Shop update - new cards

Watermelon Card Set


Watermelon card
Cake card



Thank you card

I have added a few new cards to the shop! The watermelon cards and cake cards come in sets of 5.
All available in the shop now.

Changes

I have recently moved to the city from my hometown in the country. Our town was not too small, and the suburb I live in now reminds me very much of Orange. Aside from the big obvious differences, there are lots of little things that are almost novel to us now, although I'm sure we will be used to them soon enough. I'm almost used to the big jumbo jets taking off nearby and flying overhead. And the banana trees, yuccas, frangipanis, bougainvillea and other seemingly exotic plants that don't survive the Orange frosts.

There is a wonderful mix of nationalities living side by side, and I don't think we will ever tire of all the different restaurants. One thing I cannot get used to is the enormous Sydney cockroaches. They crawl all over the exterior of the building at night and, I presume, all over the inside while we are asleep. I've been fastidious about cleaning and food hygiene to the point of obsession so we've managed to keep them at bay so far, meaning we only see one inside every couple of days.
Our new home is a little unit in a small complex. We have been pleasantly surprised with the friendliness of our new neighbours, as well as the larger community. People here have stopped to introduce themselves and say hello, they stop their cars to let you cross the street and give a wave if you let them into traffic. I was not expecting that people living in the suburbs of Sydney would be friendlier than some of those in the country.
In Orange, my parents have a wonderful leafy garden and I worked at a lovely little nursery. I have found that I am missing being surrounded by plants all the time. I'm an anxious person a lot of the time and being around nature soothes me.
My parents have brought some of my pot plants from home and we now have a little balcony garden going on. We have parsley, basil, thyme, spring onions, oregano and peppermint as well as spinach, rocket and strawberries. Also a few succulents from home and a couple more that I have propogated from small cuttings found here and there - not stolen, I promise. I also have some cress and alfalfa sprouts growing on the kitchen windowsill.
I've collected some chilli seeds from this seasons harvest, and hopefully I will get some seedlings which will turn into strong plants next season. I did this a couple of years ago and they did really well.
I know it's way too early to be planning summer crops but I'm looking forward to warmer weather when I can grow tomatoes on my little balcony, and I hope to try snow peas or beans also.

I've been binge reading Rohan Andersons beautiful blog Whole Larder Love, and dreaming of a little house with a huge vegie garden in the country. For now I will make do with my tiny balcony garden.

Country Style Homes book illustration

Front cover photography by Lisa Cohen, styling by Tessa Kavanagh

I was so excited to illustrate the title page of Country Style magazines beautiful new book Country Style Homes. It's a lovely book full of inspiring stories and photographs of Australian country homes and the people who live in them. You can find it at bookstores, or receive it by subscribing to the magazine for a limited time.

New monogram collection

I have a new monogram collection in the shop! Three colour options: red, blue and yellow. I am so please with how these turned out. Find your letter here.

Millthorpe Markets

I will have my stall at the Millthorpe Markets this Sunday. I will have art prints, greeting cards and gift tags as well as a few framed originals. Hope to see you there!

Millthorpe Markets
Sunday 22nd March, 2015
Redmond Oval, Millthorpe NSW 

Lately

Mum made a wreath for the front door.

I'm itching to paint again, it's been too long.

Printing and packaging.


And this poor girl has been stressing lately because of the summer storms we've been having.

Lucky she has her best friend to keep her company.

Have a wonderful week. x

A Thoughtful Gift

My nephews are outdoorsy, nature loving boys. They helped me by taking many photos of mushrooms for me to use as references for my art exhibition, along with their parents (for whom it became quite a competitive obsession), on their trip across Australia.They are all very kind and generous, and the youngest of them gives me the most wonderful gifts. He has given me beautiful feathers and leaves, a round yellow plastic counter with an intricate pattern that he came across somewhere. Whenever he gives me these presents, he tells me he thought it might inspire me with my paintings.

He has lots of ideas, and is incredibly in tune with nature, collecting and growing seeds, finding insects. He notices everything, this boy. I remember driving with him in the car one day in winter, and he remarked on all the birds nests in the bare trees by the side of the road. He was only three or four at the time and I remember thinking how kids always notice what we adults overlook.

He collected these shells for me, and I received them last week. I have never seen such beautiful shells! Each one is special. They have the most intricate patterns and details and I plan to do a series of paintings featuring them. My family often give me little presents like this. Postage stamps, stones, scraps of pretty paper, seed pods, leaf skeletons, birds nests (thank you Mum, Dad and Chris!). Gifts like these mean the world to me, because it shows how well my family understand me. Thank you Isaac! x


I've never seen such a tiny perfect sea urchin shell!

Packing + Posting

Since Country Style magazine's Christmas issue went on sale last week, I have been busy printing, packaging and posting orders to lovely customers and stores around Australia. It's so amazing to see my little business growing. I am so grateful for each and every one of my customers and supporters for allowing me to do what I love, and also for sharing my excitement!



Can you believe Christmas is next month?! This year has flown by too quickly. x

Country Style Magazine - Christmas 2014

Country Style magazine's gorgeous Christmas issue is on sale today, and I am so beyond excited to have my work and studio featured in it. I've always loved Country Style magazine and it was a dream come true to have the talented team come and visit my little studio in Orange, NSW. Photography by Lisa Cohen and styling by Beck Simon.

Shop Update: New Bird Cards

I've added a range of new bird cards to the shop! You can buy them individually or as a set here.