The room in which my computer sits is shortly becoming a nursery for my nephew for the holiday season, so this will be my last up date for a while; so Merry ho ho ho, happy hee hee hees and all the best for a safe and peaceful holiday season. Now I need to go and clean off my desk so it can be used as a change table. xxx
Our tree is up. Amelia J loves it - she looks up at it and says “TA!”, and waves her hands above her head - which is her way of singing “twinkle twinkle little star”. She’s upstairs at the moment, in her cot - and she’s meant to be napping - but I can hear that there is a parrot in the gum tree outside her window snacking on some tasty blossom and it’s squawking and Amelia is saying “Hello! Hello!”. This weekend brings the first wave of family visitors for the first of many christmas celebratory meals. Next week it’s going to be a big ol’ mess of babies, dogs, wrapping paper and champagne corks. Almost all my shopping is done and I am now working on my new years resolutions — first one being to either do all my christmas shopping before December in 2004 or even more ambitiously - make all gifts. Gee, that sounds a little familiar.
2004 will be all about writing and illustrating a children’s book. Hooray! After saying that I am going to do that for the last four years (and a lot longer before that in a “when I grow up” kind of way), I am now really going to do it. An idea popped into my mind last week and after giving it some more thought I have become completely inspired. Yesterday I started a little bit of an illustration when I really should have been working. Sometimes this is when I get my best work done — as if guilty pleasure fosters creativity.
As you can guess by clicking on the above picture, the story will be about a mermaid… a reworking of an old classic. Of course, I am not 100% settled on this idea, but at least the ideas have started. There is much fun to be had.
Four years ago today I wrote my first loobylu journal entry. At the time it was in a secret diaryland account which I only shared with a couple of friends and some other folks who stumbled upon it. Little did I know that I was starting something that would change my life. I know that sounds a little dramatic, but keeping this site has lead to so many interesting, exciting and amazing things, people and projects over the last few years. If you are thinking about starting a web site and are wondering if it would be worth the effort I can tell you with much enthusiasm that it definitely is.
Here is what loobylu first looked like when I drew her / me a month or so after starting my site:
Since then she’s grown a little taller and looks a lot happier.
Some things from the past:
A 3D loobylu
The streetlog
20 things
Action figures
We’ve decided that in July 2004 we will have enough saved to start looking for a house. Until then we will stay here with Mum and Dad and drive them (and us) completely batty. But it’s all for a good cause.
We now have our sights set on the outer North-Eastern suburbs (full of trees and parks and birds and people who like trees and parks and birds!) such as Eltham and Montmorency. It’s a long way away from life-as-we-know-it but as we have discovered over the last few years, wherever you move to very quickly becomes the centre of life-as-we-know-it. House prices are so much better value for money out there (point of comparison -and unfortunately way out of price range - here is a house out in Eltham and a house for the same price around the corner from here) and did I mention the trees, the parks and the birds? Lovely.
Meanwhile, I have a new design up for Summer and a new list of December treats on my about page. What is December about for you?
Ugh ! Time for a new entry so that scary doll face isn’t staring at me from the top of the page every time I look at my site.
Today is one of those incredible Melbourne Summer days that starts off fresh and cool and clear and by afternoon words like “shimmering” and “thick” and “bloody parched mate” spring to mind (in fact close your eyes for a moment and imagine you’re on a Greek Island!). There was a cicada shell on Big-P’s car tire this morning. Watermelon tastes really good. Summer is rocking in.
Last night I went out to dinner and then to a bar (joy of joys!) with Small and Special-K. A sparkling vodka and tonic in the smokey, dim, groovy-retro style-lamp light was a sight to behold. We chinked glasses and talked about the kiddies and our careers and the potential futures for us all. We were ready for bed by 10pm but I was so impressed that I could go out and behave like a normal person that my heart was racing with excitement until 12 while I tried to get to sleep - sad but true. Still Being hyped by the experience this morning, I pitched the idea of a regular evening get together to the girls at Mother’s Group - sans babies - and was greeted with huge excitement, much more than the suggestion of the Harold Holt Swimming Pool or the Collingwood Children’s Farm ever got. Shouts of Wooohoo! and Whipeee! filled the playground.
Things I noted last night while trying to be young and hip; 1) a drinks bill now comes to the price of a small house in Camberwell, 2) Special-K is no longer the (only) cheap, can-can dancing drunk amongst us and 3) A bowl of Chicken Makhani followed by one drink and a short taxi ride home now rates as a “fabulous, big night out”.
There’s nothing like buying a huge and crazy 1970s doll’s face (16cm x 17cm!) on ebay for $4 to brighten up your day.
Apparently these doll faces used to be on rag pixie dolls that had pointy heads and long dangly arms - I vaguely remember such bizarre creatures from my 1970s youth. Does anyone else?
How did it get to be almost the end of November already?? How is it that I am filling in my super new Eames 2004 engagement calendar with 2004 engagements already??
I have been slumping around for a couple of weeks wondering what the future has in store. So I have decided to go back and do that course that I applied for a couple of years ago - Screen Print Design. There’s no guarantee I will get accepted again but I thought it was worth giving a go. I want to only do a couple of subjects a semester but it will give me access to facilities and the knowledge that are otherwise out of reach. I read back over that 2001 entry and the list of subjects still inspire me and still make me go “oooooh how cool!” on the inside.
My main concern (which embarrasses me to admit but will be good to get out) is that I will have to drive across the city to get to the campus. As stupid as that sounds I am still a very nervous (sweaty palms, heart palpitations, out-of-control feeling) driver and I would rather sit in this dark study and continue to slog away at client illustration work rather than drive across town and experience LIGHT! JOY! INSPIRATION! and SOCIAL INTERACTION!
2004 will be full of study and house buying. It sounds like what we were aiming to do in 2002 and then I got pregnant!
Hey cats, Beatsville published by Outré Gallery Press (and featuring Tim Biskup! Shag! and Seonna Hong! plus many many more) is out now. The art show is on at Outré Gallery (249 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne) until 18 November.
Also, I am yet to sit down and watch this, but there is a Maurice Sendak lecture to be found and how good does it sound?: “In this riveting and emotionally charged talk, Sendak provides a retrospective on the struggles of his early career as an artist, describing the “great giant ladies versus the suits” of the publishing establishment, discusses the symptoms of depression as they correlate to the creative process, and tells an amazing story of his search for Rosie. On the cusp of his 75th birthday, Sendak describes his life as one “obsessed with childhood,” and concludes, “over the years everything in my creative life has gradually been strengthened and newly passioned”.”
Another great find: The Illustration Cupboard (and an article from the UK’s Independant about the gallery and children’s book illustration in general).
And if there was ever a reason to learn to crochet, these cute soft toys are much inspiration. (thanks to Jennifer, who needs to get herself a blog, because the links she sends me are priceless).
And a new favourite feel good illustration blog: Lopie’s Journal.
My Amazon wishlist continues to grow and grow and split at the seams. I have just added J Otto Seibold’s Alice in Wonderland which looks suitably wacked-out. There are some great things to explore on Scholastic’s Alice page. Make sure you click on the “Visit Alice in Wonderland!” link under the picture of the book cover.
While I was looking at it on Amazon I also noticed Lane Smith’s The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country! and although you can see a big version of the cover, there are no sample pages unfortunately. On the strength of the cover alone, it got added to the list.
Also, I updated my about page for November. Be sure to visit some of those links.
