A creative journal attesting to the profound personal impact of that first painting lesson beneath the big old mulberry tree ... stubby 3 year-old toes squelching into rotten purple fruit; pink tongue curled out with the effort of forging a wet, sticky, paint masterpiece. African storm clouds billowing just above.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Jess Tran Photography





As the saying goes, "A picture speaks a thousand words", and with this in mind, I don't think I need to mention that WAAPA graduate Jess Tran is incredibly talented ... her beautiful black and white photos speak for themselves. More of Jess' work can be viewed at her online flickr account. Have a peak and be inspired!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Fresh Flowers From the Market

Marche aux Fleurs by Edouard Leon Cortes

Flower Market, Madeleine by Antoine Blanchard

Flower Market Outside the Madeleine Church, 1890, by Jozef Pankiewicz

Flower Market in a French Town by Alfred Glendening

A Flower Market Along the Seine by Georges Stein

Thought I'd share some of the images I've found whilst researching for a painting that I'm about to start, with the subject matter being .... you guessed it; a flower market! I adore the Impressionist style and how the artists of this period captured light and 'mood' so effectively. 

Antoine Blanchard's painting is my personal favourite, but I am also intrigued with the story surrounding Marche aux Fleurs by Edouard Leon Cortes ... apparently the painting was left on a pile of donations at Easton, Marylands Goodwill store, at which point one of the staff decided to do some 'digging' as to the origin of the artwork, which resulted in the piece ending up at Sotheby's and selling at auction for $40,600! Whoever had that painting pinned down as 'trash' must be kicking themselves! 

Friday, March 26, 2010

Speaking of Teacups ...

... don't you just love this 'teacup clock'?! I think it's such a clever and original way for those of us who don't drink tea to still have the fun of displaying pretty china for everyone to see!

Top image courtesy of "The Finds".
Bottom image courtesy of "Its a Jaime Thing".

Thursday, March 25, 2010

"It's Time For Tea!!"

Inspired by the Mad Hatter's tea party after watching Tim Burton's new version of Alice in Wonderland, I thought it'd be fun to create a post focusing on 'everything tea'! Enjoy :-) 

Image taken from "A Life More Fabulous".

These lovely vintage tea cups are available to hire through the "Vintage Touch" website.
 
This tea party is a riot of pattern and colour and  a celebration of some very yummy looking cupcakes! Image courtesy of Country Living.

A very posh tea party in very green surrounds ... Image taken from the "Lisa Dawn" website.



A garden tea party is so much better than one had indoors; and spring is the perfect time for it ... all the gorgeous flowers and birds and everything bursting with the promise of new life! Images courtesy of Country Living.

One of the best blogs for everything 'tea' is "The Tea Room". I absolutely love the gorgeous images of the tea cup candles (courtesy of American Bridal) and the stunning little teapot filled with pink flowers (courtesy of Southern Accents).

Mmmm, no tea party is complete without yummy cheese and cucumber sandwiches! Images courtesy of Country Living.

Image above and below, courtesy of "At Home With Kim Vallee".

No prizes for guessing that a tonne of gossip is taking place over that cup of tea! Image courtesy of "Two Ladies in Waiting".


You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.

Only in the awareness of the present,
can your hands feel the pleasant warmth of the cup.

Only in the present, can you savour the aroma,
taste the sweetness,
appreciate the delicacy.

If you are ruminating about the past,
or worrying about the future,
you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the cup of tea.

You will look down at the cup,
and the tea will be gone.

Life is like that.

If you are not fully present,
you will look around and it will be gone.

You will have missed the feel,
the aroma,
the delicacy and beauty of life.

It will seem to be speeding past you.

The past is finished. Learn from it and let it go.

The future is not even here yet.
Plan for it,
but do not waste your time worrying about it.

Worrying is worthless.

When you stop ruminating about what has already happened,
when you stop worrying about what might never happen,
then you will be in the present moment.

Then you will begin to experience joy in life.

- Thich Nhat Hanh : Vietnamese Buddhist monk and philosopher writes about enjoying a good cup of tea

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Lindsey Adelman Lighting





Aren't these eclectic lights just amazing!! I would love to have them in my home. To see more of Lindsey's work, go to http://lindseyadelman.blogspot.com
She is so talented! 

The image directly above was taken from the "Interior Divine" blog and is of the Gramercy Park, New York City home of Carin van der Donk. 

Monday, March 22, 2010

"It's raining, it's pouring ..."

More than an umbrella was needed in Perth today as hail the size of golf balls pelted angrily down to wreak havoc on the helpless city below ... Here's to sunshine and lollipops and all things bright and happy tomorrow morning! x

Image courtesy of Jetkat Design via Animal Head Vintage

Saturday, March 20, 2010

The "Shoe" Theme Continues ...

A little drawing that I did of a very cute (and very old) shoe ... Hope you're all enjoying the weekend! x

Friday, March 19, 2010

Heel Love!!






















What girl doesn't love a great pair of heels?!! This selection featuring: Chanel, Prada, Louis Viutton, Jimmy Choo, Guiseppe Zanotti, Manolo Blahnik, Badgeley Mischka, Christian Louboutin, Casadei, Magrit, GINA, Elie Tahari, as well as Stuart Weitzman .... is to DIE for!! I'll leave it to those truly "shoe mad" ladies out there to match each pair with it's designer!
Of course, if we're talking shoes, then a reference to Sex and the City surely has to be included in the conversation ....

"Sex and the City changed New York. New York's become a big shoe store now, unfortunately." - Chris Noth