was munching through? Well, I can buy beans and legumes dry and in bulk. They can be stored in big cloth bags (in a large plastic box to keep bugs out!). Whenever I plan to cook with them, I just pop what I need into water in a glass jar and let them soak till they're ready for use. So I'll be going further back down the line from recycling my tins, to reusing them as herb pots, to now reducing my consumption of tin cans by buying in bulk and using glass jars and fabric bags etc.

Refuse? That would be all those little plastic bags you accumulate at the supermarkets for your fruit and veggies. Go to the greengrocer or farmers markets, take a cloth bag or basket with you - no need for plastic!

There are so many alternative and solutions that are not only great for the environment, but great for your bottom line too. It just takes a little more effort. And you can always get those tin cans for emergencies to recycle later. Nice.

Heaps more ideas here: The Zero Waste Home

Off to Market

2011-10-14T17:14:00.000+11:00

Here are some pics from the markets last night (before it got really dark and cold!). The Day of the Dead Skull and Virgin Mary stitchies weren't there for sale, but they'll be at market tomorrow in Redfern.

I'm going to try and load one or two more stools onto the bike tomorrow - I think people were a bit scared to reach into the back basket and pick anything up. Plus everything was a wee bit hidden there, so I'll lay them out on some stools tomorrow instead. Weather is touch and go for tomorrow so far, but it was forcast to rain this week and nothing really eventuated so it should be fine.

And maybe some flowers in the front basket? Yes! That will be pretty. See you there Sydney-siders!

Batten Down the Hatches

2011-10-11T19:34:00.000+11:00

...because it's getting crazy around here! As you can tell from the pics I'm in a mad production frenzy in preparation for my first ever market stalls. I'm s**ting my dacks only slightly. Some of the things I'm making are:

Ampersand Stitchies - a collection of ampersands. Hand-stitched onto upcycled fabrics. These look great in a small wooden embroidery hoop frame.
Day of the Dead Stitchies - skulls and Virgin Mary's. Digital collage printed onto calico and hand-stitched with fine thread. Also look beautiful in hoop frames.
theartofjordan Tarot Deck - Major Arcana Edtn. Hand packaging loads of these decks.

If you're in Sydney this week, then you can find me at these markets - be sure to come along and say hi and see all these goodies in real life. I'll be listing anything that's still available in my Etsy store next week, so if you're interstate or overseas you'll still be able to grab some things. [If there is anything that you really like which sells out you are very welcome to contact me and I can make one for you!]

I Heart Gallery - Pop Up Markets & Film Screening

RedWater Markets

Hope to see you all there!

New Shoots

2011-10-05T08:30:00.000+11:00

But if each man could have his own house, a large garden to cultivate and healthy surroundings - then, I thought, there will be for them a better opportunity of a happy family life. - George Cadbury

I'm starting to see new growth in my little veggie garden. The top right photo is the new Rocket shoots that popped up overnight - I sowed seeds in an old egg carton (bottom left).

One of my little strawberry plants is also sprouting a few green berries, which is so exciting considering there was only one red berry when I brought it home two weeks ago. Can't wait to get another hanging basket to re-plant it in - then I'll eventually have two hanging shrubs with strawberries tumbling over the side. How wonderful will that be in summer, outside with a glass of sangria, reaching up and picking a strawb?

The last pic is some new shoots growing from my Sage plant - hoping to see more of this with all of the herbs. Will definitely be getting more seedlings from the market to fill all the tin cans I've salvaged. Going to fill the entire top two rows of the pallet with herb cans! I'm thinking the bottom two rows of the pallet can be opened up and larger, with hessian sack lining. The larger size will be better for veggie plants like cucumbers, eggplant and tomatoes. But I'll wait and see how all the seeds go first!

theartofjordan Tarot Deck ~ Now in Stores!

2011-10-04T00:16:00.000+11:00

So my tarot cards are now stocked in brick and mortar stores! Which is great news if you're a native to Sydney or Newstead, Victoria. Each store has it's own customised display box, made from salvaged materials and things I had on hand (no waste here at the moment!). I'm so grateful to the ladies at these stores for taking my tarot cards on with such enthusiasm.

So if you're from Melbourne and find yourself on a day trip out Newstead way then pop into Gathering for some great hand crafted gifts (along with your tarot cards of course). And if you're strolling down King Street, Newtown in Sydney you might pop into I Heart Gallery for arty gifts, or Holly Chalmers boutique for some super cute Australian designed and made fashion. Find them at these addresses:

Gathering - 6A Panmure Street, Newstead VIC 3462
I Heart Gallery - 643 King Street, St Peters NSW
Holly Chalmers - 594 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042

Of course, if you're from elsewhere in Australia or overseas then you can buy a deck for yourself or a friend anytime at my Etsy store, or on my Facebook page. And it would be incredibly good if you did since I'm trying to feed myself on these cards and could do with some fresh veggies right now :-(

Happy shopping! xxx

Coming Up

2011-10-01T09:00:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I posted an article over at Design Federation wrapping up a Women in Business seminar I attended about two weeks ago. It's a pretty long and detailed post with all the advice and tips I gathered from the two guest speakers Jodie Fox of Shoes of Prey and Lucie Trinco of il Tutto. If you're a woman running your own small biz, or anyone really, head along and get some valuable insight.

I also planted some of my new seeds (yesterday's post), for which I am planning a little How-to post. My mother likes to say my green thumb is so bad I could kill plastic flowers, so all this gardening lately is my determination to really get a grip with the basics. So if you're like me and a total novice in the grow-your-own-food stakes, then you might be interested in following my progress over the next few weeks and months as seeing if it inspires you to have a go.

In that spirit of education and experimentation I'm planning to get my butt along to these awesome looking events and workshops over the coming weeks:

Street Fair of Cycling Goodness! - part of the Bicycle Film Festival Sydney, a lovely street fair launch for Sydney Rides Festival. Aside from all the lovely bike-related stalls, food and fun there is a bike-valet. That's right people, a bike-valet.

Free, Saturday 8th Oct in Taylor Square, 10am-4pm

The Clothing Exchange (Sydney) - a giant clothes swapping event, you exchange like for like for free. The only cost is your entry ticket.

$25, Monday 17th Oct at Opera Australia, Surry Hills.

Worm Farming Workshop - hosted by the City of Sydney. Going to learn about worm wee.

Free, register your place online. Various dates/locations.

(I'm heading to the Tuesday 25th Oct workshop at Waterloo Library.)

Seed to Plate: Grow Food in Small Spaces - another CoS workshop.

Free, register your place online. Various dates/locations.

(I'm heading to the Wednesday 9th Nov workshop at Green Square Library.)

The Vehicle of Poets

2011-09-30T14:35:00.001+10:00

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. - H. G. Wells

The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. - Christopher Morley

I love my bicycle. It was the best purchase I've made in recent times. I ordered mine on eBay almost a year ago, it came partly assembled and I just had to attach the last few things. I would have loved a vintage bike, but since they're all the rage these days they're exorbitantly priced. So I got a new look-alike, one season too old, and therefore within my limited budget. I also found a cheap basket to attach to the back, and now my poor bike has become my official pack horse.

I live near my studio space, so I ride up each day loaded to the max with all my bits and bobs - laptop, bag, jacket, packed lunch and quite often the cat in his carrier in the back basket. I have half a mind to get a bike trailer since I seem to lug around so much stuff all the time!

Today I rode up to Newtown and back, about a 6km round trip. I dropped into the Newtown Garden Market to pick up some herb seeds first. Since the weather is going to be rainy/thunderstorms for the next few days I'll probably miss out on the farmers markets I go to each Sunday. There is a stall selling herb and veggie seedlings for only $2! But since I'll be house-bound by the weather (perhaps indulging in DVDs and good book), I'm going to have a go at planting some of my own seeds. I'm squirreling away toilet rolls and egg cartons as we speak.

Then I rode a few metres down the road to Holly Chalmers shop on south King Street. Holly is my latest stockist for theartofjordan Tarot deck. I made a display for her shop using an old brushed white tin (salvaged from a Crabtree&Evelyn gift box). We decided to add a little sticker along the front the next time I'm in, but it looks pretty cute sitting on the counter so far.

I'm also chuffed that I received the Green Guide for Artists to go with my other new books (The Craft Inc. Business Planner and The Handmade Marketplace). So I'm off to make a cup of herbal tea, sit back in my crazy purple velvet chair and get stuck in to reading!

The Seeds You Plant

2011-09-29T08:30:00.000+10:00

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. - Robert Louis Stevenson

So I've started my little herb garden in my tiny courtyard. Here's how I've managed it:

I've salvaged tin cans from our kitchen and a pallet from my parents and then picked up some hooks and sheet metal screws from the hardware store (I'm hoping to find some old spoons in the op-shops - to bend into hooks), and screwed them into the cans.

No doubt a mini electric screwdriver would have been handy and easier, but that's an expense that I can't justify or afford right now. So I used a screw point to hammer a tiny hole into the steel, which maked it easier the turn the screw in by hand. I also did the same thing to punch drainage holes in the bottom of the cans. The hooks have two holes, which provides a sturdy attachment. All pretty easy if you've got sturdy hands! (I'm not sure how I'm going drill holes into old spoons, but I'm sure I could borrow an power drill somewhere.)

I also managed to find a little local garden shop within bike riding distance of my studio and home where I picked up some organic herb/veggie potting mix and a few more seedlings. It was just a matter of transferring the seedlings from their little pots into the new tin cans and hanging off the pallet. Voila!

I'm not sure if I am meant to water them straight away or not, so I'm playing it safe and checking beneath the top layer of soil each day. If it's dry then it gets a drink, otherwise I leave it. I also check for wilted/brown foliage and pick it off to encourage new growth. I've also positioned the pallet in the morning sun which I'm told is the best sunlight for plants. It's a lovely spot in the mornings to have a cuppa.

I'm inspired to get more cheap seedlings from the farmers markets this weekend and pot some more!

iWish Wednesdays

2011-09-28T08:30:00.000+10:00

Some of the things I'm lusting after this week. I flicked through these books really quickly in store today so I can't tell you much about them. But these are the ones that really piqued my interest:

The Little Veggie Patch Co. by Fabian Capomolla and Mat Pember - How to Grow Food in Small Spaces. Had some beautiful photography and great layout design, would be a joy to read.
The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking by Kate Payne - Decorating, Dining and the Gratifying Pleasures of Self-Sufficiency on a Budget. Printed in two colour which tends to make me zone out, but no doubt filled with gems of knowledge.
Sewing Basics by Sandra Bardwell - All you Need to Know About Machine and Hand Sewing. Aside from my obsession with gardening at the moment, sewing is my other big interest. I would love to get the basics down so I can start making my own clothes.
Sew Step by Step by Alison Smith. Another goodie - and I've always been a fan of DK book layouts.
Stitch Step by Step by Maggie Gordon and Ellie Vance. I already know a lot of stitches, but would love to see if there are any other tips and tricks I haven't heard of or tried as yet.
Lion Brooch - coming soon to Pigeonhole.
Bush Radio - looooooooooove.
KeepCup - for all those occasional guilty Chai Lattés I'm drooling over this reusable coffee cup (white cup with pale pink band, charcoal lid and magenta rotating cap).

Seeds of Change

2011-09-27T08:30:00.000+10:00

Dreams are the seeds of change. Nothing ever grows without a seed, and nothing ever changes without a dream. - Debby Boone.

Looking around the City of Sydney website's green section I found some interesting links to planter boxes. Aside from the links to ecoVert and Earthbox, it was their link to BEST that got me really interested. Their boxes are made from recycled polystyrene and related styrenic plastics - diverting these materials from landfill. Definitely the coolest!

All three products are great if you can afford them, especially if you're time poor and unable to make your own. But if you're on a low to non-existent budget then making your own might be the way to go. With the added bonus of salvaging materials and diverting them from landfill, you end up with an original, charm-filled version. All it takes is looking at how these systems work, seeing what you have around and how they can be repurposed.

I haven't made any of my own (as yet), so here are some of the best tutorials I've found around the web:

Vertical Vegetables - use an old hanging shoe organiser (by pippa5 on Instructables).
Pallet Garden - by Fern from Life on the Balcony.
Tin Can herbs - by the Hedgewitch UK.
Mason jar planters - Readymade.com.

What are some of the things you would make a garden out of?

The Eco-Twee Life

2011-09-26T08:30:00.000+10:00

Anyone who really knows me knows that I'm concerned about the environment. Granted I'm not the most clued in person, but I'm definitely concerned and do what I can. I use eco-friendly cleaning products at home, recycle and I've started seriously getting into reuse (which is perhaps more important that recycling!).

There are so many things to learn about this issue and how to integrate new practices into your everyday life, that I'm thinking of starting a new blog all about it. Some of the things I'd like to explore, experiment and learn about include:

Herb and Veggie gardening in small spaces (apartments and courtyards)
Eco-friendly cleaning products
Refashioning and sewing your own clothes + vintage/second-hand shopping
Bicycle maintenance 101
Car sharing and eco-friendly powered vehicles
and more...

Perhaps most importantly, I'm concerned with doing all these things on a budget and in small spaces. So I hope that other low-income inner-city urban dwellers like me will be inspired to make some changes to their lifestyle. Why? Aside from the obvious benefits to the local community now and into the future - it's born out of genuine need.

I'm a low-income earner, very low in fact. I live in a shared rental terrace in the inner-city with no front garden and a small, somewhat dingy, back courtyard (which is entirely paved). I'm (only just now) learning to drive (I'm 29. Just). So right now I ride a bike everywhere, walk and catch public transport - but when I can drive I want to hop on to car share bandwagon (and one day drive a vehicle powered by old chip oil or whatever). And so on...

My aim is to create a herb and veggie garden in our courtyard to supplement the fresh food we buy at the local farmers markets each weekend (yep, I cycle there). I'm trying to build it almost entirely out of salvaged materials (already have a cache of tin cans, plus a pallet left over from my parents place).

My friend, CK introduced me to the City of Sydney talks that are on right now. We're going to attend one on Wednesday about growing your our food in small spaces. Their website has a whole bunch of links and resources you can download, and I'm already signing up for some of their green workshops (worm farm anyone?). I'll be taking pics, writing notes and tweeting from events in the next few weeks - all in the hope to launch a new blog. I've also got another little idea attached to that, but I'll keep that to myself for the time being!

So what are some of the things you do now, or would like to start doing to live an eco, sustainable, low-cost and healthy lifestyle??

[IMAGES: Pics from my organic farmers markets travels - I love cycling over, filling up my bike baskets with fresh flowers, veggies and potted herbs.]

How Excitement

2011-09-21T17:16:00.000+10:00

I have some good news! Next week my tarot cards will be stocked by the wonderful Gathering space in Newstead, Victoria. Even more exciting for those of you living in Melbourne, Gathering will have a stall at the Royal Melbourne Show - and my tarot cards will be there alongside all the other fantastic little goodies Gathering will have on offer!

This will be the first time my cards are stocked in store - so I've been designing bits and pieces to make it super easy (and good looking) to set up and display. First up is a mini flyer with basic card meanings and a simple 3-card spread to get you started. Tomorrow's task is the display box - using salvaged materials to make it as eco-friendly as possible.

If you've already got one of my Tarot decks and would like the little flyer to print out and keep then just flick me an email (jordanATtheartofjordanDOTcom) and I'll send you the PDF pronto. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for photo updates of the handmade packaging. Exciteballs!

On Sabbatical

2011-09-19T15:06:00.000+10:00

Some of the things I've been up to in recent weeks while I take some time out from life.

Riding my vintage style bike Ice Maiden to the organic food markets on Sundays, picking up fresh flowers, fruit and veggies.
Enjoying dappled sunshine on a picnic blanket under the trees with Poe.
Cat-sitting my parents cat Broomhilda along with Poe (eventful).
Slowly gathering new seedlings for my new herb garden (using an old pallet leftover from renovations at my parents).
And perhaps most notably - going platinum blonde!

I'm working on a new business idea also - involving blogging, how-tos, eco and ethical craft - that's all I can tell you right now. Life can get the better of you and it's good to take the time out and refocus your priorities, get healthy, enjoy the small things...

Have you seen my clean new website? I've also started a tumblr blog for more design related things, including pics of each tarot card, and some basic info on each. I'm also updating my bookshelf here on the blog with what I'm currently reading, watching and listening to - along with my all time firm favorites. Plus I'm posting pics and things to Twitter, Instagram (search for theartofjordan) and Foursquare quite reguarly, so you can get bite-sized updates from me there also. And who would I be without a Pinterest account too?

Lots of things on the horizon, but mostly secret right now. Stick around my friends, it's going to get mighty exciting :-)

DIY Deamon

2011-07-31T00:12:00.000+10:00

Oh yes. That's going to be me very soon. In fact, I've already started. Lately I've been mixing up dough and baking fresh bread at home. There's nothing quite like a fresh loaf, warm out of the oven with a bit of butter. And even better with a homemade herbal brew - like sage and peppermint tea. Which has all lead me down the path of DIY herbology and aromatherapy...

Over the past few weeks I've been picking up fresh herbs when I see them in the fruit shop and gradually stockpiling some other ingredients. Slowly building up the bits and pieces needed to make my own herbal teas and incense. In my (new) room I've got an old fireplace, which is the perfect spot for making incense and drying herbs. I've got lavender, mint, sage, thyme and rosemary hanging from twine with mini wooden pegs over the fireplace. I've been hording all the leftover glass jars from the kitchen and storing my dried rose buds, cedar tips, resins, citrus fruit peels and cinnamon sticks. It's all very twee and gyspy I must say.

Today I made my first incense. I really loved the idea of combining resins and dried herbs together in a pestle and mortar - the hands-on thing is more up my alley than pouring essential oils. But I was a little hesitant in one respect because I find incense so heavy and dusty. However! I have learnt that homemade loose incense is lighter and fresher than store bought! Most commercial incenses use a combustible (like charcoal) so that the cones/sticks continue burning by themselves. Hence the acrid smell. Loose incense requires slow heating, so I just put a little into a left over tea light cup and pop that on the top of my oil burner.

My first blend is a warm and cosy mix, with just a hint of spring. Perfect for this time of year as we start to see warmer days ahead:

Cedar (tips, dried)
Frankincense (resin)
Cinnamon (sticks, dried)
Orange Peel (dried)
Pine (resin)
Rosebuds (dried)

All of which has sparked off the DIY switch in my brain. Now I know what I'll do with all those magazines left at home! Throw them into a pile on top of a block of wood, plop a cute rectangular cushion on top and wrap it all up with some old belts. Voila, a side table that doubles as a comfy stool. The other side of the bed will get a classic pile of books with a lamp on top.

Outside I'll be using two old wooden pallets left over at my parent's place to make a herb garden and outdoor bench. Throw some large (lockable) castor wheels on the bottom of one, a large outdoor cushion on top, with blankets and cushions for comfort. Much better than the two fold up plastic chairs out there at the moment. I am envisioning lazy summer afternoons sipping sangrias.

I thought originally to make the herb garden within the pallet like I've seen elsewhere. But considering the sun moves around lot, and different herbs need different sun/water/temperatures, it will be easier if it's all flexible and changeable. So I'm thinking some Ikea mini steel tubs, hanging from hooks on the other pallet (leaning against the wall). So the herbs sensitive to the cold can be easily brought inside for winter, and those that need lots of sun can be moved wherever the sun is hitting.

All I need now is to take some decent photos of my own to prove I've done it. (Actually, the photo of the bread was me.) Stay tuned...

A Change in the Air

2011-07-11T18:27:00.001+10:00

I don't know about you, but I haven't stopped thinking about work since I started 5 to 6 years ago. Most of the time I am either doing work (creative and administrative) or trying to generate more work. All day, everyday, weekends included. And it's been about that long since I had a holiday. Weekends away included. So I think it's high time I took a breather and disconnected that part of my brain.

For the next 2-3 months I'm going to put the design and illustration biz on the backburner and do lots of other healthy, normal things. Like learning to drive before I hit 30 (only two years away). There will be lots of other things going on in my personal life that perhaps my family would prefer I didn't post all over the internet (no doubt I will later on anyway).

But it won't be all sleep-ins till lunchtime and the DVD store on speed dial. No no, in true Virgo style I've already started a list. A schedule. A game plan. If I had to chose to do only one thing in the world it would be illustration. I have pencils, pens, paints, paper, silk screens and other goodies galore, and it's about time I got to use them regularly. I'm writing a big long list of things I want to try, experiment and practice.

Which will no doubt influence my next little task - Make Something Cool Everyday. A project that has had legs on the internet since 2006 from what I can gather (although the original brainchild of this initiative is still a mystery to me...). Much like the 365 Projects on Flickr - all you have to do is make something, anything (preferably cool) each and every day. Easy. Well, probably not. Keep an eye on my twitter account and I'm sure there will be diatribes of 140 characters against this whimsical idea before too long. I'll need a theme or word etc to kickstart my brain each day...perhaps I'll blindly point into a dictionary Dada style?

Hell, while I'm at it, why don't I do 365 as well? It will give me a reason to wear something other than trackies and slippers each day. And brush my hair. I did something in the same vein some time ago, Daily Booth. It was quite fun. So yes, let's add that to the list too.

And while I'm at it, I'm going to start on the new suit of cards for the Tarot Deck.

How to Ride in Style in Winter

2011-06-10T17:11:00.000+10:00

...or, how I'm really not at the moment. In my (older) age I'm feeling the cold more, and the thought of riding my bike in winter is not totally appealing. The drop on temperature has revealed a startling lack of proper winter clothes in my wardrobe - I've got nothing but cotton. I'm wearing my flatmates woolly jumper today (thanks Dave) and I understand now why wool is great for winter.

I've also been piling on the layers I do own - appropriate for riding a bike - but definitely not good looking. I look like I've crawled out of my wardrobe backwards most days.

"Hmm...leggings are more comfortable to ride in than jeans. Ok, no tops long enough to wear with leggings. Don't want to look like one of those girls who wears leggings as pants...ah! I'll throw a jersey mini over them. Right, only singlets and t-shirts...ok, here's a clean cardigan. Hmm, still cold. Better thrown on the chunky scarf and bulky coat. Shoes? Hmm only have converse sneakers, no socks. Oh well. Might wear that beanie from Nepal, bit colourful and silly looking, but heck it's warm against the wind..."

Yup. That's my daily dialogue. It's quite a hideous result. It's time to get serious about this and save my dignity. Inspired by my flatmates warm wool jumper, I have been pondering appropriate warm clothing. I have also been inspired by a random stumble across style icon Catherine Baba and her bicycling style. So this is what I'm thinking:

Leggings - yes, we will stick with the leggings. One, they are cheap and easy to come by. Two, they are warmer than tights. Now, provided you have the appropriate top-half garment, you really can't go wrong with leggings.
Tunic tops - the longer line is flattering with leggings. It's just so bloody difficult finding ones that don't have handkerchief hems and racer backs. For the love of god, someone find me a regular, fitted (as in tailored) tee style.
Dresses - failing that, you can always go the dress option. Lots of pretty vintage numbers out there. Perhaps better with tights than leggings, I'd say. In which case, thicker tights are the way to go.
Flat shoes - Ok, Baba wears heels, but I'm too clumsy for that sort of caper. Simple ballet flats (or sneakers, outfit depending) or warm and toasty boots.
Wool - Fine, light wool (i.e. cashmere, angora/mohair) keeps you warm without the bulkiness of your usual woolen garments. Pricey, but a sound investment. It's also breathable and great for bike riding.
Tailored coat - Made for womanly curves rather than potato sacks. Wool for warmth. Back split so it's easy to hop on your bike.

That all looks quite nice. Now, to eBay!

Original Art Merry-go-Round

2011-05-26T15:17:00.000+10:00

The new website is aaaalmost ready to go live, but the good news is my new Etsy shoppe is sneakily open early. It still doesn't have a banner yet (don't want to give it all away just yet!), but it's being filled with some original artworks already, along with the popular tarot cards.

It would be super to sell these pieces in the next week or two - and raise some much needed revenue for rent and bills (yep, the poor starving artist routine). Of course, we're not all made of money, and can't buy lovely artworks as often as we would like. But it would be supercalifragilistic if you could tweet, like and spread the word among family and friends!

Check it out! ~ shoppe ~

Mindless Musings: 25th May

2011-05-25T15:01:00.000+10:00

Going through one of those down cycles at the moment. I've been fighting it - trying to stay positive. But like my flatmate said, I should just let it out and it will all pass. It's frustrating to go round in circles, never feeling like I make an progress. Which isn't true, I've come a bloody long way recently. But I'm only human, and sometimes life just gets the better of you.

Part of my down cycles are characterised by a lack on money. Now, money doesn't make me happy, but it does allow me to get things done and live my life the way that makes me happy. There are so many things I could achieve if only... But that's the nature of building your own business. It's stressful and hard work. But if you stick with it long enough it pays off - and I'm getting there!

Right now, my life would be made easier by a few things:

A new battery for my laptop. I burnt out my original one and haven't replaced it since. So I've had to drag a power cord everywhere I go, which is starting to wear thin on my patience. A new battery would allow me to move around the house without hunting for available power sockets. Plus I tend to pack it in with whatever I'm doing because I can't move and continue elsewhere.
New bedsheets. All my sheets are falling apart and looking very holey (and not in a pious way). Ikea do some nice combed cotton sheets for quite cheap - which would fit perfectly on the Ikea mattress I've got.
Jumpers and Coat. I'd really love a nice, fitted, blue coat - maybe velvet. Something that isn't black and will keep me toasty warm against the cold wind. I could also use a heap of woolly jumpers to keep me warm - my cardigans just aren't going the distance between laundry days.
Some nice flat shoes. I've got a lot of beautiful heels. I love them all. But now that I have a bike, which I need to ride everyday, I should really have some practical ballet flats. And not cheap shop ones which last 3 months tops either. Some proper, classic investment shoes.
Pet basket. I've improvised a pet basket on the back of my bike, which Poe rides in. But it doesn't stand up to the weather that well, and is a little on the small side for his carrier. Plus it's secured with jockey straps and cable ties which are only just effective. I'm starting to see the virtues of a proper basket (with wire top), which can handle the rough and tumble, and pop Poe in without fuss. That would make mornings a lot less stressful.
iMac. My little laptop has seen me through a lot. But I think the time has come to invest in a desktop - a huge screen to work on (saves zooming in, out, in, out...), and it can't come home with me. So I might actually be able to leave work at work and relax at home like I should.
Health insurance. No matter how good we are at brushing out teeth and flossing, if you can't go to the dentist once a year for a check up and clean - then you're facing trouble down the track. Like a root canal and crown...and no money to pay the huge dental fees. Like me.

That's my whinge for the week. Maybe in some broader universal karmic way those things will manifest in my bank account sometime soon just by writing it all down.

So, what would make your life easier?

Life Lately

2011-04-24T23:45:00.000+10:00

So I've been really slack with the blogging - I've started so many posts and got the shits and left it. I suppose it's a good reflection that my workload has increased that I don't have the time or patience to write posts like I used to. I'm hoping to remedy that by not being such a perfectionist - like this post for example...

The image above is a collage of things that reflect what's been happening in my life lately. Usually I would agonize over the images so they reflected exactly the things I was talking about. In the end, it doesn't matter, no one cares that much. So I threw together the closest vague thing I could find.

So. My life lately...I've finally found a sharehouse and moved in. It's an old Victorian terrace not far from my studio. I've got a small room so I've had to get creative with my furniture and belongings to give the illusion of space. The room has a really cute fireplace, which I'm going to fill with candles during winter. I also treated myself to some Sukin natural body products and some Vanilla home fragrance. So it's a tranquil and cosy little spot to come home to.

I've been getting the hang of my vintage style bike, adding a basket to the back and putting the poor thing to work as a packhorse. I'm thinking I might need some side pannier bags as well now that I carry my kitten Poe in the basket on the back (he comes to the studio with me!).

I also picked up a funky plum coloured armchair for my studio so I can sit and do my stitching. I'm slowly decorating the place in rich, colourful patterns and textures - so far only with cushions. But I've got dreams to wallpaper over the hideous lime green paint and try to pick up a snazzy vintage footstool.

Of course I've been busy working on various illustrations - like my teapot for This Little Teapot, a group show at Paper Plane Gallery in Rozelle. Plus the latest poster for the Finders Keepers Sydney markets coming up in May. And of course, selling a few tarot decks and trying to finalize what I want to do with the packaging. If you were interested in getting a deck of your own just email me for a paypal invoice.

Ok - so no promises but I'm hoping to be writing here more often. Over and out.

What to Do With a Damaged Heart

2011-02-19T22:54:00.000+11:00

The other night I went to see Passenger play at The Annandale here in Sydney. I'd never heard his music before, let alone know who he was. Passenger's performance opened a Pandora's box of memories, regrets and emotions inside me which I thought I had a handle on. I'm a sucker for good lyrics, and Passenger's songs are full to bursting with profound and succinct turns of phrase.

It brought back to the forefront of my mind the disheartening state of dating and relationships in this city. I've been single for over a year now. I've met new people and made new friends, yet there is one recurrent observation I've made. Everyone has baggage. And not just run-of-the-mill kind of baggage, but self-inflicted freight trains. I really can't get over it. I know so many people who have come out of long term relationships and just can't seem to pick up the pieces of their lives.

Still in love with their ex's...or can't decide if they want them back or not...dabbling in 'casual' relationships and wishing it was someone else...

When will people realise they are still young with long lives ahead of them - this is a new beginning - it's exciting and filled with promise and potential. Sure we will carry scars from our past relationships with us, but we get to choose whether we are disfigured by them.

Whatever happened to falling in love again?

Everyday Dancers

2011-02-16T22:50:00.000+11:00

My friend, the wonderfully talented Christine Jane, started a little group over on Facebook the other day. It's called Everyday Dancers and it's aim is to get you dancing and letting loose everyday. No fancy moves, costumes and sets required. All you need is a camera on your computer, some silly props if you desire and 5 minutes of your time.

To celebrate Valentine's Day and being awesome single ladies, we organised to dance like loonies to Message of Love by The Pretenders. After a few ciders, pulling on bunny ears, cat masks, heart-shaped sunnies and feather boas we got cracking. We did it all in one take and uploaded it as it was. Even my kitten Poe got in on the action! (Little tip, turn the sound up at the end when the music fades to hear Christine doing a brilliant impression of Gollum...)