chip chop, wood block...

Afternoons have been wonderful lately. I've spent the past couple of weeks colouring and transferring creatures from my sketchbook onto big fat chunks of wood. A couple of weekends ago I spent the morning visiting the workshop of a local woodworker who was super kind and offered me a mixture of hardwood and pine wood scraps.

Cupcake Mister

Midnight Owl

Making me particularly all warm and fuzzy inside is knowing they are all made of recycled bits which any super paper consuming designer (try say that one fast ten time) will love. I made the most of my think blocks by smoothing the sides in hand drawn type leaving my hand with cramps but well worth the pain. Then to tidy up the edges I decided to paint a chalkboard on the reverse side. Functional art!

Wood Block illo's at my market stall.

Sky High

Bot Love v2.0

I'll be selling the original wood blocks at the Youth Street Markets. But if you would like a print if any of the above just let me know and I can send one your way for AU$8.00 (add about $1.50 postage).

Here's to hula hoops and kiss it all betters.

C is for Chanell xox

name, game, shame...

Did you see me on The Scribble Project this morning? I had much too much fun filling in this scribble sheet. If you were curious about putting your efforts down, you can download your own NAME, GAME, SHAME scribble sheet here. We love The Scribble Project. We do. We do!

Here's to stocking feet and something sweet

C is for Chanell xox

far out brussel sprout...

(Images from left to right, Jo Dyer, Heath Killen and Trevor Dickinson)

In early May, I was very flattered when the lovely lady blogger for Inside Out and Notebook, Siobhan Curran invited me to be interviewed for her blog Far Out Brussel Sprout. You can now find the interview along with all other artist, including Newcastle locals Heath Killen, Jo Dyer and Trevor Dickinson from the Novocastrian series here.

Here's to warm mugs and grandma's hugs.

C is for Chanell xox

finding freelance design work...

If your one of those minds gifted with a daisy fresh memory, you may remember a blog post from a handful of weeks back about setting up a market stall for the Youth Street Art Markets. It was great fun and became even better when two of the lovely lady organisers invited me to design the promotional material for the market. When you're a freelancer - graphic design jobs like this aren't so easy to come upon so I was thrilled to play with all this colour in complete freedom. My artwork and logo designs will be splashed over posters, postcards and websites. Big smiles!

The Official Launch of the Youth Street Art Markets will take place on Saturday the 19th of June at Wyong Town Park (opposite Wyong Plaza), Wyong CBD. Please come along and say hello.

Here's to soap suds and super glue.

C is for Chanell x

i think you're swell...

I've got tired eyes.

Juggling a few freelance design projects in one hand and preparing for the next Youth Street Art Markets with the other. I took a mental health night, with pizza + icecream sandwich and some teevee. Feeling much fresher and happy to hop back to work I whipped up this little illustration just to make me smile a little. I had long limbed boys and girls in boots on the mind and it had to come out onto paper (or screen, as it is).

Here's to little reminders and songs of the past.

C is for Chanell xox

etsy tote finds...

I love my canvas tote bag.

It carries my library books and magazines, my sketches and colouring pencils from place to place. It makes me feel all green inside. And today I literally loved it to bits, leaving a horrible big rip down the seams. So I said goodbye, my cotton faced friend and went on the hunt for something new. My two requirements - must be sturdy and must make me smile. Here are my absolute favourite etsy finds from my tote search.

Vintage Bike Tote Bag by humunuku

Blog: http://alanakdavis.blogspot.com/

I want to wear this while riding a bike on my way to the library. This would be the tote to inspire me to read.

Spring Tote Bag by claudiagpearson

Spring is not only my birth season, but my favourite time of the year. The bonus is all the yummiest of freshly grown treats too! Perfect grocery shop companion.

Off With Their Heads Tote Bag - by CubistLiterature

Because an Alice in Wonderland reference a day, keeps the mad hatter at bay.

French Love and L'Alcool Small Tote Bag by CubistLiterature

Type roughly translates to "I'll be there for you always. And I'll get you drunk when you're sad." Brilliant.

Williamsburg and Greenpoint Brooklyn tote Souvenir by BrooklynNovelty

http://www.brooklynnovelty.com/

A bag, an infographic, a souvenir and story tale all in one. Who doesn't love multi functionality?

Embellished Bag w/ Bow by showpony

Blog: http://www.showponydesign.blogspot.com/

Feeding my obsession for bows and intricate detail. And it just gets better against the nude canvas.

Recycled Cotton Tote w/ Retro Typewriter in Red by thecraftpantry

Red, black and canvas colour palette is winner. Paint me anything in these colours and I'll adore it.

Natural Cotton Tote Bag Mon Petit Chou 'My Little Cabbage' by PluckedandPlumed

This tote reminds me of green chalkboards, trampolines and cabbage patch dolls. All the simple things that make me smile.

*All prices are in USD currency.

Here's to childhood favourites and itchy knees.

C is for Chanell xox