my creative space - collection

Do you remember my collection of blue and white pottery which I showed back here,  inspired by Poppytalk's Collecting Nature theme. A while ago I sketched some of the pieces with the intention of painting a small watercolour study. Its taken a while but on a trip to the wonderful Tilly's art supplies shop the other day I remembered to buy some new brushes and yesterday I finally sat down and added some colour to my piece. It was so nice to sit and paint, very meditative. I haven't done it for a long time.

The scanning has killed some of the subtlety of the painting I'm afraid, watercolour is a hard medium to capture. The shading of the original is more delicate and fine and the colours too. But I'm inspired to do a larger piece based on the original photo. I'm not sure if I'll stick to watercolour though or go back to my old favourite gouache. (I'd love advice from the painters amongst you about scanning or watercolour if you have any tips.)

I haven't had a chance yet today but I'm dying to head over to Kirsty's and see what everyone's is making, its always so interesting.

And of course I will be back tomorrow to draw the winner of the PRINT GIVEAWAY, I'm looking forward to it, so if you haven't entered yet you still have time. Just leave a comment saying which print you'd like to be in the draw.

ten by two

I had the best weekend, busy but lots of fun.
We started with sport, two games, at different grounds. As it was the start of the season the netballers then held their traditional march past where all the clubs walk in turn to a lovely old 1930s soundtrack.
Then it was home for presents. Happily the boys loved them all and declared it the best birthday ever. They were so suprised and grateful for even the smallest gifts, I love them for that. As always we got to indulge ourselves with two birthday cakes, which like every year since they could choose were Raspberry Ripple and Chocolate Mud cake. The sleepover party comes next week which will be a good excuse for a bit more cake!
Sunday was exhausting but fun too. The weather was perfect and the entire Inner West seemed to pass through our School Fair, opened by our new local MP (the first Green ever elected as a lower house member in NSW).
It was a lovely chance to see lots of friends in one place. Its a bit like a small town here in the Inner West, everyone seems to know everyone. I like that!
These zinnias and easter daisies were bought early on from our plant stall (I just wish the ones I'm growing looked half as good!).
Mr Flowerpress and I did about five hours duty on different stalls. Then after helping with the mammoth job of packing up we all ended up at a friends house were a big bunch of us toasted our successful day with a cold drink or two and rested our aching legs.

flowers

The semi finalists for Project Selvage were announced yesterday, and sadly my Marble Collection didn't make the cut. Go here to see all the great designs that did. I have voted for only one design this time, can you guess which one!? There seem to have been some popular themes and a couple I liked missed out. I am so interested to see which ten make the final cut in the popular vote and how the designers go on to build a collection around their initial design. 

Thank you anyway for all for your lovely support and for all those wonderful GIVEAWAY entries! I just looked and the Red Teapot is ahead in popularity by one comment, followed closely by the Blue Marbles print! For those of you who are interested in the Marble Collection fabrics, I will be printing some small quantities and selling them through my shop. I also have a new coordinating design I'm really happy with which I'll share next week as well as marble fabric proofs that arrived yesterday! The good news is it looks great on fabric, the quality is amazing! (The bad is only that I got the scale a little wrong, duh :-) But I can easily fix that before ordering quantities.)

If you haven't entered the giveaway there is still plenty of time, it won't be drawn till next week, did I make that clear enough, perhaps not, I meant next Friday! Just leave a comment here or on the post saying which print you'd like to win. Followers get an extra vote!

Think of me this weekend. I have J and D's birthday tomorrow but we're out early for the first games of this year's soccer and netball seasons first (the kids not mine!). Sunday I have four hours of stall duty at our School Fair. As you can see the paper pot seedlings have thrived in the autumn rain and are itching to get out and grow! Look at that leggy dianthus! Pray to the weather gods for us and if you're inner westie pop in for a ride, a plant, some craft, some music, some great food or flowers! Its always a great day and a wonderful cause.