DIY Canvasses

This is a really simple and gorgeous idea.

If you are not blessed as an artist this is the project for you.  Find some lovely doilies (opshops are great for this), glue them to a canvas and paint white.  Done.

Again, easy, all you need is wax crayons and a hair dryer.

Very cute for a nursery

My kids have had such fun doing these type of paintings.  Just head down to your hardware store and buy some masking tape for painting.  Then stick it on your canvas in whatever design you like and paint away.  

Happy Arting

Jen and Row.

www.shimi.com.au

Art work on the "cheap"

A few years back we moved into our house, which I love.  Single story with lots of open living, and only a year old, so nothing to do.  After living in a tiny townhouse, which we renovated, then moving to an even tinier 50 year old house, which we did a complete overhaul on,  I am over renovating.  So moving into our "new" house was really a wonderful day for us.  No more weekends working 6-6 with paint brush or a hammer in hand.

However after living in older houses that undoubtedly had a lot of character, we found once we had settled into our new home and had a chance to "look around", that it felt a bit sterile.  Lots of white is a wonderful look, but it needs to be balanced with great accessories or artwork (I think anyway).

However, after buying a new home, like most young couples with children, spending lots of money on art work is the last thing on the list of things to do.  So, taking one room at a time, I have set about de-sterilizing our lovely house.  So far kids rooms done, living and dining area almost done, and big hallway done.  Just a few more rooms to go....

Most of the artwork I have put up is just great material covering canvasses.  I have attempted a few paintings myself and am happy enough with them to put them in a few discrete corners, but all in all we have created a much cosier environment.  This small canvas I covered with remnants I had left.  I loved the fabric but never had enough to do anything much with it, so this was a great compromise.

Although I am getting some gorgeous artwork very soon from my beautiful friend Sarah who is an artist and interior designer (You can follow Sarah on twitter : http://twitter.com/#!/Sarahidmentor for lots of great design advice).  I am really excited to put them on the wall, as I love a home full of art.

My aunt and uncle have a similar house - completely white along with most of the accessories white as well, however every wall is filled with artwork.  Fortunately for them my uncle is a very talented oil painter, so he spends his retirement painting and filling their walls with art.

The few images you see here come from a gorgeous blog http://preciousstyle.blogspot.com/2009/01/say-yes-to-color.html .  They capture that beautiful light feeling lots of white gives but the importance of colour to make it homely and lovely.

Lots of lovely ideas - one day I will put them into practice.

Jen
www.shimi.com.au

Rainy Days

As mentioned before I love rainy days. The rain brings back such sweet memories for me. I was really lucky to have a really wonderful childhood. I lived in a small town where my mother owned a drapery, the place that cultivated my passion for design. A short walk from the main street of town lived my Grandmother, who was the ultimate Granny. She was an ex Home Economics teacher and always had some sort of craft on the go, and when she wasn’t doing that she was cooking delicious traditional food – anzac biscuits, trifle, roast dinners, home made custard, rice pudding, the list goes on. Actually my most fond memory of her cooking was quiche and pizza, there was something in both of those dishes that made it taste so welcoming. I haven’t worked out what is was to this day but every time I put corn in my quiche it gives me a snippet of that flavour.

So, on the holidays I would spend my days at the Drapery helping mum out and when I was bored with that, I would wander up to Grans. In both placed my love of material, sewing, cooking (although that has certainly dwindle now I am a short order cook every night), and learning new ways to create was encouraged. Even when my ideas were are bit mad, both Gran and Mum gave me full rein to give it a go, but when I look back, I was always gently steered in the direction away from disaster. One of the great parts about creating something new was the discussions the three of us had trying to come up with solutions on how to make my wild idea come to reality.

My Grandmother passed away last year at 104. Unfortunately she spent the last 6 years of her life in a home (a wonderful nursing home I must add) with no quality of life. She had lost her sight, hearing and the ability to move by herself and it was very sad to see this once very independent woman be completely reliant on others. My last really fond memory of Grandma was when she first entered the home. The whole family was feeling guilty but we had no choice as she could no longer look after herself and that was the only option. So for the first 6 months she had visitors almost constantly and that never really changed. I travelled to visit her and my mum, aunt and myself spent a week sitting with her all day just chatting and doing handwork. Mum was then an avid patch working, so she spent the days embroidery what every quilt she was working on. I found a tapestry that I thought would be fun to attempt and it was although I still haven’t finished it (7 years down the track). I did get a little despondent about it when all the elderly ladies that came to visit Gran would study my Tapestry and every single one of them told me that a good Tapestry looks the same on the back as it does on the front. They did not appreciate my bulky knots at the back. Anyway I did better than my Aunt who, no matter how often she tries, is no craft person. I think she gave cross stitch a go and it is probably sitting half finished somewhere as well.

It is a very cherished memory, a quite week in a nursing home with my Grandmother, but the four of us had some of the greatest chats we have ever had in that week and rainy days always make me think of that week.

Jen & Row

www.shimi.com.au

Coat Hanger Art

I found this little idea in a magazine yesterday and thought it was cute and a really good way to use up some remnants of material that I really don't have enough to do anything much with, but can't bring myself to throw away.

Very simple, and took me all of 40 minutes to complete.  All you need is:

Wire Coat hanger

15mm Stripes of material about 15 cm long

Simply fashion the coat hanger into a shape of your choice, I have chosen a heart.  Then take your stripes of material, which I tore rather then cut because I wanted the more rustic look, and it onto the coat hanger until it is full.

I have done mine in a Christmas theme.  I probably wouldn't have them hanging for a long period of time, but for the festive season I am happy with these little burst of colour.

Happy making

Jen & Row

www.shimi.com.au

Calling all Artisians

We currently have positions available at Shimi for Artisians and arts and crafters to display there beautiful creations.

If you are interested in selling your handmade and handcrafted works of art, please contact Jennie or Rowena on info@shimi.com.au.  We would love to hear from you and discuss this possibility of working with you.

Jen & Row
www.shimi.com.au