i just have to show you my latest finds,

i simply adore this alfred meakin jug with it's fairground scene (notice the subtle advertising for coca cola!) and i love this 60's thermos flask. it's very big, i'll have to see how well it keep drinks warm or cold, i'll let you know!

and here they are, complete with several changes!

the weather is gorgeous! what a fab summer we are having, i'm thinking of you all on the other side, i hope it's warming up for you at last.

these pieces have a new zealand theme. each lady is holding a fern, pohutukawa, kowhai or frangipani (not technically kiwi more pacific really!) they are for sale as art and will also appear on gift cards and block mounts through the image vault.

i just have to show you my new studio space at home, i am just so happy to finally have a place where i can create and decorate and fill with all my inspirational treasures. it's up high over looking the neighborhood, i really do feel like the princess in her castle!

I was thrilled to receive a commision from a lovely man who wanted to give his wife something special for her birthday,

he told me she loves to read, shoes and the ocean, she also likes the colour purple,

i have combined these elements to create this peacful piece.

he will pick it up tomorrow, i hope he likes it!

i'm back! what a drama, our hard drive failed last week and it has been touch and go as to whether we would loose everything. luckily our local techno whizzes managed to fix it so here i am again.

i have spent the last week arranging my treasures in my fantastic new studio. i'm in heaven! at last a place of my own! in a house hold of boy's it's always been a delicate situation, too much girly stuff around the place has not always been appreciated! now i can let my creativity fly in my bright sun filled room.

holiday photos and wishing you a happy new year!

 we spent Christmas at my brother in laws beautiful home in the country near Auckland

 we spent every day at the beach, swimming, snorkeling, fishing and boating

 we visited a private island,how lucky they are!

 our native pohutukawa tree, it loves growing next to the beach

H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R  !

to my wonderful friends all around the world,

may this year bring you much happiness, peace and fulfillment,

I have tons of exciting new projects coming up so.....

watch this space!

original art

and here is the second piece of art, i dont know where she is from let alone what era!

original art for sale

i simply love birds, here is a piece that i will deliver to the solander gallery tomorrow

chocovenyl    www.chocovenyl.co.uk   are selling my christmas tree wall decal on their etsy web site,

i love the way they have shown it here, it looks so fresh!

50's firniture

 this mid century lounger will go well in our new garden!

50's style

i'm so excited, now that we have a new 50's house i am constantly on the look out for 50's furniture pieces,

I found, haggled and bought this drinks cabinet today,

I love the patterned panel inside the door, don't you think this design could have been created today?!

festive tree cookies

with the festival coming up i thought i'd make a few festive biscuits,

I made the cutter by cutting plastic strips into a tree shape,

i iced them with lemon and sugar icing and finally piped colourful stars etc by combining 3 egg whites and 4 cups of icing sugar beaten till white and glossy,

as always with me they seem to have a 50's feel!

festive paper decorations

apart from making tons of paper stars for our up and coming twilight festival, i have been having a great time trying out different ideas with paper and have come up with these paper garlands.

i have simply cut discs out of paper in all sorts of sizes and colours and stitched them together.

i love the way the circles become all different ovals depending on the angles, they look festive too!

i have been playing around with book ideas,

this could be fun, what do you think?

good news! we have sold our house and bought a new one,

it was built in the 50's and clearly has a mid century vibe about it, i can't wait to get in and decorate, watch this space!

this week i have at last been able to focus on my art!

these pieces are for an up and coming exhibition, they are 30x30 cm's in size,
what is it about me and wings?!

christmas decorations

hi friends!

it's my birthday this week and my sister, jutta's a day before mine (we are 1 day short of a year apart in age)

i had recently bought a vintage cake decorating kit and decided to surprise her with a completely over the top birthday cake covered in icing flowers (she's a keen gardener)

i spent hours and hours attempting to make them, it's not that easy, believe me! finally i popped the trays in the oven for safe keeping till i could add them to the cake. little did i know that my darling husband, paul had decided to start cooking dinner and proceeded to turn the oven on. before i had a chance to grab them out of the oven, they had begun to brown, what a disaster! now they look even more vintage don't you think! i don't think she will mind, it's the thought that counts!

i have also been playing around with star decorations, they are very easy to make;

start with a 6x6 inch square

divide it up into 1 inch concertina strips

fold like a fan

find middle and staple

cut a diagonal at the end to make points

open out and stick together

you can add extra cuts to make a snowflake
to make the 12 pointed stars, i simply folded in 1/2 inch folds

christmas tree art

summer is here at last, yes it's hard to believe we have christmas on the beach, my british friends are finding it hard to adapt, they are thinking of hiring a snow machine!