walk about

 

 

 

 

Vest: Alexander Wang; Skirt: American Apparel (similar style here); Tank: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Charlotte Ronson; Bag: Thrifted (similar style here); Sunglasses: Karen Walker; Jewelry: Michael Kors watch, Kelly Framel necklace, J. Crew bracelet

Just heading out to get some sun! Happy Friday everyone!

Maddi and Me!

Yup! That's the talented Madeleine Stamer! And that's us in our art smocks, in school! Yes, in a real primary school, with kiddos running around, greeting you, showing you what they have in their lunch boxes, telling you about their weekend... a real school! I've ALWAYS dreamt of teaching little kids in a primary school and Madeleine and her school offered me a wonderful opportunity. I get to work with grade 1s for 3 whole Thursdays in a row and together, we'll be learning how to paint some recipe paintings. What a dream come true! Yesterday was week 1. And already, I'm excited for week 2. I went home smiling and told Darren all about it when he came home. It feels SO good to be a teacher. It feels like the right thing to do? Not sure if that even makes sense. But it does to me!



Anyway, hope I'm not boring you with all these teaching posts of mine. I promise pictures from my solo show opening soon! But for now, I'd like to just dwell a little longer in this whole happy teaching bubble of mine : )

PS: Maddi creates lovely paintings and has been known for her beautiful bird mobiles. I myself have been a long-time fan of her bird mobiles. I'm waiting for the day I can get myself this one! Oh and Maddi has a super cute home too! You can see some pictures here!

The Gruffalo!

A couple of weeks ago, the lovely team at Hardie Grant sent me two lovely books - Kids' Crafternoon Sewing and Kids' Crafternoon Papercraft. I must admit, I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to sit down and really go through the book word for word. I did however flip through it's beautifully coloured pages and a project that caught my eye was the cereal box monster pinata. It looked so fun and so cute, something that's really achievable for a 7 year old. So I thought it'll be nice to get some kids together to try making it! And I did just that! But as you know, I'm always the sort to improvise, change it up a little and make it my own. I thought why not make a gruffalo?!

I'll let you in on a secret. I've been a bit addicted to the story of The Gruffalo ever since one of my home art class kiddo's mum told me about it. I went and got the book. So funny and I keep walking around the house, repeating some bits of the story. ‎" A Gruffalo? What's a Gruffalo? " " A Gruffalo! Why, didn't you know? " ...." he has knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose! " Best book ever! Oh and I've even changed my boring mac wallpaper to a nice brown one with a gruffalo in the middle. Oops!

Anyway, back to our cereal box gruffalo. Well, I didn't quite end up getting a bunch of 7 year olds. Instead, I tested the project out with super-cute Milo and Frankie. They're both 3 ish 4.. So turns out I did most of the work, and they just kept laughing while sticking bits of eyeballs and noses, ears and teeth. They were simply amused by how funny their cereal box gruffalo looked. Well, I think they look funny too. I made one and it's now sitting next to my window. Makes me smile whenever I look at it!

This whole experience just goes to show how Kids craft books can still work for really young kids/toddlers. Not all projects will work of course, but with a bit of improvisation and simplifying, they'll work just fine too!

Deep Breaths.

Yesterday was a day of very though decisions, of realizing I have to let go of certain dreams so I can start working on making new ones happen. A day of being reminded that my friends are true and steadfast, no matter how far away we may be from each other. That I have the best family a girl could ever ask for. It's humbling, reassuring and a balm for my soul.

It was day of rude awakenings, of periods of numbness, of trying to center myself, get my thoughts in order and take action. Once and for all.

It's terrifying, lemme tell ya. But life has already given me the hardest test of endurance of all: losing a child. I got through it, survived it and after it all, life rewarded me with the most perfect and loving little girl. I can do it and I will.

I have to believe I can. I am surrounded by people who love and support me in any way they can and I will draw strength from that.

I found these pics I took of my beautiful Miami skies, which I have to believe I will be under again, soon. Because I can. And I will.

I thought they illustrated the road ahead pretty accurately, and they are just pretty.

Have a wonderful weekend, lovelies.

summer leather

 

 

 

 

Blouse: Gap, thrifted from Crossroads (similar style here); Skirt: H&M (similar style here); Shoes: Camilla Skovgaard (similar style here); Bag: Chanel; Sunglasses: Karen Walker; Jewelry: Bee Charming necklace, J. Crew bracelet, Michael Kors watch

There's something quite counterintuitive about wearing leather over the summer, luckily with an overabundance of silky, slightly sheer shirts (try saying that three times fast), the two seem to balance each other out nicely. And for this look in particular, I have my slight obsession with Marie Claire's Accessories Director Taylor Tomasi Hill to thank. Her ability to combine knock out accessories with subtle statement clothing pieces is perfection in my book and I like to think my new Camilla Skovgaard kicks are a fitting tribute. 

Who are some of your go-to style icons? I'm always on the hunt for more inspiration!

Mid-Week Favorites

 

 

 

1.) The beginning of my window garden party. Here's to hoping I don't kill any of them off!

2.) Received some goodies courtesy of Lulu's the other day. Can't wait to start wearing this pretty pink tulle skirt!

3.) Freshly painted drawers with new crystal knobs. 

4.) Rereading old favorites from high school freshmen year English class. (No, I don't need the magnifying glass to read -- I just love the look of it on my coffee table.)

What are you guys loving this week?

Font Love: My Top Type.

Font Love Thursday is back, and this time I am showing the love to my top fonts of all time. These are the ones I will use for ever and ever and I will never get tired of them.

Without further ado, here they are...

Of course I have to thank Katrina for the inspiration in styling this post. I loved the photo strip look and I had these super cool Katie Pertiet ones, so there you have it.

What are your all time fave fonts? Share with me and feed my font addiction, please? With sugar on top...

Happy Thursday, lovelies.

neon + neutral

  

 

 

Blazer: Zara (similar stye here); Sweater: Wasteland on Haight Street (similar style here); Shorts: Urban Outfitters (similar style here); Shoes: Charlotte Ronson; Bag: Cambridge Satchel Company (similar color here); Sunglasses: Karen Walker; Jewelry: Michael Kors watch, J. Crew chain bracelet, "Krystal" name necklace from Mynamenecklace.com

This bag is just what I needed to brighten an otherwise very gray day in San Francisco -- only further proof that neon and neutrals are just so right together!

Currently Loving: Neon Brights

Fluorescent yellow 13" bag, Cambridge Satchel Company (similar color here)

For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you may already know that this brightly hued beauty showed up at my office the other day. It then, of course, promptly sat on the front of my desk serving as a traffic signal of sorts -- or maybe from all the office rubber neckers, it was the cause of traffic. Either way, fine by me, as long as I have my shades handy!

Seriously. So. Bright. These photos do not do it justice. Hopefully some outfit pictures will, though! Stay tuned later this morning to see the bag in action!

iPhone Photography Apps.

I really don't use my iPhone as much as I should to take pictures. With all the über cool photography apps out there, it's pretty hard not to take a cool pic even with a phone.

These are my current faves. Share yours with me, OK?

1. Hipstamatic

A classic. I love everything about it and they have been giving pretty good updates. The free stuff is so cool and I love being able to change the camera case.

2. Camera Bag

This gives me very cool effects too and you can also have a desktop version. Check it out for sure.

3. Project 365

I need to start this soon. How cool would it be? I'm gonna do it with pics of Nati. Promise...

4. PS Express

Very quick and easy way to edit your pics as soon as you take them so you can share them right from your iPhone.

5. Photocabine

Oh, la la! My fave. Love the cool music the desktop version plays, love the layout options for the strips. the scratchy effect on the pics. I say oui to it all.

6. Insagram

I just got this one, so I haven't been able to explore it much, but I love what peeps have been sharing all over the web with this app.

7. Pocketbooth

So much fun! Kinda like Photocabine, but has different effects and photo paper textures. I just took a bunch with this app and I'll be scrapping them soon. Must have, this one .

8. Camera+

A new one to me also, but what little I've been able to explore has been great. You can do tons of things to your pics with this app. Totally worth the buck ninety nine. Ha!

These are some of my favorite shots. All taken with Hipstamatic.

Happy Wednesday, lovelies.

Opening tomorrow night!

Oh yes! My little show opens tomorrow night at Carbon Black Gallery, Prahran! Drinks are going to be from 5.30 to 7.30pm. I'll be there along with all my drawings, so will Miss Marshmallow Lollie! See you there if you can make it! The address is : Carbon Black Gallery, 188 High Street, Prahran. Gallery hours are every Wed - Sunday 12 to 5pm.

Freebies for ya...

Ever since Karla asked me to make a few templates for her, back when I was in her DT, I have loved making them.

They make it all easier, and when the mojo decides to take a vacay, there is nothing like the boost of having a starting point with a template.

I have made many, many more since then, and I will be offering them to you as freebies here on No Shrinking Violet, from time to time.

Here are a few of my free template downloads. You can get them by clicking on the images below.

They are always available by going to the 411 section on the sidebar and clicking on "free templates".

Stay tuned, though. I have many more in the works and they will all be free. I hope you like and enjoy them, and that you show me what you made with them.

Kisses, lovelies.

trapeze act

 

 

 Dress: H&M via Crossroads; Sunglasses: Karen Walker: Shoes: Miu Miu (via Crossroads); Bag: Thrifted; Jewelry: Forever21 necklace, J. Crew bracelet, Michael Kors watch

There's something about the simplicity of a trapeze cut dress -- twirling is clearly obligatory!

Melamine goodness coming soon!

Remember this post from quite a couple of days back? Here's an update! The samples have now arrived and Cathy Hope and myself, we're thrilled they all turned out looking so cute! It's so unreal to see my art on a plate and cup. Weird! But in a really exciting and good way. The colours on these sample plates are looking a little 'cloudy' and dull but that's because they're just samples. The final ones will be all bright and cheerful and correctly saturated. Mmmmmm. Can't wait!

Emily Green at Design Made Trade

Sorry, no pictures of my lovely studio buddy, Miss Emily Green. Instead, here are some pictures I took of her little open spaced studio last week while I was at Design Made Trade. I went with Indie on Thursday and we hung out after that. It was nice to just spend a day hanging with friends, not working and just walking around. Oh the joys of freelancing! Only problem was, I suffered majorly on Friday and Saturday, having to do a whole PILE of work. Oops! My hands kept cramping up!

I took a whole heap of photos but got a bit too lazy to post them all up. Besides Miss Lucy Feagins has done a nice round up just today so hop on over to her blog to check it out! I'm just going to show Emily's little nook cause she's a special friend and she deserves a bit of a special treatment.. Haha. Ok I am just biased because she's my super awesome studio buddy.

I took photos of Harvest Textile's stand too! But I think my photo does it NO justice at all! Emma took lovely pictures and it's up on the Harvest Blog! Go check it out! So proud of those ladies. They've worked so so hard on this new MakeKit range.. so cool!

New Week: New Look.

As promised, No Shrinking Violet got a facelift. I need to thank Katrina, the genius behind Pugly Pixel, for all I've learned form her amazing tutorials, for her templates and all the inspiration she has given me.

This new look comes from my fascination with all things mid 20th century. I love the illustrations, the typography that era inspired. The furniture and fashion design, all of which have become iconic. Just the whole feel of it has always spoken to me.

I started playing around with the idea and this is what came out. I hope you like it, and I would so love to hear what you think. I want to design blogs and your input would be much appreciated.

If you're interested in a blog redesign, send me an e-mail at:

anilumagloire@yahoo.com

Have a swell Monday, lovelies.