cardboard furniture

What can you do with cardboard that would otherwise be thrown into

into the scrap heap?

With a bit of imagination, ingenuity and a will to succeed, you can create 

just about anything if you put your mind to it.

Here, the basic frame made from cardboard, that will be

paper mached over and then decorated with paint.

The second stage nearing completion.

The floral details stand out in relief and have been individually cut
from cardboard, as was the frame around them.

I decided the lower shelf looked flimsy and needed more layers of cardboard

to strengthen it.

The completed table.
Surprisingly very strong. As it has no joints as does conventional furniture,
it is less likely to fall apart.

The verse reads -

'As sure as the sun rises in the morn',

Breathing life into every living thing,

So the wise artist doth know that,

The core of creation lies within.'

My cat however, has other ideas for  using  my paper mache furniture.

It's very comical, that without fail ,whenever I place out my work to dry in the sun,

she sits herself on top ,

thinking I have provided her a self-grooming platform.

Time Team - Move Over!

School holidays have finished, and to my regret the kids have

returned to school. So it's early mornings again. 

I so enjoy them being at home.

On one day, during the holiday break, Camille and I were walking around

the local park when we found an old steel fork laying on the ground. 

We picked it up, studied it, and thought, this could be used....

to dig around the pile of dirt behind a nearby oval.

Why would we want to dig with a fork around a pile of dirt you might ask?

The answer lies in these pictures.

Because behind the oval exists the remains of 

what used to be a rubbish tip for old bottles and crockery.

As you walk the area, fragments of old plates and glass are to be 

seen scattered everywhere and it is calling out to be explored.

 

Using our 'found' fork,  we began to dig and see what we could find.

Camille very enthusiastically got to work (with a bit of help from mum)

and at the end of the dig , full of anticipation, we brought the items home.

After a good wash and scrub in hot soapy water ,

we uncovered a number of old bottles....

later to be found 

(with a bit of research on the computer)

to be dating back to the 1930's/40's.

l

We also uncovered a number of pieces of broken crockery, some with beautiful

decorative detail......

 

 

...and some really gorgeous little bottles, measuring not more than

4cm in length.

Perfume / aromatic oil vials perhaps?

 

 An early refining lotion bottle belonging to the firm

'Helena Rubenstein'

and a 1930's 'clag' bottle.

 

 

 

 

The following day, which was to be our last day before the start of school

we visited the site again.....

 

...and found what was to seal the mystery of how old our finds  were.

A much corroded coin, after a good clean revealed an 

Australian half penny dated 1945/8?

 

The Kangaroos leg down the middle of the coin is faintly visible....

 

....while the profile of King George VI

can just be seen on the reverse.

A couple of satisfying days of rummaging around.

Until next time.

 Old books .

I admit our family have a large collection 

of books. ...many of which I find on sale or

in secondhand / thrift shops.

I especially appreciate the fine artistry and attention to detail

in bookbinding techniques

of this era.

 

 

 

But the finding of this book has a story to tell .

 

Being a Shackleton enthusiast,

I could not believe my luck one day when I

was wandering the aisles of Reverse Truck Garbage

 here in Ringwood. 

Perusing the scraps of timber piled up in a dark corner

I noticed an old book laying on top of the pile.

Out of interest , I picked it up, curious as to what it was.

To my surprise, I had stumbled across the popular edition

of Shackletons' account of his first trans-antarctic expedition.

Dated very early 1900's and with lots of black and white photos.

Complete with a map, outlining the route

his crew took.....I bought this book for $1!

 

Another Shackleton book I have is the

Aurora Australis,

which was the first book to be printed in the antarctic.

During the dark months spent in the south,

Shackletons crew needed to occupy themselves,

so compiled this wonderful book, printed in cramped conditions

in sub zero temperatures this was no mean feat....

 

 

On close inspection one can observe the obvious variations

in printing caused by the unreliable conditions effecting

the inks on the printing press. Adds such alot of character

                                     to the pages featuring  George Marstons beautiful illustrations.

Just some of my books that I love to read.

 

 

 It's cold outside so I've been going on

 a photo spree today.

Buttons. 

White and cream crockery.

Just some of the things I look out for 

when shopping at charity stores.

I once found a small jar full of white buttons of all shapes

and sizes, and when asking the lady behind the counter if

I could buy the entire jar, she looked at me as if I were odd.

I didn't reveal to her how fine they look as decoration.

I'm still looking for

vintage buttons...

and of course, cream porcelain to display the collection on.

I added a couple of Ishka swing tags ,

i rather like the designs on certain retail store tags-

they are works of art in their own right.

Even my daughters little plastic white cat sneaked

in the display somehow!

Beautiful.

Time to light a candle indoors.

The flame brings spirit into the home,

while I sit and have a morning tea break in 

my cosy corner.......

then it's time to take more photos.

 

Mrs Tiggywinkle sits on my mantelpiece with a wooden

jigsaw puzzle dated 1979. Mrs Tiggywinkle is handmade by

myself and I have made a few other characters from the

Tales of Beatrix Potter....

she is one of my favorite children's book

illustrators.

Her main achievemnet I believe is 

The Tailor Of Gloucester.

 

Such a cold autumn day out today,

took some quick photos from the backyard

of our majestic gum tree, and then it was back inside....

my clothes damp from the rain but enjoying it just the same.

'My Home' in autumn

First days of autumn here in Melbourne.
The light is beginning to change from the harsh and bright
of summer
to the golden and soft of autumn.
It is a wonderful time of year.
And I've been busy as ever, creating art for friends and family.
Today I have posted just one of my artworks,
a request from a friend to 'colorize' a simple black and white
copy of australian artist Thea Proctor's - The Rose', which featured as
a cover design for 'The Home' magazine circa 1920.
It was delightful to bring this dull black and white copy to life
with color, and Mr Napper was thrilled with the results.