Mellow Yellow

So Pantone has selected its Colour of Year for 2009. And I have to say I was a little surprised at it being yellow. But apparently Pantone feel that at this time, with a change in US government and so much doom and gloom around in the economy, we need a little optimism. So they have picked Mimosa tree yellow, (a Mimosa tree seems to look a lot like a Wattle tree.) It's also available as an eco friendly paint, although I think I'd feel like I was inside a giant egg if I painted my walls this colour. But still, it would be a happy optimistic egg room.

So in honor I have selected some of my favourite yellow things at the moment:

1. Mimosa Yellow from Pantone.
2. Just added to the creative monsoon website this week!  8x8" print titled "Fields of Gold" 
3. A lovely limited addition print from Swallowfields etsy shop. Great pattern, love the almost doodle-like designs. 
4. I'm not sure who started remaking the keep calm and carry on posters, there are so many out there. But I think I prefer this new one, now panic and freak out. 
5. Another lovely mixed media artist. meArtDesign
6. Becoming a bit of a favourite. Gazzu has this great yellow oversized ponytail holder, love it, want it. 
7. A cute little purse from Jennifer Ladd, she has some great bold prints to really stand out. 

Happy Australia Day!

New handmade jewelry

I've been busy last week or two trying out these circle pendants for my jewelry. I've got two sizes, little 2cm (3/4") ones that I'm going to sell as is, and slightly bigger 2.7cm (1") ones that I think suite a ribbon chain. 

I think some of them would make nice Valentine's presents. 

I'm also testing out the etsy to sell them. Etsy is an online store for all things handmade and vintage. You can visit my little online shop here.

And due to a typo on my first go I've got another shop here!

Love is in the air!

Love is in the air and Valentines Day is just around the corner! I've been busy last couple of weeks getting creative monsoon ready. And not only is the home page updated but the papergoods sections is finally ready with some gift cards! More on that later. 

For now I thought I'd share some of my favourite little love themed gifts around to make your sweethearts day:

1. Ok I have to put creative monsoon down! I've had such nice feedback on this 'Love Paris' print so now I've turned it into a Valentines card!
2. How cute are these? Iron on felt patches that you could put anywhere.. the mind boggles. A kit comes with two animals, lots to choose from, and a heart... ahhhhh. From chikabird.
3. There is some great pottery around at the moment. I love this heart from lilypottery,  its been impressed with vintage lace to create the lovely texture. 
4. Chocolate creative (great name) have lots of fabulous cushions that would make a fun Valentines Day gift. My favourite is this one though.
5. I've been a fan of Lush Designs since their stall at the Greenwich markets. Now they have a shop there and I popped in before I left London, but now I regret not getting these gorgeous 'LOVE'  pillow cases! (they also come in pink)
6. More pottery. I just think these little hearts from readunn are cute.
7. Yup me again. I've got six new necklaces ready to go, a few with a love theme. But these new ones I'll be popping on etsy this time. A couple of you have said you'd like to see some heart shaped pendants, thanks for the feedback, Ill look into it!

Cover design

As some of you may know apart from the photography and art I do for creative monsoon, Im also a magazine art director. I came across this cover of the UKs Cosmo magazine and just cant decide if its inspired or hideous. It certainly caught my attention, which is what you want a magazine cover to do. But there is such a mix of fonts and styles going on! I thought I'd put it to a vote. Do you love it? Or do you hate it?

Buy handmade

Its my birthday and thinking about pressies I took the handmade pledge this morning. A cute little site were you pledge to buy handmade goods and request others do the same for you. 

There are so many telented people out there making so many lovely things, I thought I'd share some of my favourites: 

1. Love these little button hair bands from Gazzu. And in my favourite colour, purple. 
   
2. I love the work of the girls at papaya! Amazing journals, cards, calendars. More of these for my birthday please!
   
3. If only my journal looked this amazing. The work of  Teesha Moore, love the colour and the sense of fun.
   
4. I always keep an eye on Geninne's Art Blog, shes very talented and always has something lovely to share, pictured is bird no 29 from a series of gorgeous illustrations.
   
5. Ok I just LOVE Boston Terriers and this little guy in the hat cracked me up. How cute is he? This is from Beantown Handmade dog sweaters and accessories.
   
6. Stephanie Levy has a really interesting style, I like the mix of illustration, material and paint. 
   

Sea shots

Last week I got some great feedback about the surfboard photo I took on Manly beach with my little mobile camera! Thanks for that! So it got me thinking about building up more shots for the 'by the sea shore' section of the photography gallery and a style for them. So I've put together this little mood board of ideas with one of the new shots I worked on this week, little boats at Watsons Bay. 

More handmade jewelry

Its been a busy week, seems to have dragged on forever though. But I've managed to get some more photography done and finish off three new necklaces. They are for sale on the website now. Thanks to Kate who bought the 'This is Love' necklace before I'd even had time to finish the webpage! 

Take more photos

I bought a new mobile phone a few months ago, finally got one with a little camera built in. Its not very flash but still three times the resolution of my very first digital camera. 

Ive always wanted to carry a camera with me all the time, but now I have to remind myself its there.

This weekend we went to Manly and I remember to use my camera.

 

Handmade Jewelry

The jewelry page is finally up and running on the creative monsoon website, yeay! I have three finished handmade necklaces with more on the way. I love how each one is like a little mini collaged artwork. Some are finished with beaded chains and others with ribbon.

The Seine

Another photo ready to be added to the website for sale this week. Perhaps I went for a green tone to this one because I was still in a Christmasy mood?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from Sydney