2009 is almost here!

With only a month to go until the new year, its time for a new calendar! There are so many gorgeous calendars out there.. below are a few of my favourite. Here is also one from Mibo Lighting and Homewares - you just have to sign up to their mailing list, and receive a free PDF. Free Calendar

Today I "Heart"...

Thought I would start sharing some of my 'hearts'. Todays heart is the cute stick people of Stick Nymph by Jade Dominique.

Visit Stick Nymph at Etsy

DeannaMaree

Well I finally made time to do up a logo.. I've been signing my paintings with this symbol for a while (all the ones I've done since I've been married), so thought I should draft it up in Illustrator. So here it is.. It took me a long time to think of, its not just a butterfly - can you see my initials? DMP.. The D is the butterflies body, the M is its wings, and the P is the antennae.

Inspiration Book

On my desk in my studio sits a very important book.. Its an A3 display book filled with cutouts, sketches.. all kinds of bits and pieces that I have collected over the last months. Whenever I have a blank canvas, and feel right out of inspiration I flick this book open and every time without fail I find something that will stir my imagination again. I believe it is the most important book an artist can own - its like a visual journal, and over time you will see how your creative process has evolved. Here are a few snippets from mine..

Another one off the easel!

Well here's my latest - the photo is shocking, was a very overcast day today.. really bad lighting everywhere in the house. I have the actual painting sitting beside me, the photo is nothing like it. I had trouble finishing this one.. didn't like it until right at the end I think.. when I stood back and somehow it just grew on me. Now I can't stop looking at it.. reminds me of a lazy summers day at the dam.. dragonflys hovering about with no real agenda. Still not sure if I'm finished it, haven't signed it yet.. will see what I think tomorrow - hopefully the sun is out so I can see the colours properly, take a clear photo and put it up for sale! Oh - and a title.. any suggestions?

I ran out of time to post anything yesterday, and here's why. Yesterday I had a DIY moment - a moment that lasted nearly the whole day. I began by assembling this wooden table, I then undercoated it grey before painting it a gorgeous shade of red. It is sitting down in the garage looking lovely and smelling horrible while waiting for another coat of paint this afternoon. Originally it was going to be a new table for our office.. but I think it might just suit my studio better.. :o)

Make a Quilt

One of the things I would like to achieve in life, is something that scares me quite a lot. I would like to make a Quilt. Maybe it doesn't sound that big of a deal, but as somebody much more comfortable with a paintbrush than a sewing machine, I can assure you the thought of it stresses me out. Last week a book arrived in the mail from my mum. It is titled "Crazy Shortcut Quilts". Upon reading a little of this book I decided to go and purchase some quilting essentials. I thought I knew roughly what I needed.. All I can say is that I am so glad my husband was involuntarily there in the middle of Spotlight with me, and that with him was his mathematically wired brain complete with amazing practical problem solving capabilities.. Who would've thought it could be so complicated? So I think I am nearly ready to go, still playing around with fabrics and I have a painting to get off the easel, paint to put right away before I get the sewing machine out. My quilt may not necessarily end up like the ones in the book. I'm sure it will be crazy, there will be many shortcuts.. but hopefully in the end it will be quilt-like enough to cross 'Make a Quilt' off my list!

Well we are back home after a nice couple of days away. I was very impressed with some of the beautiful scenery, the old houses and the cute shops on the way through the mountains. I was looking forward to getting my camera out on the way home yesterday, however.. yesterday turned out to be a horrible day - dark, rainy and windy. It was even snowing in some parts, and there wasn't much visability.. so a little disappointed that photos weren't really an option! I did brave the cold briefly though, (very under dressed for the conditions) to take some macro shots of the snow on little wildflowers. I was shivering uncontrollably, but luckily a couple turned out. I thought these four photos summed up the weekend quite well. We experienced four seasons all within 24 hours, it was amazing.. and there were plenty of things that may end up on a canvas one day soon!

Just a quick one today, we are leaving soon.. heading south for a wedding tomorrow. Naturally, I've been thinking of weddings today, because at the last wedding I attended, I was bride! Not so long ago, I received the hardcopy of our wedding album I designed from Momento. Thought I would post a few pages from it!

Tomorrow we will be in a place known as "Australia's Colour City" - Orange. We might stay a night or two and explore the area.. old gold mining villages, a lake, a mountain.. maybe we will even visit one of the three 18 hole golf courses for a round of golf! I'm looking forward to it and will be sure to take my sketch book and camera.

Empowering Aprons

I love my apron. Whenever I feel less than motivated in my kitchen, or unkept and daggy in my often paint spattered clothes, i slip it over my head. I instantly feel beautiful, feminine and empowered. Instead of feeling bound to housewife duties.. cooking, baking, cleaning.. i feel free. And with that freedom comes an overwhelming desire to fill the house with the delicious smells of something that I usually couldn't be bothered with! I can't wait to make one of these aprons. Maybe in some gorgeous Amy Butler colours.. But first I need to practice binding.. because on this little number, there is lots! As promised, here is a link to a gorgeous pattern by Susan Branch. Apron Pattern

Make sure you share it with me if you make one!

I absolutely adore this french cut style of apron! They are so gorgeous, and flattering! Later I will post a link to a site where you can download a pattern for them. I own a beautiful handmade one that was given to me, and I love it.. I wear it nearly every day, and I just love the way it makes me feel. Prepared for anything! I will post a photo of mine later as well. Next step is sewing one myself!

Fresh off the Easel!

Well this is my latest creation. This piece has been an experiment with a whole new style. I've painted it as a wedding present for some of our friends, the wedding is on Friday. I thought about it lots, because art is a tricky present, as it is something personal.

I wanted to paint in appropriate colours - Red roses are the ultimate symbol of romantic love and enduring passion. Yellow roses symbolize friendship and caring, and are also appropriate for sending congratulations to newlyweds.

I hope they like it!

Starting at the Bottom

I am standing at the bottom of a tall, skinny ladder that reaches far into the clouds - I don't know where the end of it is, I can't see it.. all I know is that I'm at the bottom, looking up. I have my paintbrush with me, thing is I'm not really sure where I'm going with it.. I can only see a few rungs ahead most of the time, it is often cloudy up there. So I mightn't know where I am going, but I do know why I am here. I'm here because I like to create. I have to create. I need to create. And I'm here because I want to share my creations, and the things that inspire me. I love Etsy (www.etsy.com), and I have been inspired again by many creative people on Etsy. Some who have managed to quit their day job to follow their heart and become full time Etsians. See, I have done the same thing.. quit my 'real' job, and picked up my paintbrush. I'm just not sure where my heart is taking me. I'm still not sure if it was one of my best ideas, but time will tell I guess. It seems like it has taken me a long time to reach this place, but at last I can proudly scratch 'open an online shop' right off of my bucket list!