Kirsten Bailey: Art

I’m excited to be involved in a few special events over the next few months.

Next weekend on Saturday 11th September, I’ll have a market stall at Soulful Spring Sounds.  I’ll be selling my handmade jewellery and original artwork – although I must admit it will be a challenge staying with my stall instead of wandering around listening to the great music and drinking wine!  I’d love to see you there – I’m sure it will be a great day.

I’m also really excited about participating in the Summer Salon art exhibition at the Richard Randall Gallery, Mt Coot-tha Botanic gardens on the 6th and 7th of November.  It’s a wonderful historic gallery with great character and charm, and I’m exhibiting with 4 talented artists whose work I really admire.

I’ll be at the gallery in person on Sunday the 7th of November, where I’ll be working on my latest painting (whatever that is at the time).  Come on down and say hello, I’d love to meet you!  As the gallery is situated in the beautiful Botanic Gardens it’s easy to make a day of it.

In the meantime, you can see me at The Handmade Expo on Saturday 18th September, Saturday 20th November and Saturday 18th December.  Unfortunately I won’t be able to make the October market, so if you can’t wait for the November market, send me an email and I can post your goodies to you!

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"Spring Trees"

Because, seriously?  I’ve had enough of winter.  I’ve always been more of a warm weather girl.  I love the way everything seems to come alive in the warmer months.  The sun is up longer, people are out longer, and I get to wear nicer clothes (I get heartily sick of covering up everything in a big coat in the winter time).

So, even though it’s not *quite* spring yet, and the winter westerlies are still blowing strongly and sending the kids at school crazy (what is it with kids and wind?), I though I’d share with you some Spring Etsy favourites:

From left to right and top to bottom:

1.  Inspired by the new green leaves and fresh buds of Spring, this pretty necklace is called “Spring Talk“.  It’s one of the many beautiful jewellery designs from KuroNeko - I couldn’t resist adding several things to my favourites list!

2.  These pretty pink and green earrings from Treasured Lily Designs are called “Spring Kissed Me Bang” – the name is inspired by the following quote: “I stuck my head out the window this morning and spring kissed me bang in the face.”  I’m definitely looking forward to a big old smooch from Spring!

3.  I have a thing for little tins and boxes.  I have more of them than I have stuff to put in them, but I find them hard to resist!  These 3 Mini Tins in “Spring Field” paper from Annie Howes Keepsakes are just gorgeous!

4.  Who says stubbie coolers are just for the boys?  I would love to bring out these Preppy Pink and Green Can Koozies by Pink Gasoline at our next BBQ!

5.  This Poppies Pleated Bag by A Touch of Stardust would be the perfect accessory for that spring outfit!

6.  I’ve discovered a new favourite artist with Bit O’ Whimsey.  This gorgeous print of an original mixed media painting is called “Springtime Meadows” – be sure to click on the link because I couldn’t fit the entire picture into my little collage!  Like me, Kandy from Bit O’ Whimsey makes wearable art pendants from her work, so if you can’t afford an original or a print (or like me you are running out of wall space!), a pendant might just be the way to go.

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Yesterday I spent my day at The Handmade Expo, and had a great time!

Me with my artwork at my Handmade Expo Stall

It’s so much fun getting to meet my customers (which I don’t get to do when they buy from Etsy).  People were lovely and I sold some pendants, rings, cards, and an original painting

Another thing I love about meeting my customers in person is that I get an idea of which designs are popular, and what people would most like to see.  For this market I started selling rings:

Some of my ring designs - I hope to have more made for the next market

At the next market I’m hoping to have some earrings made.  Of course I will still have my most popular item by far, my pendants:

Many pendant designs!

Thanks once again to all those wonderful people who came by to meet me at my stall!

I’m looking forward to the next market on Saturday 21st August

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I recently had a request for a painting featuring owls – I’d never painted an owl before until a bit over a week ago when I painted Satellite and Sage.  Now I could be a little addicted!

Here’s my latest creation – I’ve titled it “Midnight Meeting”:

Midnight Meeting

I’m looking forward to this Saturday’s Handmade Expo, where I will have my original art, keepsake boxes, jewellery and cards for sale, including some owl-inspired pieces.  Brand new to the market will be my wearable art rings, featuring prints of some of my most popular paintings.

I’ve still got a week to make new pendants and rings – are there any designs you’d just love to see on one of my jewellery pieces?  Let me know and I’ll make sure I have them there.

Hope to see you there – stop by and say hello!

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I think you’d be hard pressed these days to find someone whose life hasn’t been touched by cancer.  I myself have lost family members to cancer, which is one of the reasons why I’m honoured to be participating in a ‘Crop for Cancer’ scrapbooking day next Sunday.

I’m able to combine my love of art with my love of scrapbooking to help raise money for the Cancer Council, in the name of a dearly departed ‘Scrappin’ Sister’ who lost her battle with cancer more than a year ago.  Last year’s charity scrapbooking day raised $1093, and we’d like to top that this year.

To that end, I’m delighted to donate a painting which will be raffled off on the day.  I’ve titled it Field of Hope, and included the daffodils which are the symbol of the Cancer Council.  It’s my representation of hope for a cure.

Field of Hope

If you would like to make a donation to the Cancer Council, you can do so via their website.

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I must be on the up-swing of my creative funk, because I’ve finished my first two paintings in months today.

This one is on hold for someone:

Evening Garden

It must have been the cold weather making me dream of spring for this painting (although I don’t want spring to arrive *just* yet – we need some snow down at Perisher for my ski trip!).

Spring Afternoon

I have plans to get a few more things done this holidays too – I’m painting something to donate to a charity scrapbooking day I’m attending next month, and I have some new ideas tucked away featuring owls, moons and swirly trees!  I’d also like to get started on a new large canvas, but we’ll see how we go with that one.

Tell me, what’s your favourite season?  I’m really a summer girl but I tend to paint a lot of spring scenes.

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Today I spent the day at the Handmade Expo market at the Ipswich Turf club.  I had a lovely time!  It was so great to see some familiar faces and some new ones.  I was thrilled to be able to meet some of my online fans in real life, and I got to talk to lots of people.  It’s really helped to get the creative juices flowing again and I can’t wait to try out some new ideas this week.  Many thanks to those who came to visit me!  I hope to see you again at the next market on Saturday the 17th of July.

Of course going to the Handmade expo does have its down side – and I’m not talking about the early start (although that isn’t my favourite bit).  First of all, I have a tendency to spend my profits before I make them.  There are so many beautiful things around, it’s hard to resist!  Secondly, The Handmade Expo is likely to help me to become the size of a house.  Today I bought a bottle of Verdelho from Welgan Estate wines, a bottle of delicious Caramelised Fig Balsamic from Robinvale Estate, and gorged myself on fudge, cupcakes (OMG they were amazing) and woodfired pizza.

I can’t wait for the next one!

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OK, OK.  I know.  I’ve been REALLY slack lately.  No blog posts, hardly any posts on my facebook fan page.  I’ve been in a bit of a creative funk lately (I blogged about it over at Handmade Spark).  It’s been a tough term at school – that’s my excuse anyway.

Now that I’m on school holidays, I’m beginning to crawl out from the rock I’ve been living under, and start connecting with the art community again.  So this blog post is a catch up – like at the beginning of a TV show when they tell you all the stuff that happened in the last episode.  Here’s what you missed…

"Sunset Joy" - SOLD - Profits to Cerebral Palsy League

The Art for Art’s Sake exhibition was a success – my Sunset Joy painting sold and was able to raise $200 for the Cerebral Palsy league.  I was proud that my little painting could make a difference!

Fabric Cards by Georgica Designs

I’ve been lucky enough to participate in another DUST team swap (Meanwhile, isn’t saying DUST team a bit like saying ATM machine?)  This time I was paired up with Deb from Georgica Designs.  Deb makes gorgeous fabric greeting and note cards, and I was lucky enough to receive a package of mixed cards and gift tags.  They are so simple and elegant, perfect for that special person’s birthday!

In return, I’ve sent Deb her very own original painting, with a matching pendant.  I’ve named it Deb’s Garden:

Deb's Garden

Karen from New Earth Soaps was kind enough to feature my Summer Field painting on her blog.  I was also honoured that my Rescued painting was featured by fellow tea lover Verity on her blog, Nice Life With a Cup of Tea.  I always feel blessed when someone has liked my work enough to feature it on their blog.  I’ve added both  Etsy stores to my favourites and look forward to ordering some of the gorgeous looking sugar body scrubs from New Earth Soaps and lovely hand-blended tea leaves from Joidetea.

If you’d like to see my artwork in person, take yourself along to Cafe @ Kitchener, where my artwork is featured along with the work of some other wonderful local artists.  You can relax with a coffee while you view beautiful artwork!  Many thanks to Michelle from Art Salon for letting me know about this opportunit and for doing all the running around and organising.  Michelle is having a Studio sale at the moment – have a look at some of the amazing paintings she’s selling at up to 50% off (I’ve seen some of these personally and trust me they are even more beautiful in person!).

Stay tuned for more (hopefully more regular) posts from KL Bailey Art!

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One of the many things I love about creating art is the opportunity it provides me to support more charities. You may remember earlier this year I donated a painting to the Young Variety’s ‘Heart Art Show’.

This year I’ve also been given the opportunity to participate in the Cerebral Palsy League‘s ‘Art for Art’s Sake’ exhibition.  The Cerebral Palsy League is the largest non-government disability services provider for people with a physical disability in Queensland.  Having taught a student with Cerebral Palsy I’ve seen first hand the necessity of an organisation like this, and so I’m very happy to be able to support them.

This year’s exhibition theme is ‘The Joy of Living’, and I am donating the following painting, titled Sunset Joy:

The painting will be auctioned at the Gala Opening and Cocktail Reception on Wednesday 12 May 2010 from 6:30pm, at Waterfront Place, Eagle St, Brisbane.  For more details, please see the Art for Art’s Sake website.

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