Portlandia: Put A Bird On It

This week have been doing some research for our upcoming trip to Portland which always excites me. Along the way I found this video and made me really LOL.....thought I would share :-)

Freshness from the net - January 2011

So many cool things this month.  My favourite this time around are the Pantone cookies.  Its so interesting to see a different take on something as simple as a cookie.  So much colour and work involved to create these tasty sweets.  These were hand painted using royal icing that was mixed to the exact Pantone colour chip.  Once the icing was dry, an edible marker was used to write the corresponding colour on each cookie.  Yum Yum!

all photos from here

Loving the cookie tin which inspired the project

Twenty to Midnight - New work by The Enchanted Doll

Handmade jewelry by the women of the Umoja tribe in Northern Kenya now available for purchase via Milkshake

The latest "After" chairs from the Spruce Austin - BYOC class

Sharing the love on Craftyclaudes

Hello to all crafty claudes family!  I wanted to say firstly a huge THANK YOU to everyone who takes the time to visit my blog, comment on the posts and interact with other fellow bloggers.   I really enjoy sharing all that I do on this blog and I especially enjoy receiving your emails, comments and general blog love.  I know we all lead very pretty busy lives, so to know that you choose to spend a few minutes of your day here is very special to me.

Today I had a lovely lunch with a dear friend who asked "how exactly do I leave a comment on your blog posts Claudes?" mmmm good question and one I thought I would shed a little light on.  Fellow bloggers will already know this, but for those that don't, here are some tips on how to share the craftyclaudes blog love


@@ Leaving a comment if you do not have a Google Account or your own blog @@


Click on the "comments" link below each blog post.
Write your comment in the comments box and if you like, you can add your name
In the "Comment As" drop down select "Anonymous"
Complete the word verification and click on "post comment"
Your comment will appear on the blog post once I have authorized it

@@ Receiving crafty claudes bloggyness to your inbox @@

Add your email address to the link on the right hand side of this page, under the heading, "Subscribe to craftyclaudes blog via email"
You will receive an email every time I post, pictures and all ;-)


@@ Like craftyclaudes blog postings @@

If you have a Facebook account and you want to share what I post with your fellow Facebook friends, simply click on the "Like " icon.

I hope this helps and look forward to sharing much more crafty goodness with you all very soon.

Lindividual at Glebe Markets

Summer means market time.  In Sydney we are lucky to have some really great markets, all of which support handmade and feature some very talented artists.  This weekend we visited Glebe Markets to support and check out the latest works by our creative friend Lindividual (aka Lindy).

All sculptures range in size from 15cm to 36cm

Series include (R)awe, (R)evolution, Rough and Regal

These sculptures are all designed, cast , and hand painted by the lady herself.   Each piece requires much research into the various tribes found within Africa - her motherland. 

For more information regarding the process and inspiration for these pieces, please visit the Lindividual website

Also for a gorgeous account of Lindy's first market day, as seen through the eyes of her 9 year old daughter, please visit TJLine's blog.


  

Back to basics craftyclaudes - Red and Blue ceramic decorations

I bought these 3 ceramic hearts from reverse garbage a few months ago for 50c.   I wanted to initially make a little wind chime out of them, however, the thought of them clinking and banging against each other worried me a little.   So I made them into little tree decorations instead for our year round wooden tree.    Simple and fun and it had me doing something other than sewing and cutting for a little while.   Fun.

Intel Visual Life - The Sartorialist

I love reading and learning about modern artists. Of course if I can find a video about them on YouTube even better! Imagine my delight when I found the video below. I think one of the most wonderful things the Internet has made possible is the sharing of everyday life. Watching an artist at work whether it be at a sewing machine, behind the lens of a camera, or in the kitchen is a real gift to all of us. Seeing a person just like you and me doing something they love is a great way to fire up the creativity. To them its like breathing, and that is where the gift is for us. What these wonderful people teach us is that no matter what you do, if you do it with love in your heart and fire in your belly, it will always look effortless to others.

Here is my favorite photographer at work Scott Schuman - The Sartorialist

No fear - just creating.......

I found and read a very interesting article today.  Actually it feels like it found me.  At a time when perhaps I am not at my most confident when it comes to my creations.   I like how life can be like that sometimes.  This time around though, I am armed with some nifty tools and I am excited at the prospect of coming up with even more fun and unique creations.  So no more doubting and thinking and procrastinating.  Just doing.  Starting.  That is what will make the difference this year.   As always, I look forward to sharing it all via this blog. The good and the bad and the what the bejiebes is that?!!  

Ole! Ole! Olek...

Polish born NYC based artist Olek has done it this time.....taken her magical super duper crochet skills straight to the bull.....the Wall Street Bull that is!

This very imaginative artist has crocheted ladders, tents, cars, windows - entire rooms even! Check out her cool video below and enjoy the music. Very clever. To think her main reason for crocheting was so that she could do two things at once - watch movies and make art.


OLEK AND THE CHARGING BULL ON WALL STREET from olek on Vimeo.

Visit her website to see other bright works she has completed.

Colours of the world.......some armchair travel

Sydney NYE 2010/2011

Still having flashbacks to the beautiful colours displayed in this years Sydney NYE Fireworks, Ive been hunting down some websites for colour inspiration.   Check out these beautiful images....all photos from the Lets Colour Project Blog. 

Lima, Peru

Fitzroy Highschool, Melbourne, Australia

Porto Alegre - Brazil

Bangalore, India NYE

St John's - Newfoundland, Canada

How amazing and vibrant is our world with colour!

And the winners are........

Prize 1 - Necklace by Jenn from Mytwobutterflies
Comment # 6 by Birgit

Prize 2 - Owlie by craftyclaudes
Comment #24 by Carmilla

Prize 3 - brooch by craftyclaudes
Comment #20  by Shaha

I will contact you all shortly via the email you provided.


Thank you to everyone for entering and joining in the fun of my first ever Giveway!