Catherine Campbell

tagged...

Last week I got tagged by the lovely My Charlie Girl, so now I have to tell you seven things about myself that you might not know. Mmmm, what to write, lets hope I don't bore you...

1. I might be going to Japan in September. A friend of ours is getting married so it looks like we are going over for a quick visit. I really can't wait, despite the fact that we are going to have to do it on the super cheap it is going to be so much fun!

2. I live in a house with my partner Neil, two cats and two rabbits. Our little house looks a bit tumble down but that is just how I like it. One of my cats has a broken leg at the moment, she has to hop around with a big bandaged splint for three more weeks.

3. My Grandma sends me letters at least once a week full of newspaper clippings about gardening, recipes and star signs. I love reading them. All my family live in Sydney, and I am in Melbourne so I miss them a lot.

4. I just started using fake tan, legs only... winter is really starting to get me down.

5. I take multi vitamins even though I don't really think they do anything.

6. I have a freaky obsession with the Anne of Green Gables films (the first one and the sequel... lets not talk about the one that was made recently that had nothing to do with the books, it was yuk). I know every single word off by heart.

7. I am a very messy person and sometimes this bothers me very much. Neil says I create a donut effect, I find a clean space to sit and work in spreading mess in a ring all around me so when I get up I have left a big donut shaped mess. I am really doing my best to be more tidy and organised.

Ok there you go. Now I will show you a picture, here is my wooden panel for the King Brown Magazine launch this friday. I am working on my image right now, so hopefully I will be able to post a more interesting picture soon...

high seas...

Today I have been busy making a little group of 'High Sea Adventures' dolls. They are all slightly different (except for the twins) and all have special little details added. Shall I introduce them to you...

These are the twins...

She is wearing a pink sash...

She has a delicate little hand embroidered bunny button...

And she is the odd one out...

Well if any of these take your fancy, they are all available over here in my shop!

pink stockings...

Well here she is, the first My Folk Lover doll! I must admit I am quite fond of her. After many attempts and lots of not quite rights, she finally appeared. She is about 10" tall and is made from felt and cotton. I made her face using an iron on image transfer and she has some very cute extra little details, like those two cloth covered button badges. I think she prefers to be looked at rather than played with, I like her best hanging on the wall amongst the pictures. If you are interested in having her for keeps, she is available right here.

dress ups...

Well I have had a very productive night in the studio playing dress ups! Here are two little originals that are now available in my shop. Secretly, I have always wanted to be a costume designer, I think that is why I find making these so fun...

'Curious Adventures in Pink'

'Curious Adventures in Blue'

You can find them both here.

paper love...

Today I went paper shopping, one of my favourite things to do. I bought lots of pretty pieces so tonight I'm going to have some fun making a few little originals for my shop... I'm thinking Marie Antoinette meets the circus, I wonder what will happen! I'm still out of felt, so my dolls will have to wait until tomorrow.

work in progress...

I'm thinking in the third dimension at the moment... I mean I'm trying to make dolls. I'm having a bit of trouble reaching a design I'm happy with, there's limbs sticking out in odd directions, material that doesn't sit well, and how to make hair while still having shoulders? Oh, I think I'm getting closer, but I have run out of felt for the moment so I thought I'd post a few progress shots...

I'm also beginning to think up a new painting for an exhibition opening here in Melbourne on August 3rd. The exhibition is for the launch of King Brown Magazine, issue 3. Here is the flyer, see those silhouette shapes, well we were all given a piece of wood cut into those shapes to do our image on... I have a bottle, hehe it's going to be fun I thinks...

lovely bits and pieces...

I am in love with all things ship at the moment, tales of the high seas are helping to provide some great inspiration. I couldn't resist posting a few of these lovely creations by artist Ann Wood...

They are very beautiful, the amount of work that must go into each one is amazing! Also here is another nautical themed work by an equally lovely artist, Sarah Blank...

And last but not least, a beautiful illustration of Marie Antoinette with a rather amazing head dress...

I hope you enjoy this little high sea adventure!

curious adventures...

Hello... I haven't blogged very much at all this month! I have been making stuff though, as this thursday a new shop is opening on Smith St in Melbourne called In.cub8r and I have a little spot in it. Here is a tiny sneak peak of a few of my pieces...

'Curious Adventures on the High Seas'

These are tiny originals (5cm x 6.5cm each) that I hope to have framed and looking pretty by tomorrow morning. I will post more pictures tomorrow as right now I need to go to bed. I'm exhausted due to the fact that this morning I had a grand plan to get fit and I decided to walk to work (and back again this afternoon). It was an hour each way of quite fast paced walking, plus this morning I had to work my way through a very very thick and cold fog. So now I am tired and have sore feet... too much for a girl who has kept to a snail's pace all winter!

a tiny break...

We just had a tiny two day break in the countryside. It was lovely, we did nothing but sit by the fire and look out at the cold wintery weather and the cows! Here are a couple of pictures...