love and light

I keep going back to these beautiful images of the ABC home department store in NY photographed by Bridget Kelly . I'm thinking of a word to inspire next year 2010...haven't arrive at the right word for me yet but nearly!

My word for 2009 was 'flow', and symbolically that I did; in the form of moving physically and mentally towards a much brighter place. I know it sounds airy fairy but a word is like wings if you let it inspire you or an anchor if that's what you need. Really its all about positive attraction via thought....which works...om!

Anyway most importantly HAPPPY NEW YEAR to you!

Christmas 09

My Mum's efforts were so beautiful I forgot to take any photos of people!

A new house for the first time in 30 years and new breakfast timeslot for Christmas- so fresh :-)

xox

Merry Christmas everyone! Thankyou so much for being part of a wonderful year. Best wishes from Umbrella Prints too and all our love for next year xxx

cloudy and sentimental

I can't define what makes a moment except I know it when it happens.

As the past decade wraps up I am thinking back in order to go forwards but Im not so good at letting go and the past 10 has been jam packed with...............life, good and bad but mainly good!

A moment....my husband is sitting with his computer which is backed onto mine; he is trying to calculate a way to win the lottery through statistics (!) I hope he wins. Our cat is sitting in the warm archway made by the two computers-a happy cat after her steroid jabs yesterday .

I am playing all of my youtube favourited songs and of course getting sentimentally melancholy on purpose listening to .....The Herbaliser, James, Stone Roses, Blur, PNAU, The Roots, Aretha, Bobby Hebb- Sunny, Snow Patrol, Bon Iver- Beach Baby, Mirah, Sarah Blasko, CocoRosie- By Your Side waaah.

We went to the beach tonight the air was warm and round, lots of clouds and not many waves. We are not talking right now...it's a peaceful moment amplified by and imbued with the glue fumes coming from under the new flooring in the laundry:-)

dreaming spires

This wonderful creation by Judith Needham would be the ultimate ultimate dream Christmas present for G.

A first bike will be pretty cool too.

print class 2009

I am so pleased with the children's efforts in screenprinting this term. Even though last Saturday was truly hectic everyone has their own screenprint to take home- a bag or a teatowel. I wish I had taken more photos before most of the printed pieces were whisked home!

Above is the beautiful screenprint by Abby. The initial print in yellow didnt print well at all but with no signs of disappointment Abby printed her screen again on top with blue with amazing results. It is so true that the most cherished work can come from a mistake or a misprint.

Abby often talks about how she would love to teach art and have a shop like Nest Studio when she grows up. We put her new tshirt in the window so she could get a feel for what that might be like- go Abby!x

Living room love

If you read Australian home magazines you could easily think everyone here has a living room decorated with a David Bromley painting, a laser cut pendant light shade, a few wooden alphabet letters spelling your child's name or affirmation like 'peace', a vintage railway stop sign, a teak sideboard, three West German vases and a small grouping of ceramic birds or rabbits.

Whilst I own and love a few of these items myself (da da!) my eyes crave something of a different mix.... . My favourite virtual haunt at the moment is LivingEtc; whilst not mind-blowingly unusual the interiors are really gorgeous and functional. I chose my favourite bedrooms here and recently looked through their pictures of living rooms- these were my favourites...very noice eye candy

sugar + colour =

Fairy floss.

G and I lined up to see Father Christmas yesterday. It would have felt like an eternity in the line but for the girl in front with her family. We struck up a conversation based on her earrings and my shoes.....it was great to meet someone with such similar interests in such an unlikely environment and proves Adelaide isn't really that small if we haven't met before.

As the lineup slowly curves towards the magic cave and towards Father Christmas everyone passes David- the talking papier mache tree. By the time we passed him a sign appeared that said 'David-the talking tree has gone for a rest'. Anyone who believes in magic will understand why this message has prompted 24 hours of questions from G who could not understand why David's a) eyes weren't shut b) how he had gotten out without anyone noticing c) how a tree moves and d) how he could be gone but still be THERE?

I also had to explain why we could hear three different Santas ho-ho-ing whilst leaving the cave. Damn it I was really working hard! Still it was fun- think I might even do it all again next year!

Studio Friday

More shop than studio action today :-) It has been busier than ever recently which is good news. We are also enjoying watching a new park being built across the road which will take the view from old-crusty-car-yard to beautiful huge park and public area. We couldn't have dreamed it up better- it's a full window of green to enjoy.

Tommorow Carly and I are teaching the children to screenprint which will be messy, funny, fun and good juggling practice. Checkya

celebration

I celebrated my 34th birthday today with G and sister Sarah; pink flowers, soup, window shopping and lolling about.

G celebrated her new bowl in style (my gift to her from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald; Sydney).

Back!

We are now back from Sydney's Finder's Keepers Market. Here are some photos of our stall and of the crowds on Friday night. Carly and I had a great time and met a lot of fun and talented people. We have come back with a renewed sense of clarity for the future of our work and the direction of Umbrella Prints. A big thankyou to everyone for your help, for the chats and the laughs!

Finders Keepers

We are here with everyone we would love to see you tonight or tomorrow!
www.thefinderskeepers.com

possibly...maybe....

perhaps....could be.......Nest Studio and Umbrella Prints in the Weekend Australian Magazine this Saturday...?

UPDATE: er you might need a magnifying glass but we were there! in the form of Umbrella Prints patterns on vases and beakers by Sunshine GB March (available at Nest Studio)

Devendra Banhart

All better!