Finally my NEW website that I LOVE!!

I am so excited this morning as I have completed my new website.

In the past I have tried a few web hosts & havent been happy. For about 12 months now I have left my home page either directed at my blog or etsy store. After searching around I gave up. The other night in the private MATS FB group, someone asked the question, "Does anyone know of a great DIY web host site?" After many comments, there was a common thread Squarespace. I had never heard of them, so I checked them out & was thrilled. I love the clean simple layout, it's perfect for what I need right now. I also checked out the girls website who had recommended them & was very impressed.

After lots of fiddling around, contacting their very efficient 24/7 help support a few times, I have completed it. There is so much more to add to it, it's only the beginning.

I am feeling pretty good about my new home.

New Ballet Artwork - trio prints

I have finally finished my ballet prints & really happy with them. I have used all of my inspiration that I have collected. I really enjoyed working with such pretty images, making them very pink, girly, elegant, & really fluffy.

My first set of trio prints, I haven't made anything in sets yet, but have had a few requests.

Now the print have been created I need to get on to the decor coordinates.

Have a lovely weekend.

MATS - Week 2 assignment - Flower Pods

Oh dear my course is consuming me at the moment, which is a worry as I have a tonne of other work to have completed. BUT I LOVE IT!! I just can't stop or get enough of it.

Trying to use my time management successfully, I manage to finish my second assignment early. My eldest has been home for the last 2 days with a cold, so I have kept him inside, warm & entertained on the couch with DVD's, a some new ipad games. After 2 days of antibiotics he is well & truly on them mend. Where I was heading with that was, that fortunately for me it has allowed me solid drawing time & I managed to get quite a bit done.

My assignment was to draw flower pods & design them on a plate for the home decor category. I loved this assignment as I love flowers, & best part I could incorporate some other favourite icons being birds & butterflies. This week didn't feel as challenging like last weeks did, I was my closer to my comfort zone. I did however utilise a different colour palette  It's a combination I wouldn't normally consider when design for children's accessories.

I am still yet to decide which plate I would like to submit for the assignment  My gut is telling me the bottom left.

Not sure yet, what do you think?

MATS - Week one assignment

I have finished week one of my MATS course with Lilla Rogers. This week I was pushed a bit out of my comfort zone from an icon design perspective. We were given a brief & had to use the vintage Pyrex dishes & mushroom we had sketched a few days before. A retro kitchen theme is subject matter I would not ordinarily decide to draw.

It was fun, I enjoyed creating something new, & I am happy with the final result. Looking back however after submitting it, I would certainly make some changes. This is normal behaviour for me & many creative types, always wanting to tweak. Instead of going into what I think is wrong I want to move on to my new challenge that's has been release.

This week I am drawing flowers pods, & I know I am going to enjoy it.

Ballet Mood Board Inspiration

I am starting to plan new designs, I find this stage really exciting thinking about what I haven't created before. Working out what new ideas that make my heart race. I have learnt to really listen to my body when I create, or when I am sourcing new ideas. I always know I am on to something, if I am excited & smiling from the inside out.

I am wanting to create a dance ballet range. I have never danced in my life, I was always into sport, so  was my mum, hence me never entering a dance studio. However Charlotte has taken to it, (like many 3yr old girls), so last year I enrolled her in a kindy dance program, & ever since it's been the highlight of her week. Her enthusiasm has drawn me to the dance & ballet world, still not knowing anything about it technically, I am drawn to it's beauty. It is so feminine. So pretty. So graceful. So elegant. So gracious. It has a soft romantic & even vintage feel. When I think of ballet, I think about fluid movements, soft pink satin, tulle, ribbons, slippers, dusky pink & creme, lace, and two tone roses.

I have put together a mood board to create inspiration, & keep me on path with my ballet design vision.

I have thought of a colour palette, it's soft & very ballet. I want to keep the colours a little cleaner, & not as murky as what is perceived a little more traditional.

With ideas down, its time to get some art drawn.

Pinterest image references as follows - 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11

It's Friday

It's been a busy week & I am glad it's Friday. It's the Queens birthday this weekend so we all have a lovely long weekend, Monday is a public holiday...Yippee!!

I started drawing this wandering little chicken & her mouse friend.
Maybe they are off to a party?
A picnic?
The gardens?
I am not really sure where they are going, a bit like me, not sure what I will be doing over my long weekend.

I guess I will have to let you know.

Have a great weekend friends.

Food & Fitness Love

The journey of losing some weight & feeling fitter, is still a very motivated challenge I am on. My hunger pangs have settled down, so I finally believe my stomach has shrunk a little. Thanks goodness!

I am starting to feel the benefits of eating good clean whole foods, & my body is becoming very thankful. In hindsight starting this program in winter was maybe a little more challenging. I would much rather eat steaming hot veggies than salad, so I have switched those over, otherwise I would have gone insane. Right or wrong I don't care, it's cold & I need warm comfort!

image by Kylie Loy on Flickr

The exercise has been a bit off this week, I am feeling a little run down & under the weather & I refuse to push myself. Michelle Bridges is very strict in exercising 6 days a week for an hour, the only reason you shouldn't exercise, she says is if you physically can't move. I smile at what she says, as I know where she is coming from, & what message she is sending, however I don't have a company of assistants & she isn't a mother. Nevertheless she does mean well I believe.

After all of that positivity I have to let you know I still falter. I fell a bit off the wagon on the weekend as I went to the movies with my husband (to see the Great Gatsby which I LOVED), & couldn't resist a few choc coated raspberries & bullets. It's funny you know as I was eating them, it was like that voice came in to my head, no no nooooo that's naughty!!!!! But as I started to feel guilty, I shifted it to how much fun I was having. It was like a 'date night', with my husband, & it's not often we get to do that. Prior to the movie, we ate at a restaurant & I ordered really sensibly, grilled salmon & vegies. The following day I was back to normal so no guilt.

The 2 of us at the cinema.

Life is about moderation I have to always remember that!