Wedded!
Finally! The day arrived.
I got married almost two weeks ago!! It was a mammoth effort for everyone involved in the set up...and pack down. But totally worth it in the end.
I had been collecting vintage plates, cutlery, tablecloths, napkins, doilies etc, and making paper flowers petal by petal to adorn the tables and my bouquet. Now it is all been and gone I have time on my hands once again! A little bit sad, but exciting at the same time.
Here's a sneak peek of the day. I can't wait to get the professional photos taken by the absolutely amazing gals Love Katie & Sarah. They were incredible and I will share those photos soon.
Finally! The day arrived.
I got married almost two weeks ago!! It was a mammoth effort for everyone involved in the set up...and pack down. But totally worth it in the end.
I had been collecting vintage plates, cutlery, tablecloths, napkins, doilies etc, and making paper flowers petal by petal to adorn the tables and my bouquet. Now it is all been and gone I have time on my hands once again! A little bit sad, but exciting at the same time.
Here's a sneak peek of the day. I can't wait to get the professional photos taken by the absolutely amazing gals Love Katie & Sarah. They were incredible and I will share those photos soon.
My gorgeous husband
My paper flower bouquet!
Sow n' Sow
A number of months ago I started to work with the lovely Michelle Brady on the re-branding of her gorgeous 'gift of seeds' business, 'Sow n' Sow' (love the name). I was very lucky to score the job as, apart from Michelle being wonderful to work for, she lives just around the corner from me in Northcote, fed me lunch all the time (mmm, toasties...), and let me bring my dog Ruby into work with me (Michelle's dog Maude is still a little traumatised by Ruby's visits).
Working closely with Michelle, I helped with the re-brand of her business and the redesign of her 'gift of seeds' packets. It was such a fun job to work on. Michelle let me get a little creative with the designs and I took them in a 'watercolour/collage' direction. My favourite :)
Here are the final designs!
They are a gift card and pack of seeds in one... there is space on the back to write a message to your recipient!
And they even come with a sturdy weather proof planter tag. Love seeing my illustrations on something a little different.
We got a little clever and created these oh-so-cute gift tags which transform into mini paper-plants. You can create your own paper garden!
You can buy Sow n' Sow products online over here or in lots of amazing gift shops around Australia (there is a stockist list on the website). There are lots more gorgeous creatively green gifts for sale through Sow n' Sow too!
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A number of months ago I started to work with the lovely Michelle Brady on the re-branding of her gorgeous 'gift of seeds' business, 'Sow n' Sow' (love the name). I was very lucky to score the job as, apart from Michelle being wonderful to work for, she lives just around the corner from me in Northcote, fed me lunch all the time (mmm, toasties...), and let me bring my dog Ruby into work with me (Michelle's dog Maude is still a little traumatised by Ruby's visits).
Working closely with Michelle, I helped with the re-brand of her business and the redesign of her 'gift of seeds' packets. It was such a fun job to work on. Michelle let me get a little creative with the designs and I took them in a 'watercolour/collage' direction. My favourite :)
Here are the final designs!
The range includes: Sunflowers, Poppies, Forget-Me-Not, 'Thank-you' Marigolds, 'Happy Birthday' Sweet Peas, and a trio of herbs (Basil, Coriander & Parsley). They have been printed locally on recycled card and have no glue, so they are even more environmentally friendly!
They are a gift card and pack of seeds in one... there is space on the back to write a message to your recipient!
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And they even come with a sturdy weather proof planter tag. Love seeing my illustrations on something a little different.
We got a little clever and created these oh-so-cute gift tags which transform into mini paper-plants. You can create your own paper garden!
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| Constructing the paper garden |
Here is me, working away on the illustrations...
You can buy Sow n' Sow products online over here or in lots of amazing gift shops around Australia (there is a stockist list on the website). There are lots more gorgeous creatively green gifts for sale through Sow n' Sow too!
x
Viva Mexico!
This Sunday, September 16th, is Mexican Independence Day, and I'm so excited to announce there is going to be a Mexican Festival on at Federation Square in Melbourne to celebrate, with traditional Mexican food, handicrafts, mariachis and of course margaritas! yay!
What's even more exciting is I will be there selling my 'La Cocina' stoneware range and 'My Abuela's Table'. Ok, there is something even more exciting...there is going to be a cooking demonstration by the Australian MasterChef winner Andy and runner-up Ben, who are going to be using 'La Cocina' to serve up their Mexican delights. Woo! Massive exposure, and I'm so excited.
Here is a little more information from the Mission Mexican Fest's facebook page:
Mission's Mexican Festival is a celebration of Mexican culture that is being hosted at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia on September 16th, which is Mexico's Independence Day.
Mission's Mexican Festival will mix Food, Art, Music, and Culture to give Melbourne a True Taste of Mexico.
This Sunday, September 16th, is Mexican Independence Day, and I'm so excited to announce there is going to be a Mexican Festival on at Federation Square in Melbourne to celebrate, with traditional Mexican food, handicrafts, mariachis and of course margaritas! yay!
What's even more exciting is I will be there selling my 'La Cocina' stoneware range and 'My Abuela's Table'. Ok, there is something even more exciting...there is going to be a cooking demonstration by the Australian MasterChef winner Andy and runner-up Ben, who are going to be using 'La Cocina' to serve up their Mexican delights. Woo! Massive exposure, and I'm so excited.
Here is a little more information from the Mission Mexican Fest's facebook page:
Mission's Mexican Festival is a celebration of Mexican culture that is being hosted at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia on September 16th, which is Mexico's Independence Day.
Mission's Mexican Festival will mix Food, Art, Music, and Culture to give Melbourne a True Taste of Mexico.
Wrap my illustrations around your neck
I'm so excited to reveal my illustrations have landed on some gorgeous Elk silk scarves. Hurrah! I love Elk!
I'm so excited to reveal my illustrations have landed on some gorgeous Elk silk scarves. Hurrah! I love Elk!
There are four scarves in total, three of which feature a sketchy bird with different coloured watercolour backgrounds. I'm so pleased my pencil work is starting to appear out there. My favourite medium.
(all photos below from Elk)
(all photos below from Elk)
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The final scarf features a detailed ink illustration of the gorgeous 'Grover' mascot of Elk Accessories. What a cutie pie!
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| Grover silk scarf |
Buy online at: www.elkaccessories.com.au
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La Cocina
Last post I told you about (and showed you!) my new stationery range 'Floribunda' which is about to hit shops. Huzzah!
Today I can finally show you what is possibly the biggest job I've done to date - Yes, even bigger than my cookbook believe it or not.
La Cocina...my stoneware range produced by the lovely folk (and they really are lovely to work with) at Ashdene.
A couple of weekends ago was the official launch of La Cocina, at the AGHA trade fair here in Melbourne. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of hours chatting to wholesale buyers and getting a first hand reaction to my product. Luckily it was all good!
Yay!
Now I can share it with you all...
Excuse the 'not so great' photos...but there are some nice ones at the bottom taken by Ashdene's photographer, Lauren Kenny. Thanks Lauren!
Each piece was lovingly designed and meticulously hand painted with water colour and ink...very much in a similar style as Floribunda and My Abuela's Table.
Last post I told you about (and showed you!) my new stationery range 'Floribunda' which is about to hit shops. Huzzah!
Today I can finally show you what is possibly the biggest job I've done to date - Yes, even bigger than my cookbook believe it or not.
La Cocina...my stoneware range produced by the lovely folk (and they really are lovely to work with) at Ashdene.
A couple of weekends ago was the official launch of La Cocina, at the AGHA trade fair here in Melbourne. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of hours chatting to wholesale buyers and getting a first hand reaction to my product. Luckily it was all good!
Yay!
Now I can share it with you all...
Excuse the 'not so great' photos...but there are some nice ones at the bottom taken by Ashdene's photographer, Lauren Kenny. Thanks Lauren!
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| My favourite piece...the side handled jug |
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| Large platter, salad bowls, canisters...so much more! |
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| another favourite piece...set of three mixing bowls...love! |
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| the water pitcher. I can see me using this as a lovely vase! |
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| melamine accessories are also part of my range! |
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| Ah, such a cute little mortar & pestle |
The process involved painting with water colours (as I usually work) within a die line, and then I scanned and produced the final artwork in Illustrator which was then transformed into decals and hand positioned on each piece (I didn't do that bit...I would have had a breakdown by now!). I was pretty amazed at how the decal factory were able to maintain the water colour texture of my paintings. I'm very chuffed with the result.
You'll be able to buy the La Cocina range next month (September) in kitchen-ware shops...gift stores...and hopefully places like Myer! You'll all be sick of me! ;-)
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p.s. looks like it's going to get a bit of press next months in food magazines! Yay!
p.p.s. speaking of press...My Abuela's Table is about to be reviewed by...wait for it... THE NEW YORK TIMES!!!! OH. MY. GOD!!! Hope they say nice things!
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| my table at the AGHA trade fair |
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| some mood shots...with my book! |
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| yum, yum, yum |
You'll be able to buy the La Cocina range next month (September) in kitchen-ware shops...gift stores...and hopefully places like Myer! You'll all be sick of me! ;-)
x
p.s. looks like it's going to get a bit of press next months in food magazines! Yay!
p.p.s. speaking of press...My Abuela's Table is about to be reviewed by...wait for it... THE NEW YORK TIMES!!!! OH. MY. GOD!!! Hope they say nice things!
Floribunda stationery range
It's here! Well, almost. Due out in September, my Floribunda stationery range has arrive from the printers and a sample range has landed onto my door step thanks to Hardie Grant Books.
The range includes a journal, set of 3 mini note books, and a set of 20 (4 designs) gift cards which comes in a lovely box. How excitement!!
The design sits along side my cookbook 'My Abuela's Table' nicely...and also sits well with my up coming stoneware range (is that a hint and a half or what!?)
Here are a few photos. Keep an eye out in September for my range. It should be available in book shops and department stores. Yay!
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Where's My Abuela's Table?
I like to stalk my cook book in various book shops and stores (ok...ALL book shops and stores). Lately, it's been a little difficult to find. But the good news is, the first print run of My Abuela's Table has almost sold out and is going into a second print run. Hurrah!
Hopefully it will be a little bit more visible in stores soon. Until then, if you're looking for a copy, try Booktopia.
Even more excitingly, My Abuela's Table is going to be published in the US in September this year by Rizzoli! How amazing is that!? I might have to extend my book stalking internationally. A trip to New York perhaps!? Yes please!
In other related news, 'Sweetie' (illustrated by moi) is also going to hit the US shelves in September. Awww...I'm so chuffed. What more could I want? More? OK then...
(Yes, there is more). I've just finished two very exciting projects, of which I hope to share some images with you soon. Until that time, I can say that I have my own stationery range being released through Hardie Grant Books, also in September (exciting month for me). Hurrah! The range includes a journal, a pack of 3 mini note books, and a pack of 20 gift cards (5 x 4 designs). So fun. I can't wait to see them in shops.
Another exciting project I recently completed (and this was a BIG job which resulted in me becoming a recluse for months) is my own kitchen stoneware range, produced by Ashdene (a Melbourne owned company). Plates, mugs, bowls, canisters, platters, jugs etc. I can still hardly believe it, even after spending months working on the job. The range is called 'La Cocina' which might hint at the style! It will be officially launched in...you guessed it... September! Everyone will be sick of me by then!
So, that's my long over due update...Hopefully it's a little clearer why I have been neglecting my blog, and I hope to post some photos in the next month or two.
bye!
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Goodness me! It's been a while.
I've been super busy lately, which has been great for me, but bad for my blog. I've been wanting to share some images of the work I've been doing over the past 6 months, but sometimes it's hard when it's all a bit 'top secret'.
I did think I would be able to get away with showing you a few little paintings I did recently for a certain book, which will remained un-named, that will be out later this year. Another fun job with Hardie Grant!
In other news, I am working hard on my stationery range this week (another great Hardie Grant project), and a few other fun jobs. Oh, and I'm finally on to the final art work for the children's book I am illustrating for Little Hare. It's been a huge learning process. Who would have thought illustrating a kid's book would be difficult?...trust me...it's the most difficult thing I've ever taken on! Anyway, I hope to show some sneaky peeks of that later this year.
ALSO! I'm going to be at The Sister's Markets this year! First one starts on Saturday May 5 (get your gifts for Mother's Day). They have a new venue at the Northcote Town Hall (convenient for me!) while the Brunswick Town Hall goes through a restoration. I can't wait to have a stall there. It's always super busy and the talent there is amazing (what ever money I make might disappear by the end of the day). So if you're in Melbourne, I hope to see you there!
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I've been super busy lately, which has been great for me, but bad for my blog. I've been wanting to share some images of the work I've been doing over the past 6 months, but sometimes it's hard when it's all a bit 'top secret'.
I did think I would be able to get away with showing you a few little paintings I did recently for a certain book, which will remained un-named, that will be out later this year. Another fun job with Hardie Grant!
In other news, I am working hard on my stationery range this week (another great Hardie Grant project), and a few other fun jobs. Oh, and I'm finally on to the final art work for the children's book I am illustrating for Little Hare. It's been a huge learning process. Who would have thought illustrating a kid's book would be difficult?...trust me...it's the most difficult thing I've ever taken on! Anyway, I hope to show some sneaky peeks of that later this year.
ALSO! I'm going to be at The Sister's Markets this year! First one starts on Saturday May 5 (get your gifts for Mother's Day). They have a new venue at the Northcote Town Hall (convenient for me!) while the Brunswick Town Hall goes through a restoration. I can't wait to have a stall there. It's always super busy and the talent there is amazing (what ever money I make might disappear by the end of the day). So if you're in Melbourne, I hope to see you there!
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Whats news?
Hello. I've been a little busy the past week. No blog posts from me for a while! But some exciting things have been happening.
Most excitingly, my cookbook 'My Abuela's Table' has been shortlisted for an APA Book Design Award in the category of best designed cookbook. Wow! So exciting. I am in some amazing company, so I am just happy to be shortlisted. I am looking forward to going to the award ceremony in Sydney in May and hob-nobbing with the publishing industry. Yay!
In other news, I have been busy getting some giclee art prints done of my 'Mrs Rabbit' painting and 'Daylesford Dreaming' (a popular one at the markets last year!). You can now buy these prints over at my Etsy shop. It's the first time I've printed giclee prints (thanks Lantern Printing), and I'm loving the quality...amazing!
One last piece of news: I am heading back to Rose Street markets tomorrow. It will be the first market stall I have had there since 2007! I can't believe it's been 5 years already. So I will be there with art prints, stamps galore, and a few other bits and bobs. Come and say hi. Rose St, Fitzroy (11am-5pm).
That's all for now...
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Hello. I've been a little busy the past week. No blog posts from me for a while! But some exciting things have been happening.
Most excitingly, my cookbook 'My Abuela's Table' has been shortlisted for an APA Book Design Award in the category of best designed cookbook. Wow! So exciting. I am in some amazing company, so I am just happy to be shortlisted. I am looking forward to going to the award ceremony in Sydney in May and hob-nobbing with the publishing industry. Yay!
In other news, I have been busy getting some giclee art prints done of my 'Mrs Rabbit' painting and 'Daylesford Dreaming' (a popular one at the markets last year!). You can now buy these prints over at my Etsy shop. It's the first time I've printed giclee prints (thanks Lantern Printing), and I'm loving the quality...amazing!
One last piece of news: I am heading back to Rose Street markets tomorrow. It will be the first market stall I have had there since 2007! I can't believe it's been 5 years already. So I will be there with art prints, stamps galore, and a few other bits and bobs. Come and say hi. Rose St, Fitzroy (11am-5pm).
That's all for now...
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Website!
So, I have been "working on my website" for the past 5 years. Terrible, I know. Time has just got away from me, and it has always slid down my 'to do list'.
But, huzzah, it is up and running now! Take a squiz here!
There are still a few teething problems I am trying to iron out, but I am pretty proud of myself for re-learning Dreamweaver all by myself (it's been about 4 years since I have looked at Dreamweaver) and managing to battle with my web server and provider.
Maybe web design will be my new thing!? hmmm...maybe?
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So, I have been "working on my website" for the past 5 years. Terrible, I know. Time has just got away from me, and it has always slid down my 'to do list'.
But, huzzah, it is up and running now! Take a squiz here!
There are still a few teething problems I am trying to iron out, but I am pretty proud of myself for re-learning Dreamweaver all by myself (it's been about 4 years since I have looked at Dreamweaver) and managing to battle with my web server and provider.
Maybe web design will be my new thing!? hmmm...maybe?
x
Acrylics
After years of sticking to watercolours, I revisited my box of acrylics yesterday. It has been 6 years...many colours were all dried up which made me sad as they are expensive paints! But I found enough colours to create a little portrait.
OK, animal portraits dressed in human clothes have been done to death, but I really LOVE them. I have been wanting to do such portraits of my two dogs, but I have started with something safe...a rabbit. Again, done to death, but I don't care. I love my Mrs. Rabbit.
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After years of sticking to watercolours, I revisited my box of acrylics yesterday. It has been 6 years...many colours were all dried up which made me sad as they are expensive paints! But I found enough colours to create a little portrait.
OK, animal portraits dressed in human clothes have been done to death, but I really LOVE them. I have been wanting to do such portraits of my two dogs, but I have started with something safe...a rabbit. Again, done to death, but I don't care. I love my Mrs. Rabbit.
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New book: Sweetie! 50 delectable treats
Hurrah! A new book I designed and illustrated is about to hit the book shelves (on February 1 to be exact). Sweetie! (Hardie Grant Books) was possibly the hardest book I have had to design so far - only because I spent about 8 weeks staring at photographs of the most amazingly delicious looking sweets having to paint them in full detail.
I admit, I ended up baking a few of these delicious recipes, and delicious they certainly are. In here you will find little bite size desserts: cake pops; brownies; whoopie pies (I had no idea what these were until I did this book!); alcoholic iceblocks for the grown ups; and ice-cream sandwiches. I could go on, but I am getting hungry just thinking about all of these yummies, and it's only breakfast time!
You can pick up a copy of Sweetie! for only $19.95 in a week or so (official date of release is February 1) at all good book shops or online (although I prefer to support the physical book stores).
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Hurrah! A new book I designed and illustrated is about to hit the book shelves (on February 1 to be exact). Sweetie! (Hardie Grant Books) was possibly the hardest book I have had to design so far - only because I spent about 8 weeks staring at photographs of the most amazingly delicious looking sweets having to paint them in full detail.
I admit, I ended up baking a few of these delicious recipes, and delicious they certainly are. In here you will find little bite size desserts: cake pops; brownies; whoopie pies (I had no idea what these were until I did this book!); alcoholic iceblocks for the grown ups; and ice-cream sandwiches. I could go on, but I am getting hungry just thinking about all of these yummies, and it's only breakfast time!
You can pick up a copy of Sweetie! for only $19.95 in a week or so (official date of release is February 1) at all good book shops or online (although I prefer to support the physical book stores).
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