Browsing the Founder's Christmas Fair stalls before opening time I found a magical stall, The Monster Hatchery, piled high with small monsters. There were all sorts of animals and a few mythical ones too. I found a dragon and bought…
I always get such a startled look when I tell people I wrote AND illustrated my three fairy stories. At one of the markets a lovely lady, who obviously knew about promotional stuff, said I should display a sign drawing…
I got to sit down at around 4pm - phew! Hanmer Springs turned on a fabulous sunny day for my second time at this Christmas market. The buzz of anticipation was motivating as everyone set up their stalls. Cars squeezed…
Setting up my stall in Nelson again. A cool morning - still and calm and a blue sky promising sun later when it's climbed high enough. Nelson market (https://www.nelsonmarket.co.nz/) is held in a car park behind the main street, so…
A wood cut print I carved at Michel Tuffrey's wood cut and print making workshop last weekend in Nelson. It was a roller coaster ride of ideas; techniques; different wood cuts achieved from a variety of carving tools for different…
I'm excited to be selling my three children's books again at my second Hanmer Springs Fete. Held in the beautiful Queen Mary Hospital Grounds behind the hot pools. The grounds, divided into shady settings under the mature trees, make a…
Inspired by the texture The collagraphy Printmakers (https://www.printcouncil.nz/) workshop I did resulted in over 15 inspiring prints. Some of them had wonderful craggy textures that I thought reflected the ruggedness of the Easter Island statues. So I cut out these…
arty opportunity in Buderim. On a visit to friends in Buderim, Sunshine Coast, Australia I walked into my kind of shop! 'Chapter Two Interiors" (https://chaptertwointeriors.com). Madly eclectic and fascinating. It was full of re-painted / recycled wooden furniture, re-painted /…
Collagraph printing. I'm totally blown away by this technique. My first prints were a revelation of texture, embossing, colour and are spellbinding just to look at. All the patterns created hold endless possibilities for use in collages. What to do…
My next wood block carving project. The top print is on paper - this is way round I want the final prints. The mdf block, that has been carved, is the reverse. Quite tricky. You have to remember that printing…