Mod3rnArt

I received yesterday the sweetest invitation by Greek jewellery designers and handmade supporters Mod3rnArt (on Etsy) to join an online project to show the workspaces/studios/ateliers of all us creative folk who are busy making things to fill the world with beauty and handtouched love!

Here is the link to their project iStudio: http://mod3rnart.com/Gallery/iStudio/Mod3rnart-iStudio.html.html

J & L books

I was just distracted by one of my favourite books on my shelf - I know it's a favourite when it made the big journey across the world with me almost a year ago! J & L's Dancing Pictures.

I bought it in New York in 2002 and now I see it's out of print... ooh, it's even more of a treasure to me. So with trusty Google's help I've discovered J & L are a not-for-profit organisation publishing artist books and they all look pretty delectable to me from the first browse of their site... They also host live events that I'd be at if I was in the USA. Their beautifully simple logo pictured above is designed by Paul Sahre, whose work I'm delighted to discover.

Christopher Hanlon cosmetics

I was introduced to Christopher Hanlon's divine all natural, organic, incredible smelling cosmetics, established in 1994, through a wonderful healing friend of mine Paie. I honestly cannot live without my beloved face cream from Christopher, and so now that I've moved to the other side of the world, I rely on good old Australia Post or friends visiting to bring me supplies... My Australian skin feels very happy when smeared with this fresh, smooth, skin-nourishing potion that is Visage Silké. I can highly recommend his hand cream and body lotions, and the men's cosmetics are amongst the largest range available!

Contact Christopher through his site for orders and enquiries - he's more than willing to help!

Cheryl Orsini

Another dear friend from my University days is the marvellously talented illustrator/designer Cheryl Orsini. With a cheeky sense of humour, a wicked grin and whimsy in the mix, she and her work make me smile and giggle and very happy! Oh, and make me want to be a kid again, or just have my own so I can read them her books!!

Cheryl's cute as a button blog: http://cherylorsiniillustration.blogspot.com/

Edwina White's animation The Way the Wind Blows

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZJRJ_X9LjE

My Etsy Shop

Today I opened shop online with Etsy... Yeehah! So you can now buy my handmade creations you may have seen on my website. Enjoy!

Dance Parade NYC

Oh to be in New York city this coming Saturday 16th May!!! Dance Parade is happening. I ask all of those readers in NYC to get yourself, your feet, legs, hips and booty down to Broadway at 1pm to shake it, wiggle it, jump it, sweat it, bump and grind it all the way to Tompkins Square Park, and have oodles of fun for me too... I'd be there if I could, let me tell you - there's not much I love more than dancing for pure pleasure... Have been known to happily dance in public... Check the link for more details.

The official site: http://danceparade.org/EE/

Michael Leunig

Michael Leunig (portrait by Jacqueline Mitelman) is in my opinion Australia's National Living Treasure (as in the Japanese tradition!). He is a much loved cartoonist, poet and philosopher, whose wisdom a friend of mine En-En sent me the other day... My heart was touched - everytime I read one of his poems or look at his whimsical drawings, I just feel home and thankful that he exists to share his wisdom and humour with us! I've even had dreams about Mr Curly (top)...

Here is the Spring prayer that En-En sent me...

Dear God,
We celebrate Spring's returning and the rejuvenation of the natural world. Let us be moved by this vast and gentle insistence that goodness shall return, that warmth and life shall succeed, and help us to understand our place in this miracle. Let us see that as a bird now builds its nest, bravely, with bits and piece, so we must build human faith. It is our simple duty; it is the highest art; it is our natural and vital role within the miracle of Spring; the creation of faith.
Amen
Thank you Leunig

Maria Fernanda Cardoso

My dear friend Brandy sent me the exhibition leaflet for this wonderful Columbian born artist Maria Fernanda Cardoso, who lives and works in Sydney. Her latest exhibition at Grant Pirrie Gallery Emu Wear features elaborate wearable pieces made from Emu feathers! They are exquisite and seem to cross boundaries between shamanistic tribal coats, cloaks of Maori elders or Native Americans and the world of western Haute Couture...