The Butterfly Collector

The Trials Of Love!

This week I have fallen in quite passionate love with a little book called "The Gradual Demise of Phillipa Finch" by the magical Emma Magenta. The tale of her trials in love and how she ultimately finds happiness and freedom. Each illustration is a delicious little mixed media masterpiece, its just the right size, has beautiful papers and is all the right colours! And there is just something about texta illustrations done on brown paper bags that just gets me everytime! Its PERFECT!

I would like to own some of her outfits too ... foffeey sleeves, fabulous hats, tails, wings and stripey sleeves galore! Plus the cutest bathers I ever saw! I think its possible I have had very similar relationships with guys like Phillipa's too. We live, we learn ...

All of Emma's books can be found HERE!  Phillipa is quite a social butterfly and can be found on facebook here!  and on her website here!. She also has her own TV show! And we also own Planet Yawn ( written by Toni Collette ) which is a big hit in this house at bedtime! Happy Friday. Goodnight and Sweet Dreams for now xo

My Heart Wanders!

 
I just recieved my own copy of Pia Jane's My Heart Wanders. I am smitten, entranced by this beautiful book, its speaking to me with its gorgeous photography and words that hit you deep in your soul! Wake up, its now time to wander ....

P.S. this rusty lovely heart is enjoying its time spent amongst the Autumn leaves in our front garden!

Delicious!

 

Today ... some time spent staring at the clouds from a great vantage point ... laying on the trampoline, plus a walk in the autumn leaves, delicious food and then I got to indulge in some quiet time reading my latest copy of Spoonful!

Pop UP!

I am totally in love with this Pop UP theatre version of Snow White by Jane Ray!

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!