crazy-busy days

Ari posed for some pics for my life drawing portfolio, inspired

by Pablo Picasso's 'Harlequins' and the 1960s 'Big Eye' prints

smiley cookie from a city cafe. studying in town= good coffee :)

rough sketch for a new series of drawings that I'm working on

Crazy days. Busy days. Crazy-busy days.

Sorry for the absence of late. I've been taking a bit of an

unplanned hiatus from blogging whilst adjusting to my new 

schedule of study. I hope to be back with more regular

posts soon and some peeks at what I've been working 

on. When I'm not here, you can find me on Pinterest.

And on occasion over here.  I just posted there about

a little project I finished today... in Haute Couture. Take a peek.

Hope your days have been busy and creative too.

Not too crazy-busy though. xox

Art School

On another note, I will be returning to study next year....

I've found the most wonderful creative development course

and am thoroughly looking forward to further honing my skills.

It's project based, so I will be able to work on my own designs...
toys, clothing, illustration and a secret project or two, inline with
the further development of the Raised by the Wolves label.

I look forward to sharing my developments here with you.

It's an awfully long time since I was a student, studying at 

Art School. These works were some of my final year pieces

when I undertook my Diploma of Visual Arts at Swinburne. 

I'm still terribly fond of them, fifteen years on. I've been busy

working on a new series of images along these lines recently

 and am hoping to exhibit them someplace in the next year.

This week, my days have been filled with costume making.

For Ari's school play once more. Just a handful of elves to go

and some polkadot pyjamas for my little man and it's done.

Better get to it I guess!

You can view my art portfolio here, if you fancy. x

the new look

Here's a peek at Ari's new do thanks to Captains of Industry.

Sam the Barber definitely worked some magic on those

tired old locks. I was prepared for tears. But Ari loved getting

 it cut and he loves his new look. And so do I.  It reminds me of the 

children in those old 1930s, 40s and 50s readers, that I'm so fond 

of referencing in my art and illustrations.  So gorgeous!

spring flowers

Just a peek at what's on my work table. 

These pretty little flower heads are sitting there, 

each awaiting their turn to be stitched up!

I've been quite busy in my studio this week and I've 

been listening to a lot of Tom Waits whilst I work.

I never tire of listening to his sweet music.

It has been so very, very cold and grey here lately.

One would scarcely believe that nice weather is on

it's way, and yet today, the blossom trees are in full 

bloom and the bulbs are already beginning to flower 

...I guess, as Tom says (courtesy of Garth)

 you can never hold back Spring.

I've been pinning lots of lovely new things too.

The nights have been too cold to do much other 

than sit by the fire and read, stitch or pin things! 

Why don't you take a looksy... xox

Collage LOVE

While selecting artwork to include in my portfolio, I sifted through a 

vast collection of artworks, sketchbooks and inspiration, that I've held 

onto.  Some of it dated back to my own childhood.  It was so lovely to 

be able to look back and see how my art has developed over my life. 

© Mama and Ari ;)

I've been archiving Ari's artwork too. He's an avid artist, so there's a lot!

Ari and I made this collage back in 2009 and it's one of my favourites.

He really loves that we have kept his works and enjoys looking at them.

And he knows, that we think they are too precious to throw away... xox

a winter wedding

We've just returned from a mid-winter hiatus in Van Diemens Land,

where we attended a wonderful wedding in a lovely winter garden.

It was a really lovely wedding.  All homegrown and handmade.

Guests were asked to bring plates of food rather than gifts and a 

most delectable feast of homemade goodies was bestowed upon 

tables decorated with vintage cloths, tea cup candles and jars of

 dried hydrangea flowers, gathered from the garden last summer
and arranged with brilliant bursts of turquoise peacock feathers.

The pegola had been purpose-built for the occasion by the groom and 

hand-stitched bunting, lovingly crafted (from old books, blankets and

sheets) by the bride and her mother-in-law, was strewn from it's eaves.

The bridal bouquets were made from old buttons and the couple's 

garden was dotted with lace and coloured hand-crocheted flowers.

The bridesmaid dyed her hair turquoise to match the colour theme. 

I had the pleasure of creating the bride's elaborate hairpiece...

my past occupation being costumery and theatrical millinery. 

An Opera Singer... the bride treated us all to a surprise performance 

mid-ceremony when she sang a beautiful love song to the groom and

during the reception a mother/daughter duo belted out old time tunes 

 on a most whimsical hand-crafted electric piano and an old washboard.

Ari, J and I danced up a storm in the beautifully decorated hallway. 

It was one beautiful day in one very beautiful corner of the world.
You can take a closer peek at the hairpiece on my other blog. xox

Little Ari

This photo was taken in 2009, in the lane way outside 

'Our Little-Big House' in the city (as Ari used to call it).

A Little-r Ari in his winter woolies. So cute and

how cute are those bunny mitts?!  Too small now :'(

I drew this picture in 2008 of Ari and his best friend Henri,

(who was one of my earliest toy creation).  I recently uploaded it

to my online portfolio of Art and Illustration... take a peek↓

Another World Recordings

High Five

Sneaky is more like a tiger cub than a house cat. 

And she thinks Ari is a tiger cub too, I think. 

The two of them spend hours playing together.

Ari's double bed is a beautiful old deco piece I picked up for a 

song, many years ago. My first bed when I moved out of home.

His sheets are from Ikea. The print is a graphic version of Ikat.

'Orange Pussycats' is an old work of mine from art school days.

sew pretty.

Working away the wintery days in my studio.

The pretty colours remind me of spring flowers.

A doll for Amelia

I rediscovered this dolly when sifting through some photos today...

Please excuse the poor image quality... I was new to digital then.

I made this little lady as a first birthday gift.

The little girl's Mama has a thing for those 

big-eyed children of 1960s-1970s era prints.

So, I tried my best to capture the 'mod' look in Amelia's doll.

I like that you don't really notice the fabric says I LOVE YOU
until you've taken off her coat and scarf... like opening a card.

The party's theme was 'I heart Amelia!'

What do you think of this little dolly, I wonder? 

I am quite envious of her 'modish' outfit. I can just imagine her go-go
dancing, in Amelia's room, in the middle of the night... can't you? ;)


I only wish, I'd thought to make her mouth a little love heart,
and, perhaps, heart-shaped pockets too... ♥

love & clutter

Perhaps you have noticed some changes around here?

The link lists that were expanding down either side of my blog are now 

situated (in a tidy fashion) as individual pages beneath the blog header.

Ever the work in progress, A Modern Fable turns 1 this month (one!)... 

A tiny, prettily cluttered corner of Dark Horse Studios

...so I thought perhaps it was time for a, well, a... de-cluttering.  Of sorts. 

Of course everything that had a place on this blog still has a place here. 

I find it near impossible to throw anything lovely away... ever!  

Also, I've set up a Pininterest account. And I made a Facebook page for
Raised by the Wolves.  Visit me there sometime, if you're so inclined. x

BOIS & CHARBONS

The other day, Ari and I took a lovely walk around the Collingwood 

Children's Farm & the Abbotsford Convent. We stopped to shoot some 

pictures of each other in front of the old Bois & Charbons Coke Shop.

Would you believe, it was Ari's first time using the camera?

Aren't they great! I love that beautiful old facade so much. 

The weather has been just perfect these past couple of weeks.

Aside from a cold and a bout of stomach flu, we've thoroughly 

enjoyed the school holidays. But school started back again today.

I'm always sad when my Ari has to go back to the classroom.
He's such a sweetheart and I so love spending time together.

It is great to be back in the studio and able to focus on work though.
I am very inspired right now. The work table's piled high with projects

and patterns and fabric and books and trims and I can't wait to finally
get my Etsy shops up and running.  It's all coming together so nicely!

A new button!

Wondering where the link to my other blog's gone?

Scroll down and on the right of the screen you'll find my 

lovely new button. Just click on it to connect to the site.

If you haven't visited there before, I hope you like my other 

little world of fashion, art and more theatrical attractions... xo

These are a few of my...

favourite things.

Things that make me happy.

Things that I love.

Things that I'd love to own.

Things that I do own.

Things that I enjoy.

Things that I enjoy doing.

Things that I enjoy making.

Things that resonate with my sense of aesthetics.

At the moment I am loving... these textile designs by Hilde Reindl,

these beautiful vintage-inspired handmade clothes from Fleur + Dot

and the many beautiful children's rooms pinned here, here and here.

This week has just up and flown away. And what a busy one it was!

You can read a little bit about my week here...  if you so fancy. xoxo

Miller & Goodman

Sort through your toy box and take things apart

Making or breaking, you find the rules

Add thumbprints and scribbles, splodges and swirls

Mistakes and suprises are all part of ART

I found this wonderful book at the NGV shop last week.


It's inspired Ari and I to make some fun faces of our own.
We've been rummaging through the studio and found all sorts
of bits and bobs to use!  I'll post here when we're done :)

Faces is available from millergoodman's shop
and take a peek at their lovely blog here too!


It reminds me very much of Sabine Timm's wonderful work