outback

swishing flies


We just got back from two nights in the Flinders Ranges- Wilpena Pound. We are dusty and tired but it was worth it. The landscape out there is so beautiful especially the colours of the dust and the desert plants and the sky. Last night we went on a 'stroll' which turned into a 3 hour 8km walk and up a hill to a lookout within the Pound. Despite G complaining through all of the flat bits she responded like a mountain goat daintily picking her steps up the mountain whilst I dragged behind, feet like bricks, hating it and loathing S for forcing us (!). The view was pretty amazing and I have forgotten the hard bits.

We saw emus and kangaroos and lizards and galahs and sulphur crested cockatoos and Australian wild hibiscus which open up towards the end of the day. It went slightly pear shaped when G vomited up the piece of kangaroo S gave her from his plate at the park's restaurant but S thought it tasted pretty good.

I don't feel rested at all after being away (who does with a 3 year old on tour?); but I do feel re-inspired and filthy lucky and enriched from the trip. I'm also busting to get to the studio with Carly and take a look at our new colours. But where is Carly? cooooeeee

recap December 2008 Pattern-House

• I have had fun choosing images of pattern from all over the world that I love and work by people that inspires me or gives me goose-bumps- the source of the images are all linked.
  
• If you love pattern you might like to have a look at my December compilation over at Pattern-House
  
• December's patterns include
  
• mary heilmann pattern
• jcshale light pattern
• orchid wallpaper pattern
• grey stripe pattern
• heather bailey pattern
• Kitti Narod pattern
• John French graphic photographic pattern
• Bridget Riley pattern
• mary fedden pattern
• dkoeke wessing pattern
• star tessellation pattern
• embossed pattern
• viral pattern
• Tsumori Chisato 06/07 pattern
• metal hole pattern

xox

Merry Christmas by G, 2008

Merry Christmas everyone.
This has been an amazing year of ups and downs but mainly ups.
Thankyou for your wonderful support personally and professionally.
Carly and I (Umbrella Prints) are so excited about the upcoming year!
Lots of love and hope you have a lovely day and an inspiring, peaceful, what-ever-you-dream-of-will-happen type of year next year. x Amy

wrong right angle

Dear my cat I am so sorry I shut my car door on your tail last night.
It was late, it was dark, you are dark and I was tired.
Im very glad you are ok and I promise to not do it again.

yellow flower orange cat

Hello dwarlin

I just uploaded a camera of images. It was nice to find our pink umbrella through Elephant's ear (unintentional but nice) I was too worried about the reflection of the window to notice at the time....

New Umbrella Prints colours coming

Olive, momo and sea glass.
All three pictured over here.

These colours coordinate with our established colours pink moon, sumi black, starfruit and kimono red. Yum I cannot wait for summer.

Blog Affair

Umbrella Prints brooches


Apart from working and sleeping most of the time recently leading up to Christmas I have been enjoying putting together a different sort of blog all together Pattern-House.
This is where I hold dear the people, creatures and things that inspire me in all my work.

I have a little old label called Pattern House which is a name I go under for my brooches etc though my website for this is not up to date (embarrassingly so!) I have been making and stocking Meet me at Mikes (teapot brooches), Ikeguchi (new kokeshi brooches), A Room of her Own (lady brooches), Nest Studio (assorted) and Hype and Seek (guitar and flower brooches). Three of these stockists are on the same street or even next to each other and yes they are all different lovely shops and yes they dont mind at all xoxoxoxo.

So I have a brand/label Pattern House and a blog called Pattern-House which I have been giving lots of attention to lately. When I get home and after G is in bed and S is in bed ready for an early start sometimes its nice to be mute (Pattern-House) and sometimes its nice to rant (Rain and Shine).

It was a really nice surprise to see Moyou's beautiful jewelery at Ikeguchi Creative Life today; we are sharing a cabinet!

Umbrella Prints wall brooches

New Friday window at Nest Studio and new Umbrella Prints wall brooches in Elephant!

Melbourne

This is the only photograph of my trip to Melbourne which sums up the nature of my visit pretty well actually. Besides having my hands too full to take snaps, this trip was more about looking inwards than looking out. We said goodbye to beautiful baby Leon who died at full term, perfect and strong, its unimaginable. Sarah and Sean shared photographs of their baby Leon and music and the evening with us in an amazing special time I wont ever forget. My heart hurts for them that's all I can say.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The next day I met Pip and Cam and Ari and saw a glimpse of the most recent draft of their book coming out in March which looks delectable and I want a copy Now. It features adorable craft projects made from Australian textile designs including a few designs by us which is excooiiting as I had no idea the nature of the book. :-)

Now G is in bed and Stef is watching the soccer and its raining outside and its a low key moment and its good to be home.

Tea?

Sorry about the short posts gotta go catch a plane-literally. Delivery to Meet Me At Mikes...

pretty in the paper

I should buy the paper more often! thanks Da

twas a lovely day for a birthday

Wish I may Wish I might have the dream I wish tonight......................

Trees

There's a family tree program doing the rounds on the internet at the moment. You can grow your own tree and pass it to your sister and she will add to it and pass it to other family members and a couple of days later you get an update and the trees branches have grown and relatives have sprouted all over the place.
One thing strikes me is it doesnt take long for your entire life to be wittled down to a name and a photograph and maybe an occupation- if you are remembered at all. Stefan has been receiving phone calls from upset relatives because he forgot to add a few people onto the virtual tree and they are still alive!

There are things I would like to know about descendants that are never recorded on a family tree....like....were you happy?.......what was your favourite thing to do in the whole world?......what was your favourite food?......did you travel?........so, what dya reckon, you know, about stuff?.....what were your dreams? ......what colour were your eyes, because you know the picture of you is in black and white?.......is that your normal expression or are you pulling a photo-face?............

Maybe three words to describe you could be included. There would have to be a poll for that after you died; circle the three most appropriate words to describe (.....). Obnoxious, loud, bastard. Timid, laughs a lot, sulky. Vague, fair, uncomplicated. Mmm maybe not!

This week Umbrella Prints

Carly and I worked on doing a room switchski at Nest Studio- back to front for a change. Umbrella Prints sold out of sumi black Elephants and kimono red Elephants fabric which was a SHOCK as we hadnt been counting and suddenly we hit cardboard. In fact its all looking a bit bare at the moment so itching for the new colours to arrive very soon I hope.

Tandem #3 is underway and beautiful. I will tell you more about it as it unfolds...

Louise did a gorgeous job of teaming black and blues at Mid Century Modern. I am always amazed by how different people interpret our fabric.

Fun Room

Modular, papercut/collage Amy Prior 2008

I had a really great night at the opening of 'Roomies' at A Room of Her Own. Thanks to Carly, Julie, Ellie, Gloria and Ollie & Kerina for a few much needed belly laughs. Here are the full and up close pictures of my piece for the show a papercut and collage called Modular. I was thinking about the idea of 'room' as a constructed space which led me to think about the quarter acre block, the pathways we choose for ourselves and that others prescribe for us. It is very finely cut over and over from a placemat I bought at a party shop. I thought using a 'place' mat was a fun way from which to approach an investigation into the idea of 'room'.......