Friday Friends - DUSTy Divas - Mary-anne Fountain Hand Crafted Jewellery

Happy Friday lovely Maddabling readers! Nothing exciting to report from Maddabling HQ this week. There is a fabulous new Art Exhibition opening on the 9th February as part of the Perth International Arts Festival - Light-House. 

"Situated on a rocky outcrop, battered by waves, wind and rain, a lighthouse represents strength amidst adversity. Beaming light out into the darkness it warns mariners of danger nearby. Light-house is an artistic collaboration that responds to the legacy of the lighthouse and its contribution to our iconic landscape." 

Light-House runs from Saturday 9th February 2013 - Monday 4th March 2013.For more information you can look up PIAF events for the Great Southern at this link :http://www.perthfestival.com.au/ and this link for more information about this artistic collaboration :http://www.perthfestival.com.au/What's-On/Event/Light-House

Now it is time to introduce you all to the lovely Mary-anne Fountain, a DUSTy Diva and Maddabling Friday Friend. 

Mary-anne creates beautiful stylish, modern jewellery from recycled Sterling Silver and other metals. The resulting pieces are pretty and feminine, as well as practical and quite timeless in design. Here are some of my favourites. A girl can never ever have too many pairs of earrings right? Here are two more pairs to add to your collection - The Modern Sterling Silver Post Earrings and the Petite Love Heart Stud Earrings. 

While on the subject of earrings, I LOVE the combination of Sterling Silver and Turquoise - aren't these Turquoise Dangles divine ? 

And for those who prefer statement jewellery, try the Copper Textured Breast Plate Necklace! 

Time now dear readers, for you to take some "ME" time, and to read the virtual Magazine of Mixed Metals feat. Mary-anne Fountain Hand Crafted Jewellery. PS a little secret to share - Mary-anne is currently having a SALE with 30% off ALL HER JEWELLERY! Just use coupon code HAPPYDANCE at the checkout on Etsy. Have a wonderful weekend everyone x 

A Magazine of Mixed Metals feat. Mary-anne 

Who is Mary-anne Fountain Hand Crafted Jewellery?

I am a full time house goddess, with four beautiful children. A 7 yr old, 5 yr old and 18 month old twins and a wonderful husband. 

In my spare time, which isn't much, I create beautiful pieces of jewellery. I am addicted to making earrings, you can never have too many. All my jewellery is made by me and inspired by life.

I live in Northern NSW and love it's spectacular country side and beaches. When I'm not being a house goddess or creating, I love to  chill out and watch a foreign film, get lost in the hustle and bustle of the local markets and my favourite thing to do is laughing till it hurts with my beautiful family.

How and when did your journey begin?

When I was younger I was more sporty than creative. In my late teens I discovered drawing and loved it. I then started to dabble in small artistic ventures for my own therapeutic peace. My husband and I travelled the world for 5 years where there was an abundance of creative inspiration which I knew I had to harness.

After the birth of my second child I had a yearning to do something creative . A friend of mine was doing a basic silver smithing course and I asked if I could tag along. I was completely absorbed with my first class and haven't looked back! Love it!! My brain is constantly ticking over thinking about new designs.

What inspires you?

I get my inspiration from everything I see. I love to look at objects like pieces of wood, patterned fabric, a leaf or whatever it maybe and visualise a design. 

Your imagination is a wild creative bubble waiting to pop with creativity. Spirals are my favourite and I find myself being drawn to making lots of spirals. I think it's all the twists and turns just like life, never boring.

What materials do you work with?

I mostly work with recycled sterling silver, copper and brass in my designs,wire and sheet, and I also use gemstones.

Sterling silver and copper are my favourite metals to work with, sterling silver has a beautiful shimmer and shine and copper has a real earthy feel and look. They look so pretty married together as well.

My favourite piece at the moment?

At the moment my favourite piece is my sterling silver spotty pendant.  I just love it's modern simplicity :0)

What are your future dreams/plans/aspirations?

For me the future is most certainly bright! I have so many plans for my jewellery and lots of designs floating about in my head, just waiting to be transpired into a beautiful piece of jewellery for someone to cherish. 

For now I plan on venturing out and starting to sell my jewellery at some local markets, which is pretty exciting. For the future I would love to one day take our children travelling the world to also be inspired in life to do what ever they love to do. Live life and love it :0)

Lovely readers do you want to see more ? Here is how you can connect: 

Buy gorgeous things on Etsy here: 

www.etsy.com/shop/maryannefountain

and become a follower on Facebook here: 

http://www.facebook.com/maryanne.fountain.jewellery

Do You Love Me - Wednesday Wishes

Love it or Hate it, with Valentines day just around the corner, Do You Love Me is the theme for this weeks Wednesday Wishes. 

x o temporary tattoo wrist valentines kiss hug by pepperink

Valentines day articulated  paper doll card,  we were rolling stones by Berlinroses

Steampunk Heart Pendant by steelhipdesigns

Crazy Little Thing Love Song Wood and Acrylic Inlay Brooch by Each to Own 

Handforged Stacking Rings by fifthheaven

Friday Friends - Local Artists - Bam Bam and Sugar - Janelle Peterson

Happy Friday lovely Maddabling blog readers. What have you got planned for your weekend? Maddabling doesn't have a whole heap planned, perhaps some new online listings and meeting a friend for coffee - a nice relaxed weekend I think. 

This week it is my great pleasure to introduce the exceptionally talented local artist - Janelle Peterson of Bam Bam and Sugar. I first saw the work of Janelle (Bam Bam and Sugar) at the Phone Box Pop Up Gallery that I blogged about earlier in January - you can read about and see some pictures here if you missed it http://maddabling.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/sunny-saturday-adventures.html  

Snooping through the Bam Bam and Sugar Face Book page, I must confess have fallen in love with these pieces too   "Kingsley goes to Richards House" 

"el dia dellas murtos ofrenda's"

and "Call Me"

Dear readers, I now invite you to make a cuppa, put your feet up and to  turn the brightly coloured virtual pages of The Bam Bam and Sugar Comic Strip. Wishing you all an absolutely wonderful weekend xo

The Bam Bam and Sugar Comic Strip

My name is Janelle Peterson, I studied art through ECU and Curtin, I started seriously making art in 1997. 

I like to use all mediums.

Predominately my work is about myself, who I am, where I belong and what everything means to me.

 Love Hurt and Loss would be common themes in my work

I am interested in nostalgia. love old childrens book illustrations and romance and war comics

At the moment I am making textile pieces out of recycled blankets and appliqueing vintage tattoo designs

I like to think of the tattoo( like the saying death by a thousand cuts) as thousands of tiny hurts to create a picture , and as people we have many hurts and scars that never leave us.

like visible emotional baggage.

I have made light boxes with images of barbie clothes my nan made for me. I enjoy making soft sculpture and toys.

This year I am having a solo show at the Vancouver Art Gallery so I am busily working toward that.

Dear readers, want to explore the work of Janelle more ? Here is where you can connect : 

Become a facebook follower here: bam bam and sugar

There's Dust On My Guitar - Wednesday Wishes

My complete love of music was nurtured listening to the Triple J Hottest 100 on the Australia Day Long Weekend and it has inspired me to browse around for gorgeous handmade musical instruments and accessories. I hope you enjoy this There's Dust On My Guitar Wednesday Wishes blog post x

Cigar box slide guitar by Braxtone Guitars

Guitar Pick - sterling silver, saw pierced triangle. (Smashing) by GenuineArticle

Apple ukulele ( applelele ) by celentanowoodworks

Guitar strap RETRO CASSETTES by Backbeat Leather 

Electric resonator Guitar, Blues Guitar, Slide Guitar by dabeeman

Friday Friends - Australian Artists - Fruzsi Kenez + peachpatrol

Happy Friday and long weekend to Australian readers. What are you doing to celebrate the Australia Day Holiday? We will be hanging out at home, listening to the Triple J Hottest 100 Countdown as is my tradition as a long time devotee of Triple J Radio. We are also hoping for some family time to explore some more of our fabulous coast on the weekend. 

This week it is my great pleasure to introduce to you a new Friday Friend, meet the sweetest artist - Fruzsi from peachpatrol. 

Fruzsi creates beautiful art and I simply love the delicious assortment of goodies that she creates - like this "Strange Friends Sticker Set - 4 Extra-Large Handcut Stickers - instant graffiti"

and the gorgeous Limited Edition Large Illustrated Pocket Mirrors

not to mention this sublime artwork, New Woman For the New Century, a OOAK Original artwork in wooden frame original collage and illustration which is stunning just on its own or available to purchase as part of a set of three original artworks that were created for an 80's exhibition. 

Dear readers, I will leave you now to familiarise yourselves with The Fabulous Factsheet on Fruzsi + peachpatrol. Have a fantastic weekend xo 

The Fabulous Factsheet on Fruzsi + peachpatrol

Fruzsi is an Adelaide (South Australia) based illustrator with a cat called Jessie and an Etsy shop called peachpatrol designs. She creates lovingly handpainted illustration goods, selling prints, artist books, zines, pocket mirrors and other sweet goodies in her Etsy store. In her free time she enjoys tending her garden, reading in her hammock and going for long bushwalks. She is also often found making cheeky sketches of people in cafes, and on trams, and riding her beloved bicycle Fuji to the local Sunday markets.

Fruzsi (pronounced froo-shee) was born in Hungary and has since lived in Germany, the Netherlands and Australia. Being a storyteller, traveler and curious fan of the unusual and strange, themes of peculiarity continue to seep into her illustrations. She is best known for her lady portraits on wood which have been described as 'dream-like' and at times surreal. Most often the ladies feature peculiar expressions, frizzy buns and cups of tea, and weave intimate tales of love and longing. In addition, they remind the viewer to embrace their own quirkiness and the child within.

How and When did your artistic journey begin ?
My artistic journey began very early on, in fact my first ever exhibition occurred at the age of four, when my mum told me I could draw on the living-room wall because we were getting the house painted. This was probably the happiest day of my life, and I spent many hours working on my masterpiece. the end result was a smutty little girl with a very proud expression, standing before a white wall with a storm of colourful concentric circles. And I haven't stopped drawing ever since!

What inspires you ?
I derive inspiration from many different avenues. Cinema, history, folklore, my Hungarian culture and through looking at the work of other artists in different mediums like photography, sculpture and textiles. There's also funny interactions made in the everyday, and spontaneous observations that make me giggle which later inspire little drawings like 'The Strange Encounter'. 

In addition and perhaps most importantly, I draw on aspects of nature for inclusion in my paintings. People often comment on how many plants, birds and flowers they observe in my paintings. One of my newest works is entitled Amy Joy - Friend of Fruit and Fowl. 

I just can't help it! In all aspects of my life I strive to be close to nature - through buying organic/local produce and being vegetarian to tending my own garden of goodies, to walking, cycling or catching transport everywhere. In addition, all of my prints are on 100% recycled eco-linen stock, and my wares ship in recycled wrapping or recycled paper coats. How we live as community and society really matters to me, and all I can do is do my best to treat Mother Earth right and encourage others to do the same. 

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

In my painting practice I work primarily with watercolour, ink and gouache on wood. The wood lends the paintings a beautiful natural element as well as the gorgeous brown undertone, once again underpinning my closeness to nature. The materials allow me to build up colour and create different washes which result in dreamy and at times quite psychedelic artworks. 

The scale of my works has also increased over the last couple of years, making my use of materials evolve accordingly. I moved up from small watercolour sketches in Moleskine journals to now creating large 60 cm x 60cm boxed up paintings on wood. I think the scale of works is integral to the way the viewer interacts with the work, which is something I enjoy playing with. 

For example, with a small artist book the viewer comes up close, cradles it and turns the pages by hand. There's intimate contact between the viewer and the object. My large portraits sit on a wall, and are viewed from a greater distance. Yet they also confront in the way that they challenge the viewer's gaze by returning it. These portraits are hung head height, in essence creating a little staring competition between the painting and the viewer. 

What kind of things do you make and create ?
I create quirky lady portraits on wood in addition to smaller items such as prints, artist books, zines, pocket mirrors and badges, all featuring my illustrations. There are lots of goodies to be found at peachpatrol.etsy.com!

Do you have a favourite piece that you have created ?
I have a shortlist of favourite works that I have made, which mean something to me or represent a particular chapter of my life, however I could not pick a single favourite. That is like asking a parent to choose a favourite child! What I can say for now, is that I am really excited by my newest large-scale series, and the direction that my practice is taking. I'm a happy chappy.

What are your future plans/dreams/aspirations ?
This year's mission is to pat more cats, travel to Indonesia in January and finish my Masters in Art History by the end of the year. For the long run I just hope to be happy and healthy, and granted the opportunity to keep creating art and do what I love!

Dear readers want to see more ? Here is how you can connect : 

buy beautiful things at the peachpatrol Etsy store here: 

peachpatrol.etsy.com

browse the Fruzsikenez website here: 

fruzsikenez.com

and become a follower on Facebook, an active happy place for giveaways and works in progress updated daily:

www.facebook.com/pages/Fruzsi-Kenez-visual-artist/226218300724938