Embroidery

Started embroidery and I can't believe how much I love it!
Been exposed to cross stitching when I was a kid, but it really got me when I could illustrate with a needle and thread.

It started when my husband went away for a week to Fiji to do the Lord's work, that I thought to make him a hurrah-you're-home!-cum-wedding-anniversary gift.
Who would have thought I'd get hooked?

After doing one of us, I made another portrait for a couple of our friends, Paul & Philana, back in Perth!

Joined a workshop conducted by a mate of mine, Teresa, and made another super quick couple portrait for my friend, Evan, as it just so happened to be her birthday that day!

Addicted. It's just too much fun.

If you want a custom couple portrait of your own or for a loved one, hit me up at my shop  ♥

Book Binding & Marbling Workshop

Had the opportunity a few weeks back to conduct a book binding and marbling workshop in a friend's beautiful garden.

These are pictures of how it went!

Marbled paper all left out in the back garden to dry

Then we're off to binding and building our signatures

4 hard hours later, the girls have their books all pretty and done up!

This is how a book looks:

Myrtle

Had just the most wonderful opportunity to work with Whitney from Myrtle to illustrate her FW13 lookbook!

I could choose any of my favourite looks from what she carried, and these were what came of it:

 

Samantha Pleet's Fortune Dress

Ilana Kohn's Scallop Mickey Dress

Feralchilde's Smock Dress

Dusen Dusen's Blocks Fall Shift Dress under Grid Cardigan.
(I just couldn't resist drawing myself in this :p)

Please go check it out!

Leatherrr Panther

Hiya guys! 

I've gotten into leather making these days! It's ridiculously fun. 

To me, it's like a combination of doing metal work and fabric due to the tools involved. 

I'm hoping to explore more into this. 

Till then, here are some instagram piccies and videos:

   

Stories from The 'A' Team

I've an English teacher of a friend who really liked to inspire her class of boys (whom aren't the most literary inclined) to write. 

Some time ago, she'd asked if I would be keen to illustrate a bunch of their creative essays.
She had an idea to compile them into a "book" of sort, as a motivation to spur them onto becoming "published" local authors. 

 I of course, honoured, said yes! 

 Having taken this on, I realised it wasn't really a walk in the park for me either.
Illustrating sports-related thingamabobs and teenage boys aren't exactly my usual doodles. 

 All the sweat paid off when she presented me this binded book for my keeping. 

 I hope this class of 13-year-olds will feel a great sense of achievement and can show this compilation of essays proudly off to their parents.
Never give up, kids.

Keeping up with the Internet Ladies

Where do all you internet ladies find the time to update your social platformssss?

I'm struggling between work and keeping you guys entertained.

The few things that don't seem to be difficult for me to update are my Instagram and Facebook page.

So truth is, if you really want to see what I'm up to, is best to go on them :)

But here's a few Instagram videos I've done up!

These things are loads of fun to do.

Metalsmithing classes

First day of class is pretty awesome. Imagine an extended D&T lesson for the entire day. I've came in midway, and my other classmates have already started with their toggle bracelets and are close to completing them. Bit intimidating as now we are on 2 projects: bracelet and pendant. Hopefully with a make-up lesson, I'll catch up. 
 I can't wait for the next lesson, cause that's when we'll learn to make a bezel ring. Also, no more working on copper, we're gonna be touching silvvverrr. I've already got my heart set out for one of the onyx stones. The course instructor showed us many we would be using: carnelian, green amethyst, rose quartz, etc. We're to bring in a ring base design then.

I can't decide on which ring design I like better!

Jellies

We went to the oceanarium the other day

& I got to see my favourite sea creatures:

A combination of such grace and deadliness. I'm raptured, as always, by them.

Ring Me

This is my stack at the mo. Every ring is symbolic.  I love how I can admire them whenever I'm working. I love rings. LOVE them.  
Ergo, I'm very excited to announce that I'll be taking up a course on metal smithing next month - eek!
Will this mean some actual jewellery (no more polymer stuff) going up on the shop soon?  Maybe.  I hope so.

I can't wait!