For the City Of Boroondara Literary Awards 2013

Earlier in the year I created this piece for the City Of Boroondara.

It is to provide inspiration across a whole host of awards and competitions they are launching in order to encourage budding writers.

I loved creating this piece for Justine and the gang at the Library Arts and Cultural Services - they were wonderful clients and I look forward to working with them in the future.

You can read all about the awards here:
http://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/libraries/boroondara-literary-awards

Suitcase Rummage Posters for GOMA and Jumpers & Jazz

Darebin Arts Strategy postcard art & design

Yum Yum Art! Chocolate in pocket = sweet escape.

Last year I was invited by the wonderful folk at GAS to participate in a project called Yum Yum Art.
I think most of you know that Valentine's day is one of my favourite celebrations.
In 2012, a collaboration between Mitsukoshi Isetan and 6 Female artists was launched. Artists included the very talented Beci Orpin and Emily Forgot. But for Valentine`s 
day 2013, they wanted to feature just one lucky artist, and they invited me!!




















I was asked to design a range of sweets (and accompanying packaging) for Valentine's day to be sold through the Isetan department store chain across Japan. yep - you read right. Edible art!!! 

I absolutely loved working on this project and look forward to future collaborations with GAS. A big big Arigatō!' to the very lovely Fumiko Kagaku for all her help, and indeed to all the Gas As Interface team.

So now that I have safely photographed the merchandise, guess what's next?

Thank you to Fumiko Kagaku for the photos of my sweets in situ, selling to art and chocolate lovers alike. x!

Art & design for Suitcase Rummage Melbourne 2013

Your Old Self - A Cunning Folk

Your Old Self is the first show for 2013 at Tinning Street Gallery, Brunswick.www.tinningstreet.blogspot.com.au

15 Artists were invited to reinterpret an artwork from their childhood. Both works are included in the exhibition. The opening was last night and I really enjoyed the space and curation of the work by the new gallery director, Belinda Wiltshire.

I chose a piece I made when I was 12 years old. It is a page from a project I did for school called 'Magic and Witches'. The page had two spells: one to turn  you into a witch (??) and one to turn you into a cat. It had some pretty stock standard sketches of witch paraphernalia like a hat, a broom, a cat and a cauldron. I decided to draw the witch and the cat you would become if you followed the spells. I called them A Cunning Folk and was on a roll so I drew a third just for fun.

Artists participating include Shaun Tan, Madeleine Stamer, Emma Coulter, Beau White, Ben Howe and Belinda Wiltshire.

The exhibition runs until February 17th so if you're in the neighbourhood you should really check it out. There are some very beautiful reinterpretations of artists childish works. 

Starfish Music

Today's deadline is for Starfish Music,  a music community where musicians can sell their music and share their success with their fans through a profit sharing structure. At the moment, the website serves as a music community where people can post their songs, and fans/supporters can 'heart' the songs that they love, and gain experience points if others agree with their musical taste per say.

You know I love to support our local (and international, global, and universal!) music community so I was super chuffed to be asked to create this work.

The launch is next week at the Melbourne Aquarium (sorry, invite only) but the all new website will be launched then so be sure to check out www.starfishmusic.net after the 7th of Feb!

Bad blogger, Belinda!

I have been away from blogland, mes petit choux. But I am back and ready to embrace 2013 with a full body bear hug.

There are lots of projects in store this year and I have the uncanny feeling that this will be a marvellous year...I can feel it in my bones.

So here is a little catch up on some stuff so I can start afresh.

xb

Finally 'Writes Of Spring' is a reality! Very exciting stuff!

 I do so much design work, especially for Suitcase Rummage, and yet I rarely get to see it in print form. So it was a real treat when Isabel posted the latest Wobble mag from Canberra to me.

 My 'Kinku The Kranky Kookaburra' made it to Semi Permament 2012 which I was super super chuffed about.

Hey Maker! Hiatus.....

Artists and creatives Belinda Smith, Ellie Beck, Jo Olive and Kathy Egan are the founding members of Hey Maker! They got together to form a collective in response to the growing number of retail stores in Murwillumbah closing their doors due to the economic downturn. Their aim was to enliven Murwillumbah's town centre by inviting all to interact with fun Pop Up Art Installations using recycled materials and the most simple of art resources. 

And now the last days of Hey Maker! pop-up shop are approaching. Hey Maker! Has this to say:

'It has been such a wonderful whirlwind of connection and creative happenings in our beautiful little shop. Have you come down to have a look yet? No, well - you'd better scurry on down. We are closing the doors on this Pop-Up on Saturday 22nd December at 2pm. 

There are so many amazing and perfect little gift items for your Christmas giving. Remember - shop local and hand crafted this Christmas (and at all times of the year). Really, who wants to go to the 'shopping malls' when we have such pretty little shops in our own home town who stock such pretty little things that are just exactly what your loved ones wanted.

There are art prints by Gretchenmist and Belinda Suzette - these are all archival prints, and a very affordable way to own your own piece of artwork. Ceramics are by Kathryn Mitchell - my little boy has his eye on that middle cup there! The ceramic pin cushions are by Hey Maker! Belinda Smith and look simply lovely on the wall or as a paperweight, or in your collection of beautiful things. Brooches pictured are by Jetta's Nest, Kimono Reincarnate and Edward & Lilly - we also have brooches by The Sentimentalist and BirchSeed. And the little hand screen printed pouches / purses are by me, Red Seed Studio. Fine porcelain by Pinky & Maurice. This is so beautiful to hold, come and check them out for yourself. Also, wrapped ceramic vessel by Belinda Smith.
Bottom image is: Christmas cards, gift tags, and decorations by BirchSeed. All hand block printed and stitched in Murwillumbah. And those sweet little softie chooks - BirchSeed makes them, as well as a wonderful selection of cushions, tote bags and other little pieces.

Come on down and take some loveliness home with you, before it all gets packed up!

Our opening hours between now and next Saturday are:
Saturday 15th 9.30am-2pm
Sunday 16th (closed due to a workshop)
Monday 17th 9.30am - 4pm
Tuesday 18th 9.30am - 4pm
Wednesday 19th 9.30am - 2pm (sorry, early closing due to school presentation!)
Thursday 20th 9.30am - 5pm
Friday 21st 9.30am - 5pm
Saturday 22nd 9am - 2pm. FINAL DAY

heymakercollective@gmail.com
http://heymakercreative.blogspot.com.au

Images from Hey Maker! blogspot

Suitcase Rummage GC 2013

Latest Suitcase Rummage poster for the Gold Coast 2013.
Sunny, sunny, sunshiny daze......

Suitcase Rummage Brisbane 2013

Here is the 2013 poster for Suitcase Rummage Brisbane.

Just as I was finishing this baby up, my puppy spilt coffee on my computer, which may have killed my computer. Wow, yesterday was a rather stressful day indeed. Thank dog the mac guy was able to pull the files off the hard drive for me and I could complete the design at the crack of dawn this morn, on my old macbook that takes a couple of hours to open an email. sigh.

The Suitcase Rummage Silly Season Pledge

Greetings friends,

We're only days away from the official start of the Silly Season and I am super excited about it this year.

For me the Silly Season culminates in relaxation, play, friends, family, presents, FOOD, food, food and food.

I am very lucky indeed that this is what this time of year means to me and I am determined to celebrate and make informed decisions wherever I can that help my amazing community and country.

This year I became a coordinator for Suitcase Rummage Melbourne, for whom I have been creating art and design a few years now. I am very, very proud to be involved in creating a grass roots market designed to encourage members of the community to engage in ethical exchange through advocacy of local Arts & Crafts, fostering DIY entrepreneurs, and supporting a sustainable economy. 

The team at Suitcase Rummage feel pretty passionately about being apart of a creative, robust and sustainable community. We decided to take a a pledge to be really thoughtful in all our purchases over the next month. It's so easy and convenient to not think about where stuff comes from and where it will go. Especially when you live in a super lucky country like we do. We're hoping you will join us in our Suitcase Rummage Silly Season Pledge by supporting Australian made and grown, hand-made and fairly-traded art, craft produce, services and goods. 

Take the pledge, pass it on and don't spend too much money on silly stuff this silly season. Spend just the right amount on special stuff that helps make sense of all the willy nilly silly!

Please pass it on and Happy Silly Season!

Suitcase Rummage Canberra

Latest work for Suitcase Rummage Canberra
Double Page Spread for Wobble magazine
http://www.wobble.cc/artists

Bumbershoot

Busy bee Brian Cohen, a man with several fingers in many creative pies, asked me to create some visual branding for his film company 'Bumbershoot'. That was a fun one!
Below is what we came up with.

Lady Writer

My latest commission was some branding work for the lovely Anna Paddick of Anna Paddick And The Spekulators.
Her business is called 'Lady Writer', after the Dire Straits song.
Her idea is to run songwriting and performance based music workshops and organise gigs that showcase female talent. She had the idea after learning that only 20% of registered songwriters in Australia are women. The first is coming up in December at the John Curtin Hotel.