Tuesday 31 July 2012

Hello Russia! Plus a bit of production...

Hi there!

Do buckle up, this is going to be a long one...

I've been blogging for a few months now... and often wonder who is reading my scribbles... hoping its being enjoyed by the readers out there.  As I approach my 1000th hit (just so you know, I'm at 881 hits)... small by blogging standards but big in my little world, I wonder to myself... who is reading? 

Obviously family and friends... checking in to see what I'm up to, but the stats page which comes with the blog... shows me hits from countries where none of my friends and family reside... like Malaysia, France, Latvia, Singapore, Pakistan.... and Russia! 

Behind Australia and the USA, my biggest audience is in Russia!  Every day I get multiple hits from the big country.  I think its amazing that somebody out there in Russia (which seems so exotic and far-away) regularly visits my little space on the internet.  So, to whoever you are in Russia - a big hello from me!  Do keep reading, and if you so feel inclined, say hello via my comments :)

Right, global "hello's" over with, here is what has been happening in my workshop over the last few days...

I sold my first set of handmade cards with my artwork on them - I've never sold any of my artwork before so needless to say, this made my day!  Here they are all packaged up and ready to go.  My new Nomadic Tara stickers arrived yesterday so they came in handy for sticking the band together...
Here are my new business cards... my little peacock fits quite nicely on there...
I've been busy making "Handmade by Nomadic Tara" gift tags to put on my products.  I decided to get ahead of myself and make some back stock, rather than scrambling around trying to make tags etc once a sale is made.  Good thinking nomad...
Here are some little "keepsake" purses that I designed this week.  I like that they close with an old fashioned "dome".  You don't see those used much anymore - although they are a little tricky to sew on...
These two didn't make it to my store, I ended up giving them away to two very special people.  I will make more though.

These next three clutch purses however, did make it to my Etsy store, which you can find here.

Today the sun shone brightly in Melbourne and I had a lot of fun doing the photo shoot for these.  Daisies from my garden... my favourite little vintage jug makes an appearance along with my Grandmother's pearls and a few tribal bits and pieces... and of course, a plethora of doilies...











The sun shone on my wardrobe today... what to wear???  Well one was shining brighter than the others, so the choice was obvious...
Orange and pink Indian tribal embroidered skirt...
Well of course it must be Tribal Tuesday...
Whew!  that's probably enough of that for now.  Hope your week is going well.

Tara

Friday 27 July 2012

Peace, Love & Yoga... and other things

Hello out there - Happy Friday to you all!

It's been a productive week here at Nomadic Tara's workshop.  I'm busy making these...
They are little clutch purses and I hope to have a couple in the store by next week.  Each one is one of a kind and resplendent with interesting bits and bobs... like this surprise bird under the opening...
I made these Peace, Love and Yoga flags for my Etsy store yesterday.  Since I recently sold two sets I thought I should restock.  These would be lovely hanging in a yoga space, or a lemon tree...


 The centre flag has a Tibetan prayer flag patch
My yoga space...
So, on to other things.  Since I'm busy at the sewing machine this week there has not been much time for photos, so I bring you some random pics from around my home, and my ever expanding collection of brown vintage jugs....I must stop - but how adorable are they???
The latest one to sneak into the collection... $1.99 at the thrift store...
I don't tend to have things displayed in "collection" form (I just did that for you..), instead, I am putting the jugs to good use as pen and needle holders!  And before you ask.... yes, I do use all those pens.
Next up - here is my fridge door.  It's a collection of happy things - photos from our travels.  There are so many stories that go with this little collection... which is why I love travelling so much.  I even have a Green Tara fridge magnet - see if you can spot it. 
 I particularly like the henna heart wooden fridge magnet created by my clever friend Shannon...
Here is a little collection hanging on a wall... included is an Argentinian clay pipe given to me years ago by my friend Jose...  a red Afghani pouch, a Timor rice bag (from a trip to Indonesia), a Tibetan yak hair sling (from friends in Tibet), and a Kuchi necklace...
Here's something from my childhood - a couple of hanging dolls (I imagine from China?).  I don't even know how old I was when I got them but I've always loved their bead bodies.  This photo made me laugh because it looks like the girl one is getting a telling off from the boy one!!!  Lets hope they work things out because they are connected by that chain so there is no going their separate ways...
Ok, that's the end of the tour (random little collection that it was).  This pile is awaiting my attention as some of it is to be made into the clutch purses (like the ones above).  
I hope you all have a lovely weekend - I'm looking forward to getting out and about with Mr Tara - we plan to do some (light!) hiking if the weather stays nice...  whatever you do, enjoy!

Tara

Monday 23 July 2012

My Henna designs on cards!

A few people have asked me when I am going to make my henna art available for sale.... so this has become my latest project.  I've been doing ink drawings for a couple of years now, usually as a way to design patterns for doing henna painting.

I spent many an hour pondering how to present these to the world.  Normally I apply henna on people's skin, then they walk away with my art on their skin to keep for a week or two until it washes off. 

Now I wanted a more permanent medium, it was becoming all too technical for my "artistic" brain.  So, with the help of some clever chaps (Mike for the scanning, and Mr Tara for the printing side of things), here it is....  First up - a set of 4 Henna Cards... available for purchase here



The pack of 4 cards (with envelopes) consists of:
1 x left facing Peacock
1 x right facing Peacock
1 x paisley flower design
1 x Tibetan OM

The two Peacock designs are ones I have just completed.  The paisley flower design I did in Bali two years ago. 

The Tibetan "OM" one, I did when I went to visit friends in Tibet in July 2010.   I did the picture while we were on the road (backpacking).  We took photocopies of the design at a chinese photocopy shop and gave them out to our Tibetan friends as presents.  It's my only attempt at writing the Tibetan script - which although beautiful, is like hieroglyphics to me!  The OM sign though, is one I always recognise.  There is a copy of this attached to a mud brick stove in a nomad hut - seriously one of the highlights of my life when I saw them put it up.

The prints I am now selling, are not photocopied... oh no, I've gone all posh and had them scanned, then printed on Epsom Heavyweight Matte photo paper and I'm really pleased with the result.

I'm also going to be selling individual 5 x 7 prints which can be put in a picture frame - I have them printed, I just need to cut them to size and upload them to my Etsy store.

I must dash, there are many things to be done in Nomadic Tara's workshop today.  Where are those elves when I need them???

Tara

Weekend walkabout...

This weekend we had some nice weather in Melbourne, so Mr Tara and I took a stroll in Jells Park which is one of our local parks.  We also visited the local Farmer's Market and were impressed by all the colourful veggies...



 I liked that this chap had framed all his price-tags.  Nice touch!
 Here is Jells Park...

Ducks being symmetrical for the photo...
 Then legging it once we got too close!  (is that a flash of purple feathers I see??)
 Some alone time...

 Feeling reflective... (!)
 A Pukeko!  Not sure what they call them here in Oz, but in New Zealand, that's a Pukeko...
 Nature is not often "neat".  I like this...
 Eucalyptus trees for miles...
 Another Pukeko...
 Green and Gold...


 The we saw this little fellow... one of the many odd insects residing in this land...
 Is it spring yet????
 Surely it must be....

Nice of you to pop by.  See you next time!

Tara