Olliphants

Mr Grass Head School Activities

2009-01-20T13:26:00.003+11:00

Another take on an old favourite, and I think the girls did a great job with these two.

Mushrooms, puppies and little old ladies

2009-01-16T14:41:00.006+11:00

Today I went to spotlight to get some smock fabric... and I was trying to be quick because I had Evie (the puppy) with me and I've never left her alone in the car before, so I went in thinking that when I came back my car would be surrounded by people trying to extract my howling puppy (she has a habit of howling lately)...So I rushed madly through my purchases, jogged my way back to the car, pushed elderly spotlight shoppers out of my way only to find her fast asleep!

But in my mad fabric hunt I did find this fantastic mushroom fabric, which I just had to turn into a bag...now the bags nothing special but Im loving the 70s look.

Illustration Friday

2009-01-12T14:26:00.002+11:00

and who knew what other terrible things the forest contained.....

Happy New Year

2009-01-08T17:09:00.003+11:00

So its back to work this week and with the kids Summer Craft Classes starting Monday, Im glad I had the time to do a bit more drawing. Im really into these birds at the moment, Im sure you can see the golden book influences. Ive also given the blog a 'new look' not too sure about the colours.... anyway here's some pics of some sketches and the calendars that followed.

2008-12-24T16:41:00.002+11:00

More dachshunds

2008-12-15T10:02:00.006+11:00

I would like to announce our newest arrival Evie...I think that's how you spell it? I know it may be a bit soon but as we are going to be home over Xmas so what better time to introduce a puppy to the family. She has already been quite interested in the chickens! I'm going with the dachshund obsession, and I made some sketch books and some more cards and some wrapping paper...I think its nearly out of my system now...maybe just a few more illustrations?

Mr Monkey

2008-12-06T13:52:00.006+11:00

Now I know there is nothing original in making a sock monkey, but I must say I do rather enjoy making them. Actually not so much the sewing its more about the face...anyway I've got no more left in the shop and my sock order arrived yesterday so Im off to turn this...

In to this

We call him Bert.....

In the shop

2008-11-29T16:02:00.006+11:00

Seeing it's our first ever christmas window we wanted to something special so we decided to show case artwork from our students and its looking pretty good. I've asked the kids to bring in their favorite pieces so hopefully it will be even fuller next week! And here's the youngest of my clan supervising the train as we set up. It's the quietest she has been all day!

Little old dachshunds

2008-11-28T16:22:00.005+11:00

Our little old Dachshund Teaka passed away last week, at 16 years she was a very old lady, still it's a pity we have to out live them. So I thought I'd do some illustrations in her memory, actually I think they call it therapy...anyway here's to Teaka

Nearly Christmas

2008-11-26T09:08:00.005+11:00

Its been one of those weeks, but I've finally got round to taking a few pics of the kids christmas activities, I know its only November but they're advent calendars...I'll use any excuse to start making xmas decorations. Its no secret, I love making Christmas decorations, last week I had them making pomanders...so many ideas so little time!

Go Gocco

2008-11-14T14:24:00.005+11:00

I thought I'd get started on some christmas cards today. I found these images in a very old German handwork book and have been meaning to use them for ages and what better purpose than christmas cards! Not too sure about the lady but she reminds me of speculaas (dutch cookie) we have at christmas (actually I eat them all year round) anyway it's kind of christmassy. The last image is of the tissue I had under the screen when cleaning...happy accidents are good.

Bat Party

2008-11-14T10:46:00.003+11:00

At Ekko we've started doing crafty parties where the kids make a craft item to take home. I like to do sock animals with the older girls (12yrs+) because there isn't much sewing and the results are always impressive. But yesterday I was asked for a bat party, I do like a challenge, so I said sure, we can do a bat. After much thinking, I came up with this little guy. I think I might call him Bernard the Sock Bat, hopefully it wont scare them too much!

hydro garden grows on

2008-11-10T14:30:00.003+11:00

I finally got round to my mini garden on Sunday and while sorting out my bucket of veg I discovered these... tomatoes! Ok I know its only two, but the ones in the garden have none. Anyway I had to pot out the herbs from my hydro garden, they didn't seem to be doing very well. The veggies are great Ive put them in a shallow tray a bit more room should do them good.

Craft Kits

2008-11-07T09:46:00.004+11:00

I've been a bit busy getting these craft kits organised this week. After much fine tuning and sourcing of supplies (in particular plastic needles) we hope to get them out into the retail world soon..ish. So I haven't even had time to look side ways at my gocco, actually I do sneak glances at it occasionally. As for the garden....Sundays looking good!

Pay it Forward

2008-10-31T15:28:00.005+11:00

Now I dont normally do this kind of thing but its such a nice idea I thought I have a go. For my Pay it Forward I am following on from sparkly green knickers via ellieboo If you've got a blog come and join in the crafty fun, I promise Ill make something special!

The Rules

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post and I have 365 days (ample time) to do it in. You must have a blog to join in and be willing to do the same for three other people.

Let the fun begin!

My First Gocco Print

2008-10-30T16:19:00.006+11:00

Last night I made my first ever gocco print...this is fantastic, especially for impatient people like me! and super easy, so easy that after I made my cards my 9 year old decided to keep printing and printing (see pic) ...now we have lots of these birdy cards (where's a gocco swap when you want one?)

Now I realise the gocco has its limitations but for cards and the like its perfect, bring on xmas!

Gocco Time

2008-10-29T10:18:00.006+11:00

Look what I got today! Im very excited about my new gocco machine, better late than never...or so they say. Apparently Nehoc (supplier of gocco in aus) has run out of the smaller machine so I had to get this baby! They still have lots of supplies though...lucky!

Anyone who has any gocco tips be sure to leave a comment, as I have never used one, but I did watch a demo on you tube (not sure if that counts) see here but still some tips might come in handy.

Wish me luck!

Gardening Experiment

2008-10-24T12:53:00.003+11:00

I was just over at Bell girl's blog and I thought I would share my little garden experiment too!

We just started a little hydroponic garden to see how it rates with our regular garden after watching gardening australia one night. I told the kids it was an exciting way to learn about plants and water and stuff but really its because Im a lazy gardener and forget to water my plants....anyway this photo was taken two weeks ago and Im happy to report this morning is the first time I've had to add water...yay!

Each plant is potted in a styrofoam cup punched for drainage and filled with perlite. We put these in a tub with nutrient enriched water.

Link to article Gardening Australia

Back to work

2008-10-18T14:41:00.003+11:00

As usual it's taken a while to recover from the holiday program, here's a photo of my lovely daughter showing off one of the programs creations, a handy house bag. I'll going to try and post some more images over the next couple of days of all the wonderful stuff they created.

School Fete

2008-09-21T14:34:00.003+10:00

Just finishing the art work for the kids school's poster for their fete. It's our yearly contribution to the school, its supposed to make up for all the other things we cant help with cause we're at work. My youngest is a bit concerned it looks a little like her..we'll I have to get my inspiration some where!

new-old cards

2008-09-18T17:28:00.003+10:00

I thought I should get busy and pack the rest of my cards, they have been sitting there looking at me for a while now...among a dozen other half finished projects. I would make a list but Im sure Ive already made one, and its somewhere? Never mind, next project...

More kids activities Glove Puppet

2008-09-12T09:10:00.006+10:00

For anyone who's interested this is how we did it.

Bear Head: We pushed two fingers back into the glove (the middle ones) and the thumb (this is where the nose will sit) and tied up the two remaining fingers which become the ears. Then we popped in a foam ball with a hole in its base (for your fingers) into the glove. Glue on eyes and nose.

Bear body: With the other glove, put it on your hand and insert your three middle fingers into the head. The kids added a scarf and tail.

Make him pick up something..it's very Punch and Judy!

Kids photo shoot

2008-09-08T16:03:00.004+10:00

I just got back my kids jewellery from the cutters and I thought I would take the kids down the beach for a bit of a photo shoot...my 15 year old declined...well at least I think she did, it was a bit muffled coming out from under the bed covers.

So off we went Brodie, Pierce and his buddy. Here are the Photos. Pierce is doing his best zoolander pose and Brodie looking sweet as usual.

The boys even tried to help by writing our name in the sand, just a couple of missing letters...but its the thought that counts.

Now Im off to whip up some promo cards and get these little gems out there.

Couldn't help it

2008-09-05T14:42:00.002+10:00

Had to make a couple more..I think they look better in groups...what is a group of alien sock monsters called anyway?

Aliens have landed

2008-09-04T17:42:00.002+10:00

It's been a very busy week down here, and when I should be making lots of other things I've been whipping up plaster chocolate fridge magnets (to trick all those dads on fathers day) and this guy or girl as the case may be..not too sure yet, I think we're still bonding.

Mermaid Money Boxes

2008-08-27T18:09:00.005+10:00

And tonight we made mermaid money boxes. It's amazing what you can do with a box, shells, glitter and a little mer-baby. I think I'll be wearing glitter for a week!

Fridays are good because...

2008-08-22T16:27:00.006+10:00

Today I found these hankies at spotlight...when really I should have been looking for thread and because I managed to get done everything I said I would, which sounds good but all I said was I would cut out more babushka kits...well there done all 23 of them! Pity I ran out of bags and cant pack them because I work in Geelong and the bag place closes early on Fridays. So now I'll have to wait till Monday to get more....maybe fridays aren't so good after all? But wait Poirot is on tonight, so all is well.

photo fun

2008-08-22T11:11:00.008+10:00

I saw this on the The Royal Sisters blog, you can add images to a variety of mediums, bill boards, cars etc check it out here...if I saw little Gav beaming down on me from a bill board I think I'd run!

Paper Doll Frenzie

2008-08-20T18:01:00.007+10:00

And this is what our studio looks like after a session of paper doll making.

If you want to make one of these dollies read on.. Draw up your body pieces, cut out, attach using split pins, and add a real photo (or photo copy of one) for the face, stick some magnets on the hands and feet and you've got a very entertaining fridge magnet. But some how I don't think my eldest is going to thank me for using her face on the sample...I'll stick it on our fridge and see if she notices.

Plaster anyone? Yum Yum!

2008-08-20T10:24:00.004+10:00

These are what I made last night with my older primary school group. Needless to say plaster can get very messy! Heres a few of the cleaner shots. Beware their poor unsuspecting nans.

Gavin

2008-08-15T13:18:00.003+10:00

I think I might be getting carried away with the whole guinea pig/sock/mutant thing...anyway heres Gavin (well I think he looks like a Gavin). And to stop myself getting too attached to little Gav I've put him on ebay. Now I can make more.

Mutant Sock

2008-08-14T17:10:00.004+10:00

And this is what happens when you cross a guinea pig with a sock....well at least he's smiling! Thats right, smiling even though he does look like he'd like to bite you with his itty bitty teeth. Im about to take him home to see what reaction I get from the kids.

Penny

2008-08-14T10:44:00.002+10:00

Thought I would share these pics of the new pet....look at those big scared eyes and those little icky toes.

Sock Octopus

2008-08-12T14:45:00.003+10:00

I thought I would post this latest kids project, just done this morning. How good do these guys look! One is called 'piggy' and the other 'horsie'. Although a bit advanced for the pre-schooler class I thought it would be nice to have something the parents and children could make together. With that in mind 3.5year old lizze did all her own stitching on the mouth and eyes!

Lesson of the day...never underestimate a 3 year old.

Pip

2008-08-08T11:05:00.005+10:00

Well now I'm back into the swing of things, I've had time to work on a few more brooch designs..again made from perspex. I thought this lino cut would work well. Actually its an image I drew after our rooster Pip got stuck in the giant bouganvilla bush we had in the back of our yard. Being a ...lets say rooster of limited intelligence...I had to send one of the kids in to get him out again. And the result is this lino cut. We no longer have pip (he became a little too feisty with the girls) or the bouganvilla for that matter, so its an ode to them both.
P.S
for those concerned for Pip's welfare, no we didnt eat him, he went to a friends farm were he is currently sire to many offspring.

Latest addition

2008-08-05T10:56:00.008+10:00

And on a completely different subject....after saying no more rodents Mr came home with a new little friend Sunday night. Which I was greeted at very close quarters with Monday morning. My youngest hopped into our bed, guinea pig and all, saying, "look at her Mummy she's soooo very cute!"

They have decided to call her Penny, after our best friend who is currently living over seas and in the event it turns out to be a boy they will name it after her husband Paul. Nice.

She took off up the hall this morning, I didn't know they could run that fast! (our last one never ran anywhere, that's probably why it lived for so long!) Watching it run was hilarious. I feel some illustration coming on. I got the distinct feeling those dainty toes were made for dancing.

Here's a look-a-like photo of our new friend (still no camera).

Charles Harper and more

2008-08-02T14:55:00.004+10:00

Still without a camera, almost tempted to use my macs photo booth...but that would be tragic. Instead I thought Id list a few blogs Ive come across today. If you like the whole scandinavian look you'll love these: hemmariket.blogg.se and tinaminastina.blogg.se also emmas.blogg.se and lucky last hoom-sthlm.blogspot.com
But Id did find these inspiring images of Charles Harper illustrations. I want a lounge just like this one. Check out the print on the upholstery!
and how good are these guys! If your after more like this look up Giant Golden book of biology, it only gets better.

Back to blogging

2008-07-28T14:08:00.005+10:00

Well its been awhile. I've just finished a manic week leading up to an exhibition on the weekend. And after spending a whole weekend talking to fellow artists (it was a joint exhibition) I feel re-inspired. I haven't talked that much in ages and for those who know me thats saying something! To make up for having no images I'll leave you with my notes from the weekend.

Bakelite..make?, old radios, buttons, hart felt, leather punches..nail, printing press, use other ink on etching plastic....draw more pigeons, dremel.

Wild eye bunny

2008-06-28T13:19:00.005+10:00

Well its almost school holidays, I should be making last minute preparations for classes on Monday, instead I decided to do some printing.....now I feel like this rabbit looks, actually I think I might look a bit like him too!

Monster Bunny

2008-06-24T12:23:00.002+10:00

Finally my bunnies have limbs, they have turned out a little differently than I thought they would...oh well. I've called them my monster bunnies, hopefully they wont have to many children in tears.

Miss Marple

2008-06-20T16:58:00.002+10:00

If Miss Marple was an elephant this is what she would look like....I think Id better get on and finish the bunnies now, even they are looking concerned!

Miss Olliphant

2008-06-20T13:49:00.003+10:00

Although I should be finishing my rabbits today, and even though they are pleading with their shiny button eyes for me to finish there limbless little bodies I couldn't help but make an elephant instead...

Brooches & pendants

2008-06-19T16:29:00.004+10:00

Finally I have the packaging sorted for my jewelry. Being a little bit fussy about how it all should look its almost taken a month to get to this stage! Now to get some other colours cut..... I'm thinking ivory, black maybe some blue.......

black birds

2008-06-17T15:23:00.000+10:00

Small owl I shall call Albert

2008-06-17T15:21:00.001+10:00

Half full or half empty?

2008-06-17T15:19:00.000+10:00

Poo Bear as in colour not name

2008-06-17T15:18:00.001+10:00

Prints

2008-06-17T15:02:00.002+10:00

I thought I would share a few of the prints I've been doing. I have to start organising some work for a art show in July......no where near ready!

Fish kites

2008-06-13T09:35:00.003+10:00

I Finally manage to photograph our fish kites, we had a ball putting them in front of the fan and watching them fly. Between the test flight and the ripping of the tail fabric the kids were raring to go...just in time for home.

Miss Bling

2008-06-10T18:39:00.004+10:00

After a very busy week and long weekend, I thought I should add a few images of what I've been up to. It was a friend’s birthday last week and as special gift I thought I would make her a monkey in her likeness, Miss Bling. Child 3 helped me get her ready for her big day, wrapped her in the shawl. added the pearls and the brooch but I guess the sparkly earrings were just too much because she informed me that, 'they might be a bit too shiny for her.' Ten minutes later I found her in the bathroom admiring her reflection in the mirror and what do you think she had on? Yep Miss Bling had competition but as you can see by the pic, the monkey won.

Kids Koinobri

2008-06-04T18:06:00.004+10:00

Never under estimate what you can do with a little white fabric and primary colours...how fantastic are my little students. Only kids can be this spontaneous with their painting. I cant wait to sew them into fish so they can take them home and impress their families

Delightful Desserts

2008-06-04T18:01:00.002+10:00

I need not have worried, it was a great night. Check out the delicious cupcakes.

Cup Cakes

2008-06-03T18:15:00.002+10:00

Tonight is cup cake class, hopefully they'll will enjoy making them as much as I do.

Mirror Brooches

2008-06-03T18:10:00.003+10:00

Finally got my brooches back from the plastics place today, I couldn't have been happier with the result..Yay! But they are really hard to photograph, Ill try again tomorrow.

Etsy

2008-05-30T16:33:00.000+10:00

Finally managed to open my Etsy shop...to be more accurate, I finally added items to my etsy shop I started in August last year!
Just search Jeddas in etsy sellers and there they are...my little felt friends.

Close & personal

2008-05-30T10:31:00.001+10:00

Kids Fox Dogs

2008-05-30T10:27:00.000+10:00

Finally, dont they look fabulous! These fox dogs are by my Tuesday afternoon craft group. Great work girls!

Ain't love Grand

2008-05-23T10:14:00.000+10:00

The yellow dress has to be my best op-shop find this month, I must confess I do feel a little guilty at depriving some poor child of doll clothes, namely mine.....but as I tried to explain to child3 yellow really isn't pancakes (the toy rats) colour anyway!

Pat the Cat

2008-05-22T17:45:00.000+10:00

Our newest family sock family member is (as named by child 3) Pat the cat, where will it end? Well not for a while, I'm making sock sausage dogs in the school holidays, and I cant wait!

For further reference to children: The youngest and currently cutest (directly attributable to her young-ness) is child3, Child 2 who would be horrified at being labeled cute, I will call endearing, then there is child1 lets just say she's 14...right then, I'm sure thats clear as mud!

Frida Bubushka

2008-05-20T18:16:00.000+10:00

Been putting together a few kits this week not too sure Frida Carlo would be a seller...but the rest seem to be working.

Foxdog for kids

2008-05-16T10:22:00.000+10:00

Here's what the girls are up to in the kids craft class on Wednesdays.

More Monkeys

2008-05-16T10:19:00.000+10:00

From Tuesdays sock monkey class.

Pirate Pete and Friend

2008-05-12T18:14:00.000+10:00

A collage I've been working on as an illustration for invitations....maybe?

Foxdog

2008-05-12T15:13:00.001+10:00

Here's Foxdog

Kids Olliphant

2008-05-10T15:18:00.001+10:00

To begin

2008-05-10T15:09:00.000+10:00

As this is my first ever attempt at blogging I thought I would be easier just to add images.

These little characters have all been made by students in our art & Craft studio in Geelong.