French Ultramarine

A floral textile design work in progress in a favourite shade of blue. 

Hop-bush painting

Another work in progress - today's painting subject is the Wedge-leaf Hop-bush, a medium sized shrub that can be found growing along the roadside of my farm and throughout the local forest. The winged, apple shaped capsules start out in a shade of lettuce green, before gradually ripening to a deep crimson colour in springtime. My ancient wildflower reference book mentions that the name 'Hop-bush' was given to the plant by early European settlers who used it to make beer.

Grand gold-rush style

The streets of Ballarat feature many graceful Victorian buildings, built from the immense wealth generated from the surrounding gold-fields. One of the grandest examples from this era is the recently renovated Craig's Royal Hotel on Lydiard street. 

I couldn't resist taking a few photos of the ornate Victorian wallpapers that feature throughout the property. I'm sure William Morris would be quite at home here!

A floral filled Friday

The sun is shining, the summer flower beds have been dug and planted (dahlias, marigolds, salvia and delphiniums),  and the garden is slowly coming into bloom. 

My desk is happily covered in pages of floral watercolour textile designs. 

The foxgloves are beginning to flower after what seemed like a very long wait (I planted these seedlings way back in February), so I will be adding this rather tricky but very beautiful flower to my long textile design subject matter to-do list!

A bunch of inspiring floral related blogs have caught my eye of late and are now firm favourites (and keep me returning again and again to my local nursery....)

Flowerona is a wonderful celebration of all things flower related by UK based Rona Wheeldon.  Rona regularly interviews talented artists and designers who are inspired by flowers. A lovely read.

101 Florals is a collaborative pattern project by US based designers Lindsay Nohl and Llew Mejia. Filled with interesting and innovative floral pattern goodness.

Cecilia Fox is a newly opened florist shop located in East Brunswick, Melbourne. The owner, Melanie, blogs about the goings-on of her floristry business and what inspires her creations.

Lindsey Myra is a Melbourne based florist, artist and designer who has recently established an urban cutting garden. Beautiful photography and a great eye for colour combinations.

Enjoy your weekend!

Crabapple and cherry blossoms

Apple, pear, crabapple and cherry blossoms, all ripe for the painting!

Green glazed tiles

Here is a watercolour pattern inspired by the green glazed decorative tiles of Hong Kong and Macau.

Gold Dust Wattle

This shrubby form of wattle graces the roadsides and box-ironbark forests around my home in northern Victoria. I painted this design using a mixture of watercolour and gouache.