Sleep and her sisters

R stands for research...

2012-01-18T20:28:00.000+13:00

{Arabella's parachute dress}

It is weird how things come together and connect with each other... On Monday I started the long awaited Hello Soul Hello Business course with Kelly Rae and Beth. It is more than I ever expected and I can't believe how much it has got me thinking and how much has come about in just two days {we have 10 whole weeks}!

Then today at work I had a meeting with our research tutor about my PBRF portfolio {can't really remember what this stands for but I am pretty sure the R stands for research} I wasn't really looking forward to it as I was doubtful it would be something I would qualify for. But it seems I have been researching for years and didn't even realise it... my girls have a history!!! So today we scribbled out a whole lot of ideas and will come together again soon to bring it all together. I am really excited about this and it has really helped with what I am doing/thinking in the Soul Sessions Course.

Back to Arabella... this is the parachute dress that Olive made for her. If she is dropped from a height she can pull a ripcord and will float down to earth rather than plummet to her death. Arabella is not entirely happy with it but she does like the list of birds down the front.

easing into 2012...

2012-01-06T15:09:00.000+13:00

Olive's new party dress and hat

Welcome to 2012... I hope the start of the year sees you all well and happy. I have been taking it easy the last week, going with the flow and enjoying the sunshine (finally) and savouring the summer fruit.

While I have been easing into 2012 Olive on the other hand has been going wild making dresses for herself and her sisters. She is planning a party to celebrate her Uncle's birthday and is making him a new crown. Her Uncle has been talking lately about giving up 'this whole King business'. This talk has upset Olive a little... she doesn't see how a King can just stop being a King because he feels like it and hopes a new crown might change his mind.

I am not sure why Olives face looks like it has a line just under her nose, I think it might be my scanner as it is not on the original picture... hmmmm

2011-12-19T08:23:00.000+13:00

I have just finished my last market, my last day of work and my last day of big long to do lists for the year...

I am pretty much sorted for Christmas just the day before supermarket shopping. So I now have time to sit at my kitchen table and do some painting.

I have a bit of thinking to do about this one... the words I am not sure about, her arms are the wrong colour, her wings are not quite right and the bruises on her neck are a scanning issue. But I do like the flags, the sky, her pretty dress and the bumpy bits at the bottom.

I always feel Arabella is looking at me like she knows something I don't, like she is about to tell me a secret.

New Zealand creative retreats...

2011-11-17T10:57:00.001+13:00

I have been asked to teach a self portrait mixed media workshop early next year with two wonderful women... Carol Neilson, Journalling and Leonie Wise, Visual Navagation.

I am really excited and honoured to have been asked to be a part of this wonderful venture. To be away from everything and surrounded by a group of lovely creative souls will be so inspiring. If anyone is interested in joining us or more information please click here.

Olive's Uncle...

2011-11-14T10:35:00.000+13:00

I am really liking Olive on this deep royal kind of red background. Which actually suits her as Olive comes from a royal line (her Uncle is a King of a small coastal land). Olive has been thinking of creating him a new crown for his birthday.

dream me...

2011-10-30T16:49:00.005+13:00

Well... Olive has been busy creating a new look for herself. And I am not really sure what else to say as she has kind of caught me by surprise.

I think Olive is probably everything I am not... everything I am scared of being and everything I want to be. Olive might be my dream me.

stitches...

2011-10-26T17:49:00.000+13:00

I had one of those wonderful happy little accidents with Olive... I ripped the bottom of her dress and was about to throw it out and do another one when I thought maybe I should just sew it together (Olive would like that and it is something she would do). So then it got me thinking about stitches and sewing parts together. This is something I used to do years ago when I painted houses and stitched the silk tissue around the edges of the painting. I actually won a Norsewood Art Award for a piece of work that had a whole lot of little squares threaded together.

I am not sure whether this piece is finished yet or not and I am not really happy with her tool belt, so I am going to sit with her for a while and see if anything more comes.

In the mean time I had another idea for Olive, completely different to the above picture and my original idea of who Olive is... I guess it wont hurt to try.

world famous in Canada...

2011-10-07T08:43:00.009+13:00

A while ago I got an email from Eddie Douglas (a children's singer-songwriter from Guelph, Ontario, Canada) asking if he could use an image of my 'Hope floats' print for the cover of his CD. There was a bit of emailing back and forward as we sorted things out and then the finished CD arrived in the mail the other day!!! I am very excited to share it with you today.

It looks amazing to see one of my little girls on the front of a CD!!! Eddie's songs are really lovely and I think my favourites are Luna and Night-time song.

I have also been doing a bit of work on Olive and I think she is nearly finished, so I will share her in my next post (which wont be a month later like my last post... I promise)

I also made the front page on Etsy this morning (while I was sleeping) in this beautiful treasury...

say hello to, Olive...

2011-09-20T10:41:00.000+12:00

(image by Mayu colour swatch by Rachel Follett)

Olive is a very crafty girl, she is always making things... sewing, designing, cutting, inventing, creating, drawing, planning, attaching, imagining, gluing, devising, constructing, altering, thinking...

She makes all of her sisters lovely dresses, although some of her hat designs have never seen the light of day as they are far too extravagant and not particularly practical. She has even designed a few outfits for the dark beast, much to the horror of her sisters. But Olive's thinking is that even baddies need to feel good in what they wear (Olive is very kind like that).

I am thinking of adding some soft blue/green tones in the background and a few essential crafty tools to her tool belt.

I am very very silly...

2011-09-13T10:25:00.001+12:00

I spent all week struggling with these colours for the new sister andthen it hit me, these are Ariadne's colours... no wonder I fell in lovewith this colour swatch when I saw it, they were already so familiar!!!

Soooo... last night I had a rethink about the new sister and I am quite excited about her. It is funny how these things work themselves out. I should have realised early on why it wasn't coming together so easily.

Anyway, more about that in my next post... this post is about the winner of my giveaway!

The winner is #17 Nancy Melbourn!!! (Nancy if you can send me your postal address to katherinequinn@xtra.co.nz and your pick of print you want... {this can be from my shop or blog} let me know and I will get it posted out to you asap with a few extra goodies).

birthday giveaway...

2011-09-06T07:21:00.000+12:00

(a few things I got on a birthday shopping trip in Wellington)

Today is my birthday, I am 40 ...there is not much more I have to say about that.

So I've decided to have a giveaway to celebrate... leave a comment on this post and next Tuesday I will pick someone to win a print from my shop or blog and a few other goodies.

(photo by abbytrysagain colour samples by Rachel Follett)

In other news I have decided on a name for my next sister. I meet a sweet wee girl in the weekend that inspired me, she will be based on these colours above. I just love this combination, they make me happy... so stay tuned!

Don't forget to leave a comment if you want to enter the giveaway.

can I change my mind...

2011-08-21T09:46:00.001+12:00

(Ariadne's knots... unfinished)

I have started writing little info cards to go with my new sister prints (I am getting these ready to list in my shops soon). I am a little worried though... once I have posted these images and my ideas about them are out in the world, can I change my mind? can I decide that maybe Ariadne is not so fond of sheep anymore, that in fact she is a little afraid of them? Or that maybe Arabella isn't completely who I thought she was? or that Genevieve doesn't actually like to talk? Can I change my mind... ?

I'm going where the weather suits my clothes...

2011-08-15T15:44:00.000+12:00

(my wine box offering for this year...)

I have found myself today with an empty 'to do list' So I am thinking I might do a whole lot of nothing today... and considering we are due for a big storm to hit it is probably a pretty good idea. But we probably wont get any interesting weather as it usually peters out before it hits us.

I have finished my wine box for this years auction... I had a few chemical reactions that exploded on the surface which added an interesting dimension. It is titled "I'm going where the weather suits my clothes" will let you know how much it goes for in the auction.

Something else I have been thinking of doing is a big abstract canvas painting for myself, really big like 1m x .5m (that is big for me). It will be like a big huge experiment. I am thinking that these chemical reactions I have had on the wine box might be interesting to try on the canvas... although it would be good to see if I can control them a little.

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately... I just hope all these thoughts will come to fruition.

I have been thinking...

2011-08-07T08:56:00.000+12:00

I have been thinking about my sisters this past month... just thinking about them as I have been too busy to be working on them (I miss them). I have been thinking about who they are, what they like to wear and what sort of note book they would like to use if they needed one. So from there I thought that I might like to design a range of jewellery, stationery etc... for each of them (like the Genevieve range or the Ariadne range).

It's just an idea...

sweet and kind...

2011-07-05T13:54:00.005+12:00

(I really love this image I found somewhere on tumblr)

So, I have nothing to show for the last few weeks.  I have been doing lots, don't get me wrong... but nothing I can show.  I have a market this weekend which I have been making more stuff for and I have also been getting myself sorted for a retreat early next year that I will be involved with (more on this later).  And then there is work... it has been crazy busy there!  

I have some ideas forming for another sister, she will be sweet and kind and love to sew... so stay tuned for that soon.

My daughter turned 18 last week... WOW is all I can say about that.

Arabella and her fish necklace...

2011-06-20T12:28:00.002+12:00

Arabella knows stuff, she has a knowledge of things that is different to Genevieve's practical expertise... Arabella's is more of an intuitive knowledge, a familiarity she gains from contact with life, from rolling in it like the ebb and flow of the waves.

She is a watcher and a thinker and when she talks everyone tends to listen... she is often surrounded by animals and fish leap out of the water when she is near.

I have only been fishing once, it was when I accompanied a neighbour who had done a lot of fishing to the river... I never caught a fish but I did happen to snag a $20 note on my line. On the way home he said to me "Kate (he called me Kate not Katherine and I let him)... in all my days I have never had a catch quite like that" Oh and there was another time, but that way my brother's story... when he got my Aunt tangled up in his line even before we got to the water, that made me laugh.

Arabella...

2011-06-16T08:52:00.000+12:00

Well... I decided to get rid of the swimming cap covered in holes and replace it with this lovely blue one, I also gave her some piggy tail tufts and a flowing cape...

I am still working on who Arabella is, although one thing I do know is that she has a strong affinity with the sea... As kids my brother and I were always in and out of water, (I guess living on an Island at the bottom of the pacific ocean you can't help but always be near the sea) my father had all sorts of diving equipment and I used to love floating on top of the water with a mask and snorkel. It was always so relaxing and quiet, just the amplified sound of my steady breathing... I couldn't imagine being angry under water.

Simple Pleasures...

2011-06-13T12:05:00.000+12:00

One of our video students was the runner for this very sweet love story, set on a braeburn orchard... filmed in Hawke's Bay... I just had to share.

I am in the middle of a few commissions at the moment so the seven sisters have been put on hold, although I have been getting Ariadne and Genevieve ready to list as prints (and maybe pendants)? in my etsy and felt shops... sometimes all that prep stuff can take just as much time as painting them!!!

not all ideas are good ones...

2011-06-08T20:55:00.000+12:00

Do you ever get the feeling you are swimming through a thick fog... well that is kind of how I am feeling at the moment. Ariadne and Genevieve came about quite quickly and I think I was expecting the next one to be the same... I started with the idea that she would be a seafaring sister, but what I thought were good ideas in my head weren't so good once I tried them, like the picture above... a swimming cap with holes?

I think I have to also keep in mind that the 7 sisters are probably going to be a long term project and that I need to enjoy the creative process and not worry to much about dud ideas, there are bound to be lots of these, they are all part of the process... just relax and don't worry.

ideas wall...

2011-06-01T10:44:00.000+12:00

(Genevieve and her ideas wall)

Genevieve has pinned up a few of her thoughts and ideas about the winged contraption that she made last Tuesday. She is thinking of making a similar contraption for each of her sisters (in case of an emergency). The other sisters look to Genevieve for guidance, she is very strong willed and knows her own mind and often has really good ideas, just as long as she is wearing her goggles, otherwise... as I said before she doesn't function in quite the same way as she does while wearing them.

I am still a little unclear of Genevieve's background both visually and actually... I am thinking she might live on a hill between the sea and a forest that merges into the outskirts of Ariadne's labyrinth, in a big tall castle like house, or maybe more like a lighthouse? I might have to draw a map???

Genevieve...

2011-05-26T20:43:00.000+12:00

Well... this is Genevieve, she is an inventor of handy machines, especially flying ones.

You can usually tell when Genevieve is inventing, she will be wearing her special flying goggles (she says it helps her focus). The other sisters think she should probably wear them all the time as she can be a little absent minded and clumsy when not inventing, but she is very handy to have around in the type of emergency where you need a device (especially a flying one) very handy indeed.

Genevieve scribbles ideas, details and notes to herself on numerous pieces of paper... and leaves these around the place in case others might also find them of interest.

I am not totally sure of Genevieve's surroundings yet? but I think the above image is on the right track... she is a steampunk kind of girl.

strength and purpose...

2011-05-23T20:03:00.000+12:00

(every now and then Ariadne likes to collect up all her wool and loose herself in the labyrinth)

I have got Ariadne's story pretty much sorted in my head, it is now just a matter of getting it out of my head and onto paper, although I am sure it will evolve and change as time goes on. I have also been thinking about how the 7 characters will interact with each other, the movie '9' comes to mind, how each character has strength, spirit and a purpose and together they form a strong alliance against baddies... I like that.

A few people at work have been calling them the '7 sisters'

Next post I am going to introduce a new sister...

I have one or two names in mind for the next sisters but if anyone has other suggestions I would really appreciate hearing them (thanks to all who left suggestions on facebook).

this much I know...

2011-05-18T23:10:00.006+12:00

(I have not finished this one yet, there are a few other things I might add yet...)

I think the biggest test will be whether I can keep each girls features and characteristics the same so they are recognisable as being themselves (I think the shading on this ones face is a little darker than the first one). So to aid this I am thinking I will keep some similar features, elements or themes for each of them...

Ariadne is always going to have a red scarf, green eyes, a viking type hat and more often than not a red dress. There will also be any one or more of the following around her, a strand of red wool, flying birds, a maze wall, sheep, signs and arrows. Ariadne is quiet and thoughtful and a little bit shy, she is very quick on her feet and is ever so clever, as she would need to be to navigate herself and others through the endless labyrinth and away from the dark beast... who lives in a dark fort on a hill in the middle of the labyrinth.

Say hello to Ariadne...

2011-05-16T13:06:00.000+12:00

So this is Ariadne... she spends most of her days tending her sheep and wandering around the labyrinth, she carries a ball of red wool in her pocket which her mother spun for her so she can find her way out again. Although she is quite shy she does like to help people who have found themselves lost in the labyrinth. She would hate for them to accidentally find their way to the dark beast who lives in the middle of the labyrinth.

my first character...

2011-05-11T11:53:00.000+12:00

Last night I started developing the story behind my first character... her name will be Ariadne and she likes mazes. Which is what the image above is, does it look like a maze wall? I think I might need to do a bit more shading behind the wall to show depth...and then tonight I will start on Ariadne herself.

un... un... un...

2011-04-28T11:21:00.000+12:00

(untitled, unfinished and undecided)

I have bugs, I think they are the little blue and green spotted chest bugs... most annoying!

I did this little painting over easter, I really like the girls face on this one and I think she will become one of the notebook girls. Speaking of the notebooks I have decided which ones I will use (very important decision) Hahnemuehle's little travel booklets... high quality sketch paper 140gsm, 2 x 20 sheets, 9 x 14cm portrait size, they are very unassuming and I am just hoping I don't freak out about ruining the clean, fresh, lovely, newness of them!

I am not sure whether it is best to concentrate on one at a time or to have them all open and on the go at the same time? Hmmmm, maybe I will do one at a time to start off with.

the plan...

2011-04-24T11:15:00.002+12:00

(the one on the right has clear tar gel, which I am really liking, it makes the white paint underneath glow a little... They both have interesting qualities that I would like to try again, but I guess I just can't see my girls in these)?

Ok... so I have realised that I can't schedule creativity... I was so looking forward to my two days of painting, I could hardly wait. But when Friday morning came I didn't feel like rushing into it, so I did stuff around the house. I pretty much did anything I could to give me an excuse not to pick up my paint brush. I was so mad with myself... but it is silly as I know this happens, I know this is how I can be. So next time I tell everyone I am going to schedule a painting session just whisper in my ear "that's a silly idea Katherine".

But as you can see above I did do a bit of mucking around... a few paper collages. They are not quite what I was wanting, but then again I don't really think I am sure I had a true idea of what I wanted to come out of this play date? I think I am jumping too far ahead of myself and too quickly. I still want people to know it is my work they are looking at. I guess it is like when you hear a song on the radio and you really like it and want more... but then you hear the rest of the album and if it is totally different it can be quite disappointing (especially if you have forked out some money on one of those old fashioned CD things at a record store).

I guess what I am saying is I don't want to change so much that people wont recognise me in my work but I do feel like it is time to develop my work a bit further. Which is where the characters come in... I think in having 5 - 7 different personalities I can work with the soft pastel colour for one character and then bright demanding colours for another instead of trying to get all that I love into one piece. Does that make sense? I am going to start with a little notebook for each character and then develop a name, personality and life around the notes and drawings in each book... yeah so that's the plan.

my own bunch of super heroes...

2011-04-20T19:43:00.001+12:00

(one of three pieces I have just finished for a gallery down south)

I am so hanging out to do some painting for myself... I feel I haven't done any for so so long, and that is because I haven't! I have been catching up with work for galleries and getting ready for a few markets that I have coming up. So I have decided to set aside some time over Easter to paint, draw and create. I think I am worried about things not working out and then it all being a waste of time. Because at the moment time seems to be so precious, I know I will frown at myself if I have nothing to show for my two days of play except a great big bloody mess to clean up!!!

So... I have been telling myself that this will be time for developing and exploring new ideas. I really want to develop a few new background techniques and create 5 - 7 characters (I know I want one of them to a viking descendant). I am not expecting to get all of this done in the two days, but I want to make a damn good start on it. I also want to document it in my work book, something I used to do on a regular basis, but I don't think I have done an entry so far this year, in fact probably not since my exhibition in October last year?

I have also been having an internal battle lately with what I think people want to see and what I want to do... I am not sure these are the same thing, or maybe they are? (I do worry what other people think, which can be quite exhausting). This is the reason why I want to create a series of characters that are all different but belong together, maybe represent a small part of myself that the viewer will find they can also relate to? I see them as being my own bunch of super heroes.

Oh and by the way... I have a print up for grabs at New Zealand Handmade if anyone is interested...

whoflungdung...

2011-04-05T10:21:00.000+12:00

I have been working like a machine this week getting work done for a few galleries and I am pleased to say I am just about finished. Then next week I am looking forward to playing around with a few more backgrounds. I am really looking forward to playing without the fear of deadlines, without the feeling that I should be doing something else. I am also missing blogging on a regular basis, without new work I feel I can't do a post.

I finished this one above in between getting work done for galleries and although it is still a work in progress I am happy with it so far. I am changing the faces a little, I really want to create some regular characters... So when people see them they can say 'oh that's whoflungdung or whoseewhatsit'

I am also in the middle of doing some pendants for my etsy shop... and will hopefully take pictures and list them this weekend if it isn't raining!.. apparently there is a cold front heading up the country with heavy rain... good weather for watching DVDs I am thinking.

not quite white...

2011-03-27T17:29:00.000+13:00

I have decided to pay a bit more attention to my backgrounds... I tend to do the girls first and then the backgrounds feel as though they are an afterthought.

So above is my first attempt at thoughtful backgrounds... I am quite proud of the amount of colour I have achieved here. I was sitting at my table ready to start this piece, I had white paint and an off white colour called cloud and that was it... I thought to myself 'Katherine how are you supposed to achieve any sort of colour with white and not quite white'!!! So I got out some chalk pastel pencils and started working intuitively, just going with the flow, adding colour here and there... and using my not quite white paint to get rid of anything I didn't like.

There are parts that I really love and parts that need a bit more attention... and I am not really sure what the taller house is saying yet but I think it is a good start and am looking forward to spending more time on this process.

For those that were interested in some of the pendants from a few posts ago, I will add some to my Etsy shop soon when I can get some good pictures of them... stay tuned.

Love Love Love...

2011-03-24T10:29:00.002+13:00

A really cool Kiwi band... Am totally loving this local cleverness and the video is so super cute too! (and and and the drummer is the son of a guy I work with).

Next post will me some new work!!!

being kind to each other...

2011-03-20T19:22:00.000+13:00

I have been busy making pendants this last week... I was supposed to be making some new works for a few galleries, but that didn't really seem to happen and they have now been added to this coming weeks to do list. I am hoping to use some of the skills and ideas I learnt in my 'get your paint on' class in this new set of paintings... (will see what happens).

I am thinking the colours of these pendants above might be the inspiration I need to get on with the paintings I need to get done. These rich reds, pinks, pale blues, dusky grays and peachy colours are really inspiring me at the moment. I am also wanting to continue the theme of community in my paintings, I think with what is going on in our world at the moment, community is very important... just being kind to each other.

fly...

2011-03-12T08:29:00.002+13:00

Dear blog of mine, I am so sorry for the neglect and am really happy that when I signed in you remembered who I was... it has been quite some time.

I have been very busy the last few weeks filling gallery orders, crazy busy!!! and this coming week I am starting on a new lot of girls beginning with the one above. And I am so excited and honoured to be featured on Beth's lovely website Do what you love as her latest interview http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/blog/2011/03/10/do-what-you-love-interview-katherine-quinn/. So if you want to read a bit more about me and my work click on the link and let me know what you think. If you leave a comment at the end of the interview you can win a print of the above painting and the pendant that this girl is wearing.

little communities...

2011-02-27T19:26:00.000+13:00

With the earthquake happing early in the week my mind was completely fixed on the television watching the horror that was unfolding down south and not on the assignment for week 4 of Get your paint on.

After seeing and hearing about all that was happening in Christchurch I started thinking about communities coming together, helping each other, being there for each other. And not just local community... I am completely amazed at the help that has come from all over the world to help the people of Christchurch.

So these are my little communities coming together...

six point three...

2011-02-22T22:12:00.000+13:00

Please keep the people of Christchurch in your thoughts and hearts as they have been hit by another earthquake, this one 6.3 has caused more devastation than the 7.1 earthquake in September last year. They suspect 65 plus dead with 200 missing. I work with a few people who have family down in Christchurch and I really feel for them. I just can't imagine going through this for a second time....

freaking out seems to suit me...

2011-02-16T20:38:00.000+13:00

After reading the assignment for week 3 in my 'Get your paint on' class I started getting very excited at the prospect of using colour {I kind of have a problem with using colour} I then went to bed and completely freaked out... and freaking out seems to suit me as several people told me the next day, I was looking good.

So anyway we were to choose 4 colours from objects in your life and try to match the colors as accurately as possible by mixing your paints and incorporate them into your painting. I chose red, a lovely pale blue, charcoal and white... I don't think I got the blue quite right in hindsight {might need a tinge of yellow}. I started with a cerulean blue background and quickly painted over with my pale blue mix leaving a bit of the bright blue peaking through to give my background a little noise. I then painted the tent mixing a red {that matched my handbag} and the doily printed foreground, added the trees, bunting, the clouds and a few other details.

I am rather shocked, it was not really what I was thinking when I started... the tent was going to be someones neck!!! I am kind of liking this intuitive was of image making, it is like opening a present.

lucky lucky me...

2011-02-12T21:42:00.003+13:00

I don't really think any words are needed here...

except maybe a little note for those who are interested... at 1:57 in this video clip I am pretty sure they are traveling through the grape vines behind Te Mata Peak in Hawke's Bay... {where I live}.

get your paint on...

2011-02-08T19:11:00.002+13:00

I have enrolled in 'Get your paint on' a five week online painting class with Lisa Congdon and Mati McDonough. We are into week 2 and our second assignment is to find a painting by another artist that we love and take something from that painting and incorporate it into a painting of our own. Well I chose a Kiwi artist I recently discovered during the Christmas holidays... Mandy Emerson. I just fell in love with a painting of hers behind the counter in a little art supplies shop in Greytown.

Mandy Emerson uses the intense colours that I really love and she seems to use a lot of mediums that don't like each other, that produce a chemical reaction. I like this idea and have done it in the past with oil based printing ink and shellac. So above is the first part of my play with this assignment... I have used iridescent oil sticks with a light layer of acrylic paint. The water based acrylic has a very subtle dislike for the oil layer underneath and has produced a nice effect. I have then lightly brushed areas of the paint off with my fingers so the shiny oil stick colour glows through in places.

I have actually found this quite fun, it was the first time I have had a real play on a stretched canvas... one thing I didn't like though was that I couldn't use my stamps on it as the surface wasn't strong enough to take a print from the stamp... more soon.

#709...

2011-02-02T20:02:00.000+13:00

I have been spending the last week making a few new pendants and as you can see from the picture above, it all looks like a bit of a muddle. Which is actually an accurate picture of how my brain feels at the moment... I have so many things on the go, partly finished, I sit at my kitchen table looking at the mess wondering where to start. When I do start I flit from one project to the other and don't really get anything done. Is anyone else feeling this way lately...?

I think I might have to start making a well thought out prioritised list...

finish off the last works for gallery in Wellington
finalise pendant designs and finish them off for the gallery in Wellington
go to an exhibition opening on Friday night and then catch up with a few arty friends afterwards
decide on designs and make some more pendants to take to two local galleries to pick from
do a piece of work for the online course I am taking... get your paint on before Sunday
Ring up and order the wooden panels for the two new galleries that want works ready to hang and not how I would normally do them
transfer more money onto my credit card to do the above
readjust the sizes of works to fit the new wooden panels
do 12 works to fit the new sizes from above... (there will be a whole other list that goes with this wee job)
decide on designs and make another lot of pendants to send to the two new galleries
list some of my new mini prints on felt
list some new pendants on etsy
find my doily stamp and have a play with it
get some more #709 chalk pastels
do some new houses

So that will be my list so far... and hopefully on completing the above I will feel a little less muddled. I also think starting back at work this week with procedures and practices that are still a little unknown and new is adding to the state of my muddled brain. But I am remembering one of my words for the year... {brave} and am surging onwards nodding my head saying 'yes I can'.

cheeky Kaka...

2011-01-29T17:52:00.001+13:00

We have been back form our little trip to the Wairarapa for a few days now and I am in shock thinking there are only a few days left before I start back at work for the new year!!!

On the top of my to do list was to visit Paul Melser a potter in Carterton, I bought some plates and bowls from him about 9 years ago and I was very keen to visit again and replace a few that had broken over the years. He has a beautiful gallery and a workshop where he showed Ben how to turn a vase and then a plate on Ben's request.

We also went to Mount Bruce and enjoyed the beautiful native bush walks and wildlife...

I think the highlight for Ben was the cheeky Kaka waiting for us to finish our lunch...

...so they could enjoy the leftovers.

We also watched some native eels having their lunch... a little bit eeeew, but strangely intriguing.

Here is Ben next to a very tall friend.

It was really nice to see my god parents again and have a bit of a catch up. I also managed to pick up two new galleries along the way that are interested in showing my work. So it was a good end to the holidays and a most enjoyable trip, I look forward to going down that way again, maybe this time I wont wait 9 years.

p.s... new mini house prints are being added today to my etsy shop (Sunday 30th January).

relatives by choice...

2011-01-22T19:23:00.001+13:00

I have had a few emails and comments wondering whether I was doing any prints of my houses... well I have decided to do four of my houses on cliff as mini prints... they will be 4 x 6 {the size of a photo}. I might also do a series of prints featuring my house on a hill. So look out for these in my etsy shop soon... probably next week.

We are off on a wee holiday to Carterton on Monday to see Robin and Bill {relatives by choice} they are the lovely sort of people you choose to be a part of your family. It will be a nice adventure, good to have a change of scenery before I start work the following week.

wonky smoke...

2011-01-18T21:04:00.000+13:00

It has been really hot here the last few days so I haven't been doing a lot of painting, when I say I haven't been doing a lot I really mean I haven't been doing any. But I did manage to do the painting above this evening {once it got a bit cooler}. I am really liking the extra words in the backgrounds and the wonky smoke... also the strips at the top and bottom... a little bit of framing.

We are supposed to get thunder and lightening tonight so I am crossing my fingers, I love love love a good thunder storm!

This weekend I am going to go mad making more pendants, I don't have many left from last year so I feel it is time to replenish stocks... I just hope my supplies will arrive in time. I also have another idea in the pendant line that I will share with you once I have made a few... so stay tuned.

less than pleased...

2011-01-13T19:35:00.000+13:00

Hmmmm... well I have spent two days trying to create communities and I am less than pleased. I started out with the bottom right picture... the middle house is me and the little one on my right is Ben. The one to the left is Hannah, she is 17 and is very eager to create her own community, hence her being slightly separated. The blue below is like the blood that connects us... type thing.

So then I did the next one... bottom left, which is my Mum and Dad, flowers because they are both have green thumbs. It is night time in their world at the moment {I just wanted to try the pretty black paper whose patterns I thought looked like constellations}.

After these two small little communities I decided to have a go at a bigger one... well, yeah it is a bit of a mish mash. There are parts that I don't really like and parts that I like even less. So I feel a little disappointed that they haven't really turned out the way I had hoped, and in saying this I am not exactly sure how I imagined them turning out. I am coming to the conclusion that it takes a while to create a community, these things just don't happen overnight.

I have been watching "Pushing Daisies" love love love this...

the heart of our own communities...

2011-01-09T22:20:00.001+13:00

{You are probably going to get sick of seeing these houses}

I have just finished Maeve Binchy's book "Minding Frankie" and the thought of not spending any more time with Frankie and her family is making me a little sad. I just loved it, I love how Maeve Binchy has written several books based on the characters featured in this latest novel... it is like catching up with old friends, so so good.

Reading "Minding Frankie" has started me thinking about how we are the heart of our own communities and how each of those communities are connected. Like a great big family tree, or like a crazy diagram a scientist would draw to describe the mathematical reason behind our connections, connections to places, connections to things and to each other. I am not sure you know what I am getting at but tomorrow, with this thought in mind, I am going to start a painting with a single house and build a community around it...

not entirely sure...

2011-01-04T21:04:00.000+13:00

{I will list the above original collage painting and 3 others in my etsy shop and another 4 in my felt shop in the next few days}

I have heard of a few people who are starting the new year with a word to live by instead of a list of resolutions. So I have been thinking of a word and... well, I kind of come up with three that are sort of related.

Brave
Fearless
yes

The truth is... I need to get some guts... I don't like change, I get nervous around new people {I am pretty sure I can come off a little odd on first meeting because of this}, I over think situations before they even happen and I will more often than not say no because I don't think I will be able to do what is requested.

I am not entirely sure how I am going to go about making these three words a part of my everyday life yet, but I will keep them in mind as I head into 2011.

worse for wear...

2010-12-30T23:02:00.000+13:00

I feel a little like a real estate agent... maybe not a real estate agent, maybe more a construction company that sidelines in real estate. I build a few houses on a hill then I remove one and replace it with another, then I fill them with imaginary families. I am not too sure about the sky yet, it is quite hard to see in this picture but there is subtle colour there, but I don't think it is quite enough... so I will work on that.

I took my Christmas tree down today {the day before new years eve} I know there are rules and rituals about this sort of thing but... well... I just don't like the idea of starting the new year with last years Christmas tree sitting in the lounge looking a little worse for wear, it just doesn't feel right. Has anyone else broken the rules or planning on breaking them?

Anyway I wish you all a happy and safe end to 2010 and a wonderful new year to come... xxx

it is probably best to look in both directions...

2010-12-29T09:06:00.001+13:00

Some of my Christmas presents...

DVDs... The Jane Austin book club, and a three pack

Books... Knit two Kate Jacobs, The Pact Jodi Picoult and Minding Frankie Maeve Binchey

A map thermo cup

perfume CKone

No 3 glass bottle {my favourite number}

A Moopie

bedside lamp

string dispenser with a place to put sissors {very handy for a girl like me}

babushka dolls

I also got a few other things, but they were in use at the time of this photo shoot... sandwich press grill thing, a beautiful mosaic plate that is piled with goodies and a herb chopper.

I am going to a friends place soon for a day of 'making'... so last night I got out my box of bits for making my new house pictures and added a few things... my 2011 diary which I have covered in red leather {top left... just a wee note here if I ever say left or right, it is probably best to look in both directions} I think I might add some coloured end papers to my new diary {I can't stop picking this up and holding it in my hands, it feels and smells so lovely}, an old piece of work I found the other day that I might want to rework, a creepy but cool moopie face that I haven't actually done anything with yet... but I like to look at it so will bring it along for a day out. Also some pages from old books and an old piece of paper that is handwritten in French text that I plan to use for houses. When I bought the pages with French text from a shop in town the lady said 'oh these are so lovely I have them displayed in a roll on my mantlepiece'... she then asked what I had in mind for mine, I said 'I am actually going to rip mine up'. The look on her face was rather funny.

So at the end of today I plan to have a few more house pictures done and my red leather diary ready for the coming year.

if you squint your eyes it looks like it's snowing...

2010-12-23T23:21:00.012+13:00

More houses... these are starting to remind me a little of maps, maybe it is the colours I am using, or possibly some of the little characteristics I am using are reminding me of the details on a map, like the white half circles represent waves and the graphite ones are rocks... maybe I need a key at the side like on a map? Hmmmmm...

I thought I would share a few things that are happening in my world over the last few days before Christmas...

We don't have snow here, not even in the winter time... but we do have this tree (not sure what it is called). it is covered in blossoms at the moment and when the wind blows the petals all float down and if you squint your eyes it looks like it's snowing... it really does.

This is my favourite tree decoration, a friend gave me a set of five of them , they are each holding something different around their necks and they all have small nails for hair (which are quite hard to see in this picture). They also have arms that swing back and forth and one day a friend of Hannah's came over and thought that our angels were carrying rifles as one of their arms were sticking right out (it really did look like a rifle... she must have thought we were quite odd).

It was so warm the other night I decided to have fruit salad for tea... water melon, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, paw paw and nectarine... mmmm I heart fruit salad for tea.

So thats what has been going on around here... I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your families and will look forward to sharing 2011 with you. I am not so good with words, but I would also like to say thanks, now that isn't just the ordinary thanks, as in thanks for the salt type thanks, it is the thanks that says I wouldn't be where I am today without your support type thanks... that silent kind of thanks that goes beyond words.

Thanks... xxx

if only I was able...

2010-12-21T21:06:00.000+13:00

Wow... it was so muggy today, not really good weather for doing anything much. In saying this I am really aware of those in the northern hemisphere who are suffering the opposite. would be nice if we could swap a few degrees.

Anyway this is the third piece in my houses series. I am quite partial to the house on the far right, I think I would like to live in it... if only I was able. Something else I used to do a lot of in my old house paintings were washing lines (washing is my most favourite household chore). So you might see a few of these in amongst my new houses.

If anyone is interested I will be adding some of these to my poor neglected etsy shop in the next few weeks.

Now I must dash as there is a total lunar eclipse happing in just a few minutes!

minding my own business...

2010-12-18T09:43:00.013+13:00

Someone came to my stall at the Fruit Bowl Craft Jam and told me she had a piece of my work from a few years ago... she said it was of 3 houses. I haven't done one of them for about four years now and so I have decided to take this small connection as a sign to give them a go again... {my Mum will be pleased}.

Houses have always been an important part of my work... many years ago I based my end of year student exhibition on these handmade books I made in the shape of houses and a few years after that I had several exhibitions with my printing ink and shellac houses. Anyway... these new pieces will be a little bit different from the old ones, for anyone who remembers them. Although I am still wanting to incorporate maps, silk tissue, stitches and page numbers... all of which I used in the old houses and maybe a few new things like fish, flowers and boats {especially the handy little tug boats}.

Well... it was my last day of work yesterday and I am looking forward to getting ready for Christmas and six weeks of holidaying. Despite the fact I am starting my holidays with a swollen and bruised ankle... I was walking back from the mail room at work, reading a Gordon Harris Christmas catalogue minding my own business but not watching where I was going. A split second later I found myself sitting in the garden with a very sore ankle! Luckily it was the end of the year so there weren't so many people around and no one saw... {I hope}.

natural to my hands...

2010-12-13T20:53:00.000+13:00

I have been re-aquainting myself with my art supplies the last few days. After a long break (two and a half months!!!) I sometimes struggle to get back into the routine of making art again and I find the best way is to do something I know, something that comes natural to my hands without too much thought. Starting with something familiar works well for me as it gets my brain into the groove of creating again, slowly bringing back the thoughts, methods and feelings I have filed away from where I left off last time and the new ones since.

I usually pile my table high with pretty papers, colours that inspire, quotes that get me thinking, inspiration from others, notes and sketches scrawled on scrap pieces of paper... and I soak it all up. These first few days of diving back in can be a little frustrating as I nut things out, but it is a necessary part of my process and sometimes good things can come...

it's me again...

2010-12-06T22:07:00.000+13:00

Wow what a crazy month it has been... that kind of wonderful crazy that happens at this time of the year. I like to keep myself busy and boy has it been that!

The photos below are from the Fruit Bowl Craft Jam at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings, just last weekend, wow what an amazing weekend. This all weather venue was the perfect place to hold a market, such a wonderful setting. It was light and airy and plenty of room for all the lovely stalls and stall holders... some of which were old friends who I hadn't seen in a while, some I work with and saw the day before and some were new friends I had never meet before.

(Hawke's Bay Opera House... Fruit Bowl Craft Jam 2010)

(my stall... looking from the street back into the market)

(a rather messy close up of my table... bookmarks, pendants, prints, diaries and an empty water bottle)

(and the other end of my table... diaries, magnets, calendars, notepads, prints, button magnets and cards)

It was so lovely to meet all the people who came by my table... I really enjoyed meeting you all and appreciate your custom and interest in my work. I am always so nervous before these kinds of things, not knowing how it will go, what people will think etc... But I always come away with a really good feeling inside.

blog break...

2010-11-03T20:15:00.000+13:00

I have decided I might take a blog break for a few weeks... just while I get all these things made for the three markets that are coming up. I am not doing any new works during this time so I don't really have anything new to show you. But I will come back soon with some photos of my stalls and the beautiful settings where some of the markets will be held. I might also fit in a little bit of painting... I can already feel the withdrawal after not picking up a paint brush since the opening of my exhibition starting to set in.

So see you again soon... x

a little lost...

2010-10-27T19:06:00.001+13:00

This is the beginning of a new piece of work... I am not sure what it will look like when it is finished or where it will lead but this is where it's at right now.

While I was nearing the end of getting work ready for the exhibition I had a lot of new ideas forming in my head, but I couldn't really do anything about them as I didn't have time to start new works. And now these ideas have gone... well maybe not gone, they have just gotten a little lost. Which is the way I am feeling at the moment. Like this piece above I am not sure where I am heading, where I want to go, want to be... I feel like I am just a tiny step ahead of everything, with not much room for breathing. Although I guess it is better than being a step behind and it is probably just the way it is at this time of the year.

I am finding it is so easy these days to give myself a hard time for not living up to my own dreams... I wonder whether there is anyone out there who is completely living the life they dreamed?

Out of the blue the other day Ben asked me this...

Ben..."Is Michael Jackson dead"?
Me... "yes he is"
Ben..."was he alive before he died"?

I am the winner of aroha...

2010-10-22T11:24:00.000+13:00

button magnets

I have had a few days of doing nothing much after my exhibition opened and now I am starting to think about making things for the three art markets I will be involved in, which start 21 November...

So here is a list of things I will be making in the next month...

magnets
cards
prints
bookmarks
diaries
button magnets
pendants

I have started on the button magnets... these are very cute and the magnet is very strong. Both Hannah and Ben had fun with the magnets before I glued them onto the glass button. After finishing these I proudly showed Ben what I had done with them he got very upset and wanted me to take the magnets off my new creations as I had ruined his fun.

Some exciting news... I just found out yesterday that I was the winner of Pam's giveaway!!! and this is the print that will soon be on it's way to me... I can't wait!

Aroha (which means love in Maori)

exhibition opening...

2010-10-18T20:48:00.005+13:00

It can be so hard putting your heart and soul up on the wall for all to see and comment on, in fact... really quite scary. As I was hanging my work yesterday afternoon I asked myself several times why am I doing this? It wasn't until I woke this morning that I remembered why... I do it because it makes me happy and after all the nerves and self doubt, last night... I went to bed happy.

just finished the hanging

my Dad next to the food table down the back

people looking just after we opened the doors

and more people looking

Latecia showing me her favourite...

Thank you everyone who came and supported me it was a great opening and to all those who would have liked to have been there but couldn't make it or were just too far away (as in the other side of the world) I really appreciate your kind words and thoughts. xxx

Christmas ornament swap...

2010-10-12T11:57:00.000+13:00

I am taking part in this 'Christmas ornament swap'... if you would like to take part in this fun global event as well or want to read more about it click here.

I am not completely sure what I will make for it yet... but am thinking along the lines of a magnet of some sort??? Maybe a multi purpose magnet that can be hung on your Christmas tree or for your fridge... hmmmm?

no pink cheeks...

2010-10-08T22:43:00.001+13:00

(after this piece was finished I realised I forgot to give her pink cheeks)

On the way home from a little road trip during the week Hannah and I had this conversation...

Me...'that is the All day breakfast place where people go in and never come out'
Hannah... 'really'
I nodded and after a few kilometers of silence...
Hannah...'didn't we stop there once'?
Me...'yeah we got ice blocks'
Then we both looked at each other and burst out laughing.

For some reason when I think back to this conversation it still really cracks me up, just one of those silly moments where I guess you had to be there.

Some things I am looking forward to...

8:30pm 17 October as I shut the doors on the opening of the exhibition
having a play around with a few new ideas
getting things ready for the next design market
'How to train your dragon' coming to DVD
playing dinosaurs tomorrow morning

What are you looking forward to...

miscellaneous components...

2010-10-03T21:00:00.000+13:00

Ben and I had fun the other day making these magnet characters... I started collecting a whole lot of magnets and little bits of metal years ago, and to be honest, I was actually quite obsessed for a while. I remember going into Mitre 10 Mega to have a look around and found a treasure trove of little metal bits. One of the assistants came over to see if I needed help and asked what I was going to use the bits for. I said "Oh nothing in particular... I've just gotta have them" He said ok... and backed away. So Mitre 10 Mega man I hope you read my blog and see that I am not a complete nutter.

It is amazing how a few little miscellaneous components when put together can become something quite wonderful. It is the art of giving life to and therefore having feelings for inanimate objects. Hannah was always a big one for doing this when she was younger, and even now at 17, as we looked at an old suitcase for $10... I said 'is that cool or a little too ratty', she decided it was the latter. I said 'oh well' and started walking away, she stayed there looking at it and said 'oh now I feel sorry for it' and tried to talk me into buying it.... I didn't buy it, with her teenage brain she had forgotten all about it by the time we had gotten back into the car.

We're all going south...

2010-10-01T09:23:00.000+13:00

Please consider this your official invitation to my exhibition... will be good to see you if you are able to come along.

sorry it is a little blurry, here are the details...

It opens on Sunday 17th October at 5:30pm
Community Art Centre - Hastings

Exhibition runs 18th - 30th October

I have just received a package from Colorado (man I love etsy) containing components to make some button magnets. They are so much fun and I am addicted... I am making them for the Hawkes Bay Design Market on 21st November at Ormlie Lodge. I will post some pictures early next week.

Yesterday I got accepted into the Fruit bowl craft Jam in December... yay! so I will start working on things for that as well...

Porangahau Spring Fair...

2010-09-27T21:26:00.000+13:00

First of all... I just want to say thanks to those who let me know their opinions on my tutu girl, it was really helpful to get a different view point. It can be hard when you are close to a piece of work and good to see it though fresh eyes. I have decided to have no tutu (which was the way I was probably going to go before I asked your help) but I will save the abandoned tutu for another painting in the near future. Thanks again you guys.

The Porangahau craft fair was... well, it was windy, now when I say windy I mean like gale force gusts kind of windy!!! I had to hold down my two easels and pendant stand the whole time I was there. Although the wind did die down a bit in the middle of the day, there was still the odd gust that would suddenly come unannounced causing things to go flying all over again. It was quite exhausting... But apart from the wind it was a good day, quite a few people came through and I meet some really lovely people, even someone who said she reads my blog, so sweet. It was also great to share the experience with fellow New Zealand Handmade members Mel, Kya and Joy.

Here is a picture of my table (I took 7 photos, and this is the only one that looked half way decent). I took the photo just after we set up and it wasn't too bad, wind wise, it actually looked quite promising, little did we know what was to come.

It was really interesting to see what people liked, what they were drawn to, what they requested more of, what nearly ran out and what didn't even get a look in. I really enjoyed talking with the people who came by my stall, nice to hear their positive encouragement and to meet people who had bought some of my work at other venues and recognised it as they walked by.

It has encouraged me to do a little thinking on a few new display ideas for the Hawkes Bay Design Market on November 21st.

tutu or no tutu...

2010-09-24T07:15:00.000+12:00

(so much time gets lost in my mind)

Just a quick post before I go to work. I have a little dilemma... I am not sure about the tutu? I quite like it... but I also like it without the tutu as well (and I do like the little buttons that match her head gear). I am usually so sure with these kind of things. Whenever I try something it is often either a definite yes or a sure fire no... But today it is more of a ummmm yeah I am not sure, type thing.

so what do you guys reckon... tutu or no tutu?

5am...

2010-09-21T20:29:00.011+12:00

(what's at the back of your mind)

I have decided to do another three paintings for my exhibition... I am on the side with a big window at the front of the gallery, so I thought it would be a good idea to put three plinths in the window with a small easel on each and then one of the three new paintings on each easel. So that will be 45 paintings in all for the exhibition... phew!!!! Now that I am on the other side of the work load, I am getting a little bit excited.

This Sunday brings the first of the craft fairs I am attending (Porangahau Spring Fair)... I think I am all sorted, although I have just realised that we are going to have to get up an hour earlier as daylight savings starts this weekend. The clock will say 6am but it will feel like 5am!!!

I always feel a little nervous doing craft fairs, they are such an unknown entity. Even doing the same one from one year to the next can be very different and the one I am going to this weekend will be my first time... eeeek!

Anyway... wish me luck and I will post some photos next week.

my best...

2010-09-17T11:00:00.000+12:00

One of the things on my to do list was to try a few new mediums including the Golden clear tar gel, which I have tried before, but not with the two Golden fluid acrylic colours that you add to make the encaustic look... the two colours that you add are 'quinacridone/nickel azo gold' and 'interference blue'. I added half a drop of the first colour and two of the second to about 1/4 cup of tar gel... I brushed it on the bottom pale green part of this background above and it gave a yellowy waxy look to the paint. Next I am going to try and add more detail to the background before I brush on the tar gel mix.

On the top part I tried a one part crackle medium (this is something I am sure many of you have tried but I have never given it a go, until now)... I first did a coat of thin white paint over a patterned paper and then brushed on the crackle medium (the thicker the medium the bigger the cracks). As it was drying red tones from the patterned paper started coming through. Must be some kind of chemical reaction with the medium and the red ink that the paper was printed with. I brushed another layer of paint on top to try and cover the pinky colour but it didn't really work. So although this is not what I was wanting for this piece it does have potential. I think the crackle medium might be best used on patterned paper that doesn't have any red ink in the design.

We have school holidays coming up soon so I will try a few more ideas with these two mediums and let you know how I get on. I might also focus on a few experiments after my exhibition is finished.

A friend from work gave me this sweet little badge for my birthday... from now on at work it can get a little hairy with students frantically trying to get ready for their end of year assessments and they often come into my storeroom wanting things asap... as in yesterday. So she thought this badge was just the right thing... so cute.

on a promise...

2010-09-14T09:39:00.000+12:00

I so wish I could send every one that commented a print and one for their special chosen person as well, I really do...

But the winner of my giveaway is number 34 Angelina... the number was randomly picked by a friend. Angelina, if you could email me your address to katherinequinn@xtra.co.nz and let me know which two prints you want I will get them sent out to you.

(on a promise)

Well the art retreat was every thing I had hoped for... and it was so nice to see people from last year back again this time and a few new faces. I got a lot of work done including this piece above (not quite finished).

I have used silk tissue on the bottom part stamped with white ink, and I am quite liking the effect. I used to use silk tissue all the time and am pleased I took it with me over the weekend. I also discovered a new paper that I can use as a background as my favourite one is no longer available and I only have 13 sheets left!!! I also had a go at using a few different mediums which I will show you on Friday for those that are interested.

just the right time...

2010-09-10T13:45:00.001+12:00

(a friend in need is a precious thing)

I am off this weekend to an art retreat for three days of creating... I have been looking forward to this for a few weeks. I went last year as well and it was just the thing I needed at just the right time, I feel this year is going to be the same. I will have the winner of my birthday giveaway plus a show and tell about what I got up to this weekend on Tuesday. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too...

birthday giveaway...

2010-09-05T21:24:00.003+12:00

Well... today is my birthday and I have decided to have a giveaway to celebrate turning 39.

Thank you for all your kind comments on my last post. I am not really worried about turning a year older, it just seems to have come around so fast... this year has just whizzed by.

So for this giveaway I am going to give away a print from my etsy or felt shops... as well as the winner choosing a print of their own they can also choose one for a friend, mother, sister etc... All you need to do is tell me who you would give the print to and why.

Good luck

note: When I say today is my birthday I mean 6th September, I published it a bit too early... and also I forgot to say that the giveaway will end monday the 13th September, so you will have a week to enter.... oops

in and out of days...

2010-08-30T21:23:00.000+12:00

I have been flying lately, flying at full speed in and out of days and weeks. Goggles at the ready, propeller whirling like mad, raising my hand for anything that's on offer, forcing this year to its end.

But I need the world to be still for a little while, for just a moment so I can catch my breath... I don't think I am ready for the last year of my thirties, not just yet.

three, two, one...

2010-08-27T22:00:00.003+12:00

I think I have just about over booked myself, I have three craft markets, two online courses and one exhibition coming up... and all before Christmas. But then I think to myself 'what would I rather be doing'... and the truth is, there is nothing I would rather be doing, well maybe apart from a little more travel (someone I work with is off to Italy and then Turkey tomorrow and I am rather jealous).

So many things to think about and organise... especially with the craft markets. It can be a daunting task agonising over what to bring, how much stock to take and whether you have everything organised.

So I have made a list of the things I will be taking to my next craft market...

Your products
How much to bring along is a hard question... from experience, it is way better to take along too much then to have not enough. So over do this part of the preparation, you can store your extra products under the table and bring them out as you need them. If you don't sell out you have a head start on your next craft market.

Display/Packaging
I would make sure that everything is labeled and priced the night before
Table and chairs if they are not suppliedSignage or banner
Displays for your products ie: shelves, easels, baskets, mannequins, mirror for customers etc...
Table cloth or sheet to cover your table
Extra price tags
Bags, paper, bubble wrap, tissue, boxes for sold items
Vase and flowers

Promotional
Business cards
Catalogue or flyers with information about yourself (people like to know this stuff)
A newsletter/mailing list on a clipboard for people to sign up to if they wish
Maybe a copy of your latest newsletter so they can see what they are signing up for
Notebook to record sales, take custom orders, etc...

Money
Receipt book (some people might need one)
Cash box
Change (I usually take $120 which is made up with 1 x $20... 4 x $10... 7 x $5... 5 x $2... 5 x $1)
Calculator

Extra stuff
Scissors
Needle and thread
Safety pins
Craft knife
Pen/pencil
sellotape
Push pins
Stapler
Ruler/tape measure
String
Baby wipes
Rubbish bag
Camera
Mobile phone
Extra paper
Inventory list with prices

For Yourself
Dress in layers
Water/drinks
Snacks
Comfy shoes
Pain relievers/small first aid kit
Tissues
Deodorant
If you are able, wear your items
A friend to help out
A smile

I am lucky because my actual products don't take up more room then your average file box, but with the rest of the things on this list I usually pack them into a big plastic storage box with wheels. And I try to pack all of this in the car the night before to give me a little more time in the morning to tell myself that it will all be ok.

my mum...

2010-08-23T20:46:00.002+12:00

I have the best mum in the world and in space (when Hannah was younger she made my mum a card that said she was the best grandma in the world and in space, it has now become a regular term of endearment in our family) and for as long as I can remember my mum has spun and knitted... when I was obsessed with all things American in my mid teens she knitted me an American flag jumper, leg warmers in the 80's... etc, and has knitted both of my children all the jerseys, slippers, scarfs, hats, and beanies etc... they could ever need. Everyone in our family is always cosy for winter.

(Batman Ben wearing an alpaca beanie)

She has sourced all the fleece from around New Zealand and spins it herself on her Majacraft spinning wheel. She knits at the speed of light and can whip up a pair of slippers in a night... just like that! (sadly, this is a skill I did not inherit, a scarf is my limit... in time for the following winter).

This weekend she decided to open a Felt shop (New Zealand equivalent to Etsy). She will start by selling her slippers in 4 different natural wool colours (size 6 months to 18 months) and 2 colours in super soft alpaca especially for new born to 6 months. Both of my children have grown up wearing these slippers and they are the only ones that have stayed on their feet!

(Ben wearing some of his snugly slippers)

So if you have a little one in your life that needs some practical, snugly, hard wearing slippers take a look at my mum's shop on Felt... you will be pleased you did.

everyday things...

2010-08-20T09:52:00.004+12:00

Faber-Castell 2B Grip pencil

I just love these, they are my most favourite lead pencil to use... I love them.

Faber-Castell triple barrel pencil sharpener

Now there are several barrel sharpeners that I like to use but this one has a sharpener for lead, one for coloured pencil and another one for larger pencils... which I find useful for chalk pastel pencils as the smaller holes seem to crumble the pastel tip.... and it matches my most favourite pencil in the world.

Faber-Castell eraser with procective sleeve

I have never found a better eraser, I have used some that smudge the lead when I rub out a pencil mark on paint, but not this one... and because of the protective sleeve they stay clean.

Water colour pencils

These are the coloured pencils I use to draw the faces on my girls and to do shading on their dresses and colouring up the edegs of my paintings. Because the are water colour pencils it is a good option to add water if you need to.

Watersoluble crayons

There are so many things you can do with these crayons, very versatile... and so many great colours too. They really spread really well when you add water so you don't need to use too much.

Basic Gray papers

There are far too many to list... I love them all.

White pen

This is the juiciest white pen I have ever used... I use it for dabbing the sparkle dot in my girls eyes, adding spots to hats and dresses and any other little details.

Pebbles Inc. Earthtone chalks

These are so much fun to use with the applicator tool, adding colour to my girls faces, it is like I am their make up artist. The light blue colour in the middle is my most favourite colour in this set.

Filbert brushes

You can paint anything with these brushes, they have slightly rounded edges which make them good for blending. You can get these at any art supplies shop.

Fiskars scissors

My most favourite scissors... the little pair of scissors I use to cut out faces and other small bits and pieces and the large pair I use to cut out... big stuff.

Varnish

This is my favourite varnish... I have tried many different ones and this seems to really enhance whats underneath.

Clear tar gel

I have just started using this and I am really liking what it does over the paint... it gives an encaustic look.

Cutting mat

I have several of these that are permanent residence on my kitchen table, couldn't live without them.

Well that is pretty much the tools I use everyday... what do you use everyday?

how do I get there from here...

2010-08-17T14:57:00.000+12:00

(a little bit of extra help from a wee propeller)

I have been thinking about where I want to go from here... do I want to carry on the way I am going and see what happens... Or do I want more? and if I want more, which I think I might, what more do I want and how do I get there from here?

Now this reminds me of a time once when I was stopped by a couple of tourists wanting to know how to get to another street from where we were... I said to them shaking my head in a very serious voice "Well you can't actually get there from here". They both had startled looks on their faces... I told them "I was just kidding" and gave them directions to where they wanted to go.

It was after this that I realised that technically I can actually go anywhere from here. I just have to decide where it is that I want to go... and then make a plan, map out a route, pack a few essentials, maybe ask for a few directions (but not from Katherine Quinn), step over barriers, smash down those brick walls and pick up a few people along the way...

scaring David...

2010-08-12T18:30:00.001+12:00

This has been making Ben very happy lately... thinking of ways to scare my brother (David). Especially just before bed. He says he's going to dream of new ideas to scare him while he sleeps... then in the morning I hear all about these new plans on the way to school.
(Do you see his little Treasure Protector beside his bed? Marie)

It all started one day when I told him a story of how I scared David in the swimming pool when we were kids. Ben thought it was hysterical and ever since has been making plans for the next time he sees my poor brother.

You will have to excuse the bad light quality, it was bed time.

75mm diameter...

2010-08-10T20:42:00.000+12:00

I haven't done a piece of work especially for myself for a while now... So the other day I bought three cute, round frames and thought over the weekend I would take a bit of time out to draw, paint, collage something for them.

It was fun working in this small round format, quick and easy to fill the space... so now I am thinking I might have to go back and get some more of these frames. I will redo the eyes though, they look a little odd.

And when I get sick of these little paintings I can take them out and try something new.

Artist 2 Artist...

2010-08-05T18:48:00.005+12:00

I was asked to by Danielle Donaldson from Scrap Artist to be the August inspiration for their Artist 2 Artist project. Here is what they said about me... wow!

What a special Artist-to-Artist we have for you! I think it’s our most inspired ever! Katherine Quinn of Sleep and her Sisters is our Muse this month and what an incredible artist she is! Katherine’s gorgeous paintings of women, clad in rich patterns with expressive faces have such inspirational sayings as "Keep them in your Heart". These women sure did tug at our heart strings! Add in the beautiful and richly painted textured backdrops and you will see what all the fuss is about! Katherine has inspired us this month to get in touch with our own inner-artistes and I think we’ve create something truly special for you! You can check it all out in our August Artist 2 Artist shop!

Below are just a few of the amazing pages and elements these very creative people have come up with. It is so interesting and wonderful to see how other people have interpreted what I do into their own style and imagery. I am just loving the background papers... they are just so me!

Christine Honsinger

Paula Kesselring

Laurie Ann

Nancie Rowe Janitz

Wish bliss studio

And here are a couple of the gorgeous projects that have been created with these wonderful products. I have actually bought a few of these papers myself so look out for some new work created with paper inspired by Katherine Quinn.

number 21 out of 30...

2010-08-03T09:22:00.001+12:00

(the bottle of wine with my label and the catalogue)

(above is Kelly Rae's block print and a giveaway I won from Beth)

Well... I went to the wine box art auction with Ben on Friday night, it was a first for both of us. I must say I have never had a more embarrassing or exciting night in quite a while. My wine box was number 21 out of 30, so we had a bit of a wait for mine to come up.

When it was my turn the auctioneer not only called my name out but she said she wanted me to come up the front (I was hiding down the back) I was furiously shaking my head, NO NO NO ... but then Ben started dragging me up with a tight hold of my fingers. I was mortified! When we got there she asked if I wanted to say a few words about the creation of my wine box, I said 'AHHH NO'... then she asked Ben and he started answering her questions about me. As soon as he finished we scurried away and the auction started... so embarrassing!!!

I cannot quite believe it but my wine box went for $790!!! a little bit exciting...

not quite finished with July...

2010-07-30T09:50:00.000+12:00

(August's girls)

I cannot quite believe we are nearly into August, how did that happen so fast? I am still not quite finished with July...

These girls above are the start of my August set of works, I just put them on the gray background for this post but I am really liking how the bluey green works so well with the gray of the background... hmmmm. As I look back now I am not completely happy with my last lot of work, they are not really what I had in mind when I started. But this is the first attempt on my imaginary friend topic and I guess you have to start somewhere. I only have two more sets of works for my exhibition in October to get done and I have an idea what I am doing for them both so that is a good start.

I bought this DVD the other day and I was mesmerised, it was so clever, so scary, and so beautiful all at once.

I thought I felt a glimmer of spring the other day but it was short lived we are back into a chilly start to the morning. If you are at the end of your summer please enjoy a little bit of the warmth for me.

some sort of vitamin...

2010-07-22T20:21:00.001+12:00

During our flying lessons, Kelly Rae posted a link to Simon Sinek’s video, where he talks about the why of what we do. I have been thinking about this a lot since seeing the video and I am really finding it hard to put the why into words, so here are my thoughts so far...

Making things is something I have always done, it is a part of who I am and it feels more like a need than anything else. I guess for me it is one of the basics needs, food, water, shelter etc... the room to create sits right up there. I know when I don't fill that need for a length of time it feels like I am deficient in some sort of vitamin.

Being creative is like the vitamin supplement that my body craves... it makes me happy, it settles me, calms me and it makes me feel good about myself. Maybe that is why I am doing this... because it is good for me. So then if it is good for me then maybe what I create is good for you too? Maybe I have created my girls to make people a little bit happy... I have created my own vitamin supplement and I am going to call it vitamin y.

How I do what I do #2...

2010-07-20T15:10:00.000+12:00

So here is the second part of my how I do what I do tutorial... the background.

For this background I am going to use my favourite background ('full moon' from the Vintage moon collection by Pink Paislee) I rip the edges rather than cutting them so they have a nice deckled look.

I then start painting over it deciding what to keep and what to white out with pebeo super covering white as I go. About now you are probably thinking why on earth does she even bother to have a background paper at all, she has covered it in paint! Your not the only one thinking this the owner of the shop where I buy my paper from wonders the exact same thing. But you can see subtle little bits showing through, which I like.

Once I have the right look I am wanting for the background I then add a little detail in coloured pencil around the edges (this is a slightly closer up view of the top section of the background).

The next step is to put in a horizon line, I often make the sky part of the painting a third of the whole piece... it feel good to my eyes. I use the Pebbles Inc chalk pastels to colour the bottom part of the painting and then once it is covered I dampen a rag and rub the chalk pastel in and some of it off (sometimes I also rub a little of the paint off as well so you can see a bit more of the background paper showing through, but you have to be careful not to use too much water and not to rub too hard as you can wreck the paper underneath). This technique picks up a lot of the texture that you don't see before adding the chalk pastel. I discovered this by accident one day when I spilt some water over the chalk pastel and tried to wipe it off. It turned out to be one of those happy accidents that life throws at you now and again.

Then I blue tack the girl in place so I can work behind her if I need to... penciling in her wings and adding a few other little details with pencil and white pen. I find with this process that having the girl separate from the background is a good thing, if she doesn't suit her background I can do another one for her or vise versa... and also if I make a mistake with either one the other is still okay. I have tried painting the face right onto the background but it just wasn't successful for me.

(without your wings I'd be gone)

Once all the detail are done I glue her in place with a Pritt glue stick and add any finishing touches, like the little bit on top of her hat...and that is pretty much how I do it.

Note for Kelly... I have added a little about her dress paper in the previous post, sorry but there wasn't that much information about the name of the paper only that it was produced by K&Company in a pack with others.

As a special thank you to all my blog readers for your kind words and support, I am going to give one of these prints away for free if you order another print in my shop over the next week... if you type "your wings" in the comments to seller box, I will send this print free along with your order. After next week I will add it to my Etsy shop http://www.sleepandhersisters.etsy.com, so keep an eye out for it.

Thanks again and I really hope this tutorial was helpful in some way.

How I do what I do #1...

2010-07-16T09:55:00.001+12:00

I have had many requests inquiring what materials I use and how my girls are created. So here is a little insight into how I do what I do... (I don't mind anyone having a go at this technique but I just ask that you don't copy my style, bring a bit of yourself into the technique).

The first part of my how to is showing you how I create my girls. This is my technique that has developed over years, the materials, process and media has evolved as my needs have changed and will probably keep doing so as time passes.

Sooo... I start with a paint colour called cloud, made by Fas, as the base of the faces. Two or three coats should do it onto 130 gsm cartridge paper. I usually do a whole lot of faces and in two different sizes so I have a stock of them.

I then draw the features in with coloured pencils, add a few highlights and rosy cheeks with Pebbles Inc chalks.

Then I cover with a light brushing of Pebeo gloss varnish. Although the varnish only takes a few hours to dry I usually do these last thing in the evening and let them dry over night so they will be good and ready in the morning. A few times I have got impatient and touched them while they were still wet and wrecked them!

The varnish really softens the coloured pencil and chalk pastels. It might look a little grey in parts, but that is just the scanner having problems with the glossiness of the varnish (I tried scanning it about 9 times to get rid of the gray bits. But don't worry it will loose it's greyness once it is cut out).

Which is the next step once they are good and dry I cut them out, I have some super fine scissors that I use to do this... and see the grey has all gone.

I then choose a patterned paper for her dress... although this step may seem simple it can sometimes take me all night deciding what dress paper to use... Once I have finally decided (K&Company pack of 150 classic papers... sorry but the individual papers didn't have names in the pack). I cut out the dress shape (I use a template that I trace around for this). Then I paint in the arms adding a few stripes, either with a white pen or pencil and some colour with Derwent Drawing pencils.

I glue the head to the back of the dress and choose a swimming cap out of scrapbooking paper and trace around the head shape, cut it out and add a few shading details or spots and glue it in place. I also added some dots with a white ink pen around the neckline of her dress. That is her finished, I hope this has been helpful…

I have learnt a few things doing this tutorial, one of them is that the scissors I use are called bonsai shears, I never knew that... so from now on I will say "can you please pass the Bonsai shears... thanks"

I will post the background how to and the finishing painting next week.

follow their hearts...

2010-07-13T14:49:00.000+12:00

I have finally completed my etsy and felt shop updates, one of my main goals for the school holidays. It actually takes a lot of work getting these up to date and then keeping them that way, scanning, writing descriptions, adjusting images, listing etc... But it feels really good to have them all up to date now. Especially my felt shop... I had a few prints for sale but because of the layout of the site my images had their heads chopped off for several months. Which is actually quite apt, during the early days of my girls development I read this interesting book about the lives of the virgin saints, stories of brave women who fought to follow their hearts and how they meet their fierce punishment with smiling grace rather then fear... along with being stabbed and burnt alive many of them were beheaded.

I have also been doing a bit of sorting out during the holidays and bought these two wooden boxes on sale for my buttons and ribbons... they have some silly pictures on them and I am planning to redecorate them. But there is something stopping me from starting this project, I think I am scared of ruining them, or it could be indecision... I am not actually sure how to redecorate them, what to put on them, what I want them to look like. I'm not sure how many times I have opened the button box and run my hand through them, lifting up a handful and then dropping them... it is like a box of treasure, gold coins or jewels. I am just hoping that in three years time my buttons and ribbons are not living in boxes that still have silly pictures on them.

plans of her own...

2010-07-08T21:47:00.001+12:00

As she tells me what she wants from her life I am speechless and I don't think I will get over the initial shock of seeing a face I know so well... with plans of her own (plans, I might add that don't altogether coincide with the plans I had in my mind). I think when you have children it is like letting a little part of your soul go walking into the world with a will all of it’s own.

I had a rabbit...

2010-07-05T09:38:00.001+12:00

When I was little I had a rabbit… his name was Rabbit, when I was little I also had an imaginary friend… his name was January. I still have my Rabbit but I don’t need January so much anymore.

Although he sort of came back when I started this blog... I kind of imagined myself typing these words to him, it made it easier somehow having someone in mind to be 'talking' to.

I don't remember much about January but I do know he always wore black and I know he was a him. My mother, who also had imaginary friends when she was little, said she thought January came while I was waiting for my brother, who was two years younger than me, to get interesting. I could say something nasty like January is around even now because I am still waiting for my brother to become interesting... but that would be very unkind so I wont do that because he is a good brother.

So this next series of works are going to be about friends, imaginary and otherwise... and it is funny, last weekend I watched Donnie Darko.

time to myself is a jet plane...

2010-07-02T11:41:00.003+12:00

I am looking forward to the weekend, I am going to make some soup and make some art...

I have been feeling quite emotional the last few weeks, I am not sure why, but one thing I know is it's happy emotion. I am just so pleased to be where I am, who I am and what I am doing. I look back to the me of a year ago and I really feel sorry for that old Katherine, I just want to give her a big hug and tell her that things are going to be ok...

We are nearly at the end of the last week of the e-course. Where we are talking about burn out... the ebb and flow of living a creative life. I think one thing that really has helped me with this is to think of life as a 50 cent mixture of lollies (sweets). To make sure your week has a bit of everything in it. I think of doing my art as a jube, my family are jaffas, my friends are jelly beans, time to myself is a jet plane etc... and I make sure there are all of these in my week.

fellow travellers...

2010-06-28T22:38:00.001+12:00

I am a firm believer that our stories are not for us alone. They are for us to give courage, support and wisdom to each other, our fellow travellers. I take these things from each of you and hope to give it back in some small way. I want to say thank you to all who read my blog, for sharing your comments and for being a part of this journey, my journey... I really love reading and appreciate you kind words and I am constantly amazed at how small the world is getting and how big my own little world has become... thank you

dorky little things...

2010-06-25T10:28:00.000+12:00

(final painting in my latest series... not quite finished)

This piece above is a lead in to my next series of works for July, which is about childhood friends, imaginary and otherwise...

Time management is an interesting thing... it is something I think I am ok at and do quite well. I have these silly, dorky little things that I do to help me get things done, I am going to share them with you, but don't laugh...

Ok here goes... I tell myself "the more I do today, the happier Katherine of tomorrow will be"... If I paint the last three arms, get the last few backgrounds ready or do a page of faces tonight then it will make the Katherine of tomorrow happier, that will be one less thing she will have to add to her to do list in the morning. I often think of my future self and how I can help her out and it works for me... do I sounds crazy?

The other thing I do is to try to do at least one thing each day (apart from the weekend, unless I feel like it) towards my creative business. Even if it is just a bit of filing, sorting out the ongoing mess on my kitchen table, a little online research or finishing off a little something on a painting etc... It is going to make less work for me tomorrow. I like to be on top of what there is to be done, with a busy family life, work commitments, friends etc... I have got to really.

After I have finished this e-course I am thinking of doing a post on how I create my girls... if anyone is interested?

what's at the back of your mind...

2010-06-21T17:41:00.000+12:00

Even though I have not done any art (apart from the one above) this weekend, I sure have been thinking, talking and breathing it... this e-course has really got my mind going. I have been thinking of my whole art package, what look do I want my work to convey, what do I love doing/making, and what do I want to offer my customers... then how can I combine these things to make me jolly proud of what I do.

What I love doing...

drawing
painting
sewing
sticking bits of paper together
making books

What I am thinking of trying...

a range of original paintings in a few different sizes
a selection of prints from my favourite originals
some kind of character development... 5 - 7 different personalities that feature in my work
developing a few animal like characters based on my girls into soft toys.
a selection of magnets and post card sets from my favourite originals
a series of original drawings based on the girls and animal characters
handmade notebooks featuring a drawing on the front

So that is what has been on my mind lately... As well as the ALL WHITES!!! dreaming the impossible dream!!!

is your brain the same as mine...

2010-06-17T09:38:00.000+12:00

You may notice a few changes on my blog layout, I've added an etsy and a felt page, a portfolio page, a news update page and a few others... I have also linked my web address (www.sleepandhersisters.co.nz) to this blog until I get a real live website sorted.

I have done a few more of the little drawings I mentioned in my last post... and have also done another one of the collage girls, although there is not actually a lot of collage in them... (I am still working on that). I am realising that all this has come from me struggling with the development of my style. As well as soft and subtle I am also really attracted to strong colours and everything in between. Like Amelie, I just love the colours in that movie, the greens and reds... and every time I see it I feel an intense urge to add that strong colour element to my work. Which inevitably always, always ends in a disaster. It really frustrates me no end!!! I like to look at it but I can't replicate the feeling it gives me into my own work... I am slowly learning that it is ok to love what I see and love what I do and for them to be quite different.

Although I have this internal battle with the ongoing development of my work, I think to some extent I already have a unique style and it is something that people recognise as being me. Like the first time I finished one of my pendants and I wore it into town. As a sales assistant passed me in a shop she pointed to my pendant and said "that looks like a Katherine Quinn". I smiled and said "it is, I made it last night"... that is a nice feeling.

I think I my brain works too fast for my hands sometimes... is your brain the same as mine?

something a little different...

2010-06-13T18:41:00.000+12:00

I went to the craft 2.0 yesterday and got really inspired to draw again thanks to minu. I used to do lots of drawings like these before I would do a painting, and I really do miss doing them. I have never really thought they were anything special, they were just my ideas. But now I see that that fact in itself makes them very special and important. I have decided to do a series of these for my exhibition. I am also thinking that this might also be a good chance to give the girls some proper arms and hands (I know I have said this, and attempted this many times before, but maybe this time it might actually work out)? I think this is a big part that is stopping me from progressing with a children's book. I keep thinking what kind of book has a picture of a girl standing there with extra long arms and no hands on each and every page? Well I can't think of any story line that would fit... So I am going to spend the next few days playing around with these little drawings, I am thinking of about 39 of them in total.

some kind of wonderful...

2010-06-11T22:55:00.003+12:00

Well I am feeling much better now, thanks everyone for all your well wishes... I had another go with this piece and am feeling much happier with her then I was before.

I think I have mentioned before that I am part of what I called our local etsy group... well we have grown into some kind of wonderful. We are now a group of passionately creative Kiwi's with a diverse range of skills and expertise and we have started a website/blog http://www.newzealandhandmade.co.nz. I see this as a place for everyone to get ideas, support, advise and probably a few laughs, so go take a look, leave a comment, and let me know what you think.

I probably shouldn't have...

2010-06-09T14:53:00.003+12:00

This piece above is what was left after I had an idea that didn't work out so good... I probably shouldn't have started it really, I have a silly head cold and can't seem to think straight. So I have put her in my 'to do folder' and have just made a big pot of soup, lit the fire and I am watching Oprah, it is sunny outside but so very chilly and it feels good to be snuggling down.

I am off on a road trip to Wellington early on Saturday morning to have a look around Craft 2.0... I am going with some members of our little etsy group that has now developed into New Zealand Handmade (more on that soon) and I can't wait! I just hope I can shake this cold before then...

here I am falling...

2010-06-06T21:21:00.002+12:00

Over the last few days I've been thinking about my fears and I have decided that it's probably not the fear as such, it is actually the power that I am giving these fears that is the scary part... After writing them out they don't look so bad on paper, but in my head a few of them were huge, so here they are...

I am scared of losing my job and what that means for me and my family financially, although one of my dreams is to be a full time artist, I think the leap to do this is super scary and the self doubt starts to creep in... "you could never do this, you are not good enough"!!!
I fear waking up and the creativeness that has flowed through me my whole life has gone, gone for good.
people are disappointed in me...
I will never have a good idea for a children's book, I have a lot of bits and pieces of ideas but nothing substantial yet.
failure scares me.

We were also asked the question "what would you do if you knew you would not fail" After listing the last fear above this really made me smile... I would do everything, I would do it all.

dreams, fears and everything in between...

2010-06-03T18:25:00.001+12:00

(dream a little dream of me)

We are four days into the first week of Kelly Rae's e-course and it has bought up a whole lot of interesting thoughts.... Firstly she encouraged us to think about our dreams, goals and our passions. Then the question was asked "What would you do if you knew you would not fail"... what were our fears.

So here are my creative dreams so far (in no particular order)...

write and publish a series of children's books with a wonderful and supportive publisher.
to have a licencing deal and produce a beautiful range of stationery and products.
work full time as an artist earning a good living doing what makes me happy.
earn enough to be able to travel and visit my new friends around the world.
surround myself with people who I love, who are emotionally supportive and who love me for who I am and what I believe.
be involved in the creative community in Hawke's Bay and New Zealand.
nurture the HB/NZ handmade group I am a part of to become a big presence in the online world.
develop a stunning website with a clever designer
take part in an art retreat in the states.
a dream I would like to be a part of would be to have a local art supplies shop that would have a cute little gallery and café attached.

I am still working on my fears... they are harder then dreams, I know what the fears feel like but I'm finding it hard to put them into words.

particular colour palette...

2010-06-01T14:24:00.001+12:00

Well last night I settled down to do a little collageing...It took me ages to get going and I kept finding other things that need doing first, like emptying my pencil sharpener barrel, which wasn't even full. Usually I only do this when the top is bursting off with far too many shavings! but eventually I got started. I realise looking at them now that I seem to be attracted to a very particular colour palette and found it quite hard to steer away from these colours. I guess most people have a colour palette they like to stick to, mine seems to be greeny, bluy, creamy with a dash of redy pink.

As I was doing them I kept trying to imagine my girls in there somewhere and I just couldn't, well not yet anyway and maybe not at all? Tonight as the rain is falling (again) and the fire is roaring, I am going to add another layer and see what happens. This could be a really good way of using up all my scraps of paper I have lying around.

I am a collage chicken...

2010-05-30T22:17:00.005+12:00

(my first tentative attempts at collage backgrounds... so far)

I am so mindful of making a mistake, I am too scared to try different things, to try different colours together, different textures and using new painting mediums. I do these things in my mind and decide that it wont work without even giving it a go. I think part of it is that the cost of things sometimes puts me off using papers, and products etc... in case they don't work and it becomes a waste (and I'm also just a big chicken). So I had a little go tonight (images above) and am happy with the results so far although I am a little scared, I am kind of looking forward to the following week, where I will be trying some new collage ideas for backgrounds... I am thinking of this as a completely experimental week (when I say week I mean the few hours in between kids and work).

I will be starting Kelly Rae's e course tomorrow, so I am really looking forward to seeing how it all goes and to 'working' with all the wonderful people who have also signed up.

no rules and no pressure...

2010-05-28T08:57:00.000+12:00

This is the beginning of my third series of work for my exhibition... I am actually ahead of schedule. I have planned to do one series of work (about 7-9 pieces) per month. I have just finished May's this afternoon. I kind of figure if I get one series finished a month I will have enough work by October to fill the gallery without too much stress.

I got some paper the other day from BasicGrey's new range, Cappella and it is so lovely, soft and pretty. I have been thinking for a while to try some collaged backgrounds which I might do with this next series. Although I really do like the plain simplistic backgrounds, I actually think that is just what I am used to doing and I would like to push myself a little...so starting Monday I am going to spend the next week playing with backgrounds, no rules and no pressure... just playing.

I rang our local bookstore to see if they had the above book in stock and she said it hasn't been published yet! I said 'but I know a few friends who already have it in their hot little hands', she said 'Oh really, let me see what I can do'... well her advise was to order it from Amazon. Sooo I have just ordered it (my first Amazon order)!!!... and I can hardly wait for it to arrive! Thanks to Michele at Pipi La La for letting me know it existed.

I have also listed a few card sets to my etsy shop!!! if anyone is interested, but only if you don't live in New Zealand. Kiwis have to buy from a local stockist, email me if you are interested.

With good in my head...

2010-05-24T12:33:00.000+12:00

(with good in my head to help me on my way)

I stumbled upon blogging by accident. One day a tutor at work told me to look at etsy.com ... I asked why, she said (rather loudly) JUST GO LOOK! The first thing that caught my eye on the front page was Kelly Rae Roberts... I checked out her shop, and then after thinking what kind of crazy people write a blog, I read her blog from the first post to the last... I went home and told my family that I had a new best friend, she didn't know I existed but I felt I had known her for ever. So now I have an etsy shop of my own and I am one of those crazy people who write a blog. I started checking out other peoples blogs and started to form my own little community, a tribe of fellow bloggers who I now call my 'friends'. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I discovered KMB... I am amazed and delighted to find such a group of lovely talented mummy bloggers in my own back yard!!!

giveaway winners are...

2010-05-19T17:46:00.000+12:00

Thanks everyone for entering my giveaway, the winners are...

#9 Cadi
#16 NatashaMay

So if you both send me your postal address to katherinequinn@xtra.co.nz I will get your cards sets away to you along with a few other goodies.

(winebox front and back "I like it here can I stay")

I have been busy the past week finishing off my wine box (above) and am just over half way through finishing my second lot of works for the exhibition. Both of which have been inspired by the piece I was going to chuck in my reject folder a few posts ago. It is funny how looking at it with new eyes or through others eyes has made me see qualities I'd missed before, so thanks for your feedback.

I have a bar code!!!

2010-05-12T09:35:00.002+12:00

Yay!!! my cards arrived the other day in a little brown box... so to celebrate I am going to giveaway two sets of 6 cards. If you are interested in entering all you need to do is leave a comment by the end of Tuesday 18th May (NZT) and I will draw out two winners on Wednesday 19th. Good luck.

I will put a few sets up for sale in my Etsy shop soon, but you can only purchase them if you don't live in New Zealand. If you do live in New Zealand and are wanting to purchase a card send me an email and I will let you know how to go about it.

the constant creative urge...

2010-05-10T10:38:00.000+12:00

(everything depends on how near you stand to me)

Ok... so the painting from my last post has been saved from the reject folder, I have added a few little details and I am quite happy with it now. One of those happy accidents that happen every now and again. It has actually given me inspiration for the next set of works for my exhibition. So thank you for all your kind comments, they saved it from the dreaded folder.

I have nearly finished the front of my winebox so I will take pictures when it is completed, and will probably post them next week.

I think I have said this before (probably a few times) but when my creative side is being fueled and all is going well, I am a happier person then when its not. It amazes me how strong this is and sometimes it is just scary how much my world revolves around it. It is a hard thing to explain (the constant creative urge)... it's something I have felt for as long as I can remember. The need to have my mind and hands busy with making things, turning blank pieces of paper into new little worlds of their own.

These girls above are actually looking a little sombre... I might need to work on their lips.

I will have some good news and a giveaway at the end of the week so stay tuned.