wow, i’m wrapped with the response from the before and after, thanks guys! And a BIG thank you to Grace for posting it. I love how the story looks on her blog (well, I love everything on her blog!), it really shines – but poor French Boy, he is a little embarrassed… I did warn him to close his eyes!

There were quite a few questions in the comments on design*sponge so I am going to try to answer them all here. I have linked to each commenter so you can easily find the answer to your question within this post. I love questions about my work, so don’t hesitate to ask more in the comments if you have them.

(Click here to read more…)

French Boy, you might want to close your eyes. Everyone else, come with me.

I’ve added some new features to the other rooms in the (blog)house and I’d love you to check them out! In the Library, I’ve added books with links that I have just read, or currently reading, as well as the latest on my coffee table. And in the Sound Studio I’ve added music I am currently listening to, currently playing on the piano, and currently composing, all with links. I will endeavour to write posts with reviews as I go too. So click here to go to the sound studio, or click here to go to the library (Alfred is there now waiting for you with some chablis)…

Also, something special is coming this way in the next few hours! I love surprises, don’t you? So be sure to come back this afternoon (or midnight for you aussies and morning for my american pals). See you soon! xx

Gather kids, it’s story time! Seriously, gather your kids if you have them, as this post is for the little ones and the little ones at heart. It’s a treasured childhood book of mine and I found a you tube reading of it to share with you which (again, with the peeing in the pants) brightened my day so much so that I now need to wear shades.

This book is called tikki tikki tembo, and the story is set in ancient China. It’s written by Arlene Mosel and illustrated by Blair Lent.

I adore this book, although my 30 year old copy is in Sydney, I can still bring it to you right here, thanks to technology. It is this book that first captured my imagination and sent my heart wandering East. It was through my constant yearning to learn more and more about China that I soon learnt about Tibet. I was devastated to realise that right at that moment, a country and people I cherished were destroying and torturing it’s neighbour and themselves. My wandering heart bled. That was about ten years ago. and at that time I was at Uni studying art, so I went to a Chinese calligraphist in Sydney who taught me the Chinese character for ‘love with suffering’, I was told it is a character used often. I still continue to use this symbol in my art.

But as some of you may know, thanks to all of us pressuring to bring this situation to the headlines and hearts of thousands, Tibet and China are talking right now. This is positive.

My post about my Tibetan friend Tenpa gathered some great and controversial comments, check them out here. And as I mentioned in my last comment on that post, I will not only be showcasing Tibet on my blog, but everything that is connected with it, and that includes China. So why not start with Tikki Tembo! It begins a little something like this…

The illustrations captured my imagination as a little girl. When Mum read me the book I was instantly taken to the little house at the top of the hill, or resting with the old man and his ladder.
And it is now one of my niece and nephew’s favourite as I have been reading it to them since they were toddlers. Their faces beam when they hear me say tikki’s name and they join in with pure delight.

I highly recommend you buy a copy as the printed version is definately the best. But for those who just can’t wait, here is the very awesome retro video reading. Make yourself a tea, take a break and a deep breath. And enjoy…

And just for laughs, here is a chipmunk version of tikki’s name!

I speak of Dinosaur Designs, one of my all-time favourite places to shop for props (and always find a little something or tens of somethings for myself) in Sydney. You may have noticed their pieces all through my portfolio. They have a beautiful studio in Strawberry Hills for us stylists, it is like walking into a candy store, and I exaggerate not, on a number of occassions I have nearly peed my pants with little girl giddiness when I spot their new designs. So it is with absolute delight that I just received an email from them showing off their latest collection, Bamboo…

Need to rush to the bathroom? I’m not surprised. Click here to check out more of the range and browse through their stella website. Oh Dinosaur, I miss you!!