All about me....

The December issue of The Age [Melbourne] Magazine featured a 2 page spread all about me and my home. My friend James Braund took the photographs.

ps. imagine the bathroom tiles being a million shades lighter, more a faded teal green, Not turquoise... that would hurt my eyes in the morning!

Garden up-date- Dickens St vege pathway

More before during and after photos, this time of the garden pathway. Used up all the bricks by making chunky squares seats with thyme planted in them.

Garden up-date- Dickens St vege patch

This is the new extension of the vegetable patch, the sunniest spot in the garden.

The zucchinis are loving life and grow so fast it is scary, got to be quick to avoid the dreaded marrow.

Fitzroy Garden revival -side view

We took the fences down and pruned the lemon and lime tree for more sunlight and better growth of fruit.

Fitzroy Garden revival -front view

This is the view from the back terrace. Amazingly the compost bins were completely full of ready-to-go gorgeous compost, good to get excited about soil huh?

Fitzroy Garden revival -back view

This is the latest garden make-over I created for a friend in North Fitzroy. We had a bit of a working bee, so I got to boss 4 others around, to create this gorgeous new growing space. It always helps when there is a great base to start with: we removed old fences and added alot of compost and poo before we popped in the new steps for easy weeding and picking, planted heaps of yummy vegetables and herbs and mulched deeply. So so so satisfying.

oh how I love a good series of before, during and after photos.

Photo shoot @ home!

Too excited to have my wee home photographed today for The Age's Melbourne Magazine December issue, wow.

The rule is really not to invite any kind of camera crew into your house, oh the mess!

Nah not really, it was all pretty organised and smooth sailing. Strange to have a stylist style my house tho.... we negociated!

Sara, Indi, James in action.

Spick and span.........

Lord of the Rings: Hobbiton oak tree.

I worked on all three of the Lord of the Rings movies way back in 1999/2000 and spent a glorious late spring month in Matamata [just south of Auckland] on the outdoor set of Hobbiton dressing the exterior Hobbit houses and making the place looked lived in. The Greens dept and Construction dept had already spent 12 months creating the hobbit holes and the hedge rows, vegetable and flower gardens. While I was there they erected the Oak tree that is above Bilbo's house. It was created from dissecting [and numbering each piece] a real oak tree, travelling it to the site and assembling it together, stunning to watch. A bunch of local uni students spent 3 weeks 'leafing' the branches with fake oak leaves before they were erected.

Spring is good

The trellis is up and the peas have sprouted, in fact most of the garden is planted out with greens, just waiting for warmer weather for the tomatoes and basil and aubergines.

Spinach, beetroot, and corriander seeds sprouting.

California poppies taking over the pathway, love it.

Dickens St back garden vege patch

This is the other end of the vege garden, a work in progress and the sunniest spot in the garden all year....plans for peas and beans and lots and lots of basil and eggplants. More photos later.

Dickens St back garden

The vegetable garden at the back of my apartment block had an area full of rubbish, weeds and vines... so I dealt to it. It is a kinda shady spot, except for mid summer sun, so shade loving leafy greens are going in there and perhaps a pumpkin and a zucchini plant. Lush plant photos later.

Woolly winter cushions

Finished the cushions, so cosy, so satisfying.

Crossed cushion

Creating new cushions for the couch in a chunky wool with embroidered graphic images to keep me occupied on the winter nights.

Art Work

A selection of my early art work.

From Sacred Heart Series [10 x 10cm, 1994] cast bronze, NZ handmade flax paper, beeswax, ink.

'Oh Really' [20 x 14 cm, 1994] cast bronze, handmade NZ flax paper, ink, beeswax

Violet collage [20 x 30 cm, 1993] handmade NZ flax paper, beeswax, found paper, ink

Sacred Heart Series [25 x 35 cm, 1994] cast bronze, handmade NZ flax paper, ink, beeswax

'Just Calm Down' [20 cm, 1994] cast bronze, handmade NZ flax paper, ink, beeswax

Art Work:Hung, Drawn and Quartered

This work made from tissue thin handmade NZ flax paper and called Hung Drawn and Quartered [2500 x 1000 mm, 1994] went up in flames by a missed placed candle at a very rocking party!

Art Work: Spiral Mirror

I made a series of cast bronze mirror frames and sold them in NZ design shops for a few years. This is one of the few left... Spiral Mirror [30 x 40 cm, 1994].

Art Work: I Owe You A Letter

'I Owe You A Letter' [25 x 20 cm, 1994] made from cast bronze and handmade NZ flax paper, printed, sewn and dipped in beeswax.

Art Work: Good News to the Sick

These nine pieces were in my final year exhibition at Nelson School of Design, Nelson, NZ where I did a Diploma in Craft Design. Called 'Good News to the Sick' [50 x 40cm each, 1992] each piece related to a herb that had remedial powers for the skin. Made from handmade NZ flax paper, moulded, printed and waxed, and backlit to enhance the reference to delicate skin.

Art Work: Datura Crest

In a previous life I created art and exhibited in New Zealand. This piece called Datura Crest [1200 x 1000mm, 1992] won the annual Young Contemporaries Art Exhibition in Nelson, NZ in 1993 [oh so long ago, the year after I finished art school]. It is made of flax paper that I handmade, moulded, printed, painted and waxed. It is called Datura Crest due the gorgeous garden that I lived in at the time that had this mysterious plant come up every year with the most stunning and sweet night-smelling flower and very very spikey seed pods. Otherwise known as Moonflower or Thorn Apple.

Props: 10,000BC film

I made these brown baby props for the film 10,000BC in Wanaka, NZ in 2006. They were for 'mothers' to carry around in the background.

Dickens St garden

I planted this garden a year ago when I first moved here. There were no plants on the left under the eaves and poor dry hard soil.

I added compost and water retention agents and decided to plant succulents since I had heaps of 'pups' from my potted succulents.

My lovely communal gardener liked what I was doing and left a stash of succulent cuttings to plant.....only four have survived, the possums find them particularly tasty unfortunately.

One year later.....the garden has survived the drought and sporadic watering.

Since the grass between the gardens is so shabby I moved 140 bricks to create a solid pathway and extend the garden either side.  Nice. And more room for more plants, very pleasing.

The cerise Hebes will like life a whole lot more now with a bit of mulch and I am excited to watch the San Pedro Cacti grow to great heights. Planning to plant Victoria Blue Salvia (salvia farinacea) [but of course], some rose and citrus Pelargoniums, and dark red Geraniums...mmmm.

Owl 2

Ollie the Owl for new nephew number two Anthony [sadly never made it to its destination, lost in the post or stolen in the post, grrrr]

Owl

Oscar the Owl I made for my new nephew Charlie.

Exterior - Ghetto Garden up-date

Wow! I wandered into the Ghetto Garden yesterday and was thrilled to see all the lush growth over the past 6 weeks and also some pretty floral additions by a resident's lovely mum. How good does that rocket look?... and you can see the buttercrunch lettuces are a big favourite, all the outer leaves munched already by the gals and the bok choy is flourishing as is the perennial basil [ocimum americanum]. There seems to be no big or little pests (the calendula and curry plant  [helichrysum italicum] and crazy stick sculpture dangling with keys, are all doing their job), only an unforeseen crop of stinging nettle.... plucked and chucked with gloves as these gals are not into nettle tea. Proud to see 20 year olds getting a green thumb.

Bok choy looking good on the left and the rocket in the front.

Basil is top far right... calendula in front.

see here for before photos.....

Street Art

I was allowed to steal these small xmas deco card cutouts by Paul Cosgrave [laser cut from recycled cardboard packaging] from the totally stylish Matterhorn Bar in Wellington, NZ on the last night of their showing.

So I brought them all back to Melbourne and found them all a lovely new home in Elwood and St Kilda.

Tropical Exterior: Dickens St

Before: entrance to Dickens St, far too much brick and pipe action for my liking.

The rose petals [many many hours of plucking rose heads apart at work were scored as left overs from the TV show The Elephant Princess's coronation day] were sprinkled on the ground to welcome my book club gals one Sunday.

After: many many plants that love the afternoon sun.

Graffiti

I have been writing chalk graffiti in my street for a while now, just things to keep me smiling and to pass a thoughtful or silly message on to passersby [who I can see thru my studio window reading them!]. I was inspired by Keri Smith's book The Graffiti Art Kit.

'Everything will be just fine' is a good mantra to have as you walk outside your home, or 'just look up we are both under the same starry sky'. Across the road is a wedding venue where I wrote 'this day will never happen again'. Or 'you look really good today'.

It still does not rain around here much so the chalk words last for ages.  I was very moved to find this note carefully waterproofed and taped to my fence yesterday!

Prop - Possum fur blanket

Possum fur blanket that I just made for a documentary about convict William Buckley living in an Aboriginal community near Geelong, Victoria in the early 1800's. The skins were sourced from New Zealand where there is an endemic possum problem killing off all the native forests. They are a real pest in NZ and it is great that there are now many cottage industries using possum fur... mixed with merino wool, tails as scarves or made into the groovy slippers that I wore as I sewed!

Stitched for many hours with waxed linen thread. Approx 2 metres square.

Exterior - Ghetto Garden revival

Dubbed the Ghetto Garden, a friend and I spent 4 hours reviving this garden for her daughter and their flatmates in their first flat. All they have to do now is water it!!

before: old tomato plants, weeds, sticks and poor soil but plenty of parsley plants!

During: found a stash of bricks for stepping stones, dug in Dynamic Lifter manure and water saving pellets.

After: Lettuce, rocket, bok choy, beetroot, thyme, oregano, basil, lemon verbena, leeks, silver beet, mizuna and calendula all mulched into their happy new home with pea straw.

Before..

During: planting vegetables and herbs

After

Before: view to house

During: pepper plants from old garden will love the new soil and mulch.

After.... will post new shots of garden in a month or so to see how it grows ...mmmmm

Domestic Interior - Dickens St: Kitchen plus

Bottle scrubber collection and Gaye Hawkes shell flower in potplant.

Star cookie cutters on wall with wooden fantail.

Wooden critters 

Domestic Interior - Dickens St: Lounge shelves

Shell lamps, and woven wall piece by NZ flax weaver Valerie Parkes continue the Pacificana theme throughout the home. Classic Ikea shelves with Ikea frames.

Mango wood lamp, teak candlesticks, art work by Sam Farquar.

Horn bird collection.

Domestic Interior - Dickens St: Lounge

This is my home. I have been collecting shell necklaces for over 20 years, there are now more than 200. I also have a thing about orange, can you tell?

Botanic images sourced from a calendar.

New Zealand inspired teatowel in frame, collection of stamps above window.

Chinese urn with goldfish swimming inside.

Domestic Interior - Dickens St: Kitchen

Domestic Interior - Dickens St: Bathroom

Seed necklace collection and privacy ensured by tropical plants outside window.

Depression glass collection for bathroom bits and bobs.

Domestic Interior - Dickens St: Spare room

Basket collection and hula doll collection in the spare room.

Domestic Interior - Dickens St: Bedroom

Love the collection of straw images made in India.

Domestic Interior - Dickens St: Garden

Sunny and shady garden perfect for lots of succulents.

TV Series - The Elephant Princess

I created and fitted the costume for the lead character in The Elephant Princess TV series, Anala. [otherwise known as Siam who lives at the Australia Zoo in Queensland.]

Banquet creation to topple over....

I created the bagpipes, and flute.

The crown for the Princess that I created.

Domestic Interior - Westbury St: Lounge

Before: plain mat and no art on walls but good neutral lounge suite and Eames lounge and ottoman.

After: new art, mat, and side table

before: art hidden behind chair and large blank wall in dining room

After: art on wall and old wooden box as side table

After: art collection above fireplace

After: new green shag rug, more art on walls, toy collection on picture rail

After: art piece in hallway

Domestic Interior - Westbury St: Dining room

Before: disorganised bookshelf, no art on walls and art hidden high up on picture rail

After: bookshelf sorted, family and friends photo wall created

Before

After: art on walls, globe collection created [there are tiny globe pencil sharpeners beside larger globe]

After: kids toy and art collection on picture rail now

Domestic Interior - Westbury St: Kitchen and bathroom

Before

After: portable shelf moved into better position, clock above fridge

Before

After: portable shelf moved, art on the walls

Before: messy display cupboards, bags behind door too bulky

After: cupboards organised

Before

Before

After: old kids art removed, space cleared

After

Domestic Interior - Westbury St: Spare room

Before

Before

Film - The Loved Ones: ICU hospital room

This 'The Loved Ones' set was created in a deserted old hospital, so all the equipment, bed, linen, chairs etc were hired and dressed in.

Film - The Loved Ones: Carla's house

This The Loved Ones set started with an empty room where we created a home for depressed widow unable to maintain domestic bliss anymore.

Film - The Loved Ones: School dance

Utilizing one corner of a school gym we created a pretty end of year school dance with fairy lights and festoons.

Film - The Loved Ones: Stone's house

In the movie The Loved Ones the Stone's are very creepy folk living in a home that has not changed for 30-40 years, not alot of housekeeping goes on here. Great wallpaper tho!

Film - The Loved Ones: Holly's room

In the film The Loved Ones the lead character Brent's girlfriend, Holly, had a room created for a groovy hippy teenager.

TV Series - MDA: terminally ill children's hospital rooms

MDA hospital rooms for a terminally ill boy and girl.

TV Series - MDA: Natal ICU

Natal ICU room created for TV series MDA in actual hospital utilizing their equipment and hired medical props.

TV Series - MDA: hospital room

Empty room created into maternity ward room set for MDA.

TV Series - MDA: Robyn Masterton's apartment

This apartment for the lead actor playing a female doctor in MDA had core elements like the couch and table, I added lamps, cushions and all the featured red/white/black props.

TV Series - MDA: Operating Theatre

With alot of help from the theatre staff we created a working operating theatre for the TV series MDA, with screen for viewing operation.

TV Series - MDA: Liz's house

Interior for student doctor studying medicine on the TV series MDA.

Film - The Extra: Roman market

For the film within the film The Extra, the Roman set was in the studio with green screen all around the perimeter.

Film - The Extra: Doctor's office

GP's office for the film The Extra.

Film - The Extra: Claudia's room

Lead character Claudia's room for the film The Extra.