quiet paws.

ENTRIES HAVE NOW CLOSED!! A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!!

I have long been an admirer of the beautiful work created by Melbourne artisans Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison. I’ve had these two lovely wooden critters of theirs guarding my bookshelves for a few years now, and they’ve been doing an excellent job at keeping unwelcome visitors away from my precious pages.

It was only really a matter of time before another beautiful package from their store made it to my door (I’m surprised it wasn’t much sooner actually).

Rather than containing things of wood, this time this pretty package contained all things paper. I picked up a few gorgeous zines for myself including ‘Before it’s too late’, ‘Summertime: and the livin’ is easy, just as Ella & Louis sang’, and ‘Postcards from…But for the moon nobody could see us’. A package from Gracia and Louise always means that I will be well and truly treated, not just by their delicate words and pictures, but just from the whole experience.

Of course I didn’t forget about you. I also purchased a second copy of ‘Before it’s too late’ and ‘Geschlecht und Schoklade’ to giveaway in the next installment of the ‘Something for me, Something for you‘ series of giveaways.

‘Before it’s too late’ is a limited edition zine (with an edition run of 70) by Louise Jennison and captures all the beauty and starkness of the Arctic while pondering the impacts of climate change on such a place. ‘Geschlecht und Schoklade’ is a small limited edition zine (with an edition run of 100) by Gaby Bila-Guenther (a Berlin based poet), Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison, featuring five of Gaby’s poems throughout with collage elements. Please be aware that with a title like this, the zine is a little on the ‘adult’ side so prepare yourself for some sauciness, raciness and some very cheeky humour.

If you’d like the chance to win the two zines pictured above, just follow the instructions below. Entries for this giveaway close Monday 7 December 2009 @10pm (AEST). Good luck!!

So, how does the giveaway work?

1. The giveaway is open to anyone in the world in recognition of the global market for things of beauty.
2. Just leave a comment on this post and I’ll assign you your very own personal raffle ticket number.
3. Once the competition closes I’ll place all the raffle tickets into my hat and the lucky winning ticket will be drawn at random.
4. If you’re lucky enough to have your ticket selected, I’ll contact you via email so that you can send me your mailing address.
5. Congratulations if you are the winner, your prize will then be on its way!

There are so many beautiful things in this world to appreciate. High on this list are the extraordinarily talented people creating absolutely wonderful things with their hands, hearts and heads.

Poetry is something I adore. I love the different ways in which poems can speak to us – some remind us of our own experiences, others challenge our narrow view of the world, and still more again can simply astound with their pleasant pattern and rhythm of words.

Kylie Johnson is a Brisbane creative who applies her varied poetic and artistic talents to beautiful ceramics (including ornaments, jewellery, tags and labels), art prints, pencils and many written words. A common theme which runs through many of her pieces is a respect for the beauty of words, which could otherwise be described as poetry.

I recently indulged my love of both poetry and art by purchasing two limited edition Kylie Johnson prints which feature her beautiful words. The print above is entitled ‘Layers’. I also picked up a print of ‘Our Home‘ which is just as lovely. Even though the print above is currently looking a little Laura Palmer (ie. still wrapped in plastic), I hope you are still able to enjoy…

So aside from a significant obsession with the full spectrum of ‘woodland creatures’, I also have an equally strong and similarly inexplicable fascination with horses (something which I’ve already reflected on). I therefore felt very fortunate indeed when I recently stumbled across the gorgeous Brown Button Trading store and spied myself a beautiful Pegasus statue.

Well what choice did I have? I simply had to buy it.
After all what could possibly be better than a winged horse?

I’ve been feeling a little flat and somewhat lacking in imaginative power and energy recently, so I’ve been looking for some way to bring a little extra ‘magic’ to my life.

I’m hoping that with Pegasus by my side at night while I sleep, my dream mind will be infiltrated with a surge of creative energy, which will then in turn influence my waking mind.

…speed forth with your poetic inspiration winged horse of the sky…

Last year I found myself in a bit of an art-buying frenzy. It was so much easier to justify purchases of beautiful things which I could gaze on for a long, long time as opposed to the more fleeting pleasure offered by buying clothes and accessories. All my decidedly lovely pieces of art have sadly been stored away until I found the money and time to invest in some suitable frames. That all changed with a recent trip to Ikea, when I managed to pick up some frames for a few of my art prints.

The first is the ‘Gocco Boo Bunny’ limited edition print by Mandy Sutcliffe which now has pride of place on my desk. And just look at the lovely Belle & Boo goodies that I also received with my order – such generosity is something I love to be surprised with!! More of Mandy’s beautiful art can be purchased from her store Belle & Boo.

The second is a limited edition print of ‘Sleepy Pink  Birds’ by Melbourne artist Melissa  Haslam. Her art is exquisite and I just adore her dreamy, romantic vision of the interaction between the real and the unreal, the physical and the spiritual. 

While I haven’t found the perfect spot for this print yet, for now it is just enough to have it framed, ready and waiting. Now I just have to tackle the ten other art prints which are still patiently waiting to be tended to…

This is just quite simply a breathtaking piece of art. 

Stella McCartney’s stunning chandelier made with over 8,000 Swarovski crystals – ‘Lucky Spot’ has returned to Belsay Castle.

The huge leaping horse first made its appearance in 2004 as part of a contemporary art exhibition ‘Fashion at Belsay’.  Apparently the three-metre high chandelier proved to be so popular, that Lucky Spot has been restored to its original glory.

This must be an amazing installation to view in-person, but in lieu of that the photos seem to capture some of the intended ambience of the piece and give an idea of its spectacular presence. While Stella McCartney is clearly a gifted fashion designer, I love how (like any creative person) her creativity can’t be contained to one field, it spills over into all other parts of life.

So during my recent hiatus from the blogging world, I’ve discovered a real love (if not obsession) with all things art. Sure I’ve long appreciated the classics such as Rodin, Monet, Gaugin, Picasso, Renoir and co. at museums and art exhibitions, but I’d never before felt a real desire to own art and adorn the walls of my house with as many beautiful works as possible. I’m not saying that I ever expect to purchase work from one of the identified ‘masters’ of the art world, but I am happy to say that I have been working at accruing a little collection of limited edition art prints all of my own.

I think that prints are a great way to enter the world of art – they are generally affordable, yet still give you that feeling of specialness that comes from being able to hang that particular piece of art on your walls. There are SO many great artists (far too many to mention here, and no doubt you have your own favourites) working on wonderful, awe-inspiring creations in an effort to bring joy into the world. If you were at all interested in buying assets that accrue in value, you might also be interested in the world of limited edition prints for this reason, as they will generally resell for a higher value, but for me I simply like to buy art for arts sake. I like to be able to gaze upon something in wonderment or lost in a triggered memory, think deep thoughts about big concepts, or simply in order to bring a smile to my face.

One particular favourite artist of mine who I just can’t resist sharing with you (this is apart from the wonderful work of my husband of course), is Dan McCarthy. His work is of course unique, beautiful and magical, but it also appeals to me in a way that I probably can’t really put very well into words. His art reminds me of the way that I like to look at the world – with respect for the wider scheme of things, in recognition of all that has come before and all that is still yet possible, and that people are merely one very small part of this great complex place we call earth.

I first stumbled across Dan’s artwork late last year, and managed to join up for a part-year print subscription (where you get a print out aside for you each month, and sent out quarterly). Each print is a real treasure and so it was with pleasure that I signed up for a full year subscription this time around. If you’re likewise inclined and would like to subscribe yourself – full year membership is currently open.