Autumn/Fall

It's starting to look a lot like autumn/fall around Melbourne - the leaves are turning amazing colours and the weather is even weirder than normal. I've been wanting to go the Botanic Gardens for yonks, as it's been years since I've walked through. Today's forecast for some sun, combined with actually having some free time, meant this was the day. 

The gardens are situated right near the centre of the city and are huge - around 38 hectares (94 acres). And I chose the weekend of the annual plant sale, where you can buy plants propagated from some of the gardens' 10,000 species. How did I come home with only three plants?! I could have bought so many, but could not carry them! If you're interested in having a squiz and you read this in time, the sale is also on tomorrow, Sunday 17 April. More info here.

I feel so inspired by plants and gardens and the older I get, the more interested I become with  what looks good, what grows where and how I can have a bit more greenery in my life, so I went a bit snap happy. Here's a selection of shots of the gardens and also the War Memorial, which has the most amazing cacti.

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You never arrive

You think it's just you - you work by yourself, you question what you're doing, why you're doing it, whether you're any good at it. Then you listen to two podcasts in a row with people who you look up to, who are super talented, famous, prolific and successful (like Lisa Congdon and Jason Munn), and they both say they often question themselves. They don't always feel confident in what they're doing. And then one of them articulates it perfectly, by simply stating YOU NEVER ARRIVE. And that's a good thing (thanks, Lisa Congdon.) Ah, it's all about perspective! That happened to me last Friday.

Coincidentally, yonks ago I'd booked in for the monthly Creative Women's Circle (CWC) morning tea, first thing this Monday morning. The topic, which I'd forgotten about, was Building Confidence Within Yourself And Your Business (Especially When You Work Solo). At that morning tea I was surrounded by about 12 amazing and inspiring women, all creative, all with different businesses or business ideas. And we all talked about the same things - how do you confidently sell your own work/services? How do you know what you should be doing when there's no boss over your shoulder telling you? How does it feel when you're at a market and don't sell much? How do you have the confidence to take a business from a part-time thing to a full-time thing? (That one's for me.)

After that I re-listened to the two podcasts and jotted down a bunch of things that Lisa said, because I realised the advice she has, as a seasoned creative, is so helpful and inspiring. It was, basically, the answers to the questions we'd been asking at CWC. So no pictures, just more words. I hope you find them helpful. And if any of this piques your interest, go listen more - details of the podcasts are below.

LISA CONGDON

Lisa Condgon is an artist, illustrator, author and educator who currently lives in Portland, Oregon, USA. She's a prolific creative who takes on year-long creative projects, has published a number of books, is an exhibiting artist, does a heap of illustrative work for clients and also does some teaching. She's been working for herself as a creative for a number of years is really open about giving advice on what she's found has worked for her. She's even published a book on this topic, called Art, Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist. Her blog's also a great resource, full of open and inspiring words and ideas and she's even posted a list of all the tools that she uses and loves - how great is that!

Here are some of the things she mentioned in the Creative Peptalk podcast with Andy J. Miller:

“I thought, for a period of time there, that if I just got organised enough, worked hard enough, worked with this client or that client or did this thing or that thing or won this award or whatever, that I’d somehow arrive in this place where everything was magically, I don’t know, easy and flowing and that I wouldn’t have any worries and that I’d be super confident.

And what I realised is that I’ve really done a lot of the things I aspired to do, I have accomplished most of my goals and I still feel like a nervous wreck most days. I still have a lot of anxiety. I still question whether my work is any good.

You never get to that place where it becomes easy. Yeah, it becomes easier but you never arrive. And if that’s your goal, then you’ve got to do it through meditation or another means. Getting to this place in your career isn’t gonna somehow make you magically feel happy or feel fulfilled. It might just make you feel more stressed out, if anything!

You never arrive because life is a journey because it’s not about arriving.”

Lisa then goes on to talk about how she now approaches each day with joy. Waking up and feeling joyful - that is a super great idea. Be grateful for what you've got, for what you have achieved. Thanks, Lisa!

AND A BIT ABOUT JASON MUNN

Jason Munn, who formerly went by the name Small Stakes, is a graphic designer/illustrator/poster artist who lives in Oakland, California, USA. He's best known for his screen printed posters for indie bands such as the Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, The Postal Service and so many more (basically all my favourite bands. I have his posters all over the walls in my house!) In 2010 Chronicle Books published a monograph collection of his posters, The Small Stakes: Music Posters. His use of typography is impeccable and his work is bold, geometric and stripped back - he has a way of taking common objects, finding their essence and making them simple and beautiful. 

If you'd like to hear Jason Munn talking about his work and some of his though processes: Jason Munn with Mark Brickey of Adventures in Design.

And if you are a female creative, live in Australia and have not heard of Creative Women's Circle, take a moment to visit their website. And maybe even become a member and go the the next morning tea, if there is one near you. 

Pinterest

I think I keep away from Pinterest for fear of falling into a pit of beautiful fun...plus I already spend way too much time on Instagram, I don't need another addiction. But I spent some time there today, pinning a bunch of Studio Space pictures. So. Fun. See here.

Seeing all the shots of all the studios in one space is pretty cool - so much prettiness. Here's a selection of shots from the first two shoots, of local legends Maze & Vale and Like Butter:

Cloud9 in Australia! Duh!

Did you know that you can get yardage from the amazing Cloud9 Fabric Collective in Australia, at shops? I have been a fan for so long but I did not know this. Where have I been, hiding under a rock?!* Yep, and from Spotlight, no less. And maybe other stores too? Please do comment if you know of other shops around Melbourne that are stockists. And yes, I know I could have bought the fabric online but there is something to be said for going into a shop, seeing the colours and feeling the texture (organic and so, so soft!), watching someone cut your order to size and then going home with it there and then. Yep, super old school.

Here's a selection of what I've bought recently:

Leaf Sampler from Eloise Renouf's First Light collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

Leaf Sampler from Eloise Renouf's First Light collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

Rows. Columns. Pink. From Sarah Watson's Garden Secrets collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

Rows. Columns. Pink. From Sarah Watson's Garden Secrets collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

Midnight Flora from Elizabeth Olwen's Wildwood collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

Midnight Flora from Elizabeth Olwen's Wildwood collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

Escapade from Avril Loreti's Let's Have a Party collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

Escapade from Avril Loreti's Let's Have a Party collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

True Colours from Avril Loreti's Let's Have a Party collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

True Colours from Avril Loreti's Let's Have a Party collection for Cloud9. Photo by Susan Fitzgerald.

Now I'm hoping I'll soon be able to get, locally, the Cloud9 collection from Skinny Laminx, called Up, Up and Away, Kindred from Lisa Congdon, Landscape from local superstars Ink & Spindle and the brand-new, amazing TWO collections from Leah Duncan, Lore and Yucca (here's a full list of designers & their collections - pretty impressive). Fingers and toes crossed.

And if you're not familiar with the US-based Cloud9, here's a bit of background, from their website:

Since 2009, Cloud9 Fabrics is the proud leading source for organic cotton fabric for the home sewing enthusiast. Cloud9 Fabrics uses only 100% certified organic cotton in the manufacturing of our base cloths and eco-responsible low impact dyes for printing and dying. We work closely with mills that are committed to ethical and responsible conduct. This includes respecting the rights of all individuals, a devotion to sustained social compliance, and an accountability to the environment. We work with artists who inspire us, so that we may inspire you. Cloud9 Fabrics is committed to bringing beautiful and unique fabrics to the home sewing marketplace and places a strong emphasis on the distinction of our artists, designers and licensing partners.

And why organic fabric? Cloud9 put it so well:

Organic cotton has a low-impact on the environment and handlers. It is grown and harvested by methods that do not use toxic pesticides, herbacides, fertilizers or defoliants. It relies on natural methods which includes (but is not limited to) crop rotation and cow manure for soil fertility; beneficial predator insects; lengthened growing periods for natural defoliation; and hand-picking, which results in less waste. The statistics from various countries on the health issues of the farmers and handlers of chemically treated crops are startling. The health benefits of organically grown cotton are clear, as are the environmental aspects: reduced toxins and pollutants which infiltrate both the soil and water systems and consequently all living things. It might also be interesting to know also that the cottonseed meal, which is a byproduct of the ginning process, including that of chemically treated cotton, is fed to livestock and can come to us in the form of cottonseed oil in our foods.

As an aside, years ago I remember reading co-founder/creative director Michelle Engel Bencsko's new year's resolutions (well, that's what I think it was...) on her blog - an inspiring list of how she was going to expand the business. Well, her hard work really has paid off, it's great to see. Now to find the time to actually do some sewing...

* Disclaimer: I have such a huge fabric stash that I've not allowed myself into a fabric store for a very...long...time. So while I've been under a rock, the entire rest of Australia is probably aware that you've been able to get Cloud9 here forever!