Crafty rafty

I am become more smitten with craft everyday. 

I want to be a graft wife, mum and friend one day. My baby steps are getting me there!

I want to make cards for everyones special occasions

Knit scarfs for my loved ones in winter

Make badges to quirk things up

Sew cases for water bottles, laptops, phones and pencils.

Sew my own clothes

Make calenders.

Create gifts for friends and family.

so many ideas. The list will continue!

Kareena Zerefos

 I love and appreciate good art so much. 

Kareena Zerefos is an artist from Sydney, Australia."With a background in design, graduating from College of Fine Arts in 2005, Kareena works using a variety of media, including pencil, gouache, tea and ink, and often combines traditional drawing with contemporary digital graphic techniques."

Kareena has exhibited in solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as in numerous group shows across Australia. She also works on commercial illustration projects for the music, fashion and advertising industries.

Someone emailed Kareena a few questions on her work, luckily for me she took the time to answer them:

What tools/materials do you use? Do you use the same materials each time?
Pencils/graphite, gouache and ink on paper, I’ve recently been playing with copic markers too which is a lot of fun.
The materials I use kind of evolves and changes every now and again, when I started out I would just draw with whatever I had lying about, biros and old scraps of paper.
I've been working on pine plywood boxes quite a bit too, and have been experimenting with watercolour canvas too,

Three words that describes your style?

1. Nostalgic, 2. delicate, 3. bittersweet

Do you have any artistic influences?

I take inspiration from so many things like my collection of old super-8 footage from my dad’s childhood in rural NSW, travel, vintage postcards and photos, children’s books…
Egon Schiele has been a major influence I saw his figurative sketches and watercolours on a little trip to Vienna back in 2006 and that’s when I really felt inspired to draw.

Why do you like what you do and how did you first get into it?

I've always liked to draw, for as long as I remember, I don't really know why I like it - it's kind of just something I have to do compulsively!
I studied design at the College of Fine Arts, but I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember - it all started out like everyone does, sticking macaroni to paper plates and painting with my fingers!
I worked as a graphic designer for a while and it wasn’t really until about two years ago that I took the plunge to do art and illustration full time.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Hopefully exhibiting in places like the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.

Who/what/where are important parts of your process?
Before I start drawing I make collages from photocopied bits and pieces to plan out the composition and to find all of the right elements to bring into the work (I’m completely a Virgo).

Then I use my collage as my reference to draw from. I always work with a really light and loose outline layer in pencil, work up a couple of layers by spilling and dripping ink, gouache and tea and then work over it all with the detailed pencil lines.

What music are you into now?

Ah, at the moment when I'm working, Iron & Wine, The Stone Roses, Animal Collective, The Sisters of Mercy, Doves, Kings of Convenience, The Church, Siouxsie & The Banshees...

2 wheeled love.

One mans junk really is anothers treasure.

I found a bike on a hard rubbish pile one day while driving along.
I yelled to my brother to stop the car.
I collected the bike that had no pedals, brakes or even tires.

 But she was still a beauty and i would restore to full health.

 I pushed her home and from that day on she has been my 2 wheeled lover.

With the help of my Dad and brother 'Bessy' now looks good as new with a heart that is well worn.
My 19th birthday present from my dear sister topped of Bessy. A wooden basket.

I can't wait to ride around the streets of glenelg with icecream, hats, summer dresses and good company.

This is the beautiful beast.

words of life

There is something about quotes that just up lift me, guide me and bring a smile to my face. And yes that includes the lame and corny ones.

So i thought i'd share a few with you to hopefully brighten your day!

Thirtieth of January, 2008

This date was the death of my Cousin, friend and inspiration. Hannah Modra. 


It's funny how something 2 years ago can feel like something that happened yesterday. Even though you feel like you've been grieving for the past 2 years it arises over again, sometimes worse than others and slowly you discover you have never REALLY grieved and let it go and in my case given it over to God and really understand his ways. 


Now i think is the time i am going to officially face the music and let those hurts and questions come to the surface. I will not hold these back but let them fall knowing i have support around me and knowing God wants to heal this wounds and the most important knowing Hannah wants me to be happy and share her story to help save others. I will not let my hurt stand in the way of saving someone else. 


it's pretty simple though. It hurts, it's scary and its hard and i have no idea if I will ever be ok with this or if it will be a wound the aches every time i hear of death, depression, sadness or even someone named Hannah. Surely not. 


I miss Hannah. My heart breaks because she had only begun her amazing journey and even though her passing has changed many lives her life ahead would have changed many as well. Her music, her coking, her selflessness her ability to be true to herself, her faith and her sweet voice was something that cant be forgotten. Every person who encountered Hannah loved her. She was that extra bright star amongst the rest. 


Why her. Why put the heartache of this on a family that has suffered with a severely autistic child, a mother with breast cancer already. Why didn't he come to her rescue. She Seeked christ right up till the moment she took her life. Surely this is not what God wanted. Why didn't he do something? and what about the rest of the world of people who are suffering Depression. Will he stand there and let them suffer and for some watch them take their own life too? I am not angry at God but i just have questions. I have no heart to love him, no hart to worship him for his good. 


My Grandma gave me a song called 'Be still and know i am God' when Hannah passed and since then for the past 2 years all i hear from God when i am disorenatated is 


BE STILL.


so i will. 




I will face these hurdles as they come and be still amongst them. I will not worry and work myself up about this and other things but simply wait for Gods healing, his power, and his peace in my life. 


Be still and know that i am God. 

TOFFEE

I love that the world of indie art mixed with fashion, baking and craft is only growing stronger. I have faith that I have so much to discover and can really begin to become that creative crafty bug i've always wanted to be. 


I have faith because of a new magazine called TOFFEE!!!

There's a brand new digital magazine out called  Toffee Magazine.  I was so happy to be asked to contribute a project for the first issue.  I downloaded my copy of the magazine right away & I love it!  It's a great read, well designed & comes with all kinds of goodies.  I'm particularly fond of the super cute retro gift tags designed by Danielle Thompson.  I am for sure using those on all my gifts this year.

Anyway, here's what the Toffee Magazine folks have to say about it: Freshly Baked - OUT NOW! 
TOFFEE digital magazine and craft kit

Hip hip hooray! The freshly baked first issue of  Toffee is finally here. Yes, this is our launch issue and we’re ever so smitten with it and hope you will be too!

Inside this issue, you’ll discover how Danielle Thompson keeps it wacky in the ‘burbs, why Zee Longenecker is walking on sunshine, what makes Mati Rose take the path less travelled and why Kristen Doran still plays with dolls.You’ll also find tips on how to make a fruity facemask, recipes for dainty desserts, ideas for an eco-friendly Chrissy and much more!

And don’t forget our *delicious* chewy centre featuring 24 pages of craft to keep you sewing, knitting, papercrafting and scrapbooking ‘til Tuesday.PLUS: every download includes a bonus craft kit packed with 10 printable papers for gift wrapping, craft or scrapbooking! Download your *sweet* digital magazine and craft kit today at  www.toffeemag.com

 

 

For my contribution to this issue of Toffee Magazine & I created a cute reversible stocking tutorial.   Check out my stockings made from vintage bed linens:

 

You can get your own copy of Toffee Magazine right here!  I know i will be soon!

Happiness

So according to the dictionary HAPPINESS is.....
feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
I sort of like that definition because it uses the word contentment. Contentment to me is just being OK with whatever and not necessarily thinking its the best thing/situation in the world.
This reassures me that to be happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

I'm having one of these days.....

I have no idea why i'm really feeling down. I guess its a mixture of expectations, desires, uncertainty, no scene of belonging, asking myself who am i, where am i going, what does this mean, how are my relationships, what to change, how to change, and finally. WHY. just why.
I get slightly overwhelmed by the rate my mind is thinking that it decides to completely shut down and not think at all. In fact not even speak a word.

I often find myself repeating quotes or looking at simple images to remind my self that we all struggle. That we grow from it, that it doesn't last forever and most importantly there is beauty that i need to remember in order to feel that happiness once again.

So i thought i'd share some uplifting ideas, images, quotes to bring some happiness to the night in preparation for the wonderful day tomorrow. x