2 Books and 1 Daring Adventures

Hey everybody, I got some big news!

I bought 2 books today! and they are mine! :D

I hardly spend money on myself since being a mum.

Most of the saving or money earned would have been

well spent on them instead of me.

Just probably one of the things any parents would do really :)

So this is somewhat big deal moment for me!

I get to know these 2 fabulous artist

when I was attending Lilla Rogers'

Make Art That Sells' e-course recently.
Will blog about the whole experience in another post..

 

Mati McDonough

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 Flora Bowley's work?

No? Ok, go make yourself a cuppa and sit closer.

pss..click on this video clip and be amazed!

I love watching Flora's clip. So free!

It makes me so happy watching it! :)

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I have signed up to this Daring Adventures with Mati. 

It's going to be a relaxing and therapeutic one I reckon! :)

Recap of Year 2012 for us :)

Hello and welcome everyone!

I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas and New Year.

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Our first trade show - Baby & Toddler Show
via Mini Me and You recently last September

Our newest stockist - Mini Me and You's exhibition booth
at the recent Baby and Toddler Show in Sydney.
Did you spotted our illustration art prints? :) 

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Collaborated with Bookoola Ink - "Learning Childhood" poster series

We were very blessed being invited to collaborate with one of the publisher in QLD.
An opportunity to being part of their poster series named "Learning Childhood".
Best part of this great opportunity is Debra was lovely to deal with.
The whole experience working side by side with her was amazing! :)

One of my dear friend spotted our poster at her son's kindy :)

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So our first press appearance was in late Y2011. Click here for more detail

1 year later.....We did it again but this time is on print!

Tickle The Imagination's Magazine

The Gallery Wall's Spread

 2 of our illustration art prints are amongst the author's favourite artworks

I say.."sweeeeeet!" :)

In the Wood Series No.4 (Mushroom World Series)


Feather (Happiness Series)

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Working experience at the Ink & Spindle end February 2012.

These, has to be one of my highlights for the year!

I waited for almost 3 years to make it happen.

I blogged about it over here :)

 With Lara and Teegs' help..tada!

My 1st cushion utilising my own screenprinted fabric

at the Ink & Spindle.

and I made this cute little tote bag! :)

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It has been very silent for the past 3 months and here's why....

Photo of my eldest and my latest addition :)

An absolutely big news! A fruitful production after our recent miscarriage 1.5 years ago.

Life was miserable during the silent grief. I have also lost my creative mojo back then until bub #2 came along last November. How am I feeling now? I'm feeling complete and life is somehow more content..a feeling which I can't quite explain how but yeah :)

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Y2013 is going to be big

1. Am moving on from drawing not just the quirky mushroom and Minzy Girl. Yes, am heading different direction and new mission for how I want to run Missy Minzy. So stay tuned if you like to know more :)

2. Different material. New range. New style.

3. Thinking of entering homeware & textile or probably jewellery area. Something very different from what you have seen me working on :)

4. Spend more quality time with my young family. I have came to realize that anything can wait but my family will always come first. My 2 girls are only be this little once so I really want to enjoy being their mum as much as possible!

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3 big reason why you should check our massive sale!
a) 40% off on the entire range (existing stocks).
b) Great chance to snap up our large size (12x16"). There are only available at our downthatlittlelane's online store.
c) Am moving on from drawing mushroom and Minzy Girl (most likely). So there will only be a selection of illustration art prints made available by limited edition run once sold out.

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This year am going to spend MORE time enjoy creating

instead of sweating what others are doing and how come not me :)

Here wishing you an amazing fabulous Year 2013 in advance and

remember to slow down and smell the roses. Irene xx

Diary form: Post Working Experience with Ink & Spindle

This is a post working experience which had happened early February/March this year.

So I was mucking around with hand screen printing after my short course with CAE sometime in Year 2009. It all went well when I was in the class. But it went all wrong when I was trying to do mine few weeks after the short course. I couldn't figure out what went wrong.

Read my old blog posts here

Few months later, I visited this fabulous local hand screen textile printing company - Ink & Spindle in Kensington. I chat about my experience with my own project and wanting to learn more. I was being offered a working experience opportunity with Ink & Spindle when I was pregnant with Peanut (way back in Y2009). But I had to turn the offer down due to the belly was growing bigger and the massive road trip traveling from VIC to WA and oversea.

I caught up with Teeg (one of the founder of Ink & Spindle) asking for another opportunity 3 years later (almost). She was lovely and offered me to come into their studio. To learn how to work on fabrics, printing etc. Due to the changes of current life arrangement (Mr Minzy has gone FT on studying in uni and PT working). We were very blessed to have one of our family gf whom we knew from church looking after Peanut while both of us busy achieving our dreams. I thought, Oh-Great!

The 1st Monday

There were butterflies in the tummy the night before I went in on 27th February. It was Mr Minzy's first day to uni. 1st day for Peanut staying at our family gf's place. I tell you, it wasn't easy to being apart from your child when you have been the key person looking after her! Weather was gloomy on that day. Heaps of rain and all that jazz. There was an intern at the studio working away when I arrived. Great! I wasn't alone! :) Brought in a homemade yogurt peach almond cake for the girls. That Monday was about to get to know each other better, familiarize everything as much as possible, planning some project, concepts.... Enjoying my lunch quietly. Having decent companion with proper adult conversations. Well needed as you can tell ;) I went home with head up high that evening. It was great to be out and about. Peanut ran towards me and gave me a big hug when I arrived home. Looks like she misses me too ;) That night 3 of us celebrated my 36th years old birthday. It was very meaningful. It feels great and a complete birthday :)

The 2nd Monday

Back to basic. Heaps of tracing and tracing.

I have been drawing heaps illustration of feather for my Happiness range. This is just one of them. It would only make sense for me to tie in these happy feathers as part of the project while I'm fulfilling this awesome working experience with I&S.

Met a new intern from France - Justine. A very lovely lady. We somehow click pretty much straightaway. It was small world. You know, she lived just up the road where I am living. Aha!

  

Justine (far left) and Lara are concentrating on their own projects at the Ink & Spindle's studio.

The 3rd Monday

Took me ages to cut all of those feathers. Finger tips are sore and not to forget, my neck! Ouch ;|

The 4th Monday

 Stencil is all carved and cut perfectly. Ready to go on the screen.

 Tada! First run hand pulled screen printing on the fabric!

More Happiness Feather's screen printing!

Hello Lara! Visit her personal blog here if desired.

The 4th & 5th Monday

Me holding my very first DIY cushion using my own hand screen printed fabric!

Sewing is not my skill but I've managed to pull it off with the girls' helps
for my first DIY cushion and the very first DIY tote bag! :) How cool is that? :)

My very first DIY tote bag using my own hand screen printed fabric of course! 

I have learn so much from both Teegs and Lara. They were great mentors and willing to help and teach.

Definitely looking forward to combine my refresh hand screen printing skill with my current work. So watch out guys! ;)

Surface Pattern Design (e-course)

 

Ok, say I'm slack or what not. I have meant to blog about this few months ago. I found this fantastic page - Do What You Love For Life via Print & Pattern (P&P) recently. Because of them, I have learnt the new terms - Surface Pattern Design through P&P. The funny thing is that I have been spending lots of time tracking down how and where to study this course before this. Back in Y2009, I was silly enough to enroll into a course which I thought it was studying Surface Pattern Design. Unfortunately Pattern Design was the actual subject I was enrolled to. FYI, there's a big different between the 2 subject Okay? ;)

Anyways, back to Surface Pattern Design. Found this e-course learning how to be a surface pattern designer. Cool. Sweet yes? So I signed up. Both Module 2 and 3. I found it a bit challenge as their courses starts at 9am in UK time but it's 8pm in AUS time. So by the time am done with studying..it's time to go to bed. Hah.

 Pattern on Pattern (image resource from here)

Module 2 is Creating Your Professional identity
I have had a look at how other students going with their assignments. Gosh, they are pretty good. I felt I have so much to learn. It's full on and packed with lots of information, great contributors and heaps of tips. So if you love surface pattern design like I do and/or want to learn more about it. Have a peek on what is this Surface Pattern Design? I will upload some images just so you know what am I talking about. You see them everyday just that you probably did not realize that's the name for it. Good luck looking. Because of this e-course, it somehow making the little stir in my lost mojo pond. I'm excited & falling in love all over again.

Hue Pattern (image resource from here)

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Anna Emilia (Image resource here)

 The beauty of blogging is that you get to tumble into

some fabulous creative talents! Anna Emilia is one of them.

I just get to know about her work like less than an hour ago.

And I'm loving all of her work and style. Great inspiration!

Module 3 : Monetising Your Design just started last week. This module seems fantastic! We are studying about Freelancing, Selling, Manufacturing and Trade Shows. It's something I like to know more. A great assets and essential knowledge to move the business to the next stage I thought. Oh, have I also mention that there's lots of perks which it's amazing! :)

I felt I can take on this module a lot better than Module 2 for some reason. Hopefully I can maintain the pace and am not celebrating it too early. ;)

New Books Purchased

I had an eye on 2 of this books when I was at one of the local shop few weeks ago.

It's just that I do not want to pay the RRP! :P So, what I did was to shop online!

And I found that Amazon is selling cheaper than Fishpond.

Thank goodness for strong Aussie Dollar! :))

So it finally arrived sometime this week.

Was doing the giddyup dancing when the parcel arrived :))

Print & Pattern!! WOOHOO!!

I get to know about Print & Pattern when I started blogging, say 1 year ago?

Her collection of Print & Pattern from all around the world blew me away...big time.

This is a MUST HAVE book especially if you are a graphic designer.

I was finding hard to describe what exactly inspired me

when a blogging friend wants me to write something

about me on her blog sometime this week.

The author of Print & Pattern - Marie Perkins and I shared

similar inspiration and she described this in her book this way..

"Mention to someone that you are a surface pattern designer and you will probably receive a blank look of confusion. Perhaps they will hear the word 'pattern' and think you design patterns for clothing, or that by 'surface' you are referring to the different types of finish used in building and decorating trades. Either way, they won't realize you are a graphic designer, illustrator, textile designer and more, all rolled into one. Pretty much anything you see in the marketplace that has a printed design on it will have been through the hands of a surface designer. The plates you eat from, the fabric of your tablecloth, the design on your rug, your curtains, wallpaper, cushions, handbags, wrapping paper, birthday card, and so much more, any product with a surface print or pattern on it is part of this often overlooked form of design."

Some sneak peek

another peek

Illustration Book Pro 02

I had the 01 and loved it! Of course I will have to get onto 02 when I get the chance! :)

I have not get the chance to flip this book yet cuz my hands are on Print & Pattern still. lol

More MushRoom..mmMmmm

I have meant to share this with you awhile ago...just that I have been slacking away in my blogging land in order to take care of Peanuts... ;)

I was very surprised to receive all of these lovely shots from my Blog Buddy - Kylie from Chasing Purple Dream recently. These are some of the mushrooms that are growing wild at her block of land.

These is one of my favorite. Cute and tiny.

I can foreseen myself drawing some of these very soon.

:)

ahhH...lovely texture

I love it when they are all in a group :)

have never seen this before..so, this is cool!

Sharing these with you, had reminded me to upload some of the mushroom shots which I took awhile back too...

LEGO Tattoo Pilot Pen Ads

Original Resource: LEGO tattoo ad campaign

Do you know that I have a degree in Advertising? Looking back at my professional working experience. I think I did not make the most of my degree. The blood for advertising (and of course, design) will always in me. It's like you are on creative block at times and you are eager to strike that huge breakthrough. Hence, being able to be inspired in order to trigger the creative juices flowing is very familiar in every creative in any field.

I have always a subscriber of DesignBoom. I found this in my daily newsletter today. A creative ad campaign like this excites me!

New Found Talent: Catalina Estrada

Some of you may now know that am big in pattern and texture. I have been doodling and collecting all sort of interesting shapes offline. It has inspired me in a lot of ways.

Today, I came across this interesting illustration by this fantastic virtual artist - Catalina Estrada thru LMNOP.

One of her work for PlayTimeParis

It's colorful. Vibrant. Alive. Fun. Playful. One of her work's style reminded me one of my old masterpiece, which I created for one of the major retailer in US. My former superior thought it wasn't really answer the brief but look at how Catalina transformed it! I felt somehow relief and content when knowing my style is actually still marketable and out there..if you know what I meant. Spend some time and look at her work. It is a lot of hard work creating all those lovely illustration alright! :D

Challenge Day 105 - Do you collect anything as a hobby?

Do you collect anything as a hobby? I know I do!

I still remembered I used to collect Hello Kitty, those pink Bunny (forgotten the name), Little Twin Stars when I was a kid...it may well be on stickers, rubber stamp, bookmarks, cute pencils and pens, cute envelopes, bags, cards.....I truly had quite a huge collection that my sister got jealous and she had to took it from my drawer and cut them (guess she was trying to destroy the evident just so it does not looks like mine. lol)

Picture from here

Anyways, those were the good old memories. I doubt she would remember all this, now that we are both married with spouse;)

So you might thought Oh..Irene, she might be grown up and no longer thinking of collecting anything cute and pretty. You would be WRONG if you did! Hahaha...

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Duct-Tape Carpets by Bertjan Pot (Resources from here)

New Hobby: I found this blog - I love Sticky Tape awhile ago and I was blown away by his collection (or should I say obsession?). They are not any ordinary masking tape or tiger tape (the ones you saw at the crime scene from CSI). I have learnt so much about sticky tape from Jacqui (the blog owner) that sticky tape can be creative, pretty, design, cute, vintage and the list goes on!

Check this out if you also like Rob Ryan like I do!

Rob Ryan's Graphic Tape!! :) Original resources from here

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Cute Tape (Resources from here)

Carrie Chau's Designer Tape

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And this!!! Japanese Washi Masking Tape!!

Japanese Washi Masking Tape from HappyTape

...this is where I learnt that I have a thing on Japanese washi paper tape! :)

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Old Hobby has Revived!: Custom Rubber Stamps! :D~ Will show you one of the kind for now....

Click here for more detail

So you can imagine I was spending half of the time on Etsy trying to look for something cute and pretty while doing more listing on my Etsy store. Gotta love being a multi-tasking woman! :D~