sheriff and panda

Hearts and Arrows at Edition X

2011-12-17T08:52:00.000+11:00

Edition X in Melbourne is now exclusively stocking my editioned prints from Hearts and Arrows. Edition X is a new retail and online store in North Fitzroy, and a sister store to the beautiful contemporary jewellery store Pieces of 8. Edition X stocks very desirable jewellery, art and objects from local and international makers, so take a look some time! They also stock my limited edition badges featuring works from the Souvenir series.

Image: Edition X

Installation at Reactive Melbourne

2011-12-04T22:18:00.001+11:00

For our quarterly R & D day at work last week I made an installation in the stairwell. Unlike the rest of our office, which is a light, bright space with high ceilings, the stairwell is quite dark and purely functional. We use it to go in and out of the building, and have no reason to linger. I wanted to transform the stairs into an inviting, warm space where staff can go and sit when they want a place to think away from their desks or meeting rooms.

I decorated the stairs with garlands made from crepe paper, pom poms and feathers. I strung fairy lights for some extra magic. I placed cushions on the floor and opened the door so fresh air could float around the garlands.

Then I invited people to come sit with me in the cavity under the stairs. We talked about what the space reminded them of and what they would name it. Many people mentioned dreamcatchers and other Native American symbols, as well as Tibetan prayer flags and the colours of the Bangkok night markets. People thought of birds and breezes and tropical places. Finally, I took pictures of everyone in the space.

Thank you to everyone for letting me share the photos I took of them. There are more photographs here.

Christmas sale

2011-11-20T10:20:00.000+11:00

I'm having a little sale for Christmas in my Etsy store. Enter the coupon code 10PERCENT at checkout to get 10% off your order. Only until 15 December (to make sure your post arrives in time!).

Shop

Hearts and Arrows opening night

2011-11-10T11:07:00.001+11:00

Some photos from the Hearts and Arrows opening night at Kings - nearly two weeks ago now! Thank you to Kristen for taking these for me. Two weeks left for the exhibition. All the details here.

Hearts and Arrows

2011-11-05T10:28:00.002+11:00

Since my exhibition at KINGS Ari is now open, I thought it was about time I shared the full Hearts and Arrows photo collages for my non-Melbourne audience to see! If you are in Melbourne, please come to the exhibition to also see my woollen textile works and silver wall painting! It's on until 19 November.

Works above:

Amethyst, 2011

Type-C digital print

60x60 cm

$845, framed

$600, unframed

Edition of 5 + AP

Augite, 2011

Type-C digital print

60x60 cm

$845, framed

$600, unframed

Edition of 5 + AP

Bischofite, 2011

Type-C digital print

100 x 90 cm

$1,450, framed

$1,000, unframed

Edition of 5 + AP

Garnet, 2011

Type-C digital print

60x60 cm

$845, framed

$600, unframed

Edition of 5 + AP

Quartz, 2011

Type-C digital print

60x60 cm

$845, framed

$600, unframed

Edition of 5 + AP

Topaz, 2011

Type-C digital print

60x60 cm

$845, framed

$600, unframed

Edition of 5 + AP

Yellow Diamond, 2011

Type-C digital print

60x60 cm

$845, framed

$600, unframed

Edition of 5 + AP

All prices in Australian dollars. Enquiries to lieslpfeffer [at] gmail dot com

I wrote a story

2011-10-17T22:05:00.001+11:00

I wrote a story for new Australian iPad journal Three Magazine. My article is about my experience of having synaesthesia. If you have an iPad, you can follow the link above to install the Three Magazine app and read the magazine for free. My story is in the 1st issue, from September 2011. Hope you like it!

The image above is from the layout of the magazine, courtesy of Three Magazine. The colours are my personal synaesthetic alphabet. Please feel welcome to comment if you have synaesthesia!

Hearts & Arrows - my next exhibition in Melbourne

2011-10-15T23:14:00.004+11:00

Hearts and Arrows (2011) is an exhibition of photo-media collages and textile works depicting minerals, crystals, gemstones and diamonds. The title references diamond cutting: ‘hearts and arrows’ diamonds are said to be unmatched in precision, beauty and perfection. The works in this exhibition are playful and colourful interpretations of rare precious stones prized for their beauty, mystery and luxury. Bright, hard-edged photo-collages are juxtaposed beside whimsical folk art textiles. The experience of viewing the exhibition is to be immersed in a synthetic world of facets, colour, prisms and light.

Kings Artist Run Initiative

Lvl 1 / 171 King St.
Melbourne, Victoria 3000

Opening Night:
Friday 28 October, 6-8pm
Exhibition continues until 19 November 2011

Gallery hours:
Wed – Sat, 12-6pm

Please feel very welcome to come to opening night!

Image: Liesl Pfeffer, Yellow Diamond 2011, 60 x 60 cm, archival c-type print

Morocco

2011-10-13T15:35:00.005+11:00

I'm back from my holiday to Morocco, France and the UK. I had an incredible time, and am deeply in love with Morocco now.

There are many, many photos from my trip on Flickr.

Photo above taken by me in Rabat.

Going on Vacation

2011-08-17T21:22:00.001+10:00

I'm heading overseas in two weeks, so I'll be putting my Etsy store on vacation mode. If you've had your eye on anything lately, please place your order before next week!

Picture above: Kristen hand modelling Leaf.

A little more press

2011-08-17T21:18:00.001+10:00

My framed exhibition print, The Mountains Wait, is in this lovely feature in the back page of September's Australian House and Garden! Such a nice looking page - I love the Stempel macrame plant holder!

Livingetc

2011-07-20T10:46:00.000+10:00

A little more press to share today. Two of my prints (one is on the fold so hard to see in this picture) are in this lovely colourful bedroom styled in Livingetc magazine's August issue. Livingetc is a UK based home/lifestyle magazine. I can't wait to find a copy here in Melbourne (a trip to Magnation is on the cards for me this weekend!). The prints featured are The Mountains Wait and One Hundred Days Away from my CultureLabel store.

Oh and I want that bedspread. Green and white stripes are a definite favourite of mine!

My first Australian retail stockist

2011-06-20T15:43:00.002+10:00

If you're in Tasmania, drop by Spacebar Gallery in the Salamanca Arts Centre to see my art prints on display (and for sale!). Spacebar is my first Australian retail stockist, so I am totally thrilled! The shots below show my work in store. Thanks to Calista at Spacebar for sending these through!

Spacebar is a retail art space featuring jewellery, fashion, art and homewares. Details below:

Studio 021 (off Wooby's Lane)
Salamanca Arts Centre
77 Salamanca Place
Hobart

Opening Hours
Mon to Thu 10am-4pm
Fri 10am-5pm
Sat 9am-4pm

Images: Spacebar Gallery

In SHOP magazine

2011-06-19T12:18:00.001+10:00

Isn't this sweet? My print Mountain Rock has been included in a lifestyle feature in the July issue of fashion mag Shop til you Drop. The issue has all Australian content, which is pretty rad! It's really nice to have support for my artwork here in Australia - I often feel like it is US and European media who notice my artwork the most!

I have also just found my first Australian stockist for my prints (details to come!).

Art giveaway!

2011-05-26T22:02:00.000+10:00

I am really excited to be involved in an art giveaway over at Habit of Art run by Portland artist Cathy McMurray!

Shown above are three different art collections valuing between $160-$275. All up there are twenty five works of art being given away to three lucky winners. Read about the artists involved (including myself), and then go to this post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway.

Three names will be randomly selected by Cathy on Tuesday, May 31 at noon PST.

Good luck!

Images shown here from Cathy's site!

Instagram

2011-05-24T10:11:00.000+10:00

Are you using Instagram? Add me: @lieslpfeffer.

All images above by me (using Instragram on the Sutro filter). 1 and 2 taken outside Tinning St Gallery in Brunswick on Thursday night. 3 is a detail of a vintage painting in my house.

Swedish Elle Interior

2011-05-16T13:11:00.000+10:00

One of my prints stocked with Up Your Wall is featured in Swedish Elle Interior magazine's May 2011 issue! (Click the image above to see the page full size). How amazing!

Here's another view below of One Hundred Days Away shot in Sweden by photographer Carl Bengtsson.

I must ask my friends at Up Your Wall for a translation of the article!

Aztec influence

2011-05-04T12:29:00.003+10:00

I am loving Aztec patterns at the moment, which I have been researching for my next show. I was sketching some patterns today and loving the very mathematical way that shapes fit together in these designs. I made these three collages this afternoon and thought I would share. Hope you like them. Feedback very welcome as always.

They measure 10 x 10 cm, except for the first one, shown here it is slightly bigger, 11 x 14 cm.

See them in high resolution at Flickr.

recently

2011-05-02T19:24:00.000+10:00

I've been taking photographs of house fronts. These are from all around Melbourne.

This evening, more than ever, I hope for peace in the world.

Prism party

2011-04-30T09:15:00.000+10:00

I felt inspired to make my first Etsy treasury this week when I looked at my recently added favourites and noticed it was a beautiful mix of prisms and crystal forms in jewellery and art prints.

See the treasury!

I'm Presenting a Workshop in Melbourne!

2011-04-25T10:37:00.000+10:00

I am really excited about this - I've been invited to present a workshop at Centre for Contemporary Photography in Melbourne. I'll be speaking about 'The Art of Self Promotion on the Web', specifically for photographic artists (see the pun in the title?!). I've created a course outline which will cover all sorts of important things such as writing a marketing plan, how to use social media and tips for starting an online store. It's a topic close to my heart, not only because online marketing is my day job, but because as an emerging artist, I know I would not be where I am today without the real, meaningful connections I have made via the internet. (Awwww, but it's true!).

To read up on the course (and consider enrolling!) go to the CCP website.

Image above by CCP

Souvenir opening night photos

2011-04-25T10:24:00.000+10:00

QCP Director Maurice Ortega and Victoria Garners-Williams

I thought I would share some photos from the opening night of my exhibition at Queensland Centre for Photography. Six other exhibitions opened at the same time so I cannot claim all these people as my friends and family. But thank you to all of those who came to see my show and made it such an amazing night!

All photos: Queensland Centre for Photography.

Souvenir

2011-04-04T11:24:00.002+10:00

Now that my exhibition at the Queensland Centre for Photography has closed, I am making the remaining unsold exhibition prints available for private sale. The works are beautifully printed with archival ink on hahnemuhle cotton paper, and framed in Victorian ash. Each print is numbered in an edition of 10 and signed.

Please view the works on my Souvenir portfolio page and make enquiries directly to me at lieslpfeffer at gmail.com.

New UK Stockist: CultureLabel

2011-03-22T09:29:00.001+11:00

I'm pleased to share that I now have a UK stockist! CultureLabel invited me to open a shopfront with them a few weeks ago! I was quite excited about this because some of the best art galleries and museums in the UK also have online stores with CultureLabel including the Tate, the V&A, Saatchi Gallery etc. Good company!

To celebrate, I have released a brand new print with CultureLabel, called Sunset Over Mountains (pictured below). This print is not available anywhere else.

All of my prints with CultureLabel are 30x30 cm square and printed on lustre photographic paper.

Sunset Over Mountains, 2010

Golden Half, Petri, XA-2

2011-02-21T10:29:00.000+11:00

New photos on my Flickr taken with the Golden Half (a new favourite, glad I finally took it out of the packet 3 years after buying it in Japan!). Also some film that I double exposed with the Petri rangefinder and the Olympus XA-2. (I double exposed it because I thought the Petri was broken and figured I'd have some fun with it on the chance that some of the shots had worked).

Other news: my exhibition at the Queensland Centre for Photography opens this Saturday afternoon! I'm flying to Brisbane for the opening. Fortunately the lovely staff of QCP will install the show for me so that I don't need to take time off work.

And I have other great news, I have been accepted to exhibit at KINGS Ari in November this year. I've started working on a whole new body of work for the show. It's fantastic knowing from the start what space I will be showing in as I can keep that in mind when I'm thinking about objects and scale.

x

Upcoming exhibition: QCP in Brisbane

2011-01-31T11:24:00.000+11:00

If you're in Brisbane, please come to my exhibition at the Queensland Centre for Photography! I will be in Brisbane for the opening weekend, and I can't wait!

LIESL PFEFFER

SOUVENIR

QUEENSLAND CENTRE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Opening night: Saturday 26 February 5-8pm

Exhibition dates: 27 February - 27 March 2011

Wed-Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun: 11am-3pm

Corner of Cordelia and Russell Streets, South Brisbane

I made a stereo pinhole camera

2011-01-26T15:44:00.002+11:00

Today Kristen helped me make a stereo pinhole camera from a kit I bought in Japan in 2009. I can't wait to use it (although I will have to wait - the weather today is not nice). Slideshow above of the work in progress, featuring a special appearance by our cat Cooper.

The camera has two settings, either panorama, which will expose one shot across two full 35 mm frames via the central lens, or stereo, which exposes two shots at the same time side by side using the two lenses on the left and right. When you view the resulting prints with the stereo viewer (which you also build from the kit) they are sort of 3D. Hehe. So cute.

It's definitely the sturdiest pinhole camera in my collection now because it is made from plastic. It also has a more stable and clever shutter release. I am hopeful this will take really great shots!

I'll post as soon as I have something to show.

New Year Projects

2011-01-18T10:27:00.000+11:00

My friends and I agree that 2011 is the year of doing. Taking everything we do further. Pushing ourselves to take risks and seek out new opportunities.

So, no time like the present to post a little update on my goals and projects for 2011!

Thus far I have completed a logo design commission for a Melbourne-based artist run record label and applied for an artist residency in Dayton, Ohio.

This year I really want to participate in an overseas artist residency to further my professional practice. I am also applying for a residency in Singapore.

My list of things to do has so many applications on it - applications for exhibitions, art prizes, residencies and grants. I think I am getting better at writing these things!

And most importantly I want to complete a new body of work! I have a fairly good idea of what I am going to do, and am going to get started today.

Now in fact!

x

Arena Magazine

2011-01-18T10:15:00.000+11:00

My Souvenir series has been published as a photo essay in the current issue of Arena Magazine.

Thanks go to Roger from NO NO GALLERY for connecting me with Arena, and the magazine itself for supporting my work!

Iceberg in my Shop

2010-12-05T18:56:00.000+11:00

I've added this collage from the Souvenir series to my Etsy shop as a small 8 x 8 inch print. Quite a few people at my exhibition told me they really like it (which is always nice to hear!).

View the print on Etsy.

Orders placed before 13 December will definitely be delivered pre-Christmas within Australia. Overseas orders, and purchases after 13 December are at your own risk! But I will do my best :)

Fit to Print

2010-11-30T10:11:00.002+11:00

I'm Stocked in Sweden!

2010-11-18T09:13:00.000+11:00

I have been waiting oh so patiently to announce that my prints are now stocked in Sweden! The absolutely lovely Kristina and her team at Up Your Wall has just launched a range of prints of my recent work! The images here are from the series of product shots taken for the site by Carl Bengsston in Old Town, Stockholm. Aren't they absolutely beautiful?

I'm so happy to have a partnership in Sweden! Have a look at Up Your Wall for more information.

Time Lapse!

2010-11-14T19:31:00.000+11:00

I have always wanted to make a time lapse photography video and I finally had the opportunity to work on one this week! Kristen helped me shoot this at NO NO while I was installing my big stacking pyramid painting! The artwork is titled 'Two Days Passed By' after the Beaches song, and because it took me two days! And now you can watch the entire process in one minute!

Kristen and I made the soundtrack today on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Hope you like it!

My exhibition opens in Melbourne this Thursday

2010-11-07T19:01:00.000+11:00

I'm so excited about installing my exhibition tomorrow! If you're in Melbourne, please come along to the opening on Thursday night, or visit anytime during opening hours.

Opening night 6-8pm Thursday 11 November
Exhibition continues until 27 November

NO NO GALLERY
14 Raglan St, North Melbourne
Open 12-6pm Thursday to Saturday
http://nonogallery.org

I made plates!

2010-11-01T14:57:00.001+11:00

My friend Annika organised for a group of her friends to make their own plates designs recently. It's a very low tech system, where you draw, paste or print your design onto a template and send it away to be turned into a plate. I made mine by collaging various pictures together. The mountains are pictures of Antarctica from a travel guide. I got my plates back this week, and I am thrilled with how they turned out!

Here they are pictured in my house with a few objects, including a shark print by Berkeley Illustration and a wooden panda my friend Jazz gave me for my 30th birthday.

Craft Hatch this Saturday at SLV

2010-10-18T10:02:00.000+11:00

The Craft Hatch market is on this weekend, and this time it's at State Library of Victoria. This is my second Hatch. Come along if you're free!

Details:

Experimedia, Ground Floor
328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
(corner of Swanston and La Trobe Streets)
Time: 11am-4pm

Pictured above is my Leaf print, which I've just framed for the market. (Wonderfully hand modelled by Kristen!)

The rest of this week I'll be finishing my new embroideries so that I can have them on my table too!

Progress update

2010-10-11T10:53:00.000+11:00

So, only four weeks until I'll be installing my exhibition at NO NO Gallery! I have taken the files to the printer, and next week if all goes to plan I will be delivering the prints to my friends for framing. Yes, it's all pretty much out of my hands now that I have finished making work! So far, all running on schedule and fingers crossed that things continue this way. I'm not a fan of last minute panic (who is?).

In the meantime, I am working on other projects, like getting ready for Craft Hatch at State Library next weekend! And I am also writing an application for funding and a proposal for an exhibition in Sydney next year.

And, I am making a Blurb book of my trip to West Coast USA back in May, and planning a cute embroidery project for the next crafternoon.

The photo above shows me hard at work in my studio, working on some tiny mountains, my current obsession. There's more photos of me, my work, and my studio in Pip Carroll's guest post about my work at Craft Hatch on The Design Files today. I'm thrilled about the post - The Design Files is such a fantastic supporter of Australian creative talent! Thanks Pip and Lucy for posting about me!

Alright, back to work for me! Have a great Monday x

Crystal Lake

2010-09-27T11:40:00.001+10:00

I just framed this picture (The Crystal Lake) for my lovely friend Lana. I thought I'd take the opportunity to get a photo of it in situ at home before I part with it. Pictured here with a bunch of jasmine from the garden. I've got vases of jasmine in nearly every room of the house at the moment. Spring, finally, finally, is here in Melbourne!

Giveaway in my Shop

2010-09-20T14:53:00.001+10:00

I'm fundraising for my exhibition in November by offering a two for one deal on prints in my Shop until the end of the month. While stocks last so get in quick!

Blogger friends please feel welcome to share with your readers! :)

walking

2010-09-20T10:02:00.000+10:00

Photos by me, while walking last week around my new neighbourhood. It's a fairly normal mixture of industrial and suburban. I can't help loving the mix, it's what I know.

Home shoot & NAVA news

2010-09-14T10:30:00.001+10:00

Photos of some of my artworks around the house. I thought it was about time I took some product shots since I actually have the works framed for the Craft Hatch market at State Library of Victoria next month. The first Craft Hatch was a lot of fun, and it was a thrill to make some sales to some lovely women (yes all women!). I'm hoping to raise some much needed funds at the October market to cover some of my costs of printing and framing my work for the exhibition in November! I put every dollar I make from art sales back into art costs, in case anyone was wondering.

I recently joined the National Association for Visual Arts (NAVA), figuring it's about time to support the industry that supports artists. NAVA advocate for the arts to the Australian government, prepare reports on the state of the arts in Australia and also administrate a few grants for artists. (Among many other things!). I am quite chuffed that NAVA selected me and my newly created artist gallery on their website to be the featured artist this fortnight. Have a look!

Here's a little screenshot for posterity:

I'm going to spend the rest of today working on a new embroidery! Happy Tuesday!

shop update

2010-09-10T10:24:00.002+10:00

I've neglected my shop a bit lately, since I've been busily working on getting new collages and embroideries finished for my exhibition later in the year. This morning I put some time aside to make some new prints for the shop. Both prints measure 8 x 8 inches, and start from US$18 + postage.

View in my shop.

one inch buttons

2010-09-07T10:21:00.001+10:00

I made one inch buttons back in June so that I can give a little something extra to the lovely people who buy my work. I've been randomly selecting one to go with every Etsy order since then!

I also just added the buttons to my shop for sale individually in case anyone feels the desire to have a tiny artwork to wear around with them.

View the buttons in my shop.

The Wanderer

2010-08-30T11:21:00.000+10:00

Everything about this book cover illustration by Edward Gorey appeals to me (found via my friend Dan's tumblr, originally via Flickr). I have been staring at it regularly for a week, trying to understand why it hits me so hard. Everything down to the typeface of the title seems absolutely perfect to me. I suppose originally the paper may have been white, but I think it's even better now it's darkened and aged. The house atop the hill, the shadowy trees, the lit path, the way the figure's cape jacket billows as he stands before the woods, his face gazing up and almost glowing... and of course the coloured lights hovering in the air... it is so intriguing and charming. And of course the concept of the wanderer appeals to me too, since one of my favourite things in the world is just to wander and look.

From the moment I saw this image it has stayed with me. I was so drawn to it that I browsed the image pool on Flickr looking for other Gorey covers that might inspire so much interest in me. But I didn't find anything nearly as perfect. It's strange (and wonderful) when one image can completely hold me in it's thrall like this.

I am certain I could look at this picture every day and still want to look at it some more. I am utterly in love.

Tumbling

2010-08-23T09:59:00.000+10:00

I love tumblr for keeping track of art prints I find and fall in love with. I thought I'd post some of my recent favourites. The images link to the source.

More on my tumblr.

NO NO = Yes

2010-08-16T09:55:00.000+10:00

(photo by me from a recent trip to the Yarra Valley)

Somehow three weeks have gone by and I haven't posted a blog update! I have been busy working, working, working, and moving house!

I had some fantastic news a few weeks ago. My current work, Souvenir, has been selected for solo exhibition at curator-run art space NO NO Gallery in North Melbourne! I will be exhibiting from 11 to 27 November. I am busy completing the series with new work, contacting framing companies and doing test prints.

And more great news, Souvenir has also been selected for exhibition next year at the Queensland Centre for Photography in Brisbane (my home town!). This is really exciting for me, as I was awarded a graduate prize by the QCP back in 2005, and have wanted to work with them ever since but I moved away from Brisbane pretty much straight out of university, so haven't had an opportunity.

Also, just wanted to mention that I contributed a little photo-essay that I took with the canon demi half frame camera to Verity La, which is a new Australian online journal. Thank you to Nigel from Verity La for so kindly inviting me to contribute!

Craft Hatch

2010-07-26T10:21:00.000+10:00

As promised, here are photos from the Craft Hatch market I participated in a few weeks ago. It was so much fun!

I'm in Craft Hatch again in October at the State Library of Victoria!

Handstitched Mountains

2010-07-15T08:43:00.001+10:00

Thank you to everyone who came to my table at Craft Hatch last weekend. I had a really fun time, and was thrilled that so many people who came were interested in stopping and having a chat about my work. As my first market experience, it was definitely a positive one. I have some photos of my table which I will post soon.

I want to share the project I was working so busily on leading up to the market. I spent most days and nights in June hand embroidering mountains! I based these on mountain peaks I drew; some real, some imagined. I kept the shapes and patterns abstract. I really like them and was pleased that others at the market seemed to as well.

What do you think?

All embroideries approximately 13 x 13 cm.

Craft Hatch this weekend!

2010-07-05T13:07:00.013+10:00

I'm getting very excited about my table at the Craft Hatch market at City Library this weekend!

I've made a special display stand and a range of new embroidered works to complement my mountain landscape collage series. I am selling framed and unframed prints, embroideries and one inch badges!

I've been working really hard to have lots of things on my table that are new, have never been sold in my Etsy shop, and have never been previewed online!

Please come down and visit me this Saturday 10 July between 11am and 4pm at City Library, 253 Flinders Lane, Level 1 Gallery, Melbourne.

Polaroids from Los Angeles

2010-06-28T12:24:00.000+10:00

I've scanned some more polaroids, this batch are from Los Angeles. Enjoy!

Also, I want to mention that the lovely Alison over at And the flowers pick themselves interviewed me last week. I am so touched by her interest in my work. Read the interview here. Thank you Alison!

All polaroids taken by me on expired 600 film and a Polaroid Close Up camera in Los Angeles, California in May 2010.

Polaroids from Portland

2010-06-22T13:03:00.000+10:00

All polaroids taken by me on expired 600 film and a Polaroid Close Up camera in Portland, Oregon in May 2010.

Poppytalk Handmade

2010-06-14T21:19:00.000+10:00

If you have a spare minute or two, have a look at the 'Here Comes the Sun' market at Poppytalk Handmade, including my table which you can see here.

There's some lovely summery things in this edition of the market. Here are a few of my picks.

Emedemarta

Jenna Rose Handmade

Alysia Cotter Photography

Samantha French

My Portland Top Five

2010-06-08T22:08:00.000+10:00

I love top fives. On my last day in the USA, waiting for a flight at San Francisco Airport, I quickly jotted down a top five of my favourite Portland things to do, and looking at it again today I stand by my choices.

Portland Top 5 (in no particular order)

1. Movies at Laurelhurst Theatre: This movie theatre serves cheap pizza slices, jugs of locally brewed beer and cider, popcorn and candy and the movies only cost $3. In addition to that, tickets are purchased from a little booth out the front of the Laurelhurst like in American TV shows, which was a little bit exciting for me. Plus once you get into the cinema with your beer and pizza, you will find tables for putting your beer on, and plenty of legroom to stretch out. A movie here is the perfect way to spend a rainy Portland afternoon.

2. Cherry pie from Random Order Coffeehouse: We randomly chose Random Order for breakfast on our first day in Portland because it was near our house and it had lots of people inside. The cafe is warm and inviting, and has two glass cabinets full of pies made from locally grown fruit. Cherry pie, caramel apple pie, banana cream pie, strawberry rhubarb pie. So many pies. The cherry pie was my pick because it's what Dale Cooper eats in Twin Peaks. The pie pastry is flaky and buttery and firm and the cherry filling is the perfect amount of sweet and sour. The coffee at Random Order is fairly good, and you can get a banana, peanut butter and cinnamon toasted sandwich which is amazing too.

3. Vintage shopping on SE Hawthorne: This street has about four or five truly massive vintage clothing stores, and all of them are pretty awesome. I bought some great jackets on Hawthorne while I was there. Buffalo Exchange was my pick of the bunch, because the staff are exceptionally friendly and the stock includes some pretty decent labels selling at good prices. This street is great for shopping, there is also a lovely shop selling locally made crafts, jewellery, cards, art prints, shirts and more. I can't remember the name though! And I recommend taking a break at mexican cantina Cha Cha Cha for a happy hour pina colada or margarita.

4. Grocery Shopping at New Seasons: Grocery shopping in America is amazing because of the range, the different brands, the variety of grossly sugar laden treats, the beauty of the fruit and vegetable sections. But at New Seasons Market, you also get the biggest vegetarian faux meat product section I have ever seen, the most delicious looking salad bar, and a machine that makes freshly crushed peanut butter for you to take away in a jar. I spent hours in there just looking at food and thinking about food and buying food. Lets face it, new food is probably what makes travelling so much fun. As an added bonus, it seems all the lesbians in N Portland shop there so it's fun people watching too. Oh, and a girl who works at New Seasons recognised us when we were out at a queer night which just cracks me up.

5. Mexican at Laughing Planet: We ate Mexican food (burritos for me, tacos for Kristen) nearly every day we were in America. It's everywhere, it's cheap, it's fresh, healthy and flavoursome. We didn't discrimate in where we ate - we had burritos from everywhere: old family restaurants, authentic taquerias, fast food stores and out of taco trucks. Everywhere has a pretty similar (and yum) take on the vegetarian burrito which is the core ingredients of black beans, salsa and rice. I guess that's why the ingredients in the Southwestern Green Chili burrito at Laughing Planet just blew my mind. And those ingredients are: black beans, mild green chiles, local sweet corn, Tillamook jack cheese, organic brown rice and pico de gallo. Upgraded to a deluxe burrito you also get sour cream and guacamole wrapped up in there. And the salsa verde is a must. The addition of sweet corn and green chiles makes all the difference. Seriously, best ever burrito.

I feel like this list is both way too short and way too food oriented so I will try to make some more lists that include other Portland activities!

Home safe

2010-06-01T12:16:00.000+10:00

Hello, I am home from my West Coast USA holiday! I had the most awesome time. We met so many amazing people who very warmly did lovely things like offer us beds in their houses, took us driving through gorges to see waterfalls and wrote lists of galleries we should see. I don't think the trip would have been nearly as good without the kindness of all these people.

I've been posting photos on my flickr page, and there are still more to come when I get a chance. Surprisingly, I am glad to be home. I think being on the go for a month gets quite challenging after a while, especially when you are a homebody like me. I have a few blog posts planned in the coming weeks with links to some of my favourite Portland cafes, shops and things to do. I seriously ate my way around the West Coast so I have a lot of food love to share.

I am going to be quite busy back in Melbourne this month as I have been selected to have a stall at Craft Hatch in July. Craft Hatch is an incubator market organised by Craft Victoria, of whom I have been a big fan since I moved here in 2006. I found out I have a market stall a few weeks ago and have been thinking about all the different fun things I could make for my stand. I am planning all kinds of new things! I will post more information closer to the date in July.

I also will be having an online market stall this month at Poppytalk Handmade, which will be live next week. I'll definitely post a link to that too! I have been reading the Poppytalk blog for years and years so I am thrilled to be selected for a spot on their marketplace!

Ok, feeling a little jetlagged so signing off. Have a great week!

Cascade Train from Portland to Seattle

2010-05-24T05:49:00.000+10:00

Maybe it's because I am the daughter of a model railroad enthusiast, but I really love train journeys. Last Sunday we caught the Amtrak Cascades route from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington. The route journeys along the Puget Sound, with stunning mountains in the background. It also passes some small towns, tall pines and pretty streams along the three and a half hour journey. Here's some pictures from the ride, including the very awesome paintings in Union Station, Portland.

Alberta Art Hop

2010-05-22T16:48:00.000+10:00

We went to the Alberta Art Hop in Portland last Saturday to see some local art and craft and music. We were really lucky to have a very sunny warm day, perfect for walking around outside! Here's a few pictures from our day out.

Green apple ice cream, in a yankees hat bowl

Not where we ate... but how intriguing

Mexican soda, so good

Three types of tacos!

Gnome Church, from the Rock Camp for Girls

St Johns, Portland

2010-05-11T13:41:00.004+10:00

We're in Portland now! We've been here since Tuesday, and we just love it.

On Saturday we went to St Johns in North Portland to the St Johns Bizarre street festival. Our housemate Lisa was playing with her band Explode Into Colours. They were awesome! (That's Lisa playing drums on the left below).

We also went for a walk around the beautiful St Johns Bridge and the surrounding streets.

Ooh and I met Jill Bliss at her market stall and bought a really beautiful owl picture!

Los Angeles Love #3: Santa Monica Pier Arcade

2010-05-09T15:31:00.000+10:00

Los Angeles Love #2: Signs

2010-05-08T12:20:00.000+10:00

Los Angeles Love #1: Palm Trees

2010-05-06T12:11:00.000+10:00

Photo walking around Princes Hill

2010-05-03T12:20:00.001+10:00

This is embarrassing to admit, but I recently walked around Princes Hill and Carlton North taking photos with my Canon Demi only to realise at the end of the roll that there was NO ROLL. Empty camera. This from someone with a degree in photography is pretty ridiculous.

But the experience of walking around at dusk and taking photos was the main event itself, so I wasn't really that bothered in the end. However a week later Kristen and I went for a walk around the same area and I had my DSLR this time, guaranteeing that images were actually recorded.

Here are a few, and there are more on my Flickr.

Japan street photography

2010-04-25T09:44:00.000+10:00

A few days ago I added a selection of the street photography I took in Japan to my portfolio website. Have a look here.

Diana

2010-04-25T09:14:00.000+10:00

I developed a roll of film from my second Diana camera today. I like this shot which I unintentionally double exposed. In general the colours from this camera are lighter, but rather surprisingly, there don't seem to be very noticeable light leaks. Yay.

I posted the rest of the roll on Flickr.

Mister Lonely Cat

2010-04-23T09:44:00.000+10:00

I shot this video of Ace, my housemate’s cat, a few days ago.

I won't explain it more than to say that I did not arrange or set up this video in anyway. I found her like that when she was left alone in my housemate's room, and she triggered the audio herself. I grabbed the camera because it was so surreal.

(ps. you can see my beautiful new bike at the start!)

busy busy

2010-04-20T08:43:00.001+10:00

I have been busily getting ready for my forthcoming trip to the States. It's only ten days til I go!

Yesterday I finished my internship at the Next Wave Festival, which was sad because I've had a ball. The Festival will take place in May while I am away so I won't get to attend anything!

One of the most exciting projects for an animal lover like me is definitely Dachshund UN. I edited this video below whilst interning. You must watch! So cute.

Also, I want to let anyone who is thinking about ordering one of my prints at the moment (am I being presumptuous? sorry!) please think about making your order before I head off overseas! I will still be able to post prints while I am away but I will probably only set aside one of two days during May so there will be a bit of a delay.

Happy Tuesday!
x

Wowee

2010-04-11T15:40:00.000+10:00

My portfolio site has had over a thousand views in the past few days thanks to a few very lovely mentions I have had on the interweb. I am so delighted and thrilled and happy to get such a warm response to my work. Thank you to Jaime at Art Milk and Erin at Design for Mankind for their kind words!

Easter weekend

2010-04-07T09:27:00.001+10:00

Did you enjoy the break over Easter? I found that having an extra long weekend was great for getting things done around the house. I had a bit of a spring clean in the kitchen - I even cleaned out the fridge! Also I planted a few succulents in some cute tins to decorate the backyard.

On Sunday in the late afternoon I had a lovely time over a few glasses of prosecco with Joy, Lana and Kristen, who you can see in these photos. It was Joy's birthday. That's me on the left in the bottom photo with my girlfriend Kristen. Hi!

Some super rad Melbourne art and crafters

2010-04-06T12:57:00.001+10:00

I was using Etsy Local search to browse Melbourne-based Etsy designers today and found lots of very talented locals. (Not surprising, it's Melbourne after all).

Here are some of the items I thought were really fantastic:

Necklace by Liz Kennedy

Print by Inaluxe

Brooch by Rubyjo

Laptop sleeve by ambette

Paintbrush brooch by Oddoneout

Some collages

2010-04-04T10:57:00.004+10:00

I am not quite sure where to go with the series I have been working on lately. Feeling a bit directionless. This week instead of continuing with that series I just pasted and doodled these three collages. I kinda like them, but feel like they don't really mean anything. Is that a problem? I feel like it is.

I have had some nice feedback about my work in the last few weeks. Jena from Modish included The Mountain Waits in a post about mountains and rainbows. And Brittni from Papern Stitch wrote a lovely post about my photography. It's lovely to get some feedback when I am feeling unsure of things.

PDX!

2010-03-30T10:02:00.002+11:00

by crosstrippin

by vintageroadside

by gregorypepion

by ashman88

by gharness

by bunbunlife

by bigbuckaroo

by vintageroadside

by dalylab

I hinted about it a few weeks ago, and I have finally caught up enough time to post about it. I am going to live in Portland, Oregon for the month of May, 2010!

If you live in Portland, or have been there, or have ever dreamt of going there, now would be the perfect time to send any recommendations my way. Restaurants, bars, cafes, craft shops, art galleries, museums, bookstores, parks, bridges, picnic spots, vintage shops, etc etc. I want to hear about them all!

don't worry i'm here

2010-03-24T14:51:00.003+11:00

I had an imaginary friend when I was a kid. Actually, multiple imaginary friends. They were a whole bunch of little animals who went with me everywhere.

Um... yeah I guess I was sort of an anxious child!

Now I'm an adult I still wouldn't mind having a big bear friend to hold me and tell me not to worry every now and then.

Did you have an imaginary friend?

Illustration from Julia Pott (whose work I love!)

papernstitch

2010-03-23T11:16:00.000+11:00

Do you look at papernstitch?

If not, in a nutshell it's an online exhibition space for handmade art, fashion, craft and jewellery, all selected by the curator and site owner Brittni Wood. I am thrilled to be in the new season which went live yesterday!

Please view my papernstitch stall, and make sure you look at some of the other stalls!

I've had a look around at the new stalls since the new selection went live yesterday, and here are some of my initial favourites.

http://papernstitch.com/shop/minifanfan

http://papernstitch.com/shop/eden

http://papernstitch.com/shop/imooi

http://papernstitch.com/shop/corella-illustration

More new prints in my shop

2010-03-17T12:26:00.002+11:00

I've put a few more new prints in my shop today!

old family photos

2010-03-16T07:49:00.002+11:00

I love looking at other people's family photos. I love to get a glimpse of where people lived, how they dressed, how they stood, how they grinned or posed.

My sister and I scanned hundreds of our family photos for my mother's sixtieth birthday last year. We digitised them so we could put them on a digital photo frame for her to keep in the family room. It seemed a shame that all these photos of many decades of our ancestors were just sitting in the hall shelves unlooked at. I was just looking through them again and some are so wonderful I thought I would share.

The photos below are my grandfather on the beach, then a few of my mother as a child, then one of grandad and a group of men. I put more photos in a set on flickr.

New print in shop

2010-03-09T12:48:00.002+11:00

I've just made a print of this photograph available in my shop. Titled Napier Street, this was taken with a Holga camera and 120 film on a photo walk around Fitzroy.

rain rain

2010-03-08T14:07:00.001+11:00

It's been raining for days. I spent Saturday and Sunday at the Golden Plains music festival wearing a plastic poncho and gum boots. This morning I found this drawing/painting that I did a few years ago and it seemed strangely poignant!

Lion Park

2010-03-04T13:50:00.003+11:00

I took this picture at Melbourne Zoo on my XA-2 camera. It's one of those snapshots that just happens to turn out kind of cool. Kristen and I liked the photo and the font and something clicked - we have been trying to name our new band and we both immediately agreed to call ourselves Lion Park.

We recorded some songs on the weekend at rehearsal using a mic in the centre of the room. The recordings are pretty raw, but I think that's ok. It's just bass and drums and two voices.

Have a listen at the brand new Lion Park Myspace.

fingers crossed

2010-03-01T11:25:00.002+11:00

Photo by isphotography

I may get to do something very exciting in the next few months. Cross your fingers for me!

Treasury

2010-02-23T13:08:00.001+11:00

Clare from tastesorangey has curated me into a treasury on Etsy called 'hopelessly romantic'. Treasuries are curated by Etsy members and are little themed shopping galleries. There are some lovely items in Clare's treasury - I am flattered to be in such good company! I think treasuries are only online for a short time, so here's a screengrab just in case. Thanks Clare!

Clare also makes beautiful paintings, like this one with my favourite animal!

Second Home

2010-02-16T14:37:00.002+11:00

I'm working from a different desk today - I'm at my girlfriend's house while she's at the office. The biggest advantage to working from here is the light. I have all the windows open and it's fresh and bright in here. Perfect. I'm halfway through a new mountain scene.

Continuing my theme of thinking about houses in the past few posts, I thought I would put up a few lovely home themed prints I have seen and loved on Etsy lately.

From Laura George

From britthermann

From Lizzy Stewart

From Carambatack

From Jenaardell

From michelleramin

From leah giberson

tumbling houses

2010-02-09T18:05:00.003+11:00

Three cheers for Tumblr. I have been building up a little pool of things I find on the internet at my Tumblr page. It's particularly handy if I see something I like on an artist's blog or design blog and don't want to bookmark the whole site for whatever reason.

Here are a few images I have tumbled (is that a word?) lately:

From One Hundred Abandoned Houses

From Julie Morstad

From Wood and Paint

the crystal lake

2010-02-09T12:50:00.010+11:00

Today I finished a new artwork for my Tiny Pieces series.

I've called it The Crystal Lake because I have been rediscovering my love of the band Grandaddy lately. The Sophtware Slump is still one of my favourite albums more than ten years after its release. I like how the entire album is themed around a concept without it being a 'concept album'. I feel like the album is set in the not too distant future in a post apocalypse where everything is pretty much the same in terms of geography and politics but all the computers and machines have broken down and the divide between human and animal habitat has ended. Squirrels make homes in refrigerators in kitchens and plants are growing out of cathode ray tube monitors in empty office blocks.

This artwork isn't about any of that. If anything this is pre-technology, not post-technology.

I've made a print of The Crystal Lake available in my shop.

new tattoo

2010-02-07T11:26:00.005+11:00

I've been meaning to post for a month or two now about my new tattoo! Only thing holding me back was waiting til I was in Brisbane to show my Mum before I put it online for the rest of the world. Heh. She took it pretty well - good on you Mum!

This was my first tattoo, after wanting one for about four years and even chickening out in 2006 after having the picture drawn and an appointment booked. Being a pretty normal girl, I am afraid of pain and commitment, ok?

The drawing which I eventually went with was almost decided upon on a whim - I booked the appointment for the tattoo three months in advance and had an artist drawing a bear for me - however she became very busy in the lead up to my appointment and we couldn't resolve the drawing in time. So I had about three weeks to go and no drawing!

And then - brainwave. I was in Brisbane visiting my Mum and looked through some old albums of photos I took in 1999. There were so many photographs of houses. Not houses I knew, but other peoples houses I saw in the street. Then I thought about artwork I made in 2004. I put architectural drawings of houses into collages I was making for my school work at uni. Flash forward to 2009 and I was still obsessed with other peoples houses. I walked around the streets I lived in Melbourne and took pinhole photographs of houses I saw. And I realised what I really want a tattoo of is my lasting obsession of the last ten years. A house.

So, of course, when I started thinking about who would have drawn the 'right' house, I thought of Melbourne artist Catherine Campbell. A very talented artist whose work I have been admiring since I first saw it in Melbourne a few years ago. I remembered seeing an exhibition about a year ago that contained a beautiful old house adrift in a woman's hair. I found the artwork on her portfolio site, emailed her, and got her blessing to go ahead with the tattoo all in the same day.

And so a few weeks later I went in and had the house inked.

It wasn't til afterwards that I thought about how badly the tattoo could have gone if my tattooist wasn't able to render all those straight lines perfectly. Luckily, Jai is an incredible tattooist! He made a few changes to the original artwork, as you will see in the images below. The delicate shading is probably the finest alteration he made to the image, but he also added a wintery gust of snow which he wanted to reference the blue waves in the original picture.

I love my house. I have had it for about three months now but it still sometimes surprises me that I went through with it! What also surprises me is how much attention it receives. This is no exaggeration - almost every person I meet either socially or just buying milk at the local shop compliments me on it! I had three client meetings this week and every single client asked me about it. Luckily I work in an industry where it's not career limiting to have an arm tattoo!

So here it is!

And here is Catherine Campbell's original artwork:

The Mountain Waits

2010-02-01T09:52:00.006+11:00

I have decided 2010 is the year for getting organised.

Organised with my art practice that is.

I'm working on a new series called Tiny Pieces, and I hope to exhibit it in 2010 in Melbourne.

Here's one of the works which I have finished lately:

The Mountain Waits in my Etsy shop.

mountain rock

2009-10-31T14:08:00.002+11:00

I have started a new artwork this week. It's a collage of a very epic mountain, and it's easily taken me longer than all the other new work I have made lately. Which is only fitting since it is a mountain!

I'm looking forward to seeing it through, I think it might be in a style that I could make a whole series out of, which is kind of what I have been hoping to figure out. Excited about doing something new.

In other news, we have two weeks between shows with the band so I will be having less late nights for a fortnight. Probably a good thing, I am not very good at dealing with tiredness! One night of bad sleep and I am pretty much useless for days.

hold on tight

2009-10-06T16:10:00.004+11:00

I keep waking up very early in the morning thinking about feathers. As a result, a new collage.

It is available in my shop in an 8in and 12in version if you like it.

we float aloft - new print in shop

2009-09-28T14:29:00.004+10:00

I made a new artwork over a couple of rainy, windy Melbourne afternoons in the past fortnight. I have listed it for sale in my shop here.

If you need a better reason to quit smoking than your own health

2009-08-27T11:46:00.000+10:00

Child labourers in Malawi, some as young as 5 years old, are forced by poverty to pick tobacco. Working conditions are so poor that the children absorb nicotine through their hands equivalent to smoking 50 cigarettes a day. They are paid the equivalent of US1.75 cents an hour.

The majority of European and North American tobacco companies purchase tobacco from Malawi to use in their cigarettes.

Further details of the report, carried out by Plan International, can be read here:

https://www.plan.org.au/mediacentre/mediareleases/plan_exposes_malawi_child_tobacco_pickers_50-a-day_habit

On a positive note - Cadbury chocolate is now fair trade! (Which kind of makes me sad in a way, that I have been loving their chocolate all my life and not ever thought about the people involved in its manufacture).

monday morning

2009-08-10T10:08:00.003+10:00

I have just read The Little Prince for the first time. It is so sweet and profound. I picked it off my housemate's shelf last night when I couldn't sleep, and finished it just now. What a great way to recover from what was a pretty awful day yesterday.

I've caught a cold. Today is usually one of my work from home days, but I think I will spend it in bed, rather than working on art projects. Annoying. I found an Alfred Hitchcock DVD collection in the loungeroom which has 45 movies on it, so I'll be pretty busy with that I think.

I finally processed a roll of film shot on my Anny (plastic camera from the 60's). It's a Diana clone, so it takes 120 medium format film. I am thrilled with the vignetting and rich colours. Half the roll was taken in 2005, the rest in 2009. More Anny photos on flickr.

handmade camera

2009-07-21T13:13:00.003+10:00

When I went to Japan last year I bought three different camera kits - each one makes a plastic and cardboard pinhole camera which takes 35mm film, though each is slightly different. For some reason it has taken me over a year to sit down and make one of the cameras. Now that I have made one, I am really excited about making the rest!

All of the instructions for this camera were in Japanese, but they were easy to follow because of incredibly clear diagrams. Also, each piece in the kit had a corresponding number on the instructions. Lucky, because there must have been 50 different pieces!

The camera is held together with small plastic stickers, and is constructed of cardboard and plastic. The pinhole itself is f130, which requires about a 2-3 second exposure in sunlight with 100ISO film.

I shot a roll of film yesterday and it was quite challenging to hold the camera steady for such long exposures, even when leaning on a fence or the ground. I'll be getting the printed photos back tomorrow - and will be sure to post some online. Even if the results aren't great, I am totally in love with this camera just because of how cute it is.

west brunswick

2009-07-13T16:01:00.004+10:00

I went for a walk this afternoon with my Holgaroid and my Polaroid SX70. I mostly went out to get away from my cat who must have missed me on the weekend because he spent the entire morning trying to sit right on my chest so I couldn't get any work done. I also thought it might be nice to have a look at the local back streets, since I am fairly new to West Brunswick.

I discovered there are some amazing houses around here. There are quite a few 1920s california bungalows and some art deco rounded-front brick homes. I saw some pretty fantastic gardens too. Funny trimmed hedges, ramshackle english style cottage gardens, vines, japanese cherry blossoms.

I took about a pack of shots on the SX70, and posted a few on my flickr. I also took some Holgaroids but something bad has obviously happened since I loaded the film a few months ago, because they all turned out with light leaks along the bottom right. This is a valuable lesson in why you should shoot a whole roll while it's fresh! So annoying!

BEARS!

2009-07-07T17:35:00.003+10:00

BEARS! in Hamish's kitchen: Me, Hamish, Kristen.

My new-ish band, BEARS!, recorded a couple of demos on the weekend. We started playing together and writing songs in January. We haven't played live yet so this is the first time we've had any music to show anyone. The songs are on myspace at the link below. We've got about 8 songs now, and we are hoping to start playing shows in the next few months. I play drums and sing backing vocals. My friends Hamish and Kristen do guitar and bass, and they both do most of the singing. We have a lot of fun, I hope it shows in the music.

Listen to BEARS!

Sounds like

2009-06-23T09:57:00.004+10:00

You know how when you insert a burnt CD in your computer iTunes queries the Gracenote database to find songs that match what is on your disk? Supposedly the database matches songs by metadata found in the file information, or a 'fuzzy matching' technique. What I want to know is, how did it come up with this list below? Because the disk I inserted is a recording of me singing the BEARS! song 'In the City' at band practice last night. Weird. And kind of funny.

now selling: home decor

2009-06-22T11:36:00.003+10:00

I've just listed a new item on my etsy store. I am really excited to now be able to offer handmade home decor.

I'm making bunting flags! I first made a set of flags earlier this year because I wanted to dress up my new bedroom when I moved house. They are really fun to make, because I use my fabric remnants, and each piece of fabric reminds me of something different - maybe a house I used to live in, or a dress I made once. Some of the fabric is even remnants given to me by my mother.

Right, I am off to the library now
x

note to self

2009-06-19T14:05:00.002+10:00

dear liesl,
in the interest of staying awake all afternoon, in future do not spend lunch sitting in the winter sunshine eating a rich creamy cauliflower and pasta bake.
your friend,
common sense

Home again

2009-06-09T19:32:00.003+10:00

This week I finished working at CCP and moved house. Two life changing events in the one week. This time last week I was feeling a little dazed with the pressure of training my replacement at work and packing for my move. Now that I am mostly unpacked in my new home and have had a chance to stop and look around, I am feeling pretty darn happy.

Right now I am settling in for a night at home, taking a minute to write while the goulash and dumplings I am cooking for dinner are simmering on the stove. Today was spent hanging pictures in my new bedroom, shopping for vintage books and making artwork.

Living in Brunswick is pretty amazing, with Savers and the Brunswick railway station within a 2 minute ride.

Nestled under my bed tonight is Cooper, my new live-in cat, adopted from my girlfriend and co-opted into moving with me. He's been too shy to venture out much since we brought him here yesterday. I am looking forward to his first proper entry into the world outside the bed.

Outside this room, are two lovely dogs, Edie and Lily, who followed me around from room to room today. What an animal filled house we have.

I better go check on dinner. Photos of my new home coming soon.

brain explosion imminent

2009-06-04T14:27:00.001+10:00

there just isn't room for anything else in my crazy old head this week

New website

2008-08-31T13:52:00.004+10:00

I've spent some spare time in the last few weeks making a new portfolio website. Live as of this morning, it's at Liesl Pfeffer dot com

I felt quite amazed this morning when writing the intro text, as I realised that I have artwork and photographs online going back six years. It's a nice feeling seeing everything sitting there together. But I also think that the portfolio for 2008 is noticably absent!

The good news is that I have begun working on a new series over the past few months. Thoughts are being scribbled on trams, polaroids are being snapped, and there has been much walking around the new area where I live. The look and feel of the new series is still undetermined, and I am really just feeling my way. The work is about houses: old and beautiful. I have a few houses in particular which I am quite obsessed with, and I am looking forward to spending more time with them.

Here is my current favourite, taken with my new Polaroid back for my Holga 120.

aaaarigami

2007-11-25T23:15:00.000+11:00

This week's craft activity is nautical themed origami. I googled a long time to find origami pirate instructions, but no dice. Then I tried to find a whale, but couldn't find one that wasn't for the seriously advanced origamist.

Then I found the manatee. Always one of my favourite sea creatures. Now I just need to find the right origami paper. I made a test run and he is so cute. I'll post pictures later.

If anyone wants to make an origami manatee, here's the link.

And here's a manatee, aw:

a panda is a bear

2007-11-19T20:53:00.000+11:00

As promised, I present to you, Matt's AMAZING panda, as well as Jazz's ghost zombie panda, hanging out at work with my two floral guys, and a late entry biro panda from Tim:

(photo stolen from Jazz's flickr)

I feel pretty proud of us right now.

panda panda panda

2007-11-12T21:54:00.000+11:00

Let me say, first of all, I realise these pandas are LUDICROUS. But I still kinda love them.

So, let's start with the less ludicrous of the pair. This guy was my second attempt. Half panda, half penguin.

And here he is with his older, femimine brother, my first panda. I don't think you can even tell that pinky IS a panda.

Stay tuned for Matt's panda. I think it's going to make me want to give up panda sewing forever.