Winter Blooms

 I was asked to create a bridal hairpiece for a friend recently.

I took a couple of quick pics in our garden, amid beautiful 

winter blooms, before sending the lovely thing on it's way.

I've posted some beautiful pictures from the wedding on 

A Modern Fable if you fancy a little peek into the day. xo

How Wild The Wind Blows

Indeed the weather has been wild and windy here lately, but 
with dashes of random sunshine and masses of butterflies.  

Wanderer Butterflies sipping nectar in our flower garden.

So I've been busying myself inside this week. In the studio.

Making, making making for shop 1 & shop 2 (opening soon),

taking photographs for my portfolio, making new artwork,

contemplating making some more sculptural pieces

and listening (a lot) to the music of Nick Drake.

It seems that Nick's mother was musically inclined too and

a couple of her homemade recordings have been doing the 

rounds on the internet lately.  This is possibly one of them...

How Wild The Wind Blows

An acorn carries an oak tree

Sleeping but for a little while;

Winter lies in the arms of spring

As a mother carries her child

And never knows

How wild the wind blows

A thought carries a universe

A seed carries a field of grain

Love lies in the arms of change

As a joy carries a pain

And noone knows

How wild the wind blows

written and sung by Molly Drake (?)

Eerie... and beautiful, even if it turns out not to be Molly's song. x

Another World Recordings

my portfolio of art and illustration

from the 'Playtime Series' circa 2008-9
copyright Anna Maria Drutzel

I've been busy photographing my work for the site lately,

including extracts from my visual diaries and workbooks.

There's a lot to wade through; I've filled nearly 50 journals 

in the last 15 years... of course, not all of it's note-worthy.

The site is under construction but there are some pics up 

if you would like to see a bit more of my artwork ↓

Another World Recordings

(click here)

Monochromatic

Black and white (with a splash of the rainbow)

Phone brooch set scotatto $50.00	vintage. black. whi... ItsBella $24.00	Antique Bantam Type... Brooklynretro $500.00
No. 10012 - The Per... librislunaria $12.00	vintage two tone eq... youngcaptive $22.00	doily clock andfurthermore $28.50
SALE. vintage shoes... PranceAndSwagg... $47.00	Handpainted wooden ... StudioFludd $14.17	Gilbertville Public... drkennedyjones $30.00
Zebra Mask NoSmallPlans $38.00	Vintage 70's Pu... sheenasatana $125.00	Abstract Art Print ... ashleyg $28.00
vintage orange slic... AgeOldThreads $12.00	Vintage Crayons 104... ivorybird $22.00	Vintage Shoes - 198... TwoVintageClos... $36.00

View this treasury (and my others here)

Today I found this tool. It was developed by Red Row Studio. It allows all those wonderful treasuries to be shared on your blog (and readers can click straight through to each listing too!) 

You can read more about the tool here.

It's quick and simple to use... give it whirl!

sign of the twins

It was my birthday yesterday 

and I had a wonderful day.

Here are some of my favourite twin images

It was really lovely to catch up with so 

many of my dear friends this weekend.

I feel blessed to have 

such beautiful people in my life.

Thank-you for all the wonderful gifts

and loving thoughts and words...

 I'd also like to wish a very

✩ Happy Birthday ✩

to all my fellow geminis... 

I know so many.

image sources:

1. unknown 2. Billy und Hells 3.Diabolus 

 4. Sarah Ogren 5.Theremina via flickr

more incredible twin shots on this blog

looking through the kaleidoscope

a painting by Olaf Hajek,

interiors styling by Irina Graewe,

and a butterfly assembledge 

by Damien Hirst 

...and one of my collage work which will

hopefully be available as prints in the shop soon

sorry, not sure of the links for these images...

{Mirka}

The Mirka exhibition at 

HEIDE 

finishes tomorrow.

Mirka Mora and the circle of artists she belonged to,

have been of such inspiration to me and my work.

Books on her art, and that of the rest of the Heide Circle ,

have been at my fingertips ever since I can remember...

the exhibition catalogue

is available here online

her use of symbolism... flowers, birds, angels, dolls, animals;

'primativ style; mythical, fairytale themes and vast portfolio

metamorphosising as painting, sculpture, mosaic and more,

has captured my vivid imagination ever since I was a child.

Mirka Mora with her soft sculptures

My grandmother Clare, learnt doll-making from Mirka at 

the CAE in the 1970s and produced many beautiful mythical

creatures and dolls in this house where I am now living.

She and my grandfather ran a kind of folk art gallery up here

with a regular weekend market selling local arts and crafts,

and had glass cases built in which Clare exhibited her dolls.

doll by Clare K. Woods (my grandmother)

I spent endless hours as a little girl watching my

'Nana' create all manner of beautiful art objects.

Strangely enough, where we were living in the city for 3 years,

was directly across from Mirka's old studio at 8 Rankins Lane.

my 'Heidi' doll

I would stare at it every day from my own tiny workroom...

How nice it would have been to have popped into Mirka's on

my breaks for a cup of coffee and a chat about doll making.

Ari outside the doorway to Mirka's old studio

The Museum of Modern Art at Heide 

is one of my favourite places to visit around Melbourne

the old farm house at Heide

I love the history of the place, and I love so much the work

of the artists that it (and John and Sunday Reed) supported.

Girl by Joy Hester 1957

The gardens are so beautiful, especially th kitchen garden,

and the modernist building is a really incredible space to visit...

Heide II

But it's such a pleasure to me, being able to walk through

the old house since it's restoration, and imagine what it would

     have been like...

as a sanctuary for artists through the 1930s to the 1950s

John Reed cutting Joy Hester's hair 

while Sunday Reed Watched

Welcome to the Dollhaus

There is so much beautiful 

vintage, handcraft and artwork

pouring out of every corner of

my studio at the moment.

I've been playing around with some ideas for photo shoots

...outfits, poses, settings, lighting, props

...there's quite a lot to consider

my grandmother made the stained glass window in the 1970s 

Welcome to the Dollhaus 

will be opening very soon...

the Dala (swedish horse) toy is by me, the collage and box are by Mister Jonathan

Once Upon A Time

'greetings from the wonderful world'

my collage works on vintage card circa 2008

Well, we finally went to see the Disney exhibition at 

ACMI last Friday... and it was really truly wonderful!

I know a lot of people have issues with the world of Disney... being a corporation... past political alliances... the faceless no. of artists creating each piece that the Disney name is then put to... but the work itself, especially when one is given the 'oh so rare' opportunity to view it up close and personal, is simply incredible.

Walt Disney was definitely a visionary, I'll say that about him!

ONCE UPON A TIME: WALT DISNEY
THE SOURCES OF INSPIRATION FOR THE DISNEY STUDIOS

I purchased this fabulous book a few years back.
It's available here online and is well worth a read.

When you think about it The Walt Disney Studios have had
just as much influence on art and artists (if not more) as they
themselves have been influenced by the work of others...

The Saddest Place on Earth: 
The Art of Camille Rose Garcia