Bedroom revamp

Pretty much finished bedroom 1 and now ready to start bedroom 2. VJ walls have been gap filled and painted and brand new beautiful high quality carpet installed. Hard to imagine it's the old bedroom (aka sleep out). It's amazing what white paint can do. Behind the bed is the lightest of pink feature wall - not my choice but it kept Miss B very happy. At least we were able to introduce more red and a lot less pink than before.

My only tasks are to now repaint the white wicker, make a few butterflies for the mosquito net and I think that's about it.

Now, if only we had built-ins...

Pretty lampshade

Starting to make things for new rooms. New carpet coming next week. I took this lampshade (bought from Freedom) and used felt, puff paint and red pom pom trim. Cost $12 for lampshade, $8.00 for pom pom trim and $2.00 for felt.

Wrapping

I am starting to use more flowers on my wrapping. This is one for my friend who is having a baby girl.

Window treatment

How cute are these! My mum brought them back from a recent trip to the US for my daughter's birthday. Her bedroom has the old smokey bumpy glass windows so they have gone on to the kitchen windows...for now.

Nook

I lost my work area to make way for a new bedroom. It's not ideal for doing craft but it is cosy enough for computer work and out of the way by the stairwell. I have a few frames to hang up but this is the general idea.

Drawstring bags

I haven't been on to Tanya Wheelan's blog or website for a while but always glad when I do. I have a thing for drawstring bags in a line on hooks. Maybe it goes back to the old kindy days.
Check out http://grandrevivaldesign.typepad.com/ for great projects and gorgeous fabrics.

Butterfly canopy

What a great idea. I have the butterfly paper cutter but I think I will do mine in Red Plum Linen fabric instead. This mosquito net can be purchased from Ikea for $29.95. I have this one for the boy's room (won't do butterflies - maybe leave plain) and I have a big plain one which I will do butterflies on for the girl's room. Can't take the credit I'm afraid visit

http://vintagelily.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Cute as a button(s)

Still mucking around with cards. Can't help myself with embellishing them. These cards could or could not be part of a small range I may trial. Seven are printed on the card, two are glued.

Spring is here

With some scrap booking paper, left over wrapping paper, straws and sequins our first day of spring (afternoon) produced something rather sweet.

Little sweetie

I am always promising to do love hearts for my 'sweet special one' but alas store or internet orders take up my time. So, today I finally sat down and did a love heart and circles etc on Illustrator and then glued on buttons, punched paper and sequins. I 3d' some of the larger circles. See cards below also.

I am now over the love heart phase. It didn't take long.

Love heart cards

Just some little cards I was experimenting with using the same love heart theme. The card was too small for a large whole punch so I just used sequins and buttons. Nice!

Funky doctor

Just a little doctor's bag picture I did especially for a client. It's been sitting in my camera for awhile.

Nursery

Starting to close the gaps on the VJs, then paint the walls (and any furniture) white for the two side bedrooms (originally sleep outs). New carpet to come. Monday I will be starting the curtains in the lounge. We know what we are having so I have to change my mind set to what I have been use to. I am thinking raspberry and beige but will probably go with light blue and camel. Very coastal and fresh.

Starting to nest

Still having a break from making stuff for stores and website etc (I think) but starting to get ideas around the home. We moved here in September 08 and I still haven't had the chance to do anything. I am somewhat limited in what I can do (biggish belly) but I am thinking 'next stop' is...curtains. I am moving away from white blinds (not all the rooms) and this style of house lends itself to curtains etc. I have done some other stuff - just a matter of taking photos. If you are interested. Pop back!

Having a bit of a break

I am endeavouring to have a bit of a break from prints and canvases. I am a little tired and suffering from yucky morning sickness. I am going to continue to work on a card range but in the meantime I kind of just want to nest and make and paint and find stuff to tinker with (and maybe do a little graphic work). I have posted below a few little things I have made for the house.

Dolly pegs

I was playing around with some old dolly pegs and lined these ladies side by side. They kind of look very 1920s.

Paper mobile

I saw this idea in the window of kiki.K around Valentines day and just loved it. We needed an afternoon project one rainy day. A few months later we replaced the hearts with butterflies. Will try and locate photo.

Fabric mobile

Another easy as...
Purchase a macrame ring or hoop from a craft store for about $1.95 and cut strips of fabric and ribbon. Tie over ring.

Flower Power

Flower power...
Easy as.
Just buy the MDF cut outs from Bunnings $1.95, undercoat (if fabric is light), draw outline on back of fabric. Cut out. Spray glue board and glue carefully. I just blue-tac'd these flowers to the door.

Partridge in a pear tree

Actually, this one might be my favourite. Double click on the photo to see detail missing in smaller photo.

Butterfly kisses

I have also done some prints for girl's rooms but still working on a few more. This print is my all time favourite. I don't think the image does it justice. Also available for purchase at www.sproutgallery.com

Some new prints for the boys

I have finally got around to posting some new prints for boy's rooms. They are currently available at my online store http://www.sproutgallery.com/ All prints are embellished and framed in shadow box-like frames so you can see the 3D features of the artwork. The frame and the matting is NOT light blue but in fact WHITE. The photo just looks blue.

Frames are super thick and can stand on their own on a shelf or hung from the wall. They come in a really nice walnut as well as white. These are not shadow box frames but are very deep within the frame themselves. Quite funky actually

Little 'tree of life'

Sprout Gallery is kind of changing direction slightly.

I hope to be updating the website soon to make allowances for a new greeting card line as well as framed and limited edition prints. Most prints however will still have some form of embellishment to make each one unique.

At the moment I am still experimenting with frames etc and busy trying to work out which ones will enhance the artwork.

The above prints are some of the work that will be coming to Sprout Gallery.

As for the canvases, well, I just had to have time off. The lure of my greeting card and prints was too strong and the constant orders (which was very much appreciated) became too overwhelming hence I never had time to update the website with new artwork etc. I was time poor and unable to keep up.

I apologise for the quality of the photos for this post.

Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo

Who thought that raspberry, coffee and white could look so cool

For Amelia

I loved doing this canvas for a customer called Jenny and her little daughter - Amelia's room. The top photo is set up at my home, and the bottom shot is actually Amelia's room.

Four pairs of shoes

For my good friend's, Kevin and Michelle. For their little addition, Taylor.

Little cupcakes

A couple of little cupcakes. Julia's went off to Long Island, New York to proud parents Dave and Christine. Congrats once again guys!

Girl's clothesline

A cute little clothesline of polka dots and stripes.

Red, white and blue

Sorry, I haven't had time to post. I have been busy with private orders but hope to start getting more artwork up on my website in the new year.

Nice little mention for Sprout Gallery

Thanks heaps to Real Living magazine http://realliving.ninemsn.com.au/ for the mention of Sprout Gallery's website details. Page 59 under the feature 'Bold Baby Spaces' if anyone is interested!!!

Two little dickie birds for Jayda

This is for baby Jayda who (fingers crossed) will make her way into the world this week to happy parents Michelle and John. Fingers crossed also that Jayda really does turn out to be a 'Jayda' and not a 'Jay' OR back to the drawing board.

Re: painting, I was very happy with the end result of this painting. It is 45cm x 45cm x 4cm in size and is acrylic paint, fabric, felt, suede and fake stitching. From afar it looks like a patch work quilt.

No store orders on this one. Direct order to Sprout Gallery. Takes too darn long to make.

Cupcake tier

More cupcakes!

I should bake them rather than paint them. I swear they would take 1/32 of the time if not more. Still I love the final result.

Little Miss Mermaid

Little mermaid requested by my special girl.

I can't remember the size. I think it's 60cm high by 30cm wide. Miss mermaid had to have pink hair and a pink tail.

Red and white polka dot bag

I couldn't resist posting this sweet little polka dot red and white bag with insert ticking and star. It was made for me by my clever friend Julia who really is a great sewer. Not one crooked stitch in sight.

She made it for my birthday and gave it to me inside this cute little red case with ribbon, chocolates and scary age flashing pin.

Miss Money Penny II

Miss Money Penny II is just one of four fun canvases I sent off to Mama's Home in Newmarket, Brisbane.

Acrylic on canvas

30cm x 30xm x 4cm

For a sweet little lady

These three little canvases are just waiting for a special little girl. They are also embellished with fabric and other bits and pieces and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed making these three despite a heavy work load hanging overhead. They are on display and for purchase through My First Room where there is lots of lovely linen to match the artwork.

Canvases are 30cm x 30cm.

For a little fella

This sweet little trio is hanging at My First Room in Bulimba, Brisbane. Each canvas is 30cm x 30cm in size and has Red Plum Linen fabric embellishments throughout. I gotta say, I strugged with the subject matter on this one (ie, how do you make a surfboard and a ball interesting) but I was happy with the end product and had a lot of positive comments from admirers before they were posted off.

These sweet little shoes (30cm x 30cm) went off to NicMac4kids in NSW along with a series of other fun paintings from Sprout Gallery.

Sprout Gallery

Untiltled

These are some grown up paintings I have done for a friend. When I am able to get back to her house I will take a photo of them in her media room. I am so over circles and dots now.

If you wish to view more paintings for grown ups :) go to my other blogsite
michellegrayson@blogspot.com

Size 1.2m wide by 60cm high.
Acrylic on canvas

Little polka dot elephant

Little polka dot elephant for a girl's room or anyone who loves special elephants

Beau's bi-plane

The double canvas pictured was done for my friend's little boy to match a doona cover just recently purchased. I tried to keep it fairly simple.

How do you like them apples?

A new range of polka dot artworks are for sale at Sprout Gallery. Fresh and crisp they are rendered in acrylic on stretched canvas frames using my usual fabric, felt, ric rac etc. They come in two sizes 30cm x 40cm & 25cm x 30. Cute in a kids room, kitchen, dining room etc.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary

This sweet little painting was done for a little girl's room. The brief was pretty, pink, fairytale and if possible Hans Christen Anderson. Not sure if I got the latter right but the client was happy nonetheless. It's gone to live in a nursery at Graceville, Brisbane. Size: 70cm x 61cm 4cm. Acrylic on canvas with fabric, buttons, beading etc

Mary Mary Quite Contrary

My First Room

My First Room
Originally uploaded by sprout gallery

Clothesline canvases in situ. They were rendered to match the gorgeous girl's linen below.

Hot air balloon

Hot air balloon
Originally uploaded by sprout gallery

One of my favourites and a little fiddly to make. This was a personalised order though My First Room.

Polka dot, denim and ticking fabric, pop poms, ric rac, ribbon and buttons.

Pirate Ahoy

pirate ahoy
Originally uploaded by sprout gallery

Pirates ahoy for any little boy whose name begins with the letter T

Denim, ticking, polka dot, felt, ribbon, buttons, ric rac and cord.

Mrs Snuggleberry Snail

Mrs Snuggleberry Snail
Originally uploaded by sprout gallery

Mrs Snuggleberry Snail.

Acrylic on canvas with gingham, felt, beads, sequins and ribbon.

30cm x 30xm x 4cm

Mrs Snuggleberry Snail went to live in England.

Little boy Flynn

Little boy Flynn born 10 March to proud parents Melissa and Randal.

Acrylic on canvas with ticking, polka dot and denim fabric, red, white and blue ribbon and star buttons.

30cm x 30cm x 4cm

P.S. The word 'little is crooked due to the way the photo was taken :)