tsk tsk

Zia

I first met my Zia 20 years ago. So I kind of feel like she is my zia as much as she is my husband's.

Zia, the Italian word for Aunty, is the perfect word for Lucia. Small and straight to the point.

I have many stories of my husband's family, and hope there are many more to hear. 

Today I listened to an interview with her on ABC radio with Richard Fidler. You can listen to it too here.

It was, well is,  a lovely story reflecting on some of the more significant moments of her life.

An Italin girl who found her way here to Austalia.

A reunion with her family, including my father in law who was separated from his mother at the age of 3.

A very sad tale of a sister who was forced to be someone she wasn't and died in horrible conditions.

There was a lot of sadness not disclosed in the interview, but plenty of triumphant stories that won't ever be appreciated by my children, or her grandchildren. Kind of sad.

And in true Zia tradition, there was a song.

Three years ago, we took a long road trip with the children, and on our journey home, we dropped in to see Zia and Zio at their farm. It was a Sunday, and every Sunday since before I was born, there has been a game or two of bocce played with friends and relatives. 

Happy to be apart of these memories.

 

 

outdoors

The puppies are keeping me busy.

Lots of cleaning. Lots of socialising with eldest dog (who isn't so fond of getting his tail bitten)

I find myself outdoors on a regular basis. Our garden has many jungles for small dogs to explore, but also many tall retaining walls to tumble down. So supervision at this stage is a must. The kids, AKA Jungle Jim and Jungle Jane help out when at home, but for the most part, it is me. Toilet training times two is very time consuming.

The weather has been beautiful so no complaints wanting to be outside in the sun. I do the spot of weeding or pruning in my 10 minute stints. And it's great focussing on my plants with the type of work I am doing right now. When I'm indoors, I am illustrating  for an annual report, and finishing some large paintings.

The days are going too fast.

Keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for a healthy winter.

Humans:4 Daschunds:3

We went on a road trip yesterday.

A very special road trip with the possibility of cuteness and cuddles to bring home. We drove through the familiar country side, up a dirt road full of potholes, passed cows and chooks and there under the peppercorn tree were 6 tiny puppies waiting for us. 3 boys. 3 girls...how clever is that?

We couldn't exactly go home empty handed. And one didn't feel right.So here are my newest babies, Sesame and Sizzles. One of each. Both very cheeky in their own ways. Both so very tiny. Both being (to quote my daughter) "tortured with love".


Now we are a family of 7. Humans:4 Daschunds:3

Modern times

This week sees the beginning of term 2 of the school year. I seem to base my entire work life around the school calendar.

Holdiays were really great, but I'm keen again to get some work done. I have a a few big things happening. A commission for a painting, more orders going OS, a few local shops showing interest in consigning some work too. I'm very keen.

But today I delivered some work to Melbourne pop up shop, MODERN TIMES. I'm so excited about this.

Duo Joel and Amy Malin open their third pop up shop in Collingwood this coming Friday where you will be able to find a mix of contemporary art and handmade objects from Australian artists and artisans, and a range of recently imported mid century Danish furntiture.

Door open Friday the 20th April and close in late June. All the details are here on the website.

In the meantime I will be adding new works to both the Etsy and Bigcartel shops....with the latter adopting a brand new look.

this top image is titled Saturated 6.

 

Easter Feaster

last weekend was spent with family. My inlaws visited and we decided to have an early Easter lunch as we won't be seeing them this coming weekend.

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning. Here's a snippet of our ongoing feast.

there was...

leek and rosemary soup;

poached pears in red wine with vanilla pod icecream;

bottled sugo from nonna and nonna...yes they hand pick the tomatoes;

freshly picked cherry tomatoes from my back step;

home made tortellini. My 7 year old perfected the twisting technique after her second attempt;

roast pork with a pomegranate sauce and crackling;

and hot cross buns.

the piles of dishes were worth every minute in the kitchen.

what are you eating this Easter weekend?

 

 

 

and the winner is...

Before I announce the winner, I really want to say how blown away I was by your comments.

All of them.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such lovely words. So in all fairness I had to get one of my children to choose a number.

So Carla, consider yourself lucky that my son's favourite numbrer is 3, because you are the winner.

I'll email you to let you know and also to get your postal details.

Well, one day out from the first school holidays for the year, and potentially one sick child staying home tomorrow. But I am looking forward to hanging out with my poppets.

I've been spending quite a lot of my spare time looking at artists' works, borrowing amazing books and watching videos about artists. 

Amy Clarke, a fellow Queensland artist posted this link on her facebook page and it really sang to me. The video is about Australian artist, Ildiko Kovacs and her processes and journey to a body of work she has created over the years. She is being interviewed by Peter Sharp. If you like this one, then click here too for another perspective and see her working in her studio. It isn't so much her work that I love, but her expression and thought process behind it all. Thanks Amy for sharing.

 

Happy Easter everyone. Buon Pasqua tutti.

 

give - a - way

hello there.

Not much happening here. Well you know there is, but nothing positvely significant just yet. 

Drizzle every day. Mouldy smells.

Mugginess, like being in Asia somedays. Yes that's where I'd like to be. Somewhere tropical with a beach and a book.But no rain please.

Ground hog day is in full swing. Homework, yoga, jujitsu classes, soccer training, school runs. I am seriously looking for Easter.

I need new slippers.

I've been having lots of lovely online exposure of late. Not the naked kind. Heather Smith Jones of Blue Sparrow Press asked me to be apart of her Poppytalk post, 'Sharing the Process'...you can read it here.

And  Monique from Elkhorn has been stalking me online and wrote this lovely post about my work.

I'm constantly working on new originals and prints and am about to release some new things to my shops and other online stores, so stayed tuned. To celebrate I have decided to offer an A4 print of a new work. The work is called, "Nature Sticks" and it will be available as a limited edition print in A3 size (420mmx 297mm) and printed onto lovely, thick digital art paper.

The A3 print is available here right now

I'm even thinking of producing more greeting cards. It's been awhile.

So, all you have to do is make a comment and  I'll announce the winners on the 29th March. (Australian time zone) Good luck.

 

random. handmade.

work -

it's been ahwile since I've been apart of the Handmade markets run by Poppytalk.

But here I am participating the Spring and Easter markets. Feels slightly strange as we are about to enjoy Autumn. 

Hop on over and see the collection. Right now I'm managing to produce smaller works on paper and a few larger works are also lingering about my studio in various stages of completion. Like this snippet of one at the bottom.

life -

well I thought 2012 was going to be a great year. And it started well, but now it seems to be the opposite. Plenty of bad news going on with friends and family. Sickness. Death. Changes. So much sadness around me, but hopefully all will remain healthy and happy within my walls. My two munchkins their usual cheeky selves, and even their bad moods are few and far between.

random -

random is the word of the month according to my 9 yr old son.

corn chips from a packet are not a good lunch food.

loving all of these right now.