Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Sewing Sisterhood Easter Challenge & a FREEBIE!

Yes another one, how freaking generous am I!

Here's my submission for The Sewing Sister Easter Challenge! Don't forget you can play along too! Just head over to the TSS blog and find out how!


It's a FREE printable set, which includes cake bunting and cupcake toppers perfect to use for your Easter entertaining!


If you use them I would love to see pics of them in action!

Tonight it's Eastside Crafters which I can't wait for, have been hanging out this month, it seems such a long time between catch ups! If you're interested joining us your more than welcome! We meet at the Lilydale Lake Community Room, 435 Swansea Road, Lilydale (Lilydale Lake) 7.45pm - 9.45pm, $5, bring something yummy to share if you feel like and and bring something to create of come for a coffee and a chat!.

Till next time...

Monday, February 27, 2012

What's all this hula-a-baloo about? A Pinterest post...


I've been hearing lot's of scuttle-butt about Pinterest of late. A lot of it is centred around the issue of copyright (an ongoing and ever present beast in the handmade/ creative world).

Lets just begin with I ♥ Pinterest! I think it's the best thing since sliced bread!. I see it as a way to bookmark things visually as opposed to just bookmarking the URL on your web browser.

Many creative peeps are feeling as thought their work can be misrepresented if an item has been pinned incorrectly on someones Pinterest account.

If you don't know but want to know what Pinterest is and how it works check out the help section over on Pinterest.

The problem from what I can tell, people..

a) don't wish to have things on their blog (etc) "pinned" without their express wishes
b) want to be credited when a pin is made from their blog (etc)
c) wants a correct link through to their blog, instead of only pinning an image associated with their blog post.

The way I see it once you put something on the interwebs you've basically given up ownership of the item. It might not seem fair as me as a designer can understand how much work is put into something for someone to come along and either claim it as their own or copy cat it.

One of the easiest ways of preventing someone using you're photo say put a water mark on it. You can either go traditional photography style watermark, which covers the most crucial part of the image, preventing the image to be reproduced but allowing the viewer to 'see' the image or have a more discrete watermark on the side. This is 'prettier' but is easily cropped out.

It doesn't seem fair but it's a part of the world we live in, and in all honesty, stealing, copy catting, has been happening for many a year, yes even before the invention of the internet. The reason Pinterest has been dragged into this debate is a little confusing to me, is it because it's the site of the moment? I'm sure people have been doing the good old copy and paste shuffle of images, at least with Pinterest (most of the time) the original website/blog is able to be referenced (if an item has been pinned correctly.)

My tip as a "pinner".

Only pin from the actual page, don't view the image on a separate page and pin as it doesn't allow you to link back to the blog. If you do come across an "image only" pin you can track back to the site from which it came by going to the URL address bar, and deleting the address from the right to left until you reach the first .com part of the address.

Play nice, if everyone does their part, the world will be a better place * cue rainbows and bunnies*.

Summing up, don't stop pinning, just use Pinterest responsibly. Be respectful of other artists and creative peeps, do unto others as you would have done to you.

I will leave you with this posted on Pinterest last week from the Link with love blog.

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It seem's there is a way to stop people pinning from you're site, check out this blog to find out how.

If you're interested in reading more about this issue, you can find articles here, here, here. (I haven't read any of these articles, it's just what I've found looking around.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue.

Till next time...


Friday, February 24, 2012

Freebie Alert!


I just thought I would start off the weekend with a wee freebie.



Feel free to use as many as you like! They are free for personal use only. If you use them for something I would love to see them in action!

Enjoy...


What I'm listening too...


I can't get enough of this man....

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Can you guess who this hunk-o-spunk is? If you guess Wally De Backer you'd be correct! Huh, wait, who? You may also know him as Gotye, you know, someone I used to know, geometic man hehe.









GORG!




What are you listening to at the mo?


Till next time.


xg

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

It's beginning to look A LOT like.... Easter!?!?!

I seem to have been bitten by the easter bunny, well I not really but I did actually get bitten by my pet rabbit, once, and on the boob! bloody hurt too!!

Nothing says the Christmas season is over more than heading to the shops on boxing day and seeing the shelves filled with Easter eggs, bakeries churning out hot crossed buns at a dizzying rate, and a certain white furry creature featuring more and more in advertising etc. I'm not religious so Easter holds no real meaning for me other than chocolate (which I'm not a HUGE fan of) and fruit laces bread.

So I wanted to "get in the mood" so to speak so have decided to create some Easter themed graphics, am planning on having them as freebies in the coming week along with some other cute eastery treats (of the non edible kind).

I'll show you an example in a moment but before I do I want to tell you about the easter challenge that's been set over on The Sewing Sisterhood blog!

Here's a bit from the blog:

The first theme is EASTER and you can make anything you like. It can be sewn or crafted, it can be baked or decorated. It can be digital craft or traditional craft. It can be a kids craft or activity! It can be anything CREATIVE you like, as long as it fits the them! Challenge yourself and try something new, or try out a new technique or material. - The Sewing Sisterhood Blog

You get get all the dets over on the blog and while you're there you should check out all the talented "sisters" who contribute!

So who's up for the challenge? I am!

Now back to my eastery goodness, here's a little taste of what's going to be on offer in the coming weeks.



These are greeting cars, cute, no?
Till next time..



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Ball Jars

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I first heard (and saw) about these beautiful things a few years back on the Martha Stewart show, and instantly fell in love with them. Not sure what it was that got me, perhaps their rounded corners, the vintage feel, oh and don't get me started on the blue tinted jars! TDF!
(Check out the Martha segment here.)

I remember seeing in movies set in the south (in the US) where they would drink their "Moonshine" from jars, I just loved that idea realising later that they were ball jars!

Ball Mason Jars's intended purpose is for canning to preserve food. It was invented and patented by John Landis Mason in 1858 hence "Mason" Jar's, Ball which they are also known as is from the early manufacturer of the jars.

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In recent years they've become popular in the DIY world, being used as anything from a hand soap/lotion dispenser to light fixtures! Seeing all the gorgeous things people have done with them have always made me super jealous as we don't have them here in Australia, yes I could get them sent from the US but I don't want to even think how much that would cost not to mention the risk of them being broken (or lost) in transit. So I just had to admire from afar, hoping one day I would have a jar of my very own! Well today was the day when my jar dreams came true! I did a google search for Ball Jars Australia and low and behold there is a website who imports and sell Mason Jars! OMG! I almost died. I was like a kid in a candy store, if of course the candy store was full of glass canning jars... And to top it all of it's in a suburb near me and you can go in and buy from the factory. AMAZEBALLS (wink wink).

If you're interested in checking out or purchasing some jars of your very own check out The Redback Trading Company. They have a mail order service but you have to purchase larger quantities but you can also head in and check out the jarry goodness in person where you can also purchase smaller quantities or pick up you're online order. A tip on the site is to give them a call if you were thinking of coming down as they might not be there but are happy to arrange a mutually convenient time.

My very first ball jar purchase is to be a soap/lotion dispenser, cute and functional (loves it!)

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For inspiration for what can be done with Mason Jars check out pinterest, there are heaps of great ideas!

Here are some of my favs...

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Do you love these jars of glass as much as I? Do you have any in you're collection? I would love to see them!

Till next time...


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

What inspires you?

What do you use as inspiration? Is there an aesthetic you are drawn to? Do you use it in you're creations, home decoration, way of life?

Me, I love all things from the 50's! I love the fashion, the cars, the home decor, atomic design is my favourite! I love it when others share my loves.

Take the cartoon Willa's Wildlife! I am in love with this cartoons look! All created by artist Adrian Thatcher

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I would love a home to look EXACTLY like this!!!

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I love the illustrations in this gorgeous little golden book, they were created by artist Mary Blair, who also created illustrations for Walt Disney classics, such as Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella and Peter Pan, and many other productions. 

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Another avenue of inspiration for me is work by the artist Mark Ryden. While his work can be seen as sometimes morbid, I just love it. I like the cartoon less than life like features.

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I could seriously keep adding "my favourite"!

What inspires you? I would love to know.

Till next time...


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

First Days...


Well yesterday was the first day of the rest of my life! I started at RMIT yesterday morning, and what a long day it was! Up at 6.30 (which is way way way way before I usually get up), out the door and on the road by 7.30. I got there with about 5 minutes to spare (I started at 9am, yes it took an hr and a half to get from Lilydale to Brunswick!). Had an hr lecture then 3 hours of drawing, some lunch and then off to an tut in the arvo, got to leave early which I was grateful for as I was so darn tired! I could have happily curled up in the back sleep for a wee nap but no I had to drive home, waaaahhhh. Today I've got a day off (to recover) then back to it tomorrow, which is going to be one hell of a long day! 8.30am start and a 6.30pm finish. Thankfully it's only for four weeks until my most hated of subject, OHS finishes. I was so buggered when I got home I crashed for a few hours, couldn't keep the peepers open 1 minute longer!

Here's a pic of the 'quad' I took yesterday, which is useful as I missed the #febphotoaday challenge (10am).


Here's yesterday's #febphotoaday also... (dinner)


Please excuse the quality of the image, it was getting dark. For those playing at home it was a delish pork roast.

Till next time....



Saturday, February 4, 2012

| #febphotoaday | day 3| hands | Handwriting meme

OK so I'm a day late but here is day 3rd #febphotoaday!

Please excuse the following...

*Out of focus
* Unimaginative shot
*Dusty Glass

For those playing at home this is my sons hand taken at 7 weeks 4 days old ♥.

No onto other things, I saw on Meet Me At Mikes blog today a very cool idea, a handwriting meme.
For those who don't know what a meme is read this.

All you have to do is answer the following questions and write them down (old school style), scan or take a pic of your list and blog! Also don't forget to tag other bloggers to share the love!

1. What is your name

2. Blog URL

3.Write: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

4. Favourite quote

5. Favourite song (at the moment)

6. Favourite band / singers (at the moment)

7. Say anything you want

8. Tag 3-5 bloggers


and....GO!

So here's my submission handwriting meme.


Jodie, Nic and Jane, it's your turn!

I'm off back to school shopping today! WOOHOO!

Till next time...



Friday, February 3, 2012

| #febphotoaday | Day 2 | Words | & more


==========
In other news I had my orientation for school yesterday! One step closer to starting my new life! Classes start 9am Monday morning! My first class is a lecture, Analyse use of colour in textiles. SQUEEEEEEEE!
Then after that I have 3 hours of, Apply techniques to produce Drawing, and then Textile Design influences. OMG Can't wait! Oooh and I get to buy lot's of awesome stationary and pencils (heaven!).

I'm also working on some new design jobs for my business Atomic Gracie. Do you notice something different from the last time I spoke about this? Well as it turns out Atomic Betty is also the name of a popular (I'd never heard of it) cartoon, so to avoid future copyright issues I reluctantly changed the name to Atomic Gracie. (Gracie is special for me as it's my daughters (who we lost when she was 3 days old) middle name (Grace). I've also started a FB page where you can be kept up to date with all the AG goings on! So go on, like away! :D

Till next time....



Wednesday, February 1, 2012

#febphotoaday | day 1 | Your view today |


Working on my business cards!

It's not too late to play along!

Off to Uni orientation tomorrow! Can't wait. Still waiting for my birth certificate which is a PITA but still I can't wait!!!

Till next time....



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