First Love

When I was a kid, I'd draw my favorite things. This piggy bank sits on a shelf in my kitchen; I've had since I was ten. I'd put my 5 cent pieces in it to save up for art and craft materials and I'd always rob it before it was anywhere near full (somethings never change!) then go to Goldings Handicrafts to buy beads, felt and paint. Its rubber stopper has long since perished, but that old bit of cheap china still hasn't lost it's charm for me. I've drawn ever since I could remember, and today, washing out my paintbrushes after a day's work, I still haven't forgotten that my first true love and talent still fills my piggybank.

Two friends and their exhibition...

Domestic appliances with attitude, and whimsical game boards make up the collection of works in a new exhibition at Breaker’s café in Seatoun.

Artists Judith Eastgate and Lucy Moore show their paintings and collage work together for the first time.  Judith’s paintings on paper and board are large, bold gestural works depicting her response to ‘the magic of the everyday’.  She describes the process as 'detecting joy in ordinary corners’.

Lucy Moore’s collage works on canvas are like games from a dream world, where motifs and characters interact unexpectedly on checkerboard backgrounds.  Fantastical buildings both invite the viewer in, and keep their mystery intact.

The show runs from November 9 to November 30 at Breakers Café, Dundas St, Seatoun.

Busy as...

I've come to that stage of late October where the need to put my head down and work on my own projects has come up. So my next blog post will probably be in December with details of my exhibition opening. In the meantime, here is a poem for all of you other busy-freaks out there.

'Busy' was written and published in Next magazine a few years ago now (judging by the content- my kids are now adults) as part of my monthly column there which went on happily for 8 years of regular paid commissioned verse- quite something really! I owed it all to Lindsey Dawson, the then editor of Next, who saw something in my bold proposal of a poem and illustration combo once a month because 'you don't have one' (I said).

I'm all for entreprenurial approaches because some of the ones you fire out actually hit their target. I have big (new) plans for 2010, so watch this space...

So- over and out (for a bit) Fifi 

Busy

I think I'm like a hamster

On a madly spinning wheel,

And if you saw my diary

Well you'd know just how I feel.

Monday has two lectures,

And my daughter's dance exam,

Swimming for the youngest

Then after work, I'll roast a lamb.

Tuesday holds tutorials,

A deadline overdue,

My accountant looking worried

And the Inland Revenue.

Wednesday there’s an opening

Of a brand new arty show,

After hockey, gym and ballet

(And espresso) I could go.

On Thursday I am battling

The ins and outs of new software,

And supervise kids' homework

Whilst I strip a kitchen chair.

By Friday I'll be ready

To toss in work and down a wine,

I would- but frankly sweetie,

I haven't got the time...

(Th)inking

So given my last post, I thought it was time I should do something about that... 

So I have started work on a new collection of velvets that go up on the wall at the Delux cafe December 20th. This one is just a tiny tease of what is to come. The larger velvets will follow on from my Pin Up gals from last summer, but this time feature gorgeous men (think Brando-esque in a sailor hat and you are on the right track).

They will be interspersed with homage-to-the-master, Sailor Jerry style tattoos like the one you see here on skin toned plush fabric, for that 'run your hand over it' viewing delight. If you can't touch the real thing...

My last two shows sold out in a few days, so I will have a studio showing before the opening so you can get first pick of the pics for Christmas. Let me know if you want to be on the mailing list for that. Now, back to work on those sexy hunks. Being an artist is sheer hell.

What Next for Fifi?

I wondered what to blog about, given the conference and WOW is over; two things that have taken up many of my waking hours for some time this year. Then whilst wondering what to make for dinner and consulting the Destitute Gourmet’s cookbook, I had it! Rather than write and draw, I feel my words have best been expressed by The Flying Lizards in this video… bon appetite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-P2qL3qkzk

Fifi's Wearable Art 2009 entry

I can finally show you what I did for WOW now that 
the show is almost over...

Kunugi Kodama: The tree where insects gather…

The Japanese saw tooth oak, Kunugi, oozes sap which attracts moths, butterflies, stag beetles and the occasional tree sprite. Kodama are invisible to human eyes but they quietly listen to visitors in the garden, so be careful what you say!

When Patrick and Carol Toner (Made in Nippon, Japanese supplies) had 1000 kimonos in bales on their carport deck, I was invited around to pick through them and see what I could use. I picked out lightweight silk and rayons, all of which were ripped and stained. Carol tells me that Japanese villagers rarely throw out kimonos, instead they fold them carefully, tie them into bundles and store them in their garden sheds. So what might you find in a kimono down the bottom of the garden? A little wood sprite maybe…

I was very excited to see it featured largely in the official programme, because that usually indicates a prize is in order- but then it wouldn't be me if I got up there and scooped a whopping great cheque now would it? I didn't get inspired to write Glory because I perenially scoop awards. The winning piece in the section ' The Dandelion Clock' by Tracey Koole was clever, gorgeous and performed really brilliantly, so I could hardly be green eyed in the garden of delights that was the Children's section this year. Congratulations to all the designers for getting their work a) finished and b) on stage. It really is something!

Spinning Gold

It’s Thursday. One week since the day before the start of the Spinning Gold Conference (18^th, 19^th & 20^th September). As the co-convenor I am just coming right now- sleep restored, equipment back in boxes, coffee levels topped up with the inevitable post-event bill paying and administration still to be done. Judging by the e-mails flooding in from satisfied, inspired and invigorated delegates, we delivered the conference we promised.

Our awesome committee is exhausted but elated - Maureen Crisp my co-convenor says it all in her post I won't do a run down of the weekend- Melinda Syzmanik gives a much better precise of the conference in her blog. Go and read it. As for me, now that the 18 months of planning is over, you might ask what I plan to do now? Well, apart from hauling out two unfinished manuscripts I’ve had no chance to work on during that time, and visit some more schools to talk about my writing and a forthcoming Spring Festival workshop to deliver and my usual beloved spot on the Good Morning Show to make crafts for, it’s the WOW awards tomorrow night, so I plan to drink. Salute.

Calling Craft Fans

So heres an idea...how many people out there would like a '101 ideas for an egg carton' book?
I have a few hundred ideas up my crafty sleeve and when the Spinning Gold Conference is over and I a) finish writing a YA novel and b) finish writing a woman's fiction novel and c) create another velvet painting on commission and d) do a few more author visits to schools... I'll be looking for a project. I followed Maureen Crisps blog to this article by Kevin Kelly about 1000 true fans. I reckon if even just 100 of you give me suitable encouragement, I'll publish The Great Egg On myself!

God Defend our Freeland

I’ve been thinking about the planned cuts to night classes.

As a consumer of Community Education, I learned how to use a computer and relevant software when my need was great because it was imperative as a writer, artist and communicator to get with the digital age or financially die. Being a freelancer meant there were no handy work place all- expenses-paid- whilst- you- get- paid kind of courses. Night classes made this essential world available to me.

I learned to type with more than two fingers at a night class. This was pretty useful in writing up my thesis and three novels. My education as a girl was focussed on Latin and French rather that the keyboard (Girls' School streaming into everyday uselessness) and a Pittman course was priced out of my self employed $50 professional development budget.

At Te Reo classes, learned my mihimihi and how to pronounce to names of books I illustrate, greet teachers and children in schools properly on my author vists and to say Morena on the Good Morning Show without fear of mangling vowels with my Pakeha tongue.

I taught life drawing one night a week and watched students gain confidence and joy in their ability to observe and document the human form when some thought they might never find a new skill and talent in their lives.

So I have sent Stop Night Class Cuts postcards to my MP Annette King (Labour) and the Minister of Education. Annette sent me back a personal letter sympathising and suggestions on how to make my protest more visible by way of a petition- I’ve signed lots of them for others too. I haven’t heard back from Anne as yet- I expect her pigeon hole is swamped…

I wrote the following poem years ago when there was no threat to continuing education at a price the average punter could afford. When education was not the preserve of the rich or safely salaried. When getting out of the house and learning something new was encouraged. I could laugh and joke, tongue in cheek, because I never imagined for a moment that it might be taken away. Auē.

Night Class

I thought I'd do an evening class,

So went and checked them out,

At our local high school,

Which left me in no doubt;

That 'Accounting for Beginners',

Was too sensible for me,

As the purpose of my life,

Is to have one and one make three.

'Culinary Cordon Bleu',

Had appetite appeal,

But I don't get time to grocery shop,

When would I cook a meal?

'Belly Dancing' looked like fun,

With tinkly bra and veil,

The thought of baring stretch marks though,

Left me feeling pale.

'Italian Made Easy',

Made me smirk a lot,

I could tell a nice young waiter,

That I like my pasta hot…

But all of these required,

Me to rush about at six

And organise a sitter,

Whilst I fed my hungry chicks.

I think I'll just create a course

That's tailor made for me,

Called 'Relaxation Methods'

-where I blob out after tea!

An Invitation to Glory!

We're having a launch for 'Glory' at the Storylines Family Day in Wellington this Sunday. Come and join us in bringing Florence Bright into the world of junior fiction readers. Award winning author, great friend and mentor Mary McCallum is doing the honours. The launch will be followed by a craft afternoon where you can make the award you always wanted. Every book sold on the day gets a cool badge and a Pinky Bar, because Florence is a generous gal and she likes to make sure all her passions are shared!