The Found Love Project was born from a weekend hobby of thrift shopping with my designer friend, Tracy. Together we scour thrift stores and markets, hunting for vintage and preloved objects. From Grandma's old crystal candy bowl to kitschy mid-century bric-à-brac (and anything inbetween that takes our fancy). These items are then planted with an array of interesting and unusual succulents, each selected for its particular combination of colour, form and texture. We especially like the ugly ones.  

The main focus of the Found Love Project is to make beautiful things from previously unwanted objects, and to bring a little bit of nature back into our small urban homes and office spaces. Neither of us have a lot of room, or particularly green thumbs. This makes succulents the perfect plant of choice for our little venture. They're not immortal, but they are the closest thing a plant will ever get to it.

We try to keep it at a local level as much as we can, with the majority of our items sourced from charity run thrift stores, such as the Salvos and Sacred Heart Mission. This ensures that a portion of our work is going back into the community at a grassroots level. We sometimes combine our vintage planters with exciting new finds, but the aim is always to create one-off pieces that will never be replicated, mostly because you'd have to travel back in time to find it.

It's been three years since I last drew from a live model, but I felt it was time to get back into it. I'm still feeling rather rusty, the same way my handwriting used to go completely downhill after a long holiday break from school (two solid months of computer based activities will do that to you)... but hopefully I can swing it back around with enough practice. I've been twice lately, and plan to head back again soon. 

No Vacancy Gallery here in Melbourne hosts untutored life drawing classes for all ages and skill levels. They're on pretty much every Tuesday and Wednesday night from 7-9pm. The $12 session fee covers all your materials, and you can get a cheap drink there to help loosen yourself up and get that charcoal flowing freely. Check out the life drawing website or facebook for more info.

You can view more of my figure illustrations here.

I decided it was time for a revamp of FRANCEillustration.

I was feeling nostalgic for the old days; sitting in the garden outside my parents original 70's era house, researching and sketching. Books and scrap paper scattered atop the rough wooden table, surrounded by potted succulents (handly little paperweights!). 

I liked to use old, stained, reclaimed paper. Paper with a bit of character. Paper you weren't afraid to start drawing on because it was already marked, no longer pristine and intimidating. And I was never without a big mug of Miloffee, often starting out steaming hot and continuing well on until it was cold, reluctant to leave whatever I was working on.

Great, I've made myself homesick!

Click the image above to download your own 1920x1200 wallpaper.  

It's the start of the Easter long weekend and I'm feeling festive. I decided to break out my new acrylics and paint a little ACEO canvas (Art Cards, Editions, and Originals). She's the first in a series of pretty-yet-powerful animal/hybrid girlies I'm planning to paint. This delightful little Bunny Girl will be available for purchase on my Etsy store soon. In the mean time, I'm heading back to my paints. Have a happy and safe long weekend, everyone ♥

Thank you for all of your support over the last 6 months! x

I've just returned home from New Zealand, where I witnessed my little brother tie the knot with his beautiful bride ♥ 

We flew into Christchurch then drove up to Nelson for the event, taking in Kaikoura's coastline and Marlborough's vineyards along the way. It wasn't until we reached Kaikoura that I realised my DSLR was broken, but I managed to capture a few pics on my phone (including shameless staunch selfies on the Wedding day). On the way back through the airport I snuck a shot of Global Culture, the company I designed for before I left for Australia - six years later and my 'Sweet As' print is still on display. 

Everytime I fly home it gets harder and harder to leave. New Zealand really is a beautiful country ♥

An Inspirational Artwork Series featuring abstract landscape photography shot while I was in (and over) the Nevada Desert. Each print is sold individually and can be mixed and matched to create your own unique and inspirational design feature.

FRANCEillustration on Etsy ♥

Shibe wishes everyone a much romantic Valentine's Day ♥

Snapshots from the bookcase beside my computer desk. It's chocked full of vintage mid-century made-in-Japan ceramics, 80's toys, design + illustration books, beckoning cats, dinosaurs and kitsch. All of my favourite things ♥

Check out my tumblr account for more photos.

I unwrapped the best Christmas present today! A mint-on-card Jurassic Park - The Lost World Raptor, and an original vintage Jurassic Park Velociraptor! It's the very same one I had as a kid (I was devastated when the family dog chewed its face off). I love dinosaurs, especially toys from the original Jurassic Park movie. My boyfriend might just be a keeper ♥