The sun is out in the Bay!!

The Golden Oriori by Israel Tangaroa Birch 

Just got an invite to Israels opening at thermostat gallery in Palmerston North. Look at this glorious piece above, I am pretty sure this is the piece he won the Norsewear art awards with (that's a big deal to those who don't know!) I studied with Israel and he has gone on to to extremely well in the art world, his artwork is unique and inspiring. He also donated an artwork to our art auction which sold for $5000, I think the person who bought that made a great investment as I am sure Israels work is selling for a lot more now. Israel is a lovely guy who has a gorgeous family and deserves to well, so if you are in Palmy check out his show it opens on the 8th May.

Hundreds & Thousands

Brrrrr it was freezing here this morning, but with beautiful bright blue skies, really a gorgeous Hawkes Bay day!! Have had to make a few phones calls to get the surrogate grannies and the real ones to do some knitting for us. Little girl is pictured here with this beautiful pink jacket my friends mum knitted her, but now it is getting to small... there is really nothing like a handmade cardy, hat or jumper. I bought the little ones these awesome woollen slippers from the local craft shop... so much better than these mass produced things. Today Stickytiki is sending out Hundreds and Thousands (they are proving to be one of our most popular items) and the Giraffes are off to Aussie to visit Cackleberry kids for their new shop opening!! Shhh... will give you more details soon! Ok, I really have work to do, a thousand designs waiting for Si to do his magic to. x

LOVE ART, AND BITS & BOBS .....

Girl and Ceramic Pig (2008-2009) Oil on Canvas 

  From there to here (2006-2009) Oil on Canvas

  Bench Seat Conversation (2008-2009) Oil on Canvas 

Continuing on with love, art and bits & bobs.......I just LOVE THIS WORK!!!! I have just been sent an invite from Gary Waldrom to his latest exhibition at Milford Galleries in Dunedin which opens on Sat 9th May. Unfortunately I live in Napier so cant go! I have known Gary a few years now but have admired his work since I started painting. One day I plucked up the courage to contact him about a Charity Art Auction my friend Megan an I were holding to raise money for my nieces transplant. Not only did Gary donate a piece of art but he painted my niece and the painting sold for over $10.000 ! The painting is absolutely beautiful and he captured her so well that when I saw it I cried Gary has become a dear friend who often phones to ask how my niece is getting on (she is awaiting her transplant in the US), his work is spectacular and I am hoping to own one in the future!! If you are in Dunedin get to Milford Galleries and check these works out they are worth giving time to. x 

The Phoenix Foundation

Last night I took a trip down memory lane and went back to one of my old haunts 'The Cabana Hotel' in Napier. This place has a very colourful music history and for those of us who grew up in the bay, was very much where it all happened when it came to band culture. Well now I'm all grown up and although the Cabana had reopened its doors a year ago after its closure in the 90s (leaving Hawkes Bay woefully lacking a good live band venue), I hadn't ventured back there...until last night. The Phoenix Foundation who I would describe as 'indie rock' (correct me if I'm wrong!) drew in a spectacular crowd of the more mature age group, when I say this I mean 30s up, so our group felt right at home..and of course every second person was someone from the past that we used to bump into every Thurs, Fri and Sat night, few more lines, few more kids and far less time to party! But party last night they did! Now I'm no a expert on music but I know what works and I know what I like and these guys fitted the bill, and judging the crowd and the dance floor everyone else felt the same. They are musically smart, quirky and just damn good. So if you have never seen these kiwi geniuses and they come to a town near you....make and effort...go and see them,.... buy their albums, after all it is NZ music month lets support them! And the Cabana still rocks after all these years!! Here is a link to one of their songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz5qUPpuAFM

LOVE, ART and bits & bobs!

OK so I am loving this fabric I bought on Etsy yesterday...LOVING IT!!! As you may have read from earlier posts (all three days of them!) My little girl (Kahlo) is named after the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. Now Frida is often referred to as a Surrealist artist but in fact she didn't like to be slotted into this category- she would say 'I paint myself because this is what I know '...well maybe not exactly those words but ones to that effect! Being an painter myself I can relate to this, and especially for women, we become consumed with ourselves..why not we live with ourselves constantly , how would I paint about anything else! Anyway I am getting off track I now feel like I am explaining myself, like I used to when I was studying.....explaining why my images were so deeply personal. All this has got me thinking about images and bits and bobs we surround ourselves with, what they say about us, do they really represent who we are, or are they just objects! Here at Stickytiki HQ we have heaps of love, heaps of art and heaps of bits and bobs. To be continued...meanwhile look at these other cool Frida finds on Etsy, I am not the only one obsessed with her! BTW: Fabric getting made into a quilt for Kahlo's bed (her talented Grandma is going to make it!)