pip stafford

Hi. Hello.

2012-01-09T16:01:00.000+11:00

It's quiet around here, I know.

If you came here looking for some of my work, you can find a brief (and possibly incomplete) history of my projects by clicking on "my art" over there in the tags list. Similarly by clicking "illustration" you can find some of my drawings.

I'm currently in the process of building a portfolio site which will feature a full catalogue of my previous and current works.

Until then I'm using two tumblrs to keep track of my interests and research:
http://iwilltakeyoueverywherebianca.tumblr.com (more a scrapbook of "things I like")
http://allmyworldisscaffolding.tumblr.com (research for my project of the same name)

If you want more information about a specific work, a design/illustration portfolio or some images please email me at pipstafford [at] gmail [dot] com.

I'll let you know when my (awesome) new website is running and I hope to have a more active blog-life in the near future. At the moment (post-Honours year, post-2011) I'm taking some time to sort out all those little projects I've not had time to deal with (website, deleting old blogs, filing my receipts from 2007 onwards) and I'm pretty excited about some of the things that are about to happen.

I've got some fantastic projects on the boil including Touchy Feely Artist Talks + Exhibition at Inflight Gallery in January (it's a kind of symposium on relational/participatory art and what that means), In Search of Space with Rahni Allan at Sawtooth ARI in March and a few days later, a work at DorkBot at Serial Space, Sydney.

So there ya go.

I'm over there

2011-08-15T07:59:00.000+10:00

If anyone is still actually reading this poor blog, you can find more of me over at my tumblr these days.
Too busy for two blogs right now.

Taxonomy Publishing is go!

2011-04-07T08:09:00.003+10:00

Styrene Butadiene Copolymer Issue One -

-// a5 thermal bound // 108 hand-cut pages // colotech cover // gocco on brown card sash // - $ 8.00 AUD + post.

taxonomylab.tumblr.com

Publishing and Distribution of beautiful printed and recorded media.

Hello.

2011-03-01T15:57:00.004+11:00

I was just accepted into Honours (to tack onto the end of my BFA).

Which means I'm going to be a student for the first time since 2004.
Hoorah!

[Image credit]

Hobart Art Walk

2011-02-22T09:04:00.004+11:00

In the spirit of catching-up-with-things-that-have-happened-in-my-life-while-I-was-MIA, I forgot to mention I was part of the Hobart Art Walk, while MONA FOMA was happening.

The always-fabulous Nicole O'Loughlin was the instigator for this event, where Hobart artists got to hang their work in shop fronts up and down the main drag of Elizabeth St. Fran and I shared the window at Basket & Green cafe, just across the road from my old studio, The Rat Palace. Fran was lovely enough to hang and then de-install my work in my absence - yay Fran!

I just remembered

2011-02-18T21:55:00.003+11:00

that I used to write and post poems on online literary noticeboards and chat rooms.
Under a pseudonym that I don't remember, pretending I was an adult, I loved the praise I would get for poems that were mostly heavily influenced by T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden and Adrienne Rich.

I was 13, I guess, and the internet was still a baby.

***

This is me at nearly-28 with a new hair cut. I don't write poetry any more.

Jump Mentoring

2011-02-13T09:11:00.004+11:00

I'm absolutely stoked to announce that I've been selected (along with 48 other artists from across Australia) to participate in the Jump Mentorship for 2011. Jump is a national mentoring program for young and emerging artists. I've just been to Brisbane for 4 nights to participate in the induction and meet the other artists (and the awesome people from YAQ, Carriageworks and the Australia Council for the Arts).

My mentor is my wonderful friend (and new mama) Nancy Mauro Flude. Nancy's a media artist who returned to Tasmania from the Rotterdam to do her Phd at UTas. She couldn't make it to Brisbane with me because she was giving birth at the time, but I think that is fairly good excuse.

So far the program has been brilliant and, if your interested, you can follow my project at http://goingupproject.tumblr.com/ or find out more about the Jump program at http://www.jumpmentoring.com.au

p.s. If you've ever commented on my blog and wondered why it didn't appear or I didn't respond it's because I only just found a whole bunch of unpublished comments. They should all be there now.

S T O R Y

2011-01-26T15:36:00.002+11:00

Some limited edition prints and original drawings of mine can now be found at STORY.

STORY is the new online store of designer, artist and all-round lovely lady, Monique Germon.

Wild Geese - Mary Oliver

2011-01-22T22:44:00.000+11:00

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Goodness me, it's 2011

2011-01-16T16:34:00.003+11:00

I'm currently rolling around the country-side in a wooden truck and humpy, learning to be a puppeteer, getting bogged on steep hillsides, swatting mosquitos and sleeping in bunk beds.

(I'm doing this project).

Needless to say blogging will be sporadic. Though it's been sporadic all year - 2010 was a busy, busy year.

I got married to a very lovely man. We adopted a cat, who, on death-row, charmed his way into our lives. I worked for a community cultural development organisation. I didn't sleep enough.

I skated and skated and skated. I cried over roller derby and found amazing happiness within it too. I helped get our team to our first bouts. We lost a skater to suicide and dedicated our first bout on home turf to her. I now wear her skates and hope some of her determination on the track rubs off on me.

I ran in my first and probably only fun run. I learned that my knees can only take so much high-impact exercise. Skating wins.

I made art, I had a solo show and was included in a number of group shows. I collaborated. Made things that I'm really proud of and other things I wish I'd worked harder on. I had my first exhibition of drawings. Everyone raved over it. Not one of them sold.

I videoed a food fight with the idea that I wouldn't get covered in custard. I was wrong.

There was an incredible amount of conflict and mis-communication in my life. I became incredibly anxious and took myself off to therapy (again). I feel better now. I learned how to resolve things and be honest in a kinder way. I also learned how to walk away.

I worked in a bar. I hated it.

I left my day job to be an artist full-time. My best buddy helped me get my first design jobs and I've not looked back. I've been super, super broke, but time in my sunny studio wins out over extra cash.

I've learned to eat better and drink more water. I've been sick more times than I care to think about. I found that I like drinking cider.

I went to Newcastle with Amy and visited Emma in Melbourne. Andrew walked solo down the midlands highway. I worried. We bought a car.

Some of my favourite people had babies, all equally lovely and delicious. My second nephew was born and I helped my sister with him in hospital after a traumatic c-section. I didn't get to spend enough time with either of my nephews, something I want to remedy in 2011.

I had to re-learn how to relax. How to take naps, read books for pleasure and wander aimlessly. I'm still learning.

I met some amazing people. I had wonderful times and times where I felt cheated and broken.
I'm breathing deeper and taking my time. I'm learning when to say 'no'.

Hello 2011.

.

2010-11-17T09:26:00.003+11:00

Little boxes on the hillside

2010-11-16T18:27:00.002+11:00

We are sick

2010-11-01T21:28:00.002+11:00

I had plans for the blog this week. Plans! Sigh.

Yesterday he mopped my vomit off the toilet floor and today I made his snotty self moussaka.
That's how we roll round these here parts.

BRB

Dot Dash #7

2010-10-25T08:28:00.004+11:00

That's me. My derby alter-ago is Dot Dash. She's me, but tougher.

My league, the baby that's taken over my life for the past 18 months, Convict City Rollers, had our first bout against Van Diemen Rollers last night. We lost. But we put up a good fight and we feel like we won. I am very, very proud and happy.

(Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisjrn/)

TINY PEEKS - A Day in the Life

2010-10-12T10:04:00.004+11:00

This comic is part of Tiny Peeks at Hand Held Gallery, Melbourne and in the chap book of the same name (A Silent Army production).

(Click to view)

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

2010-09-23T21:26:00.007+10:00

Picture by Natalie Dee

Things that help: quiet in small doses, my studio, my lovely husband, my cat, my dear friends who know how to distract me, hug me, get me drunk when necessary and make really good cups of tea, drawing as much as possible, being at home, enough sleep, good food, avoiding toxic people, jogging and roller derby.

It's all going to be okay.

In which I basically list things I've been doing.

2010-09-13T17:08:00.004+10:00

Well, wow, in the last couple of weeks I've been involved with a whole bunch of great stuff, including, the show in the last post, at Skittle Alley; Sound to Light, in which I collaborated with Scot Cotterell for fun nerdy times and Things We Made at Cube Art and Design, with Fran Burgess, which also coincided with Gabbee Stolp's amazing show, Come to Dust. Phew.

I've also been doing some freelance design work for nice clients like Monash Uni, SYN FM and my friend Emma's dad. Which makes me think I really need to get that portfolio site off the boil and on to the plate. Ahem.

AND! I'm in this awesome show in Melbourne:
Tiny Peeks at Hand Held Gallery. With a metric shit ton of awesome people.

I'm also heading up to This is Not Art where I'm sitting on a panel for Critical Animals and hosting Staple Manor for the National Young Writers Festival. I'm really excited.

I'm slack (and perpetually broke) so I've never been to TiNA before and all I hear is exciting things about it. I'm also hoping to skate while I'm there, because I'm hoping to get selected for the Convict City team for our first ever Hobart bout. Excitement does, indeed, abound.

My "new" life is lovely. I'm poor, but happy, as predicted. My bar job is mostly easy and I get to work with nice people. It's stress-free and I get to leave it behind when I take off my apron and walk out the door. What a relief.

I love having time at home, with my cat and my beardy husband; my little studio is filled with bouncing light from the mountain and the trees and the traffic on the highway. I'm eating relatively properly, I've given up bread and taken up sleeping more. My anxiety level has dropped and I'm ready for new adventures.

To finish, here are some images from Things We Made (all works are for sale - if interested please email me pipstafford @ gmail dot com or go visit the lovely Jemima at CUBE:

Artist Slash Waiter (at Skittle Alley, Stable Gallery, Moonah)

2010-09-06T12:45:00.001+10:00

New glasses

2010-08-20T08:33:00.002+10:00

I am fast becoming one of those people for whom the first morning ritual is to scratch around furiously for spectacles. My old glasses were more than four years old; prescription out of date and so scratched I couldn't really see through them. It was time to take the plunge and buy new specs.

Being a Poor Artist (tm) I assumed I'd have to get new lenses put in my old frames, because, as Australian's all know, new frames cost a gazillion dollars (and a sacrifical kitten).

ENTER AUSSPECS.COM.AU...duh duh duuuuuuh.

I promise I have not been paid by them to spruik their wares - but so CHEAP! And nice frames!

I got two pairs: one prescription, one prescription sunnies for $90! Including postage!

Am-az-ing.

Oh and they are actually hongkongspecs.com.au but who cares when they are awesome and came in super cute packaging (green tissue paper-wrapped box and stamps with birds on them!).

What do you think of my new glasses?

Poor, neglected blog

2010-07-31T09:12:00.006+10:00

It's been a long time between drinks, eh?
You should see my house.

Today is a cleaning day and then a working day.
In 8 working days I'll be leaving the confines of my office job and stepping back into the uncertain (but free) world of freelance (and working in a bar!). We'll be poor, but happy.
Hire me!

So this is what I've been up to:

Hanging out with these guys:

Keeping warm:

Making

and sometimes drinking beer:

Cheesecake

2010-06-18T08:35:00.004+10:00

A little look at my new zine (in Czech and English). Which will be available at my show tonight (along with the cheese cake featured in it):

35 Reasons to Forgive You

2010-06-16T19:05:00.003+10:00

35 Reasons to Forgive you
Begged, Borrowed and Thifted Dollies, Hand Embroidery, Drawing Pins dimensions variable 2010

A peek at my work from a group show called Let's Make the Water Turn Black at Inflight ARI.

I'm currently installing at Six A ARI and you are invited to the opening this Friday (gulp):

There will be zines and cheesecake for the early comers!

Le Flanuer

2010-06-05T15:26:00.004+10:00

A is currently walking the long midlands highway, for his Flanuer Project as part of the Look Out group exhibition at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (or TMAG as us locals know it).

In short:
I miss him.

Also:

I'm in a fun show at the moment called Let's Make the Water Turn Black at Inflight ARI in Hobart.

My work is called 35 Reasons to Forgive You and is a exploration of childhood influences on current art practice. Photos soon.

27

2010-05-21T13:17:00.002+10:00

On Monday I turned 27.
More Trip 35 images

Secret nanna business

2010-05-13T13:35:00.004+10:00

My husband (does anyone else find the word "husband" unbearably awkward and embarrassing to say? Just me then? I digress...), calls my little coterie of lady pals "The Nanna Brigade". Because we wear clothes that may have come from the wardrobes of Nannas past, we like to drink tea (and gin - though not together), eat cake (CAKE!), sew and make things nice. I'm starting to see his point.

Any hooo...this is a long winded way of saying I'm in the middle of some secret Nanna business (read: making work for three shows, trying to get a new Pip Emma range together, working at my part time job and skating like a mad woman in preparation for the Great Southern Slam and reading ALL the Sookie Stackhouse novels) so the blog may get a little neglected for the next few weeks. Or it might not. We'll see.

Here's some of my Trip 35 photos to keep you warm at night.

2010-05-12T12:49:00.000+10:00

via garance dore

I made me an avatar

2010-05-03T16:09:00.001+10:00

For Twitter and the like.

(it's me)

Mantra for a restless me

2010-04-27T13:23:00.000+10:00

"
Too many people spend too much time trying to perfect something before they actually do it.

Instead of waiting for perfection, run with what you’ve got, and fix it as you go
"

From Whatever You Think Think The Opposite by Paul Arden

I know...

2010-04-26T16:00:00.002+10:00

I've really got to get on with the wedding posts and show you some photos from the celebration. And I will. But I do get distracted easily, I freely admit. I've also got loads of Trip 35 photos to post and drawings and other bits but...

These last few days have been large and strange and upsetting.

My friend, Liz, took some beautiful photos using her Trip 35 at my wedding and I want to post some of those, to celebrate life and love and good things.

So, here's to the good bits.

You can see more of Liz's lovely photos here.

Ladies' day

2010-04-18T13:12:00.003+10:00

EJ, Fran and I had a wonderful day out in the country-side. My photos are all old school, so in the meantime, check out Fran's blog to see the amazing hat I found.

Ten things

2010-04-14T11:07:00.003+10:00

Image via ffffound

Playing along with the other Pip!

1. Despite once proclaiming I would never marry, in February this year I married Andrew. I like him a lot.

2. I have three tattoos, all drawn by me. Some people don't like them and will tell me so. Some people love them and will tell me so. I love them. I'm like a picture to book to my nephew, who points at them and says what they are and what noises they make - it's very sweet.

3. I never thought I'd move back to Tasmania and I wont stay here forever, but I love it and I'll always come back. When I'm away I miss the sea and the mountain like crazy.

4. I think of Melbourne as home too. I miss the food, the galleries and my friends, when I'm not there.

5. Autumn is my favourite time of year. I don't think I could live anywhere for long that didn't have four distinct seasons.

6. I harbour a longing to live in the Northern Hemisphere.

7. I've developed a fear of heights that I never had before. It makes my feet feel funny.

8. I love, love, love coffee. But I'm sensitive to caffeine so I can't have anymore than two a day.

9. I grew up in the country. I always had a horse and I had a border collie called Timmy. He was put to sleep in 2006 and I still miss him like crazy.

10. I'm obsessed with stationery - paper, pens, folders. I love the smell of new and old paper.

She's baaack

2010-04-13T12:43:00.003+10:00

with a shiny new banner* and witty posts, Heavy Anchor aka Emma aka BFF**, is blogging again.

GO CHECK HER OUT and tell her I sent you.

* I may have made it in a moment of procrastination and forced*** her to use it

** She's rad

*** She says she likes it, I swear

You will be crushed.

2010-04-06T15:29:00.002+10:00

Letter from Nancy Spero to Lucy Lippard, 1971.

Via Even*Cleveland

Wedding Part II - fabulous guests and favourite photos

2010-04-06T08:34:00.010+10:00

Wedding Part I

2010-04-05T19:56:00.013+10:00

It's taken me over a month to get it together to blog about our wedding.
We chose not to have a "wedding photographer", instead leaving it in the capable and talented hands of multiple friends to document the weekend. The (hundreds of) photos have been trickling in gradually and here are some of my favourites so far.

Lisdillon is a farming property on the East Coast of Tasmania. We had planned to have the ceremony on the beach, but by 3pm the day of our wedding the wind was howling in off the coast and a decision was made to move to the beautiful garden which surrounds the farmhouse.

Our friends Kirsty and Tom made the signs that helped people find our secluded location.

I'll never forget walking towards the garden with my dad and all our friends bursting into spontaneous applause as we walked through the gate. I was crying and laughing and hiccupping and desperately trying to pull myself together (and thinking about how my make-up was probably running, but not really caring). Everyone looked incredible and the first thing I said to Andrew as I reached him was "Look at all our beautiful friends!"

There was a lot of love in that garden.

(My dress was made by my lovely, and recently engaged, friend Elisa; my shoes I found locally and are Zola; my hairpiece is a vintage brooch. My mama grew my flowers and Fran arranged them on the day. My friend Carolyn did my hair and the hair of my Maid of Honour, Emma.)

Damon and George sang an incredible and tear-jerking version of Scout Niblett's Kiss.
Our friends Kirsty and Jackie read Mary Oliver's Wild Geese (my choice) and an excerpt from Ulysses (Andrew's pick).

Apparently there wasn't a dry eye in the house, but I was too busy trying not to stutter my way through my vows and then cry my way through Andrew's (improvised!) vows to notice much outside my own personal bubble.

Teary crowd is teary.

Kissin' cos we're all nice and married! Hooray!

...and what is the best thing to do straight after one gets hitched?

Frolic of course!

More to follow...

(Photos by Kate Seabrook, Amy Spiers, Dean Swanton, Fran Burgess, Simon Stanton and Nigel Curtain-Smith)

2010-03-30T16:26:00.000+11:00

I close my eyes and see
a seagull in the desert,
high, against unbearably blue sky.

There is hope in the past.

I’m writing to you,
all the time, I am writing

with both hands,
day and night.

(Franz Wright)

Mr Clevver - a beginning

2010-03-29T14:07:00.003+11:00

The beginning of our adventure with the Morisons (and Triso and Laura).

Do you remember an inn, Miranda?

2010-03-25T15:41:00.007+11:00

I've never forgotten this poem from high school English and it often gets stuck in my head.
Thanks, Mrs Harvey (even if you were prone to fits of madness and allegedly locking students in cupboards...or was it vice versa? I can't recall).

Tarantela, by Hilaire Belloc

Do you remember an Inn, Miranda?
Do you remember an Inn?
And the tedding and the shredding
Of the straw for a bedding,
And the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees,
And the wine that tasted of tar?
And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers
(Under the vine of the dark veranda)?
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda,
Do you remember an Inn?
And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers
Who hadn't got a penny,
And who weren't paying any,
And the hammer at the doors and the din?
And the hip! hop! hap!
Of the clap
Of the hands to the swirl and the twirl
Of the girl gone chancing,
Glancing,
Dancing,
Backing and advancing,
Snapping of the clapper to the spin
Out and in-
And the ting, tong, tang of the guitar!
Do you remember an Inn,
Miranda?
Do you remember an Inn?

Never more;
Miranda,
Never more.
Only the high peaks hoar;
And Aragon a torrent at the door.
No sound
in the walls of the halls where falls
The tread
Of the feet of the dead to the ground,
No sound:
But the boom
Of the far waterfall like doom.

(image via Upside down in cloud - who incidentally remembers an inn, too)

House (from Happy Meat)

2010-03-25T12:18:00.002+11:00

One of my drawings from Happy Meat drawing anthology, which was launched on Monday night! Hooray!

Pip Emma blogs

2010-03-20T18:08:00.002+11:00

We've had a blog make-over at Pip Emma: in the Afternoon and we are now blogging our projects, favourite things and bits and bobs daily. So go check it out!

On the wagon

2010-03-11T11:08:00.002+11:00

I'm giving up BOOZE and BREAD for March to raise money for Holyoake (drug and alcohol addiction support) and Convict City Rollers.

Want to sponsor me?
No amount of money is too big or small!

2010-03-10T21:02:00.003+11:00

via A Clock Without Hands

This makes me swoon

2010-03-10T20:28:00.002+11:00

The wallpaper!
The boots!
The cat!

Sigh.

From the gorgeous Fine Little Day.

This post is totally self indulgent. You have been warned.

2010-03-05T21:50:00.005+11:00

I just found some stealthy live tweeting from my wedding by my friend Dale.

Hehe!

FYI: Dale and my other stylish friend Michael are the founders of Arcade Publications. Arcade publishes short reads about Australia's past.

Sob Stories

2010-03-04T16:56:00.004+11:00

My dear friend and sometime art partner-in-crime, Amy Spiers, is creating a roving art work as part of Tiny Stadiums Festival in Sydney this weekend.

Amy is an artist and writer. Since 2006 she has been documenting the interaction between strangers in The Photobooth Project, which appeared at Melbourne Fringe, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival and The White Street Project in Frankston. Her work explores the artist’s capacity to facilitate and produce unlikely connections and relationships.

SOB STORIES

Sat 6 and Sun 7 March, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Roving - Erskineville Road

Amy Spiers

When was the last time you cried in public? Why did it happen? Couldn’t it wait for home? Artist, Amy Spiers, will arrive in Erskineville bearing handkerchiefs scrawled with the stories of people who have teared up in public. You may take a hanky to keep handy for times of despair, in exchange for your own story of public sadness.

FREE

More info: www.pact.net.au

Psssst...

2010-03-03T09:24:00.001+11:00

I have a tumblr.
For all the bits I fall in love with on the internets:

I will take you everywhere, Bianca

Come follow me so that I can follow you. Creepy.

Mrs Distant Yowie

2010-03-01T15:10:00.003+11:00

(That's me and my Dada, by Mr Curtain-Smith)

More soon (after I've unwrapped the gifts and recovered from the hangover).

Let's just say I have the best husband and friends and family a lady could wish for.
x

The Morisons

2010-02-17T10:37:00.003+11:00

For the next 12 months or so I'm going to be working with Heather and Ivan Morison (and their seriously cute daughter, Rain) on a traveling project called Mr Clevver.

Here's a selection of their work, just because I think it's so beautiful.

Tales of Space and Time 2008 Folkestone Triennial, Folkestone, UK

I am so sorry. Goodbye.
2008
Tatton Park Biennial, Cheshire, UK

I lost her near fantasy Island. Life has not been the same.
2006
Situations, Bristol, UK

All photos from http://www.morison.info

The Verdict is in:

2010-02-09T11:21:00.002+11:00

Chocolate Zucchini Cake = Gooooooood.

Thanks to my friend (and yours) Got No Money, Honey for the recipe.
I think I actually like her vegan version better, though. It's slight TOO rude with all the buttermilk and butter and chocolate and butter going on. But not rude enough to stop me from scarfing it like I haven't eaten. Ever.

Here's the recipe link: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Zucchini-Cake-907

Chocolate Zucchini Cake
2 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 cups grated unpeeled zucchini (about 2 1/2 medium)
1 6-ounce package (about 1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips (Ed note: I used dark chocolate)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Beat sugar, butter and oil in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk in 3 additions each. Mix in grated zucchini. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts over. (I also mixed chocolate chips into the batter)

Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan.

Yes! (No)

2010-02-07T20:06:00.004+11:00

Yes! Yes! Yes!
Is what I say to Mouse's "No".
It is so nice when someone puts into words, so succinctly, what I have been feeling for the past couple of months.

If one more person asks me if I'm covering my tattoos, tanning my legs, dieting or growing my hair for my wedding - I'm going to spit the proverbial.

Because you know what? I have tattoos because I like them, I have pale skin, I think diets are a fast train to fatty fat fat land and my hair just, um, grows.

Also, no, I haven't started exercising just because I'm getting married. I started exercising because I was unfit to the point of not being able to bend over to tie my shoelaces and that is a bad look for a 26 year old.

This wedding is not the pinnacle of my life. It's not even base camp. I'm excited for it, I've enjoyed planning it but I'm certainly not pinning "the best day of my life" moniker on it. I actually find that depressing (I mean, if you truly believe you have lived the best day, then it's all down hill from there right?).

What it is, is a way of marking time - of telling each other and our community of friends and family: This is a person I love - we are a team. It's a sign post on a long and fantastic adventure with the person I love. That adventure has a wedding along the way but it's not defined by the wedding.

I have bought new make up and an awesome dress and I am getting a manicure and a hair colour. Why? Because those things are FUN and make me feel good.

A liquid diet and the tanning salon do NOT make me feel good.

Besides who wants to look like an anorexic oompa-loompa on their wedding day? Not. Me.

Made by me: my wedding invitations

2010-02-04T15:58:00.004+11:00

Gocco printed onto 150gsm card stock and vintage postcards.

Too hot to type, so here is a bonus kitty image.*

*I am aware he has a manky eye, he's been to the vet and has fun times with antibiotic ointment twice a day. But still, so cute.

Pip Emma is HAVING A SALE!

2010-01-27T13:03:00.006+11:00

You heard it here first. Or probably third (Emma-Jean is a little quicker on the clicker than I).

Bargains galore at pipemma.etsy.com

GO GO GO

and also Fran has me hooked on this song:

Furthermore...

one month til I am married.
I'm seriously going to post all the things I've been making for the wedding as soon as I can. And by "all", I mean, "invitations" because I have become a master of delegation. It's my new thing.

Now we are three

2010-01-21T11:22:00.004+11:00

Andrew, kitty and me

comments are now moderated

2010-01-20T15:15:00.001+11:00

Due to being bombarded by spam bots.
Lame.

In other news...

I HAZ KITTEH!

He's black and fluffy and I love him.
Pictures to follow.

oh hi summer

2010-01-12T14:40:00.004+11:00

I'm organising my wedding
and working
hoping for all the kitties to come and adopt me

we'll call one
"the sack"

it's summer
and we've been swimming at the mansion
pretending that
it'll last forever

(the mansion, not the summer)

soon I'll post some pictures
of wedding invitations I made myself

but now it's hot
so I'll go find myself
an icy pole for lunch instead.

(photo by chaps1 via flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_light_show/ / CC BY 2.0

My christmas present to myself...

2010-01-04T14:36:00.002+11:00

Design by me/Ink by Duncan Ewington.

Ridiculously talented and also very good looking friends

2010-01-04T13:27:00.002+11:00

I have them.

One in particular just set up a blog and a madeit.com.au shop.
Fran of Pony Parade.
Check her out.
(and here too)

Happy new decade...

2010-01-02T09:35:00.003+11:00

In 2009...

I moved into my beautiful new house.
Roller Derby became my obessession.
I started a new job in a interesting and challenging new field.
Someone asked me to marry them and I said "yes".
I put on a huge art show in an abandoned department store.
I was more stressed and busy than I have ever been.
My first nephew turned one.
Pip Emma: In The Afternoon was born.
I became fitter.
I made some art, but not as much as I would like.

In 2010...

Some friends are coming home from places far and wide
I will marry that someone.
I am embarking on an exciting art project in the isolated North West of the state.
My Nobody Knows You project will have a life at Six_A ARI.
I will get better at my job - but I will learn to take breaks.
I will draw (I will be bold and brave and adventurous in the face of blank paper)

(Photo by Aya Bracket via Cup of Jo)

The right to choose

2009-12-09T13:22:00.002+11:00

It's not often that I get political in my blog. Which is not to say I'm not a political beast, I just tend to save my rants for when I'm stomping around the kitchen/office/street.

However, my friend Sally (who is excitedly expecting her first off-spring in April 2010) drew my attention to the amendments to the midwives and nurse practitioners legislation. Which from July 2010 will prevent parents-to-be from choosing to be solely looked after by a mid-wife and thus give birth in their own homes.

These amendments - lobbied for strongly by the Australian Medical Association - require midwives to have a “collaborative arrangement” in place at all times with an obstetrician or GP obstetrician.

This will affect home birth consumers’ ability to claim from Medicare for prenatal care under the new legislation. It will also affect the way midwives will have to practice in the future if they were able to access the government’s insurance scheme.

You can read more about it on Sally's blog.

And submissions can be made to the senate committee until the 11th of December.

For me, personally, this attacks the fabric of the thing I believe in most:

The right to choose.

The right to choose to give birth at home, or in a hospital. The right to look at what I want to look at on the internet, or not look at (as the case may be). The right to choose to abort.

If I was to have a baby I'm not sure yet where or under what circumstances I would choose to birth.

What I do know is that I am completely, utterly and unapologetically pro-choice.

ONO PROJECT 2

2009-12-03T11:00:00.003+11:00

I made an art.

Image by Aaron Horsley.

((<>))

2009-10-30T16:40:00.005+11:00

Stills from our winning Super8 Comp film (from last year).

i dreamed we were afloat/sending postcards from ships

2009-10-27T11:52:00.005+11:00

The first roll of film from my Trip 35:

I'm more excited than a bag full of puppies

2009-10-21T14:31:00.003+11:00

In partnership with MONA and Kickstart Arts Inc

ONO PROJECT 2

featuring LIGHTNING BOLT (USA) and 20 ARTISTS IN ONE DERELICT BUILDING

ONO Project is a Hobart based collective focused on repurposing disused urban space for ground breaking art and sound events.

On the 26th of November artists will inhabit and re-activate an empty building near you.

Artists include, CHRONOX, Sally Rees, Matt Warren, Evil Goat, Scot Cotterell, Jacob Leary, Andrew Harper, Emma-Jean Gilmour, Pip Stafford, Kate Kelly, Nicole O’Loughlin, Froth Industries, Nancy Mauro-Flude, Tristan Stowards and more.

Details of the venue will be available via email, SMS, Facebook and word-of-mouth in the week leading up to the event.

To register to receive the address please email onoproject@gmail.com
Or go to http://moorillaevents.wufoo.com/forms/free-event-registration/

About Lightning Bolt

After 15 years of waiting, and praying, Lightning Bolt are finally touring Australia!

Hailing from Rhode Island, USA, Lightning Bolt is a noise rock duo consisting of bassist Brian Gibson and drummer Brian Chippendale. Last we left this amplified tribe of two on 2005s Hypermagic Mountain, Lightning Bolt were tossing thousand of years worth of musical history into a wood chipper and coming up with some chewy chainsaw taffy. The new album, Earthly Delights, embarks on a musical journey that will take you to places both divine and sublime.

Lightning Bolt are presented by Heathen Skulls and Street Press Australia.

Supported by the Premier's Arts Partnership Fund.

MORE INFO TO COME

New home

2009-09-22T10:51:00.004+10:00

It looks very calm and relaxing. Which my life really isn't at the moment!

Goat/Lover

2009-09-21T16:03:00.001+10:00

Secretly, I liked the beard.

Introducing: Clutter Vintage

2009-09-19T17:29:00.005+10:00

Andrew and I have opened a vintage store which we'll be posting treasures we find (mostly from the vintage payload that is the basement flat at Andrew's parents place) - first up some amazing mens shoes:

Watch this space!

(and that space over there with the etsy widget --->)

The Haircut

2009-09-10T13:12:00.004+10:00

On facebook my dear friend writes

So what if I did this to her twin sister??

In 2005!

DESPERATE?
ELECTRIC RAZORS?

I'm your woman.

Light the Night

2009-08-26T16:45:00.004+10:00

I'm terrible at fundraising.
Once, in primary school, I took part in Jump Rope for Heart and actually raised NO MONEY. At all. My mum had to sponsor me so I got a pencil case or something. I can't remember.

Anyway, I've never been one to give up, so I'm giving the whole fundraising thing another crack and I've joined a team for Light the Night, where I get to carry a balloon with a candle in it (which to me, sounds dangerous but much less exhausting and embarrassing than practicing double dutch all lunch time) and you get to give money to help raise vital funds for patients and families living with blood cancers, such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

The money I raise will be invested in critical research into better treatments and hopefully cures, as well as supporting patients during their long and tough treatment.

(That last bit I just ripped from the website).

If you want to donate ($1 - $1000) just go to this site: http://my.imisfriendraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?SID=75517 and help those effected by cancer and stop me from being crap at fundraising. Two birds, one stone.

If your computer blocks this link:
- Go to www.lightthenight.org.au
- Click SPONSOR
- Search for me
or my team: Dreamtime Escape Plan

A Box of Sun

2009-08-23T11:17:00.003+10:00

Joseph Pintauro and Norman Laliberté, 1970 - Harper & Row Publishers
via The Snail and the Cyclops

The Distant Yowie

2009-08-16T15:29:00.003+10:00

I like him.

More here.

A place called home

2009-08-16T13:35:00.003+10:00

We found one.

It's big and old and a little bit pink.
There's art deco fittings, wooden floors, a huge garden, a tiny bathroom, a cellar (!), 2 studios, a shed for washing and home brew and a huge kitchen which I hope will one day be home to a big table for workings and socialisings.

More photos from Pip Emma: In The afternoon

2009-08-13T15:18:00.003+10:00

Taken with an Agfa Silette

More at Pip Emma

I am

2009-08-04T15:58:00.003+10:00

listening to...

Transcription of Organ Music

and

The Dacios

watching...

Mad Man

looking for...

a new place to call home

photo by potion9designs

writing...

grant applications, emails and blog posts in lazy lists.

Some things in the key of B Flat

2009-07-27T11:49:00.005+10:00

(not really, just a poetic way to say "This is a list")

- I have the idea of a not-wedding dress, the pattern is Vogue vintage and I will not lose weight just to fit into it. No. I bought the right size. Fingers crossed.
- I've been drawing a whole lot. It's nice, I think I'm learning how to slow down a bit. Yesterday, I even made a cake (with E-J, who supervised the process and taught me how to make icing).
- Roller derby. I made legwarmers out of the sleeves of an old cardi; eat your heart out, American Apparel.
- There are faux wayfarers and a photobooth clipping on my living room floor - this makes me suspicious that I may actually be a horrendous-fucking-hipster. I'm not though.
- My friends are in Melbourne, New York, Edinburgh, Istanbul, Colorado, Hobart, London. I miss people constantly.
- My nephew said my name for the first time and it was the sweetest sound.
- I'm going to be an aunt for the second time in March.
- The early bulbs are out.
- I've been drinking too much.

So darlin, take my hand

2009-07-02T22:04:00.001+10:00

and lead me through the dawn
Let's kidnap each each other
and start singing our song

Odd + Even

2009-06-28T21:07:00.002+10:00

Partybooth at Odd+Even

It's foggy and bright

2009-06-23T12:55:00.003+10:00

I ate a pie and pretended I was French and willowy.
Actually I'm very short and quite Tasmanian (and now a little greasy).

Furthermore, I think I have lost an important scrap of paper.

Now I have relayed all this Very Important Information to you I can now tell you that this Saturday the Odd+Even market will be held at the Long Gallery at Salamanca Place, Hobart.

I will be there. Sister0 and I will share a stall. She says she has a thermos.

Also, there will be a screening of Handmade Nation.

My suggestion to you is that you come by my stall, buy lots of things and then stay to watch Handmade Nation, which will make you feel at once warm and fuzzy and also somewhat of an activist about buying handmade goodies for yourself (or for gifts, that is allowed too).

I'm crapping on a bit because a) I have no pictures of relevance and b) I am procrastinating because I lost an important piece of paper and now I have to dive into the rubbish bin (with ants etc) to see if it is there. Oh dear.

Photos in the afternoon

2009-06-16T12:34:00.002+10:00

A sneak peak at our first Pip Emma photo shoot.
Go to the blog for more behind the scenes shots...

The Wolf

2009-06-10T10:01:00.001+10:00

Tattoo design by me, photo by Alex Tassel, tattoo by Dang Thien at Saigon Ink, Vietnam.

Pip Emma: In the Afternoon

2009-06-09T20:15:00.004+10:00

Pip Emma: In the Afternoon made it's debut at the Market #3 on Saturday.

Pip Emma* is modern art deco and spy inspired jewelery, accessories and paper products designed and made by yours truly and my buddy in crime, Emma Jean.

Check out our blog for more photos!

Pip Emma will also be featured in the shop window of Cube: Art + Design next week - go check it out if you are in the area...if you want to.

*Pip Emma means "in the afternoon" or "P.M." in war time vernacular.

My future home

2009-06-08T21:13:00.003+10:00

(I wish).

Who wouldn't want to live in a tree house??

From here via krisatomic

Also...there is a blog post about me by the wonderful and very talented Monique Germon at the Public Office.

I am confused

2009-05-31T16:16:00.001+10:00

and somewhat delighted

via Sally Has a Blog

Excuse me...

2009-05-19T21:55:00.005+10:00

Oh, hi.

Robber mask by Marmalade Tears

I had a birthday...

Some lovely people I know came

and ate

and ate

and drank

and played

and had some nice hair dos.

Also...

We're getting married.

He asked, I said yes, please.

There will be more exciting announcements from me soon, regarding some creative pursuits, which is why I haven't been around these parts much (my excitement level is directly proportionate to how big my mouth is).

In the mean time go check out the new blogs of some lovely ladies:

Monique Germon

Sally Rees

Ink

2009-05-16T08:55:00.004+10:00

My friend Scot is currently creating an art project called Free Tattoo (Never get a girls name) and I have uploaded some dodgy pictures of my tattoos to his Facebook group. Here they are (and what I said about them):

3 years old this week. From my own drawing, inked by the talented William Yoneyama at Tattoo Magic, Fitzroy.

I was 17, I think. Dodgy tattoo parlour, Hobart. My friends paid for it and it was a star that I had drawn in the back of my art school painting journal.

I think I thought the tattooist would use a template rather than my very wonky drawing. He didn't.

He did offer to give us our tatts for half price if we came out for a drink with him - we declined.

Here's pictures of some of the tattoos I have designed for my friends:

I designed Kate's wedding invitations which included this bird, she then had it tattooed on her back, also by William at Tattoo Magic. I had no idea she was going to do it and I cried (with happiness).

I designed these for Lora when she was living in Edinburgh, the original drawing for the second bird is up there in my blog-banner.

Others include an apple tree and a wolf (there's a drawing of that below).

Oh and I once etched our band name into Emma's leg with Indian ink, a needle and a bottle of gin. Rock n Roll. Ahem.

Underpants

2009-04-29T19:29:00.006+10:00

Today I went to the podiatrist.
She felt around my knees and feet for an hour, I walked up and down, she poked and prodded some more, repeat. I eventually got my diagnosis and left.

Normal, you say? Yes, until...

When I got back to work I realised I had yesterday's undies balled up in the leg of my jeans.

Photo by ChrisB in SEA's photostream.

I will go everywhere/anywhere with you

2009-04-26T16:52:00.001+10:00

but right now

and I'm ok with that.

Autumn

2009-04-26T16:42:00.003+10:00

A couple of weeks ago -
A day trip to the Huon Valley.
We met some sheep and sampled their cheese.

Here are some furry noses for your viewing pleasure.

Pippi Short Stockings

2009-04-26T10:04:00.004+10:00

...is my derby name.

(Photos from Sarah Turner's Facebook)

Tattoo designs for far-away friends, numéro deux

2009-04-13T09:59:00.001+10:00

I haven't been blogging because

2009-04-12T19:56:00.003+10:00

I died of cute.

More Tarsiers at Mike Belleme's wonderful photo blog.

The view from my house

2009-04-03T14:59:00.001+11:00

I have a new favourite blog

2009-03-19T14:28:00.002+11:00

We Make Money not Art

Furthermore, this working for an organisation shebang is taking up a lot of blogging hours.
Whoda thunk it?

Soon (ie. when I have money) I need to buy myself a scanner/printer combo gizmo - any suggestions?

I'm also open to suggestions about how I can stay in my rental property forever. I love it and it is being demolished in 5 months time. My sister suggested chaining myself to it, but in Tasmania (land of the forestry debate) it's a bit of a cliche, ya know?

Most creative suggestion wins a lolly.

(Does anyone else find the word "lolly" sort of gross and reminiscent of dirty old perves wearing trench coats? No? Oh. As you were.)

I will take you everywhere, Bianca

2009-03-14T09:58:00.004+11:00

Long time between drinks, huh?
Sorry, life happened.

Travel to the big smoke, staring out my window at the boats and the birds and the ocean, causing a shit storm in a tea cup with my art, starting a wonderful new job, roller derby (throwing myself on the ground wearing skates), hanging out with friends (old and new) and being broke (as usual).

I'm Back!

2009-02-24T08:05:00.002+11:00

It's raining (pouring) and I'm watching the boats rock out the water outside my lounge room window.

Our new house is lovely, despite wiring which will probably fry us in our sleep and a shower that competes with the Berlin squat for shower-most-likely-to-burn-my-arse-off-or-give-me-pneumonia, we love it.

Photos soon.
Promise.

We got a house!

2009-02-11T10:48:00.002+11:00

We got a house we got a house we got a house we got a house

!!

It's old and quirky and by the water!

And it's ours, well...not ours but in a city with a current 2% vacancy rate it feels like a miracle.

Now: packing, organising, packing etc

Bushfires

2009-02-09T10:02:00.004+11:00

Edit: Please note I am in Hobart so I'm probably not the best place for up to date information.

This information is from http://www.messandnoise.com/discussions/, where there are a couple of active threads about the bushfires.

Meet Me at Mikes is also running a handmade appeal and has more up to date information.

My heart goes out to those effected by the bushfires in Victoria.

There's lots of ways you can help:

Donations to the Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.au

Donations can be made to The Salvation Army Disaster Relief fund by calling 13 Salvos (137258) or at http://www.salvos.org.au. Monetary donations are preferred.

All NAB branches will collect donations from tomorrow, or donations can be made using online banking and these details: Victoria Bushfire Relief Fund; BSB: 082-001; Account: 860 046 797.

and for the animals:

Wildlife Victoria - http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au

And you can keep up to date via: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/

edit:

Here's more info:

MONEY - Because so many of these places are classified crime scenes only registered care workers, nurses, police etc are able to get in. So even though clothes etc are a good donation, they don't yet have the resources to transport them there yet. So they need money money money. Donate at any Commonwealth, Westpac, ANZ, National, Salvation Army or Red Cross. Salvos and Red Cross are credit card only, all bank branches accept cash.

MOBILE PHONE CHARGERS - people have their phones but no battery life left. There are so many types of phones so many types of chargers are required. If you have any chargers laying around from phones you no longer need, no matter how old or new, please send them to the Salvation Army

BLOOD - not just this week, but over the next few months. Blood donations have a kind of 'used by date' so while it's good to donate now, it needs to be kept up. Call the Red Cross on 131 495.

LAND - not sure many people have land on which to keep horses, but if you do happen to, call 0411 434123. I don't know who this number belongs to, sorry.

BLANKETING - to keep warm, obviously. Please take them to the Salvation Army

ANIMAL ACCOMMODATION - if you have room in your house for a dog, cat, rabbit, horse... phone 9739 0300. Some of these will belong to families in emergency care who can't take their pets with them, others belong to families who have passed away. They won't always know which category they belong to so be prepared to foster indefinitely. If you know anyone with animals that are injured by the way, see if you can get them to Lort Smith, they are treating all animals for free.

Come on the Scene

2009-02-09T09:22:00.002+11:00

Come on the Scene is an engaging and interactive touring exhibition that showcases new works by five young regional artists from Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

http://www.netsvictoria.org/comeonthescene/

BLOG

Check out the Come on the Scene blog here:
http://comeonthescene.typepad.com/

THE VENUES & DATES

Warrnambool:14 Feb – 29 March
http://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=77

Shepparton: 11 April – 31 May
http://www.greatershepparton.com.au/arts/sheppartgallery/

Swan Hill: 12 June – 19 July
http://www.swanhill.vic.gov.au/gallery/index.html

Latrobe Regional Gallery: 1 Aug – 11 Oct
http://www.latroberegionalgallery.com/

Horsham: 27 Oct – 20 Dec
http://www.horshamartgallery.com.au/

*Check out the EVENTS section on this page for info on the opening nights.*

THE ARTISTS

Ellen Coyle
Trevor Flinn
Carly Preston
Roderick Sprigg
Pip Stafford (that's me. yep.)

LINKS

NETS Victoria: http://www.netsvictoria.org/
Next Wave: http://inside.nextwave.org.au/

It's raining

2009-02-07T12:41:00.001+11:00

and I'm dancing around the living room to this:

Love me, love me not

2009-02-05T14:47:00.003+11:00

My friend Liz just got back from Italy (lucky) and is now having a competition where if you tell her which picture to give to her Gramps for his birthday she might give you the print of your choice (bonus), like the one above.

Blog comps for the indecisive. Now, that's a bandwagon I could get on.

Go to Lily Love me Not to vote.

Houses from the Real Estate Guide with Corresponding Descriptions

2009-02-05T08:59:00.002+11:00

Zines and posters now available from CUBE Art and Design, 146a Elizabeth St, Hobart.

CUBE is lovely and sells rad things so you should go there and spend K Rudd's $950 on something special.

Also, I'm sending a bunch of zines to the Sticky Institute today, so there should be some available there soon.

Or email me and we can cut a deal.