greenolive

the complexity of a flower

I'm not sure what this flower is, at first I thought it was passionfruit but it isn't, but whatever it is I think it must be one of the most complex flower designs I've ever seen.

Its very sculptural, with all its different parts and layers. Its also very colourful with its yellow and purple. I find it quite amazing that all this complexity of form and colour can be found on this small flower. My favourite part if the centre ring with its sun-like rays in three different colours.

beachcomber rings

I reckon if I was a jewellry designer I'd be hard pressed to design anything better than these: Organic Shell Rings by Sand& Water.

I found these two broken and weathered shells when I went for a walk a day or two ago. They were buried in the wet sand, with the circular "ring" bit sticking out. Something about them caught my eye, so I bent down, fished them out and found they were a perfect, shell ring – complete with a "stone" at the top. I marvelled at how they had been weathered in just the right way, in all the right places to create such a form.

To find one was lucky. But to find a second one, just a step or two further along the sand, was amazing. And, guess what, they fitted my fingers! I put them on and wore them for the rest of my walk. 

It was only when taking these photos that I discovered an added surprise. The larger ring has a tiny shell embedded in a hole in the "stone" at the top. How perfect is that?

Wouldn't it be amazing if a jewellry designer could replicate these?

the pastels of Graham Jones

Just who is Graham Jones I wonder?

Where did he live, and how old was he when he drew these pastels?

And, more importantly, how did his sketchbook find its way to the second hand book store in Kew?

I snapped up this small pastel book as soon as I saw it. It remined me of another book of drawings done by a small child decades ago...

Just like my mum, Graham's mum put his name on the front, top left corner, but his mum inscribed it in black ink. Inside the book is filled with page after page of drawings, each separated by a piece of tissue paper. Some pastels have faded, but most are still quite vivid.

I love that the pastel book comes with instructions! I think the Christmas Tree is my favourite, closely followed by the jumping frog!!

the meaning of colour

Inspired by the embroidery threads and Magnolia Square's COLOUR theme...

seeing red

Red is a very intense colour – most people either love it or hate it. It is the colour most chosen by extroverts, and a favourite colour of males.

As a colour Red conveys emotions and characteristics such as excitement, energy, vibrancy, passion, love, romance, happiness, cheerfulness, good luck, success, prosperity, courage, attention, desire, lust, eroticism, speed, strength, power, risk and heat. It is also the colour of danger, fire, blood, war, and violence.

 

hello yellow

Yellow is a cheerful colour representing joy, happiness, optimism, enthusiasm, idealism, imagination, memory, hope, sunshine, summer, warmth, philosophy, intelligence, enlightenment, organisation, social energy, and friendship.

On the flip side yellow conveys betrayal, dishonesty, cowardice, deceit, illness, and hazards.

 

tickled pink

Pink is a very feminine colour, traditionally little girls are dressed in pink.

Pink symbolizes love and romance, friendship, femininity, truth, passivity, good will, emotional healing, peace, calm, affection, emotional maturity, caring, nurturing, sweet tasting, sweet smelling, ethereal, delicacy, tenderness and acceptance. 

 

feeling blue

Blue is a very popular colour – most people like it. Ask any guy what his favourite colour is and chances are he'll say Blue. 

It represents peace, freedom, tranquility, calm, relaxation, stability, compassion, harmony, unity, trust, truth, unity, confidence, communication, higher thoughts, conservatism, formality, wisdom, intelligence, order, logic, the law, security, cleanliness, freshness, loyalty, devotion, sky, water, sea, creativity, travel, technology, and royalty. Wow, its a hard working colour.

On the flip side it represents sadness, depression, and is an appetite suppressant. 

Blue is the most used colour in the corporate world, think about how many logos you know that use the colour blue. And a blue suit - pinstriped or otherwise – is the uniform of choice for most business men.

Blue comes is a huge variety of shades from the palest sky blue through turquoise to royal blue to navy to inky blue.

 

going green

Green is the colour of the moment – everyone's going green, wanting to be green, there is even a political party, The Greens.

Green represents nature, the environment, mother earth, freshness, health, physical healing, good luck, renewal, growth, nurturing, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, vigor, monetary success, and abundance.

On the flip side Green represents jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune, 

And it just happens to be my favourite colour!

black lines

Black & White is a favourite colour combination. It always has been. Young graphic designers (well, at least this one) are taught that their designs must first work as a black & white image, then they can explore colour. 

Black & white is classic, traditional, stylish. It can look sumptuous and expensive. Modern and hard edged. Or textural and ethnic.

I found out last night that our Zanzibar screenprinted fabric had been included in this etsy treasury: black lines loves white canvas.

vintage paper garlands

There's been a burst of creativity and energy over here as we both scramble to get ready for the launch of Vintage prints at Magnolia Square next Thursday.

Books are being dissected, pages are being selected and trimmed, prints are being packaged and new product ideas are coming thick and fast. (Those of you who think it sacrigelious to cut up books had better stop reading now...)

Initially our discard pile of pages was larger than our keep pile. Not every book is filled with page after a page of full-colur, full-page, vintage illustration. Or at least not ones that make the cut for Vintage prints. And then there were all the pages of text, printed on lovely thick creamy paper, tactile with the printer's impression.

Our first idea was paper packs – approx 50 pieces of assorted vintage illustrations, comic strips and maps carefully collated into a pack for you to use however you wish. These were popular at the markets we took them to, but are only really suitable for the crafty types, those who could envision cards, gift tags and other creative projects mades from vintage illustrations.

A more recent idea has been vintage paper garlands – both do it yourself kits and ready made. Its a perfect was to utilise all those pages of vintage text and add such a whimsical style and charm to any room. And they are also fun to sew. I've even let go of my obsessive compulsive tendencies – realising that I don't have to count out 50 circles and make sure the text is going in the same direction as I sew each garland. Now I just grab a handful, sew them as I find them and voila, each garland is just as it should be! Handmade and unique.

nature's inspiration

Whenever Drew comes to a market (which is most times really), I always pack the camera. After the heavy lifting of market set up, then his husbandly tea-making duties he's pretty much done for the day. The faffing and selling is left to me. 

That gives him a lot of hours to kill. Hence the camera. This past weekend we were at the Shirt and Skirt market at Abbotsford Convent. While killing the hours he snapped this photo of the local pea hens. 

It was only when processing photos taken the previous day at another market did I spot the similarity in colours between the two photos. A total coincidence, but wouldn't it be lovely to say the scarf was inspired by the colours of the pea hen feathers?

The weekend was full on – markets both days. Both were pretty dismal in terms of sales – no sales at one market, but two wholesale enquiries. Three sales at the other market. I'm sure the weather had something to do with it. The only slightly reassuring thing was that everyone else was in the same boat. Maybe winter markets in Melbourne are just not worth it? All I know is its a VERY hard way to earn a quid (as the poms would say). 

This weeknd is a very rare market-free weekend which while good for relaxing is not so good for the financial situation...

I'd made a to-do list: make a winter coat, stock up the online shop, sort out wholesale pricelist, make a start on those kids quilts I've been planning to sew for ages, start a knitted wrap vest for me...

suit sleeve + recycling = new scarf

  
I've always loved menswear. The colours, the fabrics, the cut, the design details, the tradition. Even the whole idea of Savile Row intrigues me. 

In the past, this love has inspired the wool suiting scarves and the new-ish Harris Tweed Handbags. The scarves made from menswear fabrics, the handbags made from real menswear such as wool tweed jackets.

Recently, the inspiration and design process has evolved further into a new scarf design, the Suit Sleeve Scarf. 

Made from the recycled sleeves and button cuffs of the lighter-weight wool jackets I've been collecting, and paired with soft wool fabrics that have been lurking in my stash for just such inspiration, the scarves are classic and timeless.

They are simpler, softer and more drapey than the original wool suiting scarves. And quicker and easier to make, which translates into cheaper to buy.

I'll be selling them at the Daylesford Maker's Market this Saturday, and also at the Healsville craft market on Sunday. Hope they do well.

a bit of blue bling

Its really easy to be seduced by a yarn isn't it? This was the yarn that got me. A blue blingy concoction by Jo Sharp called Lumina. 

The blue colour is so me. The bling is so not. But it matched perfectly with a Brilla blue yarn from Wondoflex. Another seduced-by-yarn purchase. You can tell which ones these are – the single balls or skeins in your stash!

Not really sure what to make from them, I cast on and started knitting. I found myself knitting in stocking stitch, using 4.5mm needles, because that seemed to show of the bling to its best advantage. I never use stocking stitch, except for jumpers, because of the way it curls on the sides. I know you can block it, but really, who can be bothered? Not me.

I only got so far before my dislike of stocking stitch got the better of me. So far was about 20 cms of neatly knitted stitches, with bits of bling scattered here and there. And then, like an idiot I unravelled it! Now I look at these photos I wonder why. I could kick myself. Why do I invest time and energy knitting something and then unravel it? 

Because I'm a perfectionist? Do I just like the process of knitting, its a journey not a destination? Am I just crazy?

(Rhetorical questions, you don't have to answer these!)

an idea becomes reality

No one is an artist unless he carries his picture in his head before painting it, and is sure of his method and composition. 
Claude Monet 

 

Theresa has done it again, posted a quote that resonates with what's going on right now. If one modifies the above quote just a bit – No one is a designer unless he carries his design in his head before creating it and is sure of his method and composition – then this quote sums up the design process for the Harris Tweed Handbag.

The Harris Tweed Handbag exists in my mind at the moment, but very quickly needs to become actual products. I've been carrying round the design in my head, ever since I happened across that first Harris Tweed jacket. I can see it in perfect detail. The colours, the textures, the construction, I can even imagine how it feels. Now just to turn it into reality! 

Here's a peak at the prototype...