A Horse and His Boy 2

Well, we are coming off the back of a lovely full weekend.  Some of our dearest friends made the effort of packing all the kids in to the car and driving for a few hours after dinner on Friday so that our families could spend some real time together.

These are the times that you know we will all talk about for years to come.  The kind of times that shape friendships and personalities.  And despite the meltdowns that are inevitable, I approach the coming week feeling full in my heart.  

We found time this weekend for lots of talking, for planting trees, for craft, of course for cooking, eating and washing-up.  But there was little time for concentrating on one thing at a time...

So, today I am thankful that during the week I did have time to do another drawing which I am delighted to present to you today.  It is a celebration of imagination and childhood energy, as well as the beauty of this life-sized rocking horse.

Again I'd love to ask if anyone has a rocking  or carousel horse which they could send me pictures of, I'd love to use them to draw from... As I mentioned last time, this drawing is from a photo sent to me by Steph from Sweet Desert Pea.   Thanks Steph.   grace

Christmas Presents. Sorted.

Okay, I'm about to do a shameless sell of my own products.  Christmas is on its way and you know it.  But there's no need to fear.  And definitely no need to subject yourself to the horrors of shopping at the major shopping centres.  Instead (and I know that you want me to tell you to do this, because you KNOW that it is what you want to do anyway) why not have a made Christmas.  The easiest thing to do is drop over to Etsy (start with my store) and start shopping.

These postcards are ridiculously versatile (and they come in packs of 3, 6, or 12).


Email may be in, but nobody LOVES getting an email.  We all love receiving gloriously sprawling handwritten postcards in our real letterbox... buy a pack for you, and a few for friends.  That way the love goes out tenfold and who knows where it will end!

Or some original art.  So affordable, and easily fitted into a standard frame.  Not needing any special effort.  Standard! (size... the drawings are original and unique).

These drawings are done with brush and ink on watercolour paper with no pre-sketching.  It would be impossible to replicate them, and the depth of the ink gives them a character which is appealing.  They are perfect if you are looking for a gift and you are not too sure where your loved-ones might need some artwork to hang... these will go comfortably in a dining room, living room, nursery or study.


I've bought a lot of gifts from Etsy... okay, some of the things were for myself :)... And over the years I have always had very positive experiences.  The easiest payment method that I've found is Paypal account, and these are just so simple to set up if you have a credit card.  


But the experience of shopping at Etsy is about so much more.  Take a minute to look at some of the other shops in the community... educational, eco, waldorf toys; beautiful jewellery; lovely art and prints...  


Christmas has never been further away from the madding (or is that maddening) crowds.  Take it slow this season, and enjoy choosing gifts that are infused with love and thoughtfulness.


May your gift gathering be exciting and inspiring!     grace


PS.  Keep an eye on my store, as I intend to be adding both artworks and more peg people in the coming weeks.  Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see there, and I'd love to give it a go!     


PPS.  I want to take the chance to thank all of you who have been so kind in your encouragement about my art, with words and by taking the time to look at my drawings.  I am truly humbled that so many of you seem to relate to my drawings.  Thanks, grace

Three Things on Thursday... Thrifted

art. house. mum.

In Australia we call it Op Shopping.  Call it what you like, I love shopping at thrift shops.  Here are three of my favourite Op Shop finds.  

1.  TWO identical Moses baskets for dolls.  Complete with washable covers.  Perfect to put aside as a Christmas present for the twins.  Please don't tell them...
 

2.  This footstool is funtional and gorgeous.  Just needed a recover... and I loved doing it. 

3.  Look at those lovely legs.  And such a lovely functional little table.  (Please excuse the dust and power cords).


What are your favourite Op Shop finds?

How to Juice an Orange...

I'm incredibly sad to say that citrus trees won't grow well in our soil type.  With some work, apparently we could convince them to survive, but I'm not that sort of gardener...

So I'm just glad that oranges are in season.  So are my kids.  Today we made orange juice.  Old School.

If this were a tutorial the steps would be short and sweet.

Take one orange per person.  Slice it in half.  Juice it with an old school juicer.  You can get these at most Op Shops for roughly 10 cents.  Or you can steal it from your mum's crowded extra implements drawer...whatever works.

Pour it into tall glasses (plastic cups won't do).  And if you want to feel like an expert, bring two four-year-olds along for their incredible ability to ask questions about the most mundane things.

Top the juice up with cold water and enjoy the silence while the four-year-olds drink it all in.

And check what it feels like...

And then teach them to eat the flesh from the inside of the skin.  Fibre is good.

Job well done. 

NOTE This activity is definitely best done on a deck or patio, preferably right after a session of sprinkler-running.  Swimming togs are the culturally accepted attire. 


grace

Tea for Four...

Our girls were invited to a special tea party the other day... a birthday tea party. 


The birthday celebrations began when the newly turned four-year olds woke (way too early, I am told!)and came out to find their playroom filled with nearly 100 balloons.  Now that's some dedicated parents.

By the time we arrived for an early lunch, a few of the balloons had started to drop, but it was still such a fun sight to see the ceiling of the room packed with colour and the ribbons hanging almost to the floor like a stringy jungle.

And then began the tea party.  Isn't the tea set perfect?

My girls didn't know what to look at first.  There was so much colour on one table.  And so many treats to take in.

How many deliscious and healthy red fruits there are!

And then the lollies were brought out ... for aesthetic reasons only.  You've got to admit that that's a spectacular eye-full of colour.

None of us actually ATE them...

And the cake?  Yes, well, we did eat that... and my photos weren't so great.  But it was lovely!


Happy Birthday little fairies!                       grace

A Horse and His Boy...

It'd be a bit rough to say that today was a bad day.  Quite untrue, actually, but it was one of those days when you really want the kids to go down and stay down early. 

In the lead up to bed time I burnt the biggest pot of marmalade which I have preserved to date... I'm calling it Smoked Orange Marmalade and I reckon it'll go alright with Greek style yoghurt.  Then the kids got in one of those irrationally hyped moods where they are giggleing their heads off and racing round the house chasing each other, and you just KNOW that it will end in tears... but no level of yelling or rational talk (and naturally, that is the order that I tried those in) can get them to stop.  And then it does end in tears and what looks like it will be a black eye tomorrow.

And then against my better judgement and level of energy I suggested that the girls might like to do some craft.  New kids.  Instantly.  They sat at what we call "the Cook's Table" (our island bench) and worked on watercolour paintings for another hour or so.  Complimenting each other on their artworks, and finally declaring "We are artists!" 

But bedtime is still never straightforward with the twins.  We have to achieve a level of lighting that is approved by both.  They both have to have the same number of toys.  Miffy can't stand having any crinkles in her undersheet and tonight Hope decided that she never wants to have her doona on her bed again regardless of the weather.

So, when Matt and I had finally ate our dinner, got most of the washing-up done (including the pan that I burnt the pasta sauce in last night) and did the final house straighten (mostly so that I don't trip on the dash to the girls' bedroom should they call out at midnight), I was most happy to settle down to draw. 

This drawing comes with a  big thanks to Steph (Sweet Desert Pea), who sent me some photos of a cafe in Alice Springs called Montes.  Apparently there is life-sized rocking-horse there which kids (and adults?) are allowed to have a go on.  It looks like a really great place.

So here he is, A Horse and His Boy.

And the Winner is...

art. house. mum.


Thanks to you who participated in the digital scrapbooking suite Giveaway, and thanks to My Memories, who made it possible with the donation of one copy of the software.


Congratulations to our winner, Rach.  I will be in contact to give you the details you need to redeem your prize.  Happy Scrapbooking!


See the rest of you tomorrow, for another week of embracing art at home!                grace  

Giveaway Ended

art. house. mum.


Just a quick (automated) post to say that the My Memories digital scrapbooking suite giveaway has now ended... But I am (hopefully) fast asleep right now, so the winner of the draw will be announced in a few hours...


Of course, my thanks goes to My Memories for inviting me to participate in this giveaway, and to you who have taken the plunge, posted a comment and been a part of this great blogging tradition. 


Til then, may you have happy scrapbooking dreams.


grace


PS.  The offer below is still valid.

  
To redeem this offer
quote the code 
STMMS40720

My Memories Giveaway...

Okay, so as scrapbookers go, I'm not really a scrapbooker.  I did start an album about 7 years ago, but sadly it is pre-children, and not terribly full.  So giving the My Memories digital scrapbook software a run was a little foreign for me (thanks My Memories for the freebie to experiment with and review).  But you know, it got strangely addictive... all that making order out of the chaos of my files and files of photos.

And it got me thinking that maybe I could use it for making Christmas cards... and Christmas gifts... and wall hangings for the kids' bedrooms... and logos... and even art folios...

 My Memories are giving you, my readers a $10 gift voucher to spend on their their software suite (bringing the price down to US$29.95) and a $10 gift voucher to spend in the  My Memories store.  All you need to do is quote this code STMMS40720, and go shopping...

And the kind folk at My Memories are giving you the chance to win your own copy of this software (usually retailing for US$39.95).  For FREE ( Oh yes you heard me right... you, too can be an instant scrapbooking super-hero like me... at no out-of-pocket expense...crikey!) 

 And all you have to do to enter is drop over to My Memories, have a nosey at their products, then drop back here and leave a comment telling us which products you like the look of (I can see this printed on paper, hanging on a nursery wall).  Too easy.  And to enter a few extra times, you can Like Art House Mum, and then Like My Memories on FB (leave a comment here too, to let me know if you do Like us).  Entries will close midnight Saturday (AEST)... Oh so soon!

 So, as your mind starts ticking on what you could make with all these patterns and shapes and little places for your lovely photos, get a headstart and get your entry in.

Reminder of How To Enter;
1.  Click over to My Memories and see which products interest you...
2.  Then come back here and leave a comment below telling me which product/s you like.
3.  For extra entries Like AHM or/and Like MM on FB and leave a comment below letting me know that you have done it...

I'll post the winner on Sunday (Down Under Time).  So check back then!

Please note that this competition has now closed.  Thank you for your interest.

Quick Mini-Post...

art. house. mum.


Just a quick mini-post to say get on over to The Resin Room... Katie's doing a giveaway today... but if you don't rush you might miss out!  

Super.  Support a craft lovin' small business....    g

Three Things on Thursday... Things to Love

Something a little different this Thursday... I've been thinking gifts lately, and have been keeping my nose to the wind for lovely things.  So here, indulge in three lovely things this Thursday!

1)  (art)  Love is Free - 7x9" print - by hellopenny on made it.  Okay, we all know that Love is only free in some senses,but don't you love the colours and patterns (hair and dress) and awkward simplicity?

2) (house) A big yes to all the above.  Thanks, harpergrace on Etsy.

3) (mum) This bike is enough to make me want to live somewhere flat.  I love the thought of piling the kids in the front and going off for a morning gallery visit...

PS. Make sure you drop by tomorrow to check out the My Memories digital scrapbooking suite Giveaway...

(mum) Carousel Horses...

art. house. mum.


I love horses. I am not a horsey person as people go.  I never went to pony club as a kid and I never had posters of horses around my bedroom as a teenager.  But as an adult I love horses.  They are majestic creatures.  And I have had great fun drawing them over the years (check out the Red Ink Rodeo Series in my Art Gallery).  The other kind of horses that I have had fun drawing are rocking horses and carousel horses.  I adore these often elegant, sometimes akward sculptures.

Naturally, the hand-made ones are the most inspiring, but in liu of these, I'll settle quite happily for plastic ponies with nice lines.  And out the back of our green grocers and butchers (also a mean thrift shop which has provided the odd treat and pair of jeans) there is a park which my girls have been eyeing off for a long time.

So, with a morning free, the groceries carefully packed into cooler bags, and armed with only a few slices of bread, some fresh tomatoes, a punnet of strawberries and some suncream, we ran across the meadow of flowering clover (it is everywhere right now) to meet the sun-worn creatures whose backs have offered so many rides to so many delighted little souls.

Sammy found a pile of chips on the ground (he is a one-year-old boy after all), I found a shady base-camp, the girls made friends with the Local Council maintainence man, and we were set for a morning adventure!

Do you have a rocking horse or carousel horse?  I'd love to collect pictures of some and do some drawings...   Let me know if you know where I can see any good photos.    g

(house) Confessions of a Learner Gardener

art. house. mum.

Can I tell you a secret?  I'm not a very accomplished gardener... or cook... or house-keeper.  Actually, those three areas are where I feel most under average.  But that doesn't mean that I don't love them. 

I really am learning to make peace with house-keeping.  Having recently come across the idea that cleaning etc. is finding order in chaos, which is precisely how our world is able to exist and be creative itself... order where there could be chaos. And therfore I am joining with a dominant and poweful force when I clean... rather than being on the losing team, as it had previously felt.  More about that at Conversiondiary if you are interested...

But, in the garden, I am learning so much by trial-and-error.  Sometimes planting and then getting too impatient for the seeds to emerge, so double-planting; not wanting to thin where advised to, becuase how can too much brocolli be bad; planting at a convenient time, then losing seedlings to a random frost...  Thinking about it, alot of these decisions are based on my general theory that it's better to do it to the best of my ability and resources right now, than wait until the timing is perfect.

There is so much to learn, and I feel so silly and simple, but the amazing thing is that even making tonnes of mistakes and missing so many opportunities, we still are able to have something from our garden to eat most days.  This brings me joy... and puts an element of excitement into our meals... and my cooking.  As a mum, there is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you are doing the right thing by your children.  And for me that is my major inspiration for cooking.  This inspiration doubles when some of the ingredients have come from our garden.  The mystery of creation is heightened, and the flavors are more celebrated. 

So, I know that there are very few who will be intimidated by our "crops"  Instead, please take inspiration from the fact that if I can be a part of it, then you sure as anything can do better!      

Happy gardening,    grace

PS.  I'm a bit slow, but have just followed a short trail to find the Radish, a new website/blog which looks like it's going to be my new garden guide...  check it out.