The Grumpy Worm

(A very, very short tale of worm woe)

Certain things made the worm grumpy. Mostly it came down to the interference of his home.
He was constantly having to repair the damage caused to his underground sanctuary.
Such as when the over earth giants stamped pass over head. the movement sent tremors causing cave ins through the corridors of his home.
Another problem were the over industrious ants expanding their empire. Never once asking if it is alright to build a new tunnel right through his living room. Then of course after he's had words with the un-civil engineers of the local ant community, they surely would leave — without bothering to repair the damage to his home. The massive clean up was always left to this one very unhappy worm.

Cherry Blossom Girl

I love the film Lost in Translation. I feel so much for the character Charlotte. She isn't just lost in a new city. She is lost in a mental transit — hardly knowing what she is supposed to be doing with her life. I totally get that.
She tries knitting, writing, taking photos, listening to a self help tape. Exploring blindly, almost stumbling into situations. Nothing more literal for this stumbling than when she actually stubbed her toe.

I love this paper cherry blossom decoration. How do I make one?

What am I reading?

I pulled out an oldie from my book collection and am rereading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, written by John Berendt.


What music am I listening to?

• Happy Up Here — Röyksopp
• We Used to be Friends — The Dandy Warhols
• Boys of Summer — Don Henley
• Bette Davis Eyes — Kim Carnes
• Crimson and Clover — Tommy James and the Shondells
• Summer Breeze — Seals and Croft

Not So Complicated Today

Usually my mind gets a bit lost and frantic between art/craft projects. And I started to feel that way this weekend. But today I am not going to stress about it — just try to enjoy the moment. Which then led me to start writing just a little bit.


We are about to enter February, and Melbourne is forecast for a 39° day. Ouch! Feel the burn. So indoors it is for today. And should I decide to do any washing it will at least dry outside in two seconds flat. The cat has the right idea…

I have a couple of things to look forward to. Over the weekend I ordered two fabulous craft books:

• Tasty Crochet — Rose Langlitz
• Yummi ‘Gurumi — Christian Hayden & Mariarosa Sala

I am hoping to crochet some food treats to go with my daughter's little tea set. It will make her tea parties extra special.

Speaking of crafting food. I was also thinking of making a felt sandwich, as per a tutorial that Myrtle & Eunice prepared a while ago.

Head Over Heels…

… or is it?

Following is today's illustrated water colour exercise.

Today's Inspiration Board

What inspires me at the moment?

• Jem & the Holograms
• Pink hair
• Nicacelly
• Gwen Stefani
• Roller disco & roller skates
• Chrissie Amphlett
• Joan Jett
• Lily Allen
• Emma Watson
• Rainbow Brite

Roller Girl

Water colour exercise

Sweetie Grace

Her name is Sweetie Grace.
She lives in a land of floss and flowers.

WIP It

I am still knitting a winter skirt for Gwennie. You can see the progress as per the above photo.


What else can you see in that photo?

• There is a sketch/art journal, which includes my knitting notes.
• There is a mess of wool — which my daughter got stuck into and had fun with.
• A dressmakers measuring tape, so I know when to stop knitting.
• And there is a library book, that I have just started reading — Ghouls Gone Wild by Victoria Laurie.

Dragon Fly

Dragonflies are such busy little creatures that the best you see of them is actually a blur.


An opportunity presented itself a few days ago when a very large dragonfly turned up practically at my front door. I don't know how it died. Though presumably, since it was still intact, it must have passed away from  old age.


Here is a near-macro photo of the dragonfly…

Another Water Colour Exercise

And Not a Stitch Dropped…

Yet!

The odyssey of a knitted skirt has begun. What you are seeing is a bit of the waistband. But the more it grows, the more I wonder if the double rib stitch would have been better suited for the drop of the skirt. Well, it is a work in progress after all.

It's a Giveaway!

Are you looking for something lovely and different to decorate oneself? Something that is so unique you can be guaranteed your BFF will not wear the same ensemble when you step out for a girls night? Then look no further than this jewelry giveaway hosted by Flora Chang over at Happy Doodle Land…
http://happydoodleland.blogspot.com/2011/01/give-away-time-gray-linen-hardware.html

I love this necklace. It makes me think of the props from such films as Forbidden Planet, The Neverending Story, Stargate, and even Serenity (Firefly). It's chunky. It's refashioned. It's antique. It's perfect.

Wednesday What’s!

What am I doing? Where am I at? Let's see…

— Right now I am blogging and eating a homemade burger sandwich

— Yesterday afternoon I sewed a Barbie dress using an old baby outfit.

— I have been been messing about with my own knitted toddler skirt design. Just getting the thing started takes a few different goes till I am satisfied with the outcome.

— Tonight I will bake a shepherds pie. Yum-yum!

— I am reading Down & Derby, which I bought from Bird in the Hand zine shop. I love roller skating and any association with skates. When it arrived in the mail wasn't I surprised to find the two authors had in fact autographed the book.

— I am also rereading New Moon for the zillionth time. My Twilight saga addiction has yet to fade.

What sort of things have you been busy doing, or even thinking about? Put it out there.

Her Groove Back

I gotta say, it is nice to take a break from creativity, particularly at the end of the year when everything just seems to come to a head. The transition into the new year is often a time to take stock, and clear the cobwebs.
But by golly, after being in that la-di-da space long enough, I discover just how difficult it is to get the internal pendulum swinging again. Indecision, mental paralysis, artistic block, whatever it is you want to call it. It can be quite a hurdle to overcome.
Luckily last night I finally kicked those slow blahs and began thinking, drawing and planning. Now I am happy to say that I have myself a project to cover me for a few weeks. I will be knitting a skirt for my little girl — and it will be of my own design.

Black & White Photography

This blog entry is a response to “A Week of Black & White” by A Little Bird Told Me…

New Artwork for Sale

My latest piece of artwork, is available for sale at Red Bubble. Simply follow this link… http://www.redbubble.com/people/emjie/art/6551174-1-kaleido-kristen


The picture is available on:

• Greeting Card
• Matted Print
• Laminated Print
• Mounted Print
• Canvas Print
• Framed Print
• Poster

Green Dress

Walk On By

Kaleido Kristen

Water Colours

I shy away from new year resolutions. But I do enjoy setting myself artistic challenges.

One of my goals is to practice painting with water colours, more specifically fashion illustration. Below is my first water colour for 2011.

A Painting For Gwen

Gwen simply loves cars! That is a statement and paragraph in itself.
I have wanted to do a painting for Gwen's room, but have long struggled with a concept that would suit her. Finally though, when Gwen's attraction to cars took root, the answer became obvious. I would paint a car.
Below is a progress of my painting. Would you believe, I began painting yesterday evening, and finished it this morning. Part of the colour scheme has been inspired by Batman: The Animated Series, which often depicts the night sky in a red colour.
Gwen saw the painting early this morning in a half finished state and knew exactly what she was looking at.