moopy & me

What a blast

Boy am I worn out, the grand opening day was so much fun and the kids painted the most fabulous artwork, I can't wait to hang it on the classroom walls. Thanks to all the people who helped out and to the kids who joined in. Special thanks to Jasmin & Christy for their wonderful support and Bek for having such a super funky shop Closet to hang out in! The day was topped off by a surprise visit from Fiona & Audrey! It was so awesome meeting a fellow crafting, blogging mum from Adelaide and Audrey and Moopy are only a month apart in age... I can see many messy art days ahead for the both of them.

These pics will be up in the online gallery..... oh and how could I forget the yummy Martha Stewart apple cakes. Enjoy!

Almost there

Things are really starting to take shape in the 'artroom' after the long 'setting up' session there last night with my good friend Jasmine. Lily and Leilani had a practice run today....Lily enjoyed colouring her nose yellow! There are a few more things I need to organise... like the tracks that will run along the walls to hold up artwork and maybe some funky student made mobiles to hang from my awesome lightshades....um will try and find a link or take a photo.. I had two more last minute bookings today which is a great boost and will make Friday afternoons a real blast!

Milly the recycled monster ready for some art action!!

And I was most excited to receive my first postcard today from Tania , now I am not sure if I can post up pics yet? well the card is so darn cool that I just have to... you can see a peek at mine that I sent today..phew..just in time.

Well I am off to cook up some playdough and apple cupcakes for the open day...no doubt some of the littlies might not care to know the difference.

Meet Milly the monster

And I don't think it's a coincidence that Milly rhymes with Lily...

She is pretty close to the sketch I made of her minus the toenail buttons. Milly is made from a jumper that I shrunk many years ago but kept, knowing that there would be a good use for it one day (horder you think? there are plenty little jumpers where that came from... I thought of holding an exhibition of all my tiny jumpers at one stage, it was getting beyond a joke... I get the last laugh now!) She is wearing an apron made from some poor unsuspecting granny's donated dress at the local church thrift shop and the buttons are froma mixed bag. The filler, thread and brown felt behind the eyes are new... sorry I tried my best.

Here she is flashing her belly button.

I had so much fun making Milly, it was so easy working with the machined felt and also working in such a large scale (the kittens I make are about a third of the size). Thanks Claire!

A grand day

The day is getting closer and I am starting to get butterflys... Nest Studio's art classes start in one week and next Saturday I am having an open day so that the kids can experience an art lesson before parents pay fees. The furniture is almost set up and ready....I am getting close to decorating mode..Yah! that part will be fun. So if you happen to be in Adelaide that day, you are very welcome to pop in!

Moopy has been doing a little painting of her own lately, testing out all the new supplies.

Just making sure the paint is washable!!

I can't wait to post up some pictures of the day and parents will be welcome to look at their children's art in the Nest Studio online gallery (which you can access by clicking on the big blue art class button).

My postcard screen has been made, now I just have to print them.... no peeking sorry, I don't want to spoil it for you guys. And my recycled monster is almost complete for my first attempt at MOS. Lots of piccys coming soon.

Tummy bugs all round

My appologies to those who may occasionally pop over to this neck of the woods, it appears that I have been away on some lovely exotic holiday that I forgot to mention.... that would be nice... but instead the whole family had been struck down by a nasty tummy bug. Thankfully Lily got over her vomiting in about 2 hours, and was a happy little camper at 7am the next day. I think I got the worst of it though, my fever only went away at about 10pm last night after I had been rugged up in bed with all my clothes on and 2 winter quilts. Yah no nausea and shaking...I can get back to work... so much to do.
Has anyone ever set up an artroom before? got any useful tips?

On a much churpier note, Myra has started her first postcard swap and I have my list of 10 participants, very exciting!

Baby shower shame

At my baby shower (almost 2 years ago!) I asked all the girls to stitch up a pretty square of fabric, promising them, they would be made into a cushion for Lily. So as you might have guessed this never happened, that is not until this weekend. When I was searching for my knitting (that I also started around the same time as the baby shower) I found the squares and had a go at sewing them all together. I agonised over which squares should go where and am still not too happy but at least it is done (well almost...I still have buttons to put on and need to go out in search of the perfect 3 buttons).

Here is a close up of my favourite 4 squares by Jasmine B, Mum, Button & Jazzy

And while I am doing a show and tell, here is a pic of a plate I recycled with pebeo glaze. I am not too thrilled with the visible brush strokes but the glaze is really sticky and transparent ....something I will have to practice. Also a snail mail set from the ever so talented Kirsten Ulve and one of 11 new kittens up for sale soon...when they have been stuffed.. some are going to Readings and some are staying with me at Nest Studio's artroom.

sorry about all the cushion pics but it was tucked away for so long, it deserves all the attention it can get

And how could I forget MORE fabric and buttons....

Recycling mayhem

This weekend has been a whirlwind of sawdust and paint fumes (except for the lovely Saturday outing to the beach with moopy and oma, soaking up the last of Adelaide's sunshine). With Nest Studio art classes starting in just a few weeks, I have been transforming many thrifted pieces of furniture into happy (clean) new pieces, worthy of little bums and elbows to rest on. I will show some pics soon.

So I thought while I was at it I would think up some month of softies ideas for 'recycled monster'.

My first haircut

Well maybe not a cut ... mum just trimmed my fringe to try and get rid of the severe mullet I sport... I think she may have made it worse!

red current posted up this interesting article for all you bloggers out their who are brand new or wanting to write a more meaningful blog
I dont mean to toot my own horn but I just worked out the html to make those links, all by myself and it worked!!

Oh dear..

Well the good news is that moopy woke at 5:30am this morning, the bad news is, I am a disgrace to all those who crochet! No amount of fortune cookie is going to help me.

I would like to say that I can make it up by showing my knitting that I did last night but shamefuly I have to admit that this piece was started before moopy was born and planned for her first winter (which was of course a year ago ). Oh the shame. I have a lot of respect for those who knit and crochet, it's not something that comes easy to me. And as for that crocheting...lawdy... moopy and I are off to visit oma today! One thing oma's are brilliant at besides baking the best apfelkuchen (spell?) are all things yarn and fabric.

Too many surprises

Today has been filled with packages and awesome bargains at the thrift shop. I think this has all happened today to make up for the rotten sleep I got. I was commenting to Fiona on how we deal with moopy in the bed with us and I think we got jinxed! Lily woke at 3am and refused to sleep! Now of course we're all in bad mood land. Lucky for me though I picked this up for 50c, I think I will plant chives in her......

And Maggie link sent me this very cool notebook, you can spy some funky wall paper in the back ground (I am addicted to wallpaper at the moment?) that I also picked up at the thrift shop today for 50c. I always walk out of there with a boot load of stuff for no more then $5... Its the best way to spend $5.

We are going to attempt crochet at creativity night tonight....wish us luck...
the inspiration is coming from Camilla link