grand announcements and invitations extended.

{The moon above, and all was well.}

{It was fast turning into a competition.}

The curtains are drawn, the heater is on, and very little remains of my Tuesday, for night has fallen some time ago now. Before I welcome in Wednesday (over here), I have one or two things I’d like to share with you. One is a new project of a collaborative nature, one is an invitation, and the other is an announcement.

First things first, a new project is brewing and bubbling merrily away unsupervised in the least used room in our house - the kitchen. A zine, a collaborative zine, by Shari, Louise and myself is in the works. A zine all about the kitchen. A zine about cooking, or the lack thereof. A zine about food stuffs in the cupboards and condiments on the tray… of foods enjoyed in various cities and countries around the globe, of cheese on toast and the art of cooking with few ingredients. Still in its infancy, who knows what shape it will end up taking? Several things are certain, it’ll be all about food… food grown, food cooked and food savoured, it’ll be made by us three, and unless something goes spectacularly awry, it’ll be finished by the end of June. Expect mind maps, shopping lists, a handful of polaroids, watercolours, collages… and hopefully, expect to become very hungry along the way. Much like one of Shari’s delicious posts, expect to find your cupboards bare as you read about chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and the baking of small French bread loaves, wasabi peas… the mouth waters.

{Interior Landscapes... please, click to enlarge.}

And now, I also have an invitation to extend to you all. My Mum and Mary Gray have an exhibition coming up in a matter of days.

INTERIOR LANDSCAPES
Elaine Haby & Mary Gray

May 25th to June 7th, 2007

Brunswick Street Gallery
L2, 322 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Gallery hours Wed-Sun 12-4pm

On until the 7th of June, please, pop along.

{I return with important trinkets, one for each of you. Picked out by my dear friend, G, as part of a belated birthday treat.}

{It's too cold in China.}

And, finally… the winners I must announce.

Into a woollen beanie shaped like a strawberry complete with a little green stalk on top, LJ & I placed several numbered pieces. A number for everyone who commented, numbered one through twenty-five.

Here goes. Congratulations to…
2: Julie - Red Fox Return.
8: Brydie - I still don't trust them.
1: Amy (in Paris) - It produced what no other refractory in Beirut could.

Proving to be a fun exercise, LJ pulled out three more small numbered pieces from the woolly beanie.

Congratulations…
15: Comfies
3: Amisha
6: Briana

For you three, I have a small zine, Postcards from... If we stand very still, no one will notice. It’s a little B&W number, and it will be hurtling your way very soon.

So there you have it, my friends. Six papery pieces for six of you. I’ll be making a trip to the Post Office by the end of the week, just as soon as I have gathered all your addresses. I must do this again sometime soon.

{VI The door was open but we decided to stay. An artists proof on the table.}

(*** For those of you keen on acquiring a four colour lithographic offset artists proof with collaged elements (like the one above), I have a few remaining. Peruse the twelve different ones available here. I'd love to see them go to good homes. ***)

Comments

[julie]

firstly...YAYYY in being a winner!!!!!!! So happy to be receiving 'red fox return'!!!..

And another yay to your new collaboration..it sounds wonderful and if you are interested in anything connected to israeli delicacies..let me know :)
it is going to be a colourful zine to get the taste buds going... xxx

[cruststation]

Congrats to all the winners. I'm so excited for your collaborated project with Shari and Louise, it'd be fantastic :) Love your new collages with traditional costumes, they are taking me away to far away lands!

[Briana]

I don't know which I am more excited about - the new project or the fact that I will be getting treats in the mail from you! Thank you!

I'm sending out your afore mentioned package at the end of the week so it can slither and slug it's way across the sea to you...

xx,

b.

[comfies]

i can't believe it!!!!!!!! what a lovely way to wake up on a tuesday morning!!! i'll email you with my address etc. wow, this is the best thing EVER.

[shari]

i'm on cloud nine about our zine to be. :) love the new collages, particularly "i return with important trinkets". your work always inspires me so. now i'm off with a head full of ideas...i actually have a pile of dishes to wash and dinner to make. tonight we're having challah french toast with a side of spinach frittata. breakfast for dinner. our favorite. xoxo

[Brydie]

Ooooohhhhhhh!!!!! I'm so so so excited! I really didn't think I'd win! Yay, how lovely it will be! Thank you so so much!
I'll email my address, incase its no longer in your posession.
Thank you!!!
P.S... "the moon above, and all was well" is beautiful!

[Maditi]

collaborations are good - looking forward to lots of delcicious things :)

[gracia]

Hi there Julie,
And I am equally happy that my red fox and companion will be making their way over to you in Israel. Neither has explored the terrain there, so they are over the moon as well. They are also keen to sample some of those Israeli delicacies you alluded to. I would be, too, were I travelling to your place for the cost of a postage stamp. If all goes to plan, I’ll have your print wrapped up for you today. It ought to reach you in no time. And I may just be calling on you for a little culinary inspiration too, in regard to the new zine in the works. Thanks…

Hi Crust Station,
We’re excited about it too. A collaborative zine created via email, it’s going to be one fun challenge which the three of us are looking forward to sharing on our blogs. It’s safe to assume there will be countless photos of all the various stages and guises the zine goes through.

Thanks, Briana,
Perhaps our team of correspondence snails will pass one another on the way? They could meet up in some idyllic place, swap tales, and then proceed to their destination. Your zine will be off on its merry way to you just as soon as I get off the computer and commence my day. I'm super excited about receiving your parcel, too. Sounds like I’d better give the ol’ letterbox a polish in readiness.

Aww, thanks, Comfies. I’m so happy you, and the other five wee winners, are overjoyed. I’m also a little giddy that you have selected ‘Coins in every fountain’ as the artists proof for you. The pearly blue seashore form is a handsome starfish, and the little guy contemplating a new landscape in Germany, is none other than a sea otter. I have quite the weakness for sea otters, well, otters, all of them, in general. I’ll put the finishing touches on your print and post it together with your zine. Thanks!

Hee, hee… LJ & I are also rather near that cloud nine of yours, Shari. Look beneath you, there we are, both squeezed on cloud number eight. Let’s hope the weather stays fine, neither of us brought a parasol with us. I’m thrilled, real thrilled, to be working on a zine with you. I’m elated that we’ll be cooking up a kitchen themed zine via the wonder that is email. And can’t wait to get started on it… so many ideas! My head is spinning. This is also the perfect little something to throw ourselves into as we prepare to take our exhibition down on Sunday evening. Here’s to many culinary adventures, my friend.

Thanks, Brydie,
I’m thrilled to know that ‘I still don’t trust them’ will be in your hot little hands. That my owls and their untrusting companions (or is that the other way round, suspicious, untrusting owls perhaps?) will be joining your animal menagerie makes me grin with delight. We’ll be taking down the show at Imp come one minute past five on Sunday, and wrapping up your purchases. You’re going to have quite the hoard!

Yep, “collaborations are good”, aren’t they, Maditi? It’s fair to say that Shari, Louise & I are very much looking forward to a little food orientated madness. I plan to start on some new collages this weekend.

take care, g xo

[the sapient pig]

so many marvellous delights to assault the senses as always :). i am really really hoping that you will have some work up somewhere in an exhibition when i am in melbourne in july! i will be in crazed holiday spend mode!

[amisha]

hi gracia! thank you so so much... i am so happy to be a winner of a lovely zine from you! i will send you my address now.
and i am incredibly excited for the kitchen zine. this is a collaboration made in heaven... can't wait to see what you all do! xo

[sabine Brandt]

· { I love the cards/illos you made .... are we up for a »surprise« swap soon .... I would love to have some from downunder, looking forward to hear from you, take care } ·

[jenny]

so much lovely eye candy with you.....:)

[gracia]

Work up in July, the Sapient Pig, hmm? I'm not sure that I will... but you never know. I'll see what I can cook up and I'll keep you posted either way. There's nothing like the odd bit of "crazed holiday spend(ing)", is there? Happy holiday planning and preparations to you.

Neither can I, Amisha. A zine all about culinary treats, sweet eats and cooking mishaps... what's not to be excited about, I ask? (I've sent your zine off to you the other day and it should hopefully make it to you relatively unceased. I added in a few catalogues and other things for good measure too.

Yes, Sabine, lets! If you like one of the artists proofs, I'd be very happy to swap one... just pick one that takes your fancy. I'd be well chuffed if a sea otter, red fox or sun bear were to head to Denmark. I'll email you too. In the meantime, why don't you have a closer peek here: http://www.gracialouise.com/artists_proofs.html

Thanks, Jenny... I feel the very same way whenever I swing by Montevideo with you three.

see you, g
xo