keyword: m a k e

more quick posting - wandered over to the delightful swallowfield blog via the industrious and clever Kim at little something blog and found this image above by Jen Renninger that Jennifer (of swallowfield) snapped on the wall at Etsy headquarters. Given Etsy is the successful global enterprise that gets the creations of many out to the world I thought it a simple but fitting motto - 'making' being the key word for me... whether it is a garden, good food, a comfortable dwelling, or things to enrich ones everyday I would say when we make rather than buy we are more likely to be ticking valuable boxes for well-being and sustainabilty.

Which reminds me - has anyone seen that TV show on the chef in London trying to open a restaurant using all food sourced within the city limits of London. It makes one think about food security issues quite seriously!

Easton Pearson at GoMA

A survey exhibition of internationally acclaimed Brisbane based fashion house Easton and Pearson is  showing at GoMA - the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane at the moment during the same year they are celebrating their 20th anniversary. This exciting show seems to be drawing the crowds as there is so much to  appreciate that is a remarkable and a joyful celebrations of craft and colour.

images taken in the gallery last week.

In the Children's Art Centre an Easton Pearson workroom has been set up with paper dolls for kids to dress in outfits made with paper samples of the designers materials which can be cut up and arranged into a wardrobe of designs inspired by pieces from the designer's collection. What fun!

Easton Pearson: Runway show 'Rainbow Coalition' 29 April 2008

If you go to the weblink for this show you can click on this exact image and it will open a fabulous preview of the exhibition. On the left of this same page you can click to read the Curator's Essay for more details about the wonderful Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson.

website:  easton and pearson

Floating Life: Contemporary Aboriginal Fibre Art at GOMA now!

Currently on show at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, is the exhibition 'Floating Life' highlighting the importance of fibre within Aboriginal culture and the 'commitment of the Queensland Art Gallery to developing a unique collections of more that 300 objects'. Banubirr (the Morning Star), water, and the notion of movement through time and place are major themes. Read more here.

I absolutely loved walking into this exhibition with little knowledge of what I would find. It took my breath away! This is an exciting and memorable collection of woven forms in diverse materials, including the obscure such as found fencing wire as well as a considerable number of natural fibres such as spinifex, bark fibres, jungle vines, and pandanus leaves. Each room contained more surprise and I have returned several times to see this exhibit.

Forms of every kind, size,  structure, method and purpose are featured.

This string bag or Abmin by Doreen Yam (b 1947) was constructed with knotted-netted polypropylene and had a particularly contemporary feel.

Below: This room featured fishing technology and contained examples of nets, traps and even a canoe sail made of woven reeds. The curator Dianne Moon has written an essay titled: 'Visible songs: captured flight' that gives a lovely introduction to this work...well worth reading if you wish to know more! This exhibition has drawn a great deal of enthusiasm from all who have been lucky enough to visit.

for those in the Brisbane region...

This coming weekend in Brisbane a brilliantly organised Environmental Expo is bringing together a fascinating diversity of Speakers, Stall-holders, Eco-future initiatives, organisations and individuals all presenting their take on participating in a brighter future. Quite a number of artists and creatives have been asked to participate and the networking between people began weeks ago. This forward thinking, inclusive and dynamic organisational process has had participants wanting to sign on and bringing so much enthusiasm to their planning.Its been a wonderful model for creating and  enhancing community  life.

My participation is listed under S for Sophie below. Earlier posts have referred to this current project of mine  that ties together strong concern for  Seed saving, and awareness and preservation of our world's precious heritage of seeds.... increasingly at threat due to a number of key critical factors, very largely, lack of education. The Manifesto of the Future of Seeds  came through Slow food International in 2006 prompted by the convergence of special interest groups and the critical document 3 years earlier: The Manifesto of the Future of Food. Connecting also with The International UK-based initiative through Kew Gardens  -The Millenium Seed Bank project -which the local Botanical Gardens 'Seeds for Life' project was tied in with- all added to my sense of urgency for this important work. I'm hoping to look further soon into the excellent weblinks I have been discovering of late that marry Art with Ecology. For  a link to  my posts on ecology related topics go to the  categories list and click on ecology there. If you can get down to the Hillbrook Expo on Saturday do come along and say hello! I'd love to chat with you!

wood and wool stool

I just came across this and wanted to post it straight away... I love how inventive people are being with things from the past...bringing woolen crochet  squares together with recycled wooden stools.

image on website for wood & wool stool

This image was posted on 12th July on Norskstil.blog Curious to see more I clicked on wood & wool stool which took me to a website for these colourful stools produced by Ingrid Jansen. Love the look and the appeal of these colourful and practical seats... perhaps not quite perfect for our warm climate here.However I can just see them in a cosy cafe...and I'd be very happy to have one of these for my home!!

handmade by wood & wool stool from Flickr

meet me at mikes, thursday, july 16th, 2009

Go directly to this blog, do not pass Go! This is the leading image on meet me at mikes today...Im not saying any more except the amazing Pip behind this has got it all happening! She even has the most wonderful tips for bloggers getting going or wanting to finesse their blogs. She has a book... a shop...amazing! Crafters will particularly adore it...but brilliant inspiration comes in many other forms as well...and the tutorials on blogging...have a look! DO! ...snap...she also just put something on her blog about Ebony from Hello Sandwich.

Stephanie in dialogue...

Stephanie Levy is an artist and illustrator from the US living in  Munich and these are small images of her work.

What I love about Stephanie's blogs....yes...two blogs...is that one is entirely dedicated to other artists and thus allows us a window into the studios and thoughts of a whole range of creative people Stephanie approaches to interview and post on. Artists who blog features artists, designer, illustrators who choose to blog in addition to pursue their creative work and thus may be of interest to anyone looking at how blogging can add significant dimension to one's working life. Its hard not to like Stephanie's spirit of abundance and penchant for sharing her sunny energy.

Here are a few of her featured artists or their studios:

apol lejano-massebieau

francesca iannaccone

Dolan Geiman

brandi strickland

jamie shelman

indie art & design from Australia

Tonight I found this weblog featuring products made by independant Australian artists, designers and craftspeople founded originally as a personal project by Sydney graphic designers Carolyn and Martin in late 2006. Read here about their story. A directory of the designers and makers on their site is here. Comprehensive links to other indie sites are here.  The feature interview just now is with Simone Madigan from States of Nature.

photo by Carolyn from indie.com of States of Nature's mixed colour doily brooches (which I particularly love!)

This Destination satchel printed by Simone with water-based dye seems to have been so popular it sold out!

artwork from indie.com art and illustration pages by James Hancock, exhibitor in the 12 x 12 exhibition

This is a very innovative project well worth a look and featuring a large flock of creative talent of distinction. Of coarse I could have shown you so much more...I'll let you explore though!