forest animals

While I was in Melbourne, I was determined to visit the LIFE inSTYLE trade fair. I've heard so much about it from so many different people & really wanted to see it for myself as I'm planning to exhibit at the next Sydney fair in February (with my label, Non-Fiction). After an unbelievably hectic Thursday July 31st, I drove into Flemington Racecourse at about 8.15pm & had just 45 minutes to devour four floors of design! Both the organisers & the designers had done an incredible job - each & every stand looked stunning & this fair certainly showcases the best in gifts, homewares & things for littlies. Unfortunately I didn't have time to stop & chat to many of the labels we've featured on indie art & design, but I thought it would be a great opportunity to revisit some of our favourites & show you what they've been up to recently! First cab off the rank is Melbourne jewellery designer Natalie Cirillo of A Skulk Of Foxes.

Since we first featured A Skulk Of Foxes a year ago, Natalie has introduced a series of intricate acrylic brooches to her original handcrafted silver jewellery lineup. Both designs above have been created with a solid base layer of ivory acrylic bonded to a carefully cut & contrasting dark design layer. I really love the swirling floral design in Bergen (top, AUD $39). I'd like to imagine myself in Horse & Rider (above, AUD $39) but my other half has stubbornly maintained a "no horseriding" policy for way too long!

The brand new & super-sweet "Forest Scene" (above) is a glass mirror framed by an acrylic mount - which is available in either black or red. It measures 30cm x 30cm and sells for AUD $136. Also available are mirrors featuring incredibly beautiful Wisteria and Creeping Cherry designs.

Natalie has also continued to add to her range of gorgeous animal silhouettes which she handcuts into silver. I adore "Birds on a Wire" (above, AUD $138).
I love wearing short necklaces & chokers, and it's such a clever idea to use the cable as part of the design. Cute "Birdy" pendant below (AUD $79) & the galloping "Horse" brooch (bottom, AUD $127) are more stunning new designs.

The LIFE inSTYLE trade fair was a big success for A Skulk Of Foxes - not surprisingly, Natalie's designs have found many new homes and will be appearing very soon in shops all over (from Australia & New Zealand to the UK)! For more info & to see the entire catalogue of designs, visit www.askulkoffoxes.com.au. I'm looking forward to seeing Natalie again in Sydney in February!

Check back soon for the next report from the Melbourne LIFE inSTYLE trade fair! If you attended as either an exhibitor or a visitor like me, we'd love to hear from you!

P.S. Grace Bonney from Design*Sponge is also currently featuring some of our finest from Melbourne - she's halfway through a four-part feature at http://www.designspongeonline.com.

Throughout July, Melbourne's Husk boutiques are celebrating the beginning of the new season with a SPRING BUNNY EXHIBITION! 30 curious critters have been specially "dressed up" by friends of Husk including Willow, Kate Cebrano, Easton Pearson, Bouvier and Michi Girl. (I first spotted Michi Bunny dressed up to the nines in one of Michi Girl's afternoon emails. Michi Bunny is a vision in pink ruffles, complimented by pearl earrings.)

Bunnies all dressed up by Jasmin Wall of Husk (left), Michi Girl (centre) and artist Matt Eddelbuttel (right).

I don't know how you'd choose from so many personalities! However, artist Matt Eddelbuttel's creation (pictured above) certainly caught my attention. I just love his little hat!

EP Bunny by designers Easton Pearson - available through silent auction at Husk.

The bunnies are on display throughout July in the three Husk boutiques - located in Melbourne City, Toorak & Albert Park. They are availble to purchase through a silent auction - so you'll have to visit your bunny regularly to make sure he/she will be coming home with you!

Konnichi Wa Husk Bunny by designer Brigid McLaughlin - available through silent auction at Husk.

Look! Konnichi Wa Bunny by designer Brigid McLaughlin has her very own wooden Japanese sandals... too cute! I wonder how she can hop in those?

Driving Miss Bunny by artist David Bromely - available through silent auction at Husk.

The Spring Bunny exhibition is being held in support of the Cup Half Full charity which helps young people in need. Proceeds from the sale of the 30 fashionable friends will assist Husk in placing 30 kids through the Cup Half Full program which provides an accredited barista training course and follow up work experience. So when you bid on your favourite bunny, you are also supporting a very worthy cause!

So hop to it & bounce into Husk to admire these one-of-a-kind creations & maybe choose one to be your own! Husk is located at:
Melbourne - 176 Collins St, ph. 03 9663 0655
Toorak - 557 Malvern Rd, ph. 03 9663 0655
Albert Park - 123 Dundas Pl, ph. 03 9690 6994
ONLINE - www.husk.com.au

Love Tattoo Bunny made by Stacey, friend of Husk - available through silent auction at Husk.

Mr Panda children's wall art by Look at the Wall

These gorgeous creations are by Melbourne designer Monique Gaspar. She recently launched her label, Look at the Wall, after she was inspired to decorate the walls of her own boy's rooms. She's always loved craft, but working full time as a medical imaging technologist (taking X-rays), she struggled to find enough time. This project, however, expanded quickly into a home-based business which currently offers 10 limited edition designs - each one handmade from a different selection of papers so you know it's unique!

Children's wall art by Look at the Wall

Monique chooses from a vast array of different papers such as handmade and processed papers, magazines, recycled, maps & more... (If anyone wants to find a home for their scrap papers, Monique can put them to good use!)

Cheeky Monkey children's wall art by Look at the Wall

Monique is very flexible, and is more than happy to work with a specific colour scheme or customise an artwork with a child's name. I'm rather taken with the idea of a series of the same design - each one with different details and colour schemes. You can see above how good the different "Cheeky Monkey" designs would look hanging together.

Squirrel children's wall art by Look at the Wall

Look at the Wall collages measure 30 x 30 x 1.2cm and come with a protective polyurethane matte varnish and a sawtooth hanger ready to be hung on your wall. They will surely delight little minds with colours, textures & happy animal friends. Each step of the process has been handmade with love - from initial drawing, to cutting & sanding the wood, then choosing & cutting the paper designs and assembling the collage. Monique likens choosing the complimenting colours to picking out clothes, and considers this the hardest part - not all colours go together!

Cats on a Fence & Hungry Hippos children's wall art by Look at the Wall

Each children's wall art collage is available for AUD $120, from the
Look at the Wall web site, and from the following stockists:

VIC: My Poppet (Caulfield South), 1001 Things for Kids (Carlton North)
NSW: Fragile (Bondi Junction)
SA: One Small Room (Croydon)
ONLINE: Kids Gift List, Wallspace, Urban Child, Beyond Pink and Blue, Beautifly, Shophouse, Giggle Smile Designs, Rosie Pose, Lala Baby, Chic Kids, Mini Echo

"Hello Owl" by Kareena Zerefos.

Kareena Zerefos is an incredibly talented artist & illustrator from Sydney. She has exhibited in a number of group shows this year, and her work has been appearing all over the place! She is responsible for the stunning artwork on the Sparkadia album covers, and many of you would have seen her work featured throughout Yen Magazine's Issue 31. (We also mentioned Kareena's work when we posted about the Grrrls exhibition at aMBUSH Gallery in February.) Kareena's first solo show opens next week, and she has taken a little time out from drawing to answer some of our questions, so read on!

MTV Gallery flyer - an exhibition of illustrative works by Kareena Zerefos.

I 1. Firstly, congratulations on your first solo exhibition! How are you feeling about the show?

KZ Thank you! Very excited and extremely nervous, I’m just not sure what to expect. I kind of feel like a teenager putting on a party, I’m like 'will anyone show up?' and 'how do I get enough drinks?'. More seriously, I'm pretty happy with my new pieces and its going to be great seeing peoples responses to them.

Sparkadia Animals album cover by Kareena Zerefos.

I 2. I'm sure many of our readers would absolutely love to earn a living as an artist/illustrator. What path did you follow to get to this point your career?

KZ I always wanted to be an artist, but never thought I'd be able to make a living from it, so I took design at the College of Fine Arts – I thought being a designer seemed more viable. Then I worked as a graphic designer, and dabbled in web design, while I continued to draw and develop my style on the side. It's only been the last few months that I've been lucky enough to be able to drop the job, with enough freelance and commission work to keep me fed and the bills paid.

"His Name Was Sebastien" by Kareena Zerefos.

I 3. Do you think it's a difficult industry in which to carve your own niche, or do you find that agents/galleries/publications are receptive to new talent & ideas?

KZ It is a difficult industry, but I think if you just go with your own ideas and style and really put it out there, you then find that people are always looking for someone fresh.

"Hot Air Balloon" by Kareena Zerefos.

I 4. You have a drawing style that I personally adore, and it is quite recognisable. Have you always used this approach, or did you develop this style through experimentation over time?

KZ My style has very much evolved, and it still is evolving. I originally worked in a way that was based on graphic design techniques and was often finishing my pieces off digitally... but I then found that I wanted my pieces to stay away from the computer, so I started working with different media – particularly letraset, ink and even tea, as well as my favourite pencils, gouache and felt tips.

"Bumblebee Girl" by Kareena Zerefos for the Jeremyville Sketchel project.

I 5. How did you find exhibiting earlier this year in the Grrrls group exhibition (aMBUSH Gallery, Waterloo)?

KZ It was great to exhibit along side so many fabulous female artists. Our styles, materials and techniques were all so varied, but it came together really well.

"Girl with Mouse" by Kareena Zerefos.

I 6. Have you been to any recent exhibitions that you've just loved?

KZ To be honest, I feel like I haven't left my studio for a long time now. So the last show I went to that I loved was Kids Today at MTV.

"Portrait" and "Little Boy Daydreaming" by Kareena Zerefos.

I 7. From what I've seen, your artworks seem to be based on very personal themes. Your approach seems subtle & emotional. What inspires you to create these works?

KZ I work with themes of isolation and escapism – I guess essentially this is inspired by living in my own little dream world, and that feeling of loneliness and the desire to be somewhere else, that a lot of people relate to. I mostly use images of children and their imaginations to depict this, and look at old photographs, film and children’s books to draw inspiration.

"Across the Board" and "Element Bluebird" by Kareena Zerefos.

I 8. Do you have any favourites, or new works you’re particularly excited about?

KZ I'm excited about quite a few of my new pieces, I've been drawing quite a few pictures of children with their animal friends and have also done a series of bumblebee children, which have a really nice bittersweet feeling about them.

Sparkadia Postcards album cover by Kareena Zerefos.

I 9. Do you like to collaborate with visual artists & other creatives? (I love the new Sparkadia album cover – how did this come about?)

KZ I do! I've recently collaborated with fashion designers, eve and sera from sewn, creating a delicate repeat pattern for their next spring/summer range; as well as sparkadia, with their album, singles and ep artwork; and I just finished up some pieces yesterday working with the mambo goddess designers.

... and thank you! I met Alex years ago at a BBQ and have worked with the band ever since; the Lion illustration came about after Alex and I discussed 'Sparkadia' as being a place or another fantasy world and the lion is the king of the jungle. It is also a reference to the last track on the album, Sleeping Lion, which is one of my favourites.

Kareena Zerefos web site screenshot.

I 10. Do people discover your artworks through your web site (www.kareenazerefos.com) & online "Corner Store", or do you see the site as a resource for people who already know & love your work?

KZ I'd like to think that its for both, I try to keep my site updated with new work and a bit of a news blog so people can come back and see what has been happening.

"They Defeat The Mean Giants" by Kareena Zerefos.

I 11. What are some of your career highlights so far?

KZ This year has been quite exciting in terms of 'highlights' - I quit my job to be an artist full time; I've exhibited work amongst amazing local and international artists at Curvy, Kids Today and Grrrls; and I have just over a week left until my first solo show!

Exhibition of artwork by Kareena Zerefos.

I 12. Where are you headed artistically in the future?

KZ Doing more of what I'm doing now, continuing to develop my style and hopefully have solo shows in other cities later in the year.

Kareena Zerefos.

I Thank you so much Kareena, and all the best for the exhibition next week - I'm really looking forward to the opening night! For those of you in Sydney, get along to MTV Gallery in East Sydney (4-16 Yurong St) on Tuesday night, 3.6.2008! The opening is from 6pm - 9pm, and there will be an acoustic performance by Alex Burnett from Sparkadia. If you can't make it to the opening, the exhibition continues until 10.6.2008.

Look at the gorgeous Easter card I received from Anika & Svenja of 0049Design! Thank you so much girls - that was such a surprise. I know I'm a little late but I couldn't resist posting my goggly-eyed felt greeting, so a belated Happy Easter to you all.

This will be an exhibition not to be missed (if you're in Sydney, that is)... Not for profit online publication [weAREtheIMAGEmakers] is presenting an all girl exhibition with a crazy talented line up of female Australian artists. Hailing from all corners of the country, participating artists include:

• akina (lang leav) - www.akina.com.au
• andrea innocent - www.otoshimono.org
• brooke bobridge - www.brookebobridge.com
• eugenia tsimiklis - www.emikli.com
• kareena zerefos - www.kareenazerefos.com
• lillian piri - www.littlegalaxie.com
• love ariel - www.loveariel.com
• melissa stringer - www.myspace.com/girliepains
• mini graff - www.minigraff.com
• nanami cowdroy - www.nthread.net
• rebecca wetzler - www.rebeccawetzler.com
• smitten by stephanie - www.smittenbystephanie.com
• team kitten - www.teamkitten.com

I'm sure that list of talent you might wish you possess is motivation enough - but just in case you need some inspiration, I've included a selection of works that I adore from just a few grrrly girls below...

These subtle and moving limited edition art prints are by Kareena Zerefos. Each print is AUD $185 and available from Kareena's "corner store". Above left is "Owl" and right, "Alex from Patras". "Owl" is also available as an A2 poster (printed on 100% recycled paper) for AUD $12. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Kareena's exhibition pieces!

The dreamy coloured pencil work of Lilly Piri is very well known & so beautiful. The artworks pictured above are "Off To See The World" (left) and "Relocation" (right).
A miniature print of "Relocation" (7.5" x 9"), is available from the Thumbtack Press for US $19.99. It is one of 25 different works which are for sale in this format. Gift cards, button sets, original artworks, postcards and the limited edition "silent water zine" (featuring 10 previously unpublished drawings by Lilly Piri and her husband, Heiko) are also all available through Lilly Piri's online store.

The distinctive, graphic & very lovely artworks below are by artist Brooke Bobridge. Having grown up in Perth, she's lived in Singapore, Nairobi, London & Edinburgh and currently calls Melbourne home. Brooke is inspired by big cities and travelling, and draws from Asian influences in her work. She is always exploring new designs and ideas for her hand-screenprinted works. Limited edition prints of her work are available from a number of online stores including one of our local favourites Moose: Art for Living - and her label, nightsidedown is coming soon!

The artwork above is "Lanterns 2007", and below, "Darjeeling 2007". I especially love the colour palettes Brooke has used in these two. The soft grey tones, reds & purples contrast beautifully with the crisp white elements. mmmm....wintery!

The Grrrls exhibition opens at 6pm this Friday evening (8.2.2008) at aMBUSH Gallery in Waterloo. It continues until Sunday 24.2.2008, with gallery opening hours of 12pm - 5pm, Wednesday through to Saturday. Special thanks to Liss for drawing my attention to this exhibition through her beautiful blog, Daydream Lily.

The festive season is upon us and with the "big day" just around the corner, we'd like to help out with some gorgeous gift ideas! We've selected a wide range of different goodies to suit Christmas stockings of all shapes & sizes.

love jewellery by geneine honey

love is a Melbourne based fashion label begun by Geneine Honey in 2002. Geneine uses her whimsical and intricate drawings as a source of inspiration for her designs, which include jewellery pieces and accessories in shapes that hark back to the innocence and romance of childhood's imaginary worlds. Pictured above is the "Girl and Bunny Brooch Set", a gorgeous duo available in a mirror finish or black acrylic. (AUD $45).

I fell in love with these wooden birdhouses when I first saw them at Made590. One lucky friend may just receive the wooden finish Birdhouse Necklace (above left) for Christmas. That's if I don't give into temptation & keep it for myself! The Birdhouse Brooch on the right has an ivory acrylic bottom layer. The contrast between the cream-coloured background and the darker delicate wooden pattern is very pretty. Both are available as necklaces or brooches for AUD $35 each.

Aren't these clever? They have hinged joints just like a real wooden doll! Titled "I wish I was a real boy/girl", they are just adorable and you can choose between a wooden (below) or handpainted finish (above). Once again, they are available as necklaces or brooches, for AUD $55 each.

Can we tempt you with a shiny red apple or a forest mushroom? I have no doubt that these red mushrooms (toadstools!) are laced with trickery, but I reckon those apples look trustworthy! You can try these fruits of the forest as necklaces or brooches, all are AUD $35 each. (They are available in a number of different finishes.)

Pictured below is the "Printed Tote Bag" featuring the beautiful illustration upon which the "Girl and Bunny Brooch Set" is based. The silhouettes of the Girl & Bunny are surrounded by their forest friends, drawn with such delicacy! The tote bag is fully lined with pocket and magnetic clasp. It has been digitally printed and is machine washable. For more love & hate, you can view their comprehensive catalogue at www.lovehate.com.au, or visit one of their retail stockists:

NSW: Bulb (Double Bay), Bang Art and Gift Shop (Potts Point), Made590 (Newtown)
VIC: Little Salon (Fitzroy & Melbourne City)
WA: Remedy (Fremantle), More (Subiaco, T. 08 9381 8085)
QLD: Queensland Art Gallery (Brisbane), Maiocchi (Fortitude Valley)
SA: Flourish (Hyde Park), Storison (Hahndorf, T. 08 8388 7331)
TAS: Cocoon (Launceston), Small Rhino (Hobart)
ACT: The Hive (Braddon)

mens tees by pocket

Pocket Designs is one of my favourite new discoveries. Based in Perth, this graphic designer has created a number of t-shirt ranges which make perfect gifts for our better halves! In fact, the above picture features my partner showing off his brand new birthday present... He's wearing the "Seventh Armoury" design in black with a yellow print - a special glow-in-the-dark edition! The t-shirts fit well & are a lovely quality. Also in his personal wardrobe are the "Tokyo Puppeteers" and "Soldiers V2" designs pictured below. The prints are inspired by Japanese anime and come in a variety of colour options. I particularly like "Soldiers V2" printed in aqua on a navy tee. The styling of the designs themselves is great - sleek & cool. The expression on the puppet's face in "Tokyo Puppeteers" is so twisted!

Pictured below are details of the "Metalight" and "Wasp" designs. The "Wasp" print comes in yellow on a coal coloured tee which I just love. The larger part of the design (featuring the wasp) is printed on the back with a selection of honeycomb shapes & vector lines on the front. Fantastic! The Pocket tees range from AUD $60-$70. Visit www.pocketdesigns.com.au to see more of the range, or stop by one of their retail stockists:

ONLINE: Teknoscape
NSW: Crazy Horse (Newtown, T. 02 9519 2199, Darlinghurst, T. 02 9326 0800), Haku (Potts Point, T. 02 9380 8768), Oxi Clothing (Newtown)
VIC: Kids in Berlin (North Melbourne), Tomorrow Never Knows (Fitzroy, T. 03 9495 6645), Robio (Fitzroy), Moji (South Yarra, T. 03 9824 1104), Villain Store (Brunswick)
WA: The Pulse (Perth, T. 08 9322 7210), Atlas Divine (Leederville, T. 08 9444 4663), Ginza (Subiaco, T. 08 9381 6067), Lucky Stripe (Fremantle, T. 08 9336 6299), Locale Clothing (Floreat), Method Clothing (Mt Lawley), Tade' (Applecross, T. 08 9364 7891)
QLD: Ginza Swim (Paddington, T. 07 3369 1131)

christmas sponsor:

christmas cards by dudley redhead

Hunting for unique Christmas cards & gift tags? These adorable designs are made by Dudley Redhead, otherwise known as Sydney-based designer Tara Axford.

Each Note & Tag set (pictured above, AUD $15.00) includes:
3 x Christmas Bunny & Wren Postcards measuring 110mm x 135mm. They have been professionally printed on 215gsm gloss card, have rounded corners and are blank on the reverse. Post to a friend or attach to a gift!
3 x Christmas Wren Button Badge Gift Tags measuring 70mm x 110mm. The button badges have a pin back & are a lovely little bonus to your gift!

The Christmas Wren Gift Tags are also available individually for AUD $3.00 each.

May all your parcels be prettied by Dudley Redhead's illustrations! Christmas Cards & Tags are available from Georgie Love's treasure of hand made pleasures at www.georgielove.com, and you can find the Dudley Redhead blog at http://dudleyredhead.blogspot.com.

prints by eveline tarunadjaja

Eveline Tarunadjaja is an exciting young artist who was born and raised in Indonesia. At age 15, she moved to Melbourne where she has lived for almost 10 years. Her work has been exhibited over the last couple of weeks as part of the "Cups and Cuddles" group show at Per Square Metre Gallery in Collingwood, along with fellow artists Andrea Innocent, Catherine Campbell, Crystal Hartley, Lilly Piri, maricormaricar & Nobuko Washiyama.

Many of her artworks are available as stunning & very reasonably priced prints through her web site at www.lovexevol.com. Pictured above are the prints "Wait" (AUD $40, 15 x 20cm, pen, coloured pencils & markers) and "The Blue Dress" (AUD $40, 15 x 20cm, pen & markers). I love the effect of limited areas of bright colour, especially where the background colour of the paper is peeking through. Both are simple, graphic works where the detail lies within the careful linework. "The Blue Dress" was actually featured as the free poster in Frankie Magazine issue #15. Both of these works were created in a little drawing journal Eveline filled with imagined characters and words that got stuck in her head.

Eveline finds inspiration in the feelings evoked by little random experiences... doings, sayings, conversations, people, stories, artist, movies, films & music. The next four images are good examples of the artistic results! I love the colour & humour embraced by "Tomato Head" (above left, AUD $45, 18 x 26cm, pen, acrylic & digital artwork). Eveline says she often produces "something that's really dumb" - "Tomato Head" was drawn when she was thinking just too much & her head started to feel like a big heavy vegetable!
In contrast, "Airfish" (above right, AUD $40, 18 x 26cm, pens & markers) is something really personal. It is about a dreamer... "unreal thoughts float like fishes fly..." The original artwork is also available framed for AUD $250.

In prints such as "Animal Hoodie (Octopus)" (above left, AUD $40, 16 x 26cm, pen, markers & coloured pencil), Eveline has depicted imaginative items of clothing that whe would love to have or make. She also plays with the idea of "semi-porn, because it's fun and funny!" "Familia Octopie" (above right, AUD $30, 16 x 26cm, pen) is about "a royal family of octopus that capture two humans and force them to have sex with each other". Enough said! The prints are printed on to 240gsm fine art paper, and are unframed. To view these works, and many more, visit http://www.lovexevol.com. You can order online through the site, making them ideal Christmas presents.

The two works pictured below were exhibited in "Cups and Cuddles" and the originals will be availble for purchase very soon. They are so beautifully drawn & the fine lines curl & twist in rhythm with the natural grain of the wood.

linen by out to lunch

Out To Lunch's Lucy Bromell has created an elegant range of hand-printed and uniquely Australian tableware. The collection is inspired by native flora, and features four different designs - Banksia, Stem, Casuarina and Eucalypt, each of which come in a range of natural colours all organically printed on linen, cotton and silk. Pictured above are the "Casuarina" and "Banksia" linen napkins. Both are available as a set of four napkins for AUD $64.

Two of the "Stem" designs are pictured above. The table mats have a matching coloured trim which frames the delicate print beautifully. They retail for AUD $88 for a set of four. Once again, the set of four napkins is AUD $64. The earthy colours of the prints & natural texture of the fabric would surely look gorgeous atop a wooden dining table!

The contrast is striking in these black on natural linen "Eucalypt" designs. The table runner is AUD $70, and the matching table mats are AUD $64 for a set of four. Depending on who is cooking on Christmas Day, the full size cotton aprons below (AUD $55 each) could also make lovely gifts. (Perhaps not the best idea though for someone who has been slaving over a baking turkey with all the trimmings!) Either way, there are plenty of gorgeous Out To Lunch products to choose from & you'll find them online at Moose: Art for Living.

t-shirts for all by wildgarden

Wildgarden is a gorgeous Australian label born out of a desire to create products featuring simple, yet sophisticated designs produced by hand. The talented designers are Sydney-based sisters Nancy & Jessica Lim. They are inspired by the environment which surrounds them - both natural and urban. You may also know of these two from the Modamuse online store & blog - another wonderful site featuring the work of independent designers from Australian & New Zealand.

Wildgarden is currently offering 25% off everything in the lead up to Christmas! They have a colourful range of screen printed t-shirts for all of the family. Here we've included our favourite summer styles for women & a few for the little ones too! Pictured above are "Radiate" which features a striking metallic silver print (above left, AUD $34.50) and "Floss" with a white branch motif across the front (above right, AUD $33).

These singlet designs show off Wildgarden's love of colour & form. The graphic layering of black & grey in "Twiggy" (above left, AUD $31.50) look fantastic & I also really like the placement of the stylised, floral-patterned bird in "Fly Away" (above right, AUD $31.50)

The "Winter Blossom" tee (above left, AUD $34.50) would be really versatile. With an assymetrical lavender blossom branch motif placed high on the shoulder front and back, it would look equally striking worn casually with jeans, or dressed up with a pretty skirt for day or night. The fitted styles of these tees lend themselves to such situations! The Spiro print (right, AUD $34.50) looks great in yellow & white on an ashphalt-coloured tee. This retro design is also available in pale blue & green on olive.

Aren't these children's designs gorgeous? Pictured above are "Birdy Jazz Trio" (left) and "Elephant Walk" (right), while "Ducky" appears below right. All are AUD $25.50 each. I think I'd quite like "Birdy Jazz Trio" in a grown-up version! We couldn't resist including the "Bossanova Shopper" black cotton tote - at AUD $9.75, it's a steal! To see more Wildgarden designs & place your order online, visit www.wildgardendesign.com.

christmas sponsor:

Following on from my last post, Meet Tyrone will be part of a group exhibition titled "Animal Conclave", opening this Thursday evening (18th Oct) at Blank Space Gallery in Surry Hills. On display will be new works based on "Animals
in 3D", (the theme of Meet Tyrone's current season tees & hoodies). I'm really looking forward to seeing more of Bill Chen's artworks. He combines his talents as a 3D animator, graphic designer & artist to produce captivating three-dimensional artworks such as the one featured on the flyer above.

Meet Tyrone will be joined by SMC and Striker - the three independent artists collaborating to fuse a rustic earthy theme with street style.

I haven't yet seen the work of SMC and Striker, but the exhibition info describes them as follows:
"SMC is a self-taught artist who uses character based styles & images, concentrating on simple black definite lines & a minimal colour palette...
His influences include 60's comics, cubism & Japanese pop art."
"Like his squid brethren that hide amongst the rocks of the ocean, 'Striker' hides amongst the citizens of the city... Half man, half squid, 'Strikers' images are on the darker side of the ocean."

The exhibition runs from Thursday 18th - Wednesday 24th October. I'll look forward hearing your comments!

Could I be under the influence of a sugary spell, or have I simply fallen in love with the wonders of Magic Jelly? I have a feeling that the powers behind this flavoursome label have decided to use their artful magics for good - with just hint of evil here & there. The powers of which I speak take the form of Karena Colquhoun, a professional artist, illustrator & designer from Adelaide. She has an impressive range of artworks & gift items available for sale through her Etsy store at www.magicjelly.etsy.com and you can also find her at www.magicjelly.com.au and her blog www.magicjelly.typepad.com.

Pictured above are two limited edition art prints. On the left is "Miss Ruby", a hand-painted screen print from a limited edition of 40. Here, the inspiration, image and substrate have been intertwined to create a unique work. The gaze of the subject transfers her character into the present while the viewer is taken back almost 100 years into the past. Karena has printed onto pages of an old damaged book called "The Tennyson Birthday Book". The book itself was given to Miss Ruby Holder on her birthday, 29.3.1911. Since the book is filled with the hand written names of her friends and family, Karena chose to depict Miss Ruby, looking a little weary as she may have done after posing for a portrait photograph from that era. She created the print (US $35.00) using her Print Gocco and hand-coloured the image with acrylics.

On the right, we have the popular "Stuff No. 1" limited edition Gocco screen print (US $12.00). This is Magic Jelly's tribute to spot illustrations & limited colour palettes, a celebration of halftones, ink & paper! Light-hearted in orange & indigo, it is filled with the flotsam & jetsam that collect in our lives & remain vivid in our memories.

Among the Magic Jelly goods on offer are the greeting cards "Magic Jellies" - such a jaunty design (as my great aunt would say!), and "Heart Attack" which spreads the peace & love with little red hearts (US $4.50 each). Both have been screen printed using the Print Gocco. Isn't it great when your greeting card really is a gift in itself?

The pocket mirrors pictured above would make fantastic gifts. The "Black Forest" design (US $12.50) comes personalised with the recipient's name, surrounded by a few shadowy friends, and the "Good Dog" (US $9.50) is my favourite - his zipped up smile is so cheeky & his brown eyes so adoring! The Magic Jelly packaging with handprinted backing cards tops it all off.

Above left is the 4 colour Gocco limited edition screen print "Fox and Flowers" (US $12.00). The fox's coat features a gorgeous orange pattern, complimented by the floral star shapes in the background. The "Sunday Morning" digital art print (right, US $12.00) is a striking comic-style illustration named after the Velvet Underground song of the same title.

"Floyd's epiphany arrived in the shape of a fat white dove just as he was about to deliver a killer right hook to his opponent. He pulled off his gloves & went for a walk in the sunshine... Everybody needs an epiphany sometime!" (from Magic Jelly's description)

This two-tone image has been Gocco screen printed onto the pages of a surveyer's notebook from the 1930s. The inks are vibrant and the double image seems to suggest the moments just before and after that sudden change of heart. Another detail that you may not notice at first, is the boxing gloves have been cut independently from a second page of text creating a subtle contrast between the gloves & the rest of the image. Another limited edition, is it available for US $18.00.

"No. 5" (left, $45.00) is an original mixed media artwork from the "Benediction" series of 60 unique pieces. It features screen printed and collaged elements (from vintage ephemera and new papers). There is a wonderful balance created by the careful selection & placement of textures and colours, and by the arresting gaze of the masked woman's face. The photograph on the right shows a different piece from the "Benediction" series framed.

Both the images above are limited edition art prints on canvas panels. On the left is "Gone To Earth, Plate Two" (US $18.00), an eerie meeting of fairytale woodland creatures and a carefully arranged human portrait. "Giddyup" (right, US $18.00) is similarly wicked but drawn in the elegant style of vintage engravings, using lines & halftones.

One final surprise: when I contacted Magic Jelly (whom I discovered on Indiepublic), Karena was kind enough to offer me some of her goodies as samples! So the first Indie Art & Design giveaway will really be something special - certainly not to be missed! Stay tuned for my next post...

Betty Babushka and Chester Chipmunk Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

Betty Jo seems set to take over the world - now that the Melbourne-based label has been picked up by global brand Paul Smith! Her cute & quirky lino characters already populate many boutiques & gift stores all around the country. Designer Liz Jones has been making jewellery for many years, and creates the Betty Jo range using recycled vintage lino and secondhand buttons. She has always had an interest in found & recycled materials and loves to fossick through op shops.

Sascha Scotty and Bunny Lino Pendants by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

Each piece in the Betty Jo range is handmade so all the creatures have individual personalities & no two are the same. The wide-button-eyed animals are available as badges or pendants, and even the chain used for the pendants has a wonderful retro feel. For an animal-lover like me, it's a hard choice between them - especially when there are soooo many from which to choose! Perhaps, since last night I watched Best In Show again on late night Sunday television, Sascha Scotty will be my favourite today. Cute as a button - just like Winky the Norwich Terrier!

Claude Pussycat and Orlando Owl Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

To find out more about the techniques & tales of Betty Jo Designs, visit www.ambiguoushourse.com/another-cool-artist/ or the Betty Jo Designs blog at www.linoforest.blogspot.com.

Pip Pony and Ronaldo Rabbit Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

You will soon find Betty Jo Designs in Paris, New York & London, but if you're looking for something closer to home, her stable of stockists include:

VIC: Scally and Trombone (Fitzroy), Douglas and Hope (Fitzroy & Melbourne City), Queen (Fitzroy & Windsor), Pussy Cat Black (Brunswick), Monk House (Brunswick East), April May (North Fitzroy), The Cats Meow (Melbourne City), Order & Progress (Melbourne City), Craft Victoria (Melbourne City), Dot & Herby (St Kilda), Lupa (Northcote), Meet Me at Mikes (Richmond), Milly Sleeping (Carlton), Hudson (Balaclava), Kids in Berlin (North Melbourne), Moustache (Fitzroy), a-nom-a-ly (Belmont)

NSW: Collect (Surry Hills), Incu (Paddington), MCA Store (Circular Quay), Paris Texas (Surry Hills), Body (Woollahra), Mrs Peel (Leura)

ACT: The Hive (Braddon)

SA: Irving Baby (Adelaide), Best Wishes (Parkside), Clubhouse Lane Boutique (Croydon)

WA: Billy & Rose (Fremantle & Mt Lawley), Store (Claremont), Form (Perth)

QLD: Craft Qld (Fortitude Valley), Cairns Regional Gallery (Cairns), Cherry Blossom Bookstore (Paddington)

NZ: iko iko (Wellington)

ONLINE: www.georgielove.com