The Butterfly Collector

Red Shoes

"the red shoes call me from the corner, ruby whispers, shiny silver giggles."
Every now and again I indulge in buying a children's book just for me! I have done this ever since I started working and now enjoy buying them for my boys.... but every now and again I buy one especially for the little girl in me!
I couldn't resist The Red Shoes, such beautiful illustrations! ( Especially since my favorite shoes are red!... apple red, super shiny Mary Janes with chunky heels that my family know as my Dorothy shoes! ) So I can totally relate to this little girl in the story and her elation at finding the perfect red shoes!
You can find it here!

Reading Material

So much to read and so little time!!! My new Mixtape just arrived and it's fabulous once again!I'm Half way through Eat, Pray, Love and enjoying every page! The new Vogue Living features one of my favorite Artist's... Carolyn Quartermaine in her french home with new works and I found "Zen...in ten simple lessons" at the Op Shop this morning ( I wonder what I can learn from this? We need some Zen around here at the moment!
I am also loving the Re Vamped Country Style Magazine, so many beautiful homes  and people ... makes me want to go on holiday, even though we live in a holiday town! Found the Fairies in the Op Shop for Two Dollars!!!??? ( who gave this away???) and being astounded by A New Earth!!!
What are you reading?

two cute boysand fabulous books!!

Well, its been I don't know how long and these two cute boys have been taking up all of my attention, which is how its supposed to be! So not much creative time has been had lately! And would you believe its taken me a week to write this post! But I have been reading at night and buying books for Christmas presents and I thought I would share some here!

Fairy Tales by Jane Ray features her most gorgeous paintings, above is hansel and Gretel! And I've bought What the Sky Knows ( below) by Nike Bourke and Stella Danalis quite a few times now for presents including for my own boys!Some of the wonderful collages from it are below!

I also fell in love with Rachel Ashwell's new book and all its beautiful party decor and ideas!

I also discovered this great blog called Book by its cover through Catherine at my folk lover!It features gorgeous illustrations from all kinds of books, take a look!

Old Paper

Recently I have been having a treasure hunt through some thrift stores for amazing old books to use in my art. It amazes me the things people throw away! I have found some beautiful old treasures. The covers and spines are beautiful too! A few chance finds have been inspirational in my collages and I decided to share some of these images from one of my fave books ... Carolyn Quartermaine Unwrapped, her home, fabric, styling  and studio space are amazing, colourful and fascinating, visit her here!

And someone a bit closer to home I have been admiring for quite some time is artist Jade Peggler whose beautiful paper sculptures take my breath away every time. She is having a exhibition very soon and I love her new studio space too (I'm very jealous!!!! Lots of light and room to move!!!). Visit her here!

A New Zine!

I was sent an email yesterday from the wonderful MIss Nikkishell telling me about a fabulous new Zine she has created with some other great Aussie art and crafters ... its called MIXTAPE, and looks like it will be a Great Weekend read!!!!, here's a pic of the cover and all the info below, head over to Nikkishell's blog for how to pre order yours ...

MIX TAPE will be available from August 12. Please place your pre-order now to ensure you don't miss our debut issue!
Front cover artwork by Shannon (www.auntycookie.com)
mixtape is a collision of craft, eco-cool and pop culture kitsch und drang
issue 1 features articles such as:

eco tips for renters, dress up costumes for kids
5 ways to go green, best of etsy , making soap, craft 101, walnut & maple scrub
kids craft, slippers tutorial, positive parenting, trashy movies
yoga for kids, puzzles, women's circus, 5 for 5
and more

I also fell in love with this book we found at the library this week, Climbing Rosa by Shelley Fowles, I love a good fairytale and just loved her illustrations, in a folk art gypsy style with lovely dresses! I think we may have to buy this one to keep!

Drew and I have also been reading ... The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson, And the Train Goes by William Bee ... loved the illustrations in this too, with secret snails and tea pots to find hidden in them! and The Fly ( How the perfect day turned into a nightmare ) !!! by Gusti, this has turned into a very funny and helpful toliet training book! Until tomorrow, happy reading and make sure you delve into a fairytale of your own!

Books for the Weekend!

In the last week I have bought three books from Amazon and I can't wait to devour them all! You know what is crazy, it is cheaper for me to buy these books on the net and have them shipped from the USA than it is to order them from a bookshop here in Australia, the only problem with this is I can't flip through them first. Anyway here's my favorite finds this week ...

Fanciful Paper Projects ... Making your own POSH little Follies by Sandra Everston ,
Plus

Wide Open ... Inspiration and Techniques for Art Journalling by Randi Feuerhelm Watts,

Plus

In this House ... Altered Art Imagery and Collage Techniques by Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn

Happy Weekends everyone and happy reading too!

fabulous fashion

Oh, I'm in love! I was flipping through the newspaper yesterday and discovered this gorgeous book, must get me to a book store ASAP to check it out! I am actually not sure if it's old or new, but it's by Cally Blackman and there is more info here  !
I'm also just about fininished a new painting, can't wait to show you and have been a busy bee selling lots of prints of my artwork which is exciting, so off we go to the post office today to deliver them  to their new homes!

Fresh Prints

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S DRESSING TABLE
IN PRINT

We've discovered some gorgeous and fresh decorating ideas
in the pages of Interior Designer Cath Kidson's book ...In Print! Filled with vibrant, delicious and stunning photographs this book gives an insight into how to use vintage prints and patterns and fabrics in your home with a fifties, feminine and modern feel! In Print is available in good book stores and now has a companion ... Tips for Vintage Style! Start decorating your Boudoir now!

 

This book was featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in January 2007

PERFUME!

I am so excited about PERFUME being made into a cinematic event! Sometime early in the new year I will be in a theatre seat hopefully watching Patrick Suskind's wonderful book ( that I have read twice and bought a hardback copy of just to have and keep on my bookshelf  !!!) on the screen! I hope the film version can live up to one of the most brilliant books ever written! The preview looks quite amazing, the sets and scenery look totally gorgeous!!! We will see, in the meantime, I hope , watch and wait!!! And you can watch the movie trailer HERE too!!!!

fabulous books!

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S DRESSING TABLE
Get Inspired with these WORDS and PICTURES!
This week we decided to share some wonderful and beautiful books that are inspiring us at the moment! We hope to inspire you too! All are available at Good Bookstores and online ones too!
THE GODDESS GUIDE
By Gisele Scanlon
This book is a treasure trove of glamorous ideas, beauty and fashion tips, interior decorating tips, interviews with famous designers, recipes and travel tips!
Add in some wonderful and interesting collage and illustrations by the author herself and you've got a mix that is very hard to put down! This one is now one of Madame Butterfly's Favourites! It Retails for approx AU $ 39.95 and is published by Harper Collins.
BOUDOIR
by Hilary Robertson
This beautiful interiors book was published quite some time back, but is still available and caters for every woman's taste in their bedroom style!
It covers vintage to minalmalism, bohemian to japanese style, luxurious to thift store fantastic! It will inspire you to do exactly what it says on the cover ... Create the bedroom of your Dreams!!!
It is published by Carlton Books and retails for approx AU $49.95
THE GIFT OF GIVING
by Rachel Ashwell
Th author and inventor of the phenomenal trend of Shabby Chic shares all her gift giving, hunting and wrapping wonderfulness in this beautiful book. It includes ideas for gifts for just about everyone, in different price ranges and many handmade ideas too! The photo's are to die for, the colours are just beautiful and it makes you want to create gifts instantly for no reason at all!
It is published by Regan Books and retails for approx AU $29.95

This article was featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in December 2006!