6 x seed packet designs

Bags on the Mango Frooty website

It has been a long time coming and I do apologise:  Tote bags are now available to purchase from my website. 

I have been working on a new batch with beautiful new fabrics - some hand painted.  Pictures and details to come soon....

Sarah's seeds article in Lifestyle Asia out this weekend

This weekend, Sarah's seeds gets a promotional boost with an article in the Lifestyle Asia magazine.
The photos are just beautiful.

Seeds are still in preparation in Sarah's potting shed, Yetholme, NSW.  We expect to be able to offer seed packets in the next couple of weeks. 

New jewellery - bracelets

Variations on a favourite design:  two-tone friendship bracelets, made from tiny gemstone beads sourced from India, Thailand and China, with tiny silver Thai Hill Tribe charms.

Have a lovely week all.

Large format images

Since January, I have been working on two very large images (amongst other things).

These are both 115cm x 115cm and are watercolour, pencil and collage on sewn Arches paper, 300 gsm.

The top one, was entered into the Sulman Prize but sadly was not selected as a finalist.  The second one is a private commission which was approved on Sunday and is now getting framed.

I must admit it was extremely scary to work on these and at this size but I am very pleased with the results.

New jewellery - earrings

Here are some slightly fancy, slightly everyday earrings.
These will be around $35AU....

New jewellery - pendants

I have been working on more jewellery designs.  There was a call for more pendants from a friend so here is a selection from the latest crop.

These are pendants on necklaces made from tiny gemstone beads: coral (deep red), turquoise (greeny-blue), agate (brown, fluoro green), serpentine (dark green), and onyx (black). 

The focal beads are Indian cut stones mostly bought in Bangkok, Kathmandu and some odd flea market finds: turquoise nuggets,  carnelian (orange), coral, vintage cilver filigree, rose quartz, ancient Syrian glass, pearls and agate.

These are made with the autumn season in mind - they are to wear over a shirt or polo/turtle neck.
Although the colours and design make them very unique and eye catching, I have made a stand against those big, bulky resin pendants you now see everywhere.

These are one offs and made from sterling silver and gemstones.

Prices around $70.  They aren't on a website yet.

Sarah's seeds

My lovely friend, Sarah Ryan of Hillandale Gardens and Nursery in Yetholme, country NSW has been bringing me flowers from her garden to paint for the last year or so.  Yetholme has a cooler climate so the old fashioned favourites thrive there. 

We are currently working on a series of seed packets for her nursery.  Here are the first three offerings: Calendula (marigolds), Penstemon and Granny bonnets.

There will be more throughout the year and Sarah will be selling these on her open days and plant markets - or you could ask me here.

The designs have been executed by my extremely talented niece and Gabby Malpas brand manager: Emma Harris.  Pretty huh?

Valentine's Day blog hop

I'm not usually a fan of Valentine's Day but the following idea is such a lovely one from my very, very talented friend Chris Chun that I wanted to particpate.  Chris invited a number of artist friends to share an image signifying love and romance.  Not being the romantic sort, Chris took one of my images and added the poem above  - and voila!  A Valentine's Day picture that could be included.

The other participants of this idea are as follows - please click on them to view their beautiful artworks.  I am so excited to be included.

...and Happy Valentine's Day.

Chris Chun 
Sharon Himes
Allison Langton
Peggy Jo Ackley
Patrica Shea
Skye Rogers
Phyllis Dobbs
Barbara Johansen Newman
Natalie Ryan
Bee Strong

Gabby Malpas article in Lifestyle Asia 200

My interview with Mingyue Zhou, from Lifestyle Asia was published in January 2012 and was glorious!

For those of you who missed the publication, the article can be downloaded from here in PDF format (NB: the article is in Chinese):

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4.

I have uploaded my original, raw text and images, in english - here