Art work Inspiration

I saw this painting in a window and I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I knew I had an old board that I could paint over 

so I got the kids together to help me try and recreate it.

We mixed some colours and gel mediums together.

Zach wanted to use his fingers while Kayla was a natural with the pallet knife.  

Since the background was already dark with left a tiny space between the colours.

My friend Sam who loves to bake was great at spreading the paint out evenly.

She had never painted like this before and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Before we knew it we were done.

I think I like our version better too,

especially since it was a collaboration by

friends and family.

Reclaimed Tasmanian Oak table

A friend of mine recently

 saved some timber from a demolition that he thought I might like.

Thank you Rob!!

I do like!

A lot!!!

Reclaimed Tasmanian Oak
roof beams

Ever since I first went into Mark Tuckey's furniture store,

 I have dreamed of making an amazing piece of furniture from reclaimed timber.

Luckily,

 I discovered a new workshop up in Northcote called 

Pop & Scott

They allow people to use their equipment for a small charge.

Or in my case, 

help me create something amazing

that I could never do on my own.

Scott was lovely to work with,

and he showed me how to do
 every step along the way.

First we had to remove the nails

ok..get my gear on...

Their workshop was so cool.
They have been featured in a few magazines recently
and I can totally see why!!

This room houses their awesome

thicknesser.

Scott showed me how it worked

 and even let me have a turn.

before

after

How amazing does it look?

Scott cut the mitered edges.

 A practice run...

to see how it will all fit together.

He showed me how to fill in the cracks and nail holes with a black putty.

Scott also showed me how to sand the timber.

This job he then left up to me.

My pleasure!

This timber was unreal.

I seriously could have sanded it all day.

It was smooth as silk

by the time I was done!

To join the pieces seamlessly,

Scott used a biscuit cutter to create theses slots.

Just to be sure...he put 5 on each side.

Tasmanian Oak 

is amazing in its raw state.

We needed lots of glue!!!

Now to put it all together

Pop & Scott

 have all the gear you need to make

 just about anything.

 They are currently expanding to include even more wonderful things.

We used these super large clamps 

to hold it together 

until the glue set. 

Now to wait 24 hrs

And here is the finished piece.

Well, almost....

I couldn't bare to varnish this amazing timber,

so for now it is unsealed

until I figure out a way to wax it and keep that natural colour.

My very own

hand made

 Mark Tuckey style table,

for a fraction of a fraction of the price.

Thanks 

Again

to

Pop & Scott

I can't wait to go back!

Who Said Artwork Had To Be Expensive?

Kayla's 1st Oil on Canvas.  Age 2

I can't believe she turns 6 soon.
Wow how time flies! But these are still up on our wall.
They were meant to be a temporary solution to bare walls, 
but now I just love them because they tell a story.

I had seen this large canvas on sale for $19!
  I had some Oil paints I was dying to try out, 
however my 2 year old, at the time, also wanted to help paint.  So I let her.....
and this is what we came up with.

She helped me with the large painting too.

A few books by the Art to tie in the colours.

Pretty Sticks

Looking for a new idea?

I had these left over temporary tattoos, 

yet I was wondering what I could do with them.

I made one little pretty stick......

However, I thought this box frame could use an update.

I made a bunch more and decided to make an art work out of these driftwood pieces.

A New look for the photo wall.