everything horse and art of course!

Its coming up very soon...a much, much anticipated 6th birthday!
Having a birthday toward the end of each year means much planning + wishing...this year is no exception.
Horses are the interest of the age, art is the always-favored activity! Throw in a pass-the-parcel, pin-the-tail, a show-jumping-obsticle-course in the back yard, many, many food suggestions and we have a 'championship' event for this little 6yr old!
Planning is feverish, invites unfolding....

...don't forget to throw on your 'prizewinning' sash and join us for the ride! Next up, the art project...don't you just love a good birthday party!!

red

This could be the most extraordinary red wildflower I have ever seen!
Bulbous. Proud. Strong. Textural.
I am completely taken with it.
And speaking of red....I am noticing red flame tree's dotted everywhere at the moment...
ripening rich tomato harvest offered up in our abundant back yard plot...
are you noticing the red? Such bold, statement colour makes me happy!
Have a lovely weekend xx

New after school Stamp Making Series at Riverbend

We have had such success with the three week stamp making series run at the Gallery Cafe during term time, that we have decided to run this series at Riverbend also!
I love this series, over the three weeks the children learn a new skill, create some beautiful hand carved stamps and then in our final class, we use these stamps to decorate a range of gift cards, leathergoods and fabric! The children take home their stamps and the knowledge to continue making more stamps to use as they please.
A wonderful combination of teaching a skill and making beautiful art!
ONLY 1 WEEK TO BOOK IN FOR THIS EXCITING CLASS SO BOOK NOW AS PLACES ARE LIMITED!!

WHERE: Riverbend Books + Teahouse
WHEN: commencing Monday afternoon 17th October, running for 3 weeks.
TIME: 3.45-4.45pm
WHO: for 7-12yr olds
COST: $20 per class, $60 for the series including all materials, tools and goods to be stamped!!

always outstanding CLAY!

There must be something about the ENDLESS possibilities of cool, wet, soft clay...
being pondorously rolled between the fingers, imagination blooming...
that makes this workshop so enjoyable.
When I took a rough slab of wood and some beautiful white clay myself,
in the days preceeding these classes
and pondered, rolled, cut and formed...
I could have sat for hours!
I just love how each child's work so beautifully reflects their own response to SPRING!
Such variations!

In both the airy indoor/outdoor space at Riverbend and the light filled atrium at Carindale, the children were engrossed and incredibly imaginative creating detailed and skillful Spring wonderlands!
I do so love a good clay workshop!!

Rest

'Rest time is not lost time;
It's what gives meaning to the rest of time' AV

creating begets creating!

Some days just surprise you with their magic!
Today was one of those in my household..
My children are always asking if they can come to my art classes.
Mostly, and gratefully, they are all fully booked and the children miss out on a place.
And after two full days of classes, I had thought that creating would be far from our hands + minds on this our day off!
But I think there is something about creating...that just begets more creating, and more inspiration...and more energy to discover something new!
So when my children asked - oh so sweetly and enthusiastically - to 'make some of the art from the classes please Mama' - I surprised myself when I jumped in with a 'YES!'
I whipped up some more beautiful tote bags and silhouettes and they couldn't wait to get started this morning!

Even the 2y old got in on the gluing and placing...and laughing a lot when her fingers stuck together!!

Here they are patiently waiting for handles to be sewn on...and while they waited, we jumped right on in to a different but very satisfying 2D abstract artwork - a bit of research + development for future classes - my children are happily my test lab!

wearable art

Such energy + enthusiasm! Such busy creators! Such a wonderful, quiet, fresh-air creating space!
The costume and cleverness that came out of our first double holiday workshop at Riverbend was inspiring!
All hands were super-busy coordinating colour and playing with texture + technique - including mine, which were constantly required to tie knots or help with a tricky detail!!
It was such a hands-on workshop that I had no time for photography, snaping a few before + after...
I have already recieved feedback that 'finger-knitting' was an absolute hit in their household and I love that the children have returned home with a new skill and some new materials to create with! I even gave away my 'secret' supplier of georgous jersey-knit strips for creating chunky finger-knit wraps...if you want in on the secret...just leave a comment!!

Terrific Totes!

The sun was shining, the air conditioning cool and we were joined by a beautiful bunch of children for our first Spring Holiday art+craft class!
For all the effort, making the bags by hand and cutting, cutting cutting insect silhouettes and 'flower' circles - it was worth it to see the outcomes!
The children's work was wonderful! Their patience, perfect!
They mastered the fine motor skill of stitching with ease and confidence!
Such a delightful workshop to teach - and, it seems to observe - the crowds gathering around our creating space with interested and approving eyes!

I particularly loved this last tote for its origionality!...she chose the christmas beatle silhouette and then very appropriately and thoughtfully placed it in 'the dirt' and considered balance and unity with the neutral + repeated detail on the top of the bag! I love how she created something very unique with confidence and thoughtfulness!
I will add more completed works here soon - I asked a few children to take a pic for me of them using their wonderful nature totes these holidays!!

Lets explore SPRING!

Here we go...

Tomorrow we begin an intense week of creativity, fun, colour and adventure!

WEAVE+WONDER aim to:
WEAVE great stories through our creating time...
INSPIRE the imagination through the work of Great Artists...
GROW knowledge using age appropriate art theory...
NURTURE creativity through experimenting with natural + quality materials...
Leave with display + play-worthy art and a sense of WONDER in all they have created!

Sincere thanks to the wonderful venues: The Gallery Cafe, Carindale Shopping Centre and Riverbend Books + Teahouse, Bulimba, for the ability to set up a magical creative space for the children, while Carers + Siblings enjoy a great coffee + meal!
Classes begin at 9.00am and 11.00am sharp, please check venue details and confirm your class time....

Children...I can't wait to meet you and share in this artistic adventure as we explore Spring together!

hearing

She is incredibly creative, imaginative & innovative..perhaps these senses are heightened where others are dulled...
She retreats into books, the myriad worlds of adventure, mystery & discovery...wonderful inspiration for creative adventures...it's no wonder she is never short of an idea! What a gift to the innovative mind is good literature!
Every child should swim in the sea of the imagination, cultivate the gift..learn to see beauty & dream big dreams..for here grows the innovation of the future. In this way, every child is an artist when they dream & create something from just a seed, an idea, an inspiration.
I love to think of my children, and my students, exercising this creative muscle regularly when they experiment with artistic media.

I know she loves it too, this firstborn of mine who is often in her own world, a bubble, like being underwater. She is as bright and inspired and confident as if she could hear every word spoken, every noise made. She doesn't look to technology to entertain her, she innovates - what a gifted leader she will be some day!
Today she can hear again...even a whisper! And the babies in recovery this week 'were way too loud Mama!!' I have never been so grateful for crying babies...nor for her gift of creativity that carries her through these seasons.

As we burst upon the Spring holiday's, I can already hear their creative planning drifting in from the back yard - here's to days of sunshiny freedom, the gift of hearing, and beautiful, wild imaginations!