Warratahstree Art and Creative Inspiration

  It seems that every week this month has been very full. This week has been both the busiest and the most productive week. I have been working on updating a client's website, diagnosing a friend's computer issues, recovering data off a corrupt hard drive, finishing off a commission piece, and redesigning products to sell at markets.    At the beginning of the month, I re-evaluated my current products to take to market. After applying to a couple of markets I was told that my products are a duplicate of what they already offer at those markets. So, after some suggestions and some thought, I have decided to start a new line of cards and paintings. New Australian Wildflower Cards     For more than 30 years my husband and I have traveled several countries. Each trip my husband takes so many photos of things I have said for years "I want to paint". LOL, so essentially I have many UFO's (Un Finished Objects). Only problem is the UFO's are the thousan...

   If you go to any store to buy an item that is made in Australia, you will be hard pressed to find anything that is actually made in Australia.  Go into any store that sells Australian Souvenirs, turn it over, and what do you see?  I have yet to find a souvenir that says "Made in Australia".      I often buy from markets and specialty stores that sell local products.  By choosing items that are made locally or handmade items at markets I am supporting the local economy and my local community.   I went to the opening of a new concept store that supports local artists and artisans of food. The owner of this new store has an amazing vision for handmade items.  The vision is to promote locally made products both online and in store.     At the opening there was some really great food items as well as handmade clothes, art works, photography, and some amazing handmade items.   If you live in the Melbourne, VIC are...

After a very busy day, I came home to check my blog for comments and I was so surprised to see I have over 2000 visits to my blog since my first post in 23 Feb, 2013.  Thank you to all who visit and comment. I love all your comments and like to make sure I comment back.   I was very new to blogging when I started this blog. I have been and IT geek for over 12 years and have been a social media geek since ICQ, online forums and AOL, Yahoo groups and chats. I like the social interaction and the ability to keep up with high school friends and family in the USA.  Blogging was not on my geek radar till I decided to start my own handmade business in Sept 2012.  Though I have built websites in the days when they were all build the long and hard way before wix.com and blogger, blogging was not something I thought was worth spending my "art and craft time" doing, haha.  You have all finally converted me to talking about my art and all my travels.     ...

It has been an amazing week of meetings. I have joined two groups recently that are support groups for small business, work from home business and an artist support network group.  Though most of the week has been getting to and from meetings and giving a presentation of my work. I have still managed to get some work done and find inspiration for my art.   I haven't worked on the paintings for the art class I have in Sept, but I promise I will finish it soon and post.  I thought I better work on my son's fiance's necklace first.  Today I spent the whole day creating a Fimo cane of a fantasy style poppy.  So much fun making fimo canes again.  I used the instructions by Missi Claus for inspiration.  I love her work.  I don't speak Italian but I can get most of what she is talking about by watching her videos on YouTube. Here is my version before I reduced it.  I am still trying to work out what to make of it all.  Happy Blogging; ...

What a gorgeous jewelry organizer!   It comes in two colours, natural and white.  It is shipped packed flat. Its easy to assemble.  Just 3 easy pieces to put together. There is additional space to put other items on the base of the organizer. It is made of ecological material, which is a plus for those of us who care for our environment. It makes a great decorative item anywhere in your home.  You can get 10% discount for this lovely organizer here .

While Australia, remembered the fallen on ANZAC day, my husband and I took a trip to Bright, VIC, Australia for our 30th Wedding Anniversary.   As an artist and someone who spent many years raking leaves and playing in the piles of leaves, I have always missed the many colours/colors of Autumn. I grew up in the USA, and every year I loved walking in the cool autumn afternoon and seeing the amazing colors of the Autumn leaves. When I learned to paint I wanted to paint and draw the Autumn leaves. However, I no longer lived in the USA, and the leaves of the trees in Australia do not change colours the way they do in countries in the northern hemisphere.   I moved to Australia in 1984. The first year, the seasons changed before I realized what time of the year it was. The changes of season in most parts of Australia are very subtle and the trees that are native to Australia are evergreens. Eucalyptus trees are very large majestic trees that change through th...

As you all know I go to the markets often.  I  go to look at the different ways all the items are displayed, what other stall holders are selling, and the selling price of items are at the markets here in Melbourne area of Victoria.  Melbourne has so many wonderful markets.    While I was going through the literally thousands to photos my husband has taken over the years, I realized I have been going to markets for most of my adult like.  I found some amazing photos of of markets in Hong Kong, Thailand, and of course many places here in Australia.    I thought this week I would talk about some of the advice I have been given by some of the people I have talked to who have market stalls.       There are so many ways to display your items for sale, but the question I always have in the back of my mind is, what makes the items stand out?  What catches my eye as I walk past?  I asked a few questions of ...