Friday Friends, DUSTy Divas - Art by Jaz

Peace Angel

Hello lovely readers, welcome to Friday and a new edition of Friday Friends. What a busy week it has been. Our workplace spread a little Christmas Cheer by donating nearly a shopping trolley full of non perishable food items to a local relief agency to put towards Christmas Hampers for those in need. It was such a great feeling to be able to make a contribution to society at this time of year.

Maddabling was also very lucky to have an ETSY treasury featured on ETSY's front page - it featured lots of talented folk, was entitled Festive Fawn and included many Australian Artists !

This week I am happy to indulge you in a little bit of whimsy on a fantastical visual journey with a fabulous Australian ETSY Artist and brand new DUST team member;  meet Jaz from Art by Jaz !

I stumbled upon these gorgeous prints and paintings, while trawling through Etsy one evening. They are beautifully drawn, feminine and completely colourful ! Here are a few of my faves (by the way I had a lot of trouble narrowing this down). I must mention that due to my wonderful husband being a supporter of handmade and local talent, the original Cat and Mouse painting (shown below) is coming to live with us.... he purchased it for me for Christmas :D I am so pleased to be the owner of a piece of original Art by Jaz.

Jaz, you can be assured that Cat and Mouse is coming to a home where she will be loved and treasured.  

Cat and Mouse

Oh Deer There is a Storm Coming



Blue Ringed Octopus Fairy

 Dear readers, I invite you now to take some time out of your hectic day and to indulge in a whimsical visual journey ruffling through the virtual archives of Art by Jaz.

Drink Me

Art by Jaz Archives

I'm Jaz Higgins. I'm a full time artist, working from my home studio in Brisbane, Australia. I live with my husband, our beautiful 3 year old daughter and our little black and white cat.

Xenia Fairy

Ever since I was a little girl I've loved creating things. I've always been happy with a colouring book and a good set of felt pens! One of my first memories of my love of colour was visiting a family friend who was a cake decorator and looking at all the brightly coloured pigments that she used to make icing flowers with. There were rows and rows of them and I was absolutely mesmerized !

Birdy has a Birthday

I have studied commerce and marketing at uni, and I have worked in retail management, but I realised about 5 years ago that I wanted to work on my art full time. I feel very lucky to be in the position now to do that. It's not always easy being your own boss, and being responsible for paying the bills from your own artwork - but it's worth it.

Pretty in Pink

I'm specifically drawn to painting girls, my paintings often feature mermaids, fairies for this reason. I'm inspired by anything whimsical, kitschy, feminine, pretty and fun. I love flowers, fantasy, oceanic creatures, animals, nature, fashion, children's storybooks, vintage emphemera, wandering through art galleries, reading art blogs - I'm inspired by countless things!

Alice Meets the Caterpillar

I mostly paint on canvas with acrylic paints. I find I'm too impatient when it comes to waiting for oil paint to dry, and I find acrylics less messy to clean up than oils! :)


Cat and Mouse

Some of my favourite paintings I've done so far are: "Naughty Cal", "A Jellyfish Friend" and "Alice Meets the Caterpillar".

A Jellyfish Friend

While I have sold my artwork online for a while now, I was excited to start getting my artwork in to some 'brick and mortar' stores this year, starting with "Cultiver" in Ipswich, QLD, with more to come in the next few months. I'd also like to start doing some more art shows, expos and markets. I'm looking forward to creating lots of new paintings in 2012 - so keep an eye out! :)

Naughty Cal

Lovely readers you can explore and learn more about Art by Jaz or do a little shopping here :

Art by Jaz Website :  http://www.artbyjaz.com/

Art by Jaz on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/ArtByJaz

Art by Jaz Blog : http://artbyjaz.blogspot.com/

Art by Jaz on Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/ArtByJaz

Art by Jaz on Etsy : http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyjaz

Twelve Days of Christmas Wednesday Wishlist

Happy Hump Day dear readers and welcome to a Wednesday Wishlist based around the Twelve Days of Christmas. It goes something like this -
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords-a-Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids-a-Milking
7 Swans-a-Swimming
6 Geese-a-Laying
5 Gold Rings
4 Calling Birds 
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Vintage German Nutcracker Drummer by Chixycoco

Antique AQUA Twelve Days of Christmas Eleventh Pipers Piping
Postmarks Music Digital Download for Transfer, Pillows,
etc Burlap No. 3407 by AntiqueGraphiqueAged



10 Lords a Leaping -10th Day of Christmas - 4" x 6" postcard
by Kamalika



9 Ladies Dancing Limited Edition Reproduction
by TempestStudios

Eight Maids a-Milking Print - 8x10 by lisachow

Blank Greeting Card of an altered book sculpture
Twelve days of Christmas - Seven Swans a Swimming
by daysfalllikeleaves

Six Geese a Laying -Needle Felted Twelve Days
of Christmas Ornament by BossysFeltworks



Five Gold Rings Modern Design Necklace by ThePolkadotMagpie



Four Calling Birds, set of 10 cards by nicolecampbell



Three French Hens in Holiday Red and Green by makingcents



9x12 Giclee Print Two Turtle Doves 12 Days of
Christmas by HansMyHedgehog



Very Tiny Partridge in a Pear Tree - OOAK Handsculpted Dollhouse
Scale Decor or Unique Holiday Gift by wonderworks



Friday Friends, Australian ETSY Sellers - Platypus Dreams

                             

Hello dear readers, welcome to another edition of Friday Friends. Maddabling took a well deserved Birthday holiday break this week and enjoyed really good food (including a Chocolate Factory and Ice-Creamery), the company of good friends and a fantastic time trekking around Mammoth Cave.

Mammoth Cave is located 21km South of Margaret River. Revealing prehistoric fauna from over 35000 years the Mammoth Cave provides easy viewing of fossil remains. The Mammoth Cave was first recorded in 1850, later explored in 1895 and was opened in 1904. It was quite a humbling experience to be in the silent gothic caverns of this cave, amongst the ancient formations.

This week I am thrilled to introduce you to an Australia Soap Artistan - Sharon of Platypus Dreams.

Platypus Dreams have been making unique gourmet soap and bodycare as a full time business for well over 8 years, a small boutique business based near Mackay in the Whitsundays in Queensland Australia.

As I am a bit of an addict when it comes to handmade bath and body products, this gave me the perfect excuse to purchase some products from Sharon to try for myself. They are all completely gorgeous; the packaging and presentation is just beautiful.

I had great difficulty in using the cupcake in my bath as it is so pretty and smells divine, but I relented and really enjoyed the beautiful bubbly bath it produced. The scent lingers on your skin too - luscious !

Seriously though, aren't these things just so pretty ? I can promise they really smell gorgeous too ! The soap really is a work of art and is delightful to use, soft and gentle on your skin.

Dear readers, I invite you to dip your toes into the virtual bathtub, take some time to relax and read all about The Delights of Platypus Dreams. See you all next week x

The Delights of Platypus Dreams

Who is Platypus Dreams ?
Hi, I am Sharon the artisan behind every product you see at Platypus Dreams. I have been making soap, bath and body products in the Whitsundays in Queensland under the label Platypus Dreams for the past 8 years.

Everything you see when you receive one of our products is handmade by me, from the beginning -
including the formulation, the mixing, packaging right through to the graphics on the labels. It is all printed and designed in house.

What inspires you?

Everything and anything can bring inspiration, the key is manipulating and moulding that inspiration so that it will fit the market place. Inspiration can come from art, food, nature, patterns on material or even a customers need for a product.

Inspiration is drawn from different places depending on the type of product that needs to be made, then the packaging and finally the label design and presentation. It can also come from a scent, close your eyes and smell something. What image does it create in your mind? What do you feel?  Now evolve that metal imagery into a product and take it even further, through every step of production to the finished product. Keep going further with that image, push it onto a shop shelf, in a customer’s hand, in the customers home. Does this idea tick all the boxes, if so then maybe it’s worth bringing into being.

What mediums do you work with – do you have a favourite?

I work with many mediums and hundreds of ingredients from herbs, botanicals, extracts, clays, colours, essential oils and fragrances. Shape, form and design is the strongest with soap and this is my favourite medium as it can be shaped and moulded within the constraints of what you can do with soap. There are limitations but first and foremost the formulation is the most important.

What kind of things do you make/create?

Where does one begin. I make mainly soap and it is all goats milk soap, the soap is divided up into different categories. Natural Soap or Fragranced Soap, plain square cut in bars or logs or fancy topped bars of soap. Then there are the cupcake and cake style soaps where I can really be creative.

I also make other products like bubble bath cupcakes, body scrubs, body butters, lip balms, bath bombs, liquid soap, body sprays, soy wax melts and perfumes.

Do you have a favourite piece that you have made/created ?

Everything is a favourite until I make something new and better which always seems to happen. Presently the cake range is my favourite and I love every one of them. This will change with time of course otherwise I would not be an artisan. I think an artisan never stops designing and creating new things. Funny thing you know... I never considered myself an artisan when I first started. I think we are all artisans one way or another if we create, the longer we do it the better we get.

What are your future plans/dreams/aspirations ?

Presently I am happy where I am at. I can see Platypus Dreams being around for a long time, that is while ever I still have the passion and love for what I do. I would like to thank Samara for contacting me to be a part of this blog.

Dear Readers, here is how you can connect with Platypus Dreams.

You can shop for lovely things here :

http://www.platypusdreams.com.au/

Read the Platypus Dreams blog here :

http://www.platypusdreams.com.au/blog

Connect through Youtube :

http://www.youtube.com/user/naturalsoapbodycare

or Facebook :

https://www.facebook.com/Sharon.PlatypusDreams

Christmas-licious Handmade (belated) Wednesday Wishlist

Delicious handmade Christmassy things from Australia feature in this belated Wednesday wish list, and they won't break the bank ! In fact I must define these as being Christmas-licious ! Enjoy x

CARD "Candy Cane Love" Original 6" x 4"
Photograph on Heavy Card Stock by PhotographyByAnita

Christmas Button Decoration Baubles, DIY KIT
with Size 75 (45mm Buttons) by bjandlee

Unique Reindeer Food. Mrs Claus'' MAGICAL REINDEER FOOD"
in a beautiful Shiny Red Box by The White Mango

Christmas Hat, Rudulph Reindeer Crochet Hat ,Christmas, Animal, by DELicious Designz

Celtic Christmas - Polymer Clay Bracelet with Holly Charm
by moagsandsmeet

ORGANIC mulled wine spice mix - Two Sachets -
also yummy in white wine, apple cider or honey
by SageandMage

ORNAMENT - 3 Christmas Birds - holiday gift,
partridge in pear tree by denardi

Friday Friends, Australian ETSY Artists, Red Zebra Designs

Welcome dear readers to another edition of Friday Friends. What a strange week it has been, after all of the hype of the Summer Street Fair last week, a return to the ordinary this week. I have prepared and sent a craft swap parcel for my DUSTy Secret Santa recipient.......hmm I wonder who I will be sending it to ? And it's now officially Summer Time !

I must also send a big thank you to Del of DELicious Designz too for her help on the matching of DUSTers to Secret Santa Recipients, so I can also be surprised by a Secret Santa x

I digress, this week I am thrilled to introduce an Australian ETSY artisan, who has a big focus on up/recycling in her creations - meet Robyn of Red Zebra Designs.

If you are seeking truly unique handmade upcycled gifts this Christmas, then you really can't go past Red Zebra Designs. I present for the retro music lover, The Cassette Tape Bowl - a quirky decorator idea.

Or for the hard to buy for gentleman, a different kind of cufflinks set, a Rare Perfectly Matched set of Steampunk Cufflinks.



I do believe that any girly movie buff you know would be absolutely thrilled to receive an upcycled VHS Case Handbag - there are many titles available. How uber cool are these ?

Dear readers, I invite you into the Realm of Red Zebra Designs, to read all about Robyn's story and hope to see you all again next week. Have a fabulous weekend everyone !

The Realm of Red Zebra Designs

Welcome to Red Zebra Designs which is me, Robyn Woodrow. I am an artist based on the glorious Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane. Red Zebra Designs creates a fairly wide range of jewellery and accessories. I tend to follow ‘shiny lights’ and get creatively side- tracked by new projects with monotonous regularity.

I also own and create for http://www.beautifullybald.com.au/ which specialises in stylish full coverage headwear for women who have lost their hair for whatever reason. This venture was borne from my own experience from chemo-induced hairloss.

I have always been interested in art and creating, but digressed for about a decade to work fulltime in the corporate world. I have recently returned to (almost) fulltime creativity- it doesn’t yet pay the bills! I trained as an art teacher in the 80’s, and have always ‘made stuff’. I am constantly looking for ways to combine fine arts with tradition craft, jewellery and accessories.

In 2009, I started to pursue art and jewellery-making more fulltime. I joined Etsy  as well as Madeit

My inspiration comes from everywhere – an image, an idea, a feeling, a need.

I work in a broad range of mediums – from resin, through fabric and upcycled goods. I started my jewellery range with hand-painted and tinted resin jewellery. When my hands needed a break from the chemicals, I started to work with fabric flowers, which then expanded into a passion – fantasmagorical headpieces created from fabric, silks, beads, recycled jewels, trims …

My current passion is working with upcycled materials, including books, LP records, and old VHS and audio cassettes. I hate the idea of such beautiful things being sent to landfill. I also love the idea of turning old media into new – an LP record into a DVD holder, and old audio cassette into an MP player holder.

Red Zebra Designs make a wide range of men’s and women’s jewellery and accessories (including handbags); fascinators, hats and headpieces; and homewares including bowls and lights.

I only make things that I love, which makes picking a favourite piece almost impossible. My current favourite is a range of upcycled handbags made from old VHS cassettes and books.

I dream of being able to feed my family from my creative endeavours, as well as rescuing and upcycling media so it doesn’t end up in unnecessary landfill.

Robyn Woodrow

Dear readers, you can connect with Red Zebra Designs here :

To shop for lovely things :

http://www.beautifullybald.com.au/

http://www.redzebradesigns.com.au/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/redzebradesigns

http://madeit.com.au/redzebradesigns

or connect on Facebook :

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Zebra-Designs/292894038831